Hi Actor,
Sometimes the industry can seem disjointed at the best of times, and non existent at the worst. It can leave you feeling lonely and directionless in your pursuits. When it's quiet, its hard to have hope, to get motivated and to do anything productive. The thing to rely on in these times is people. Creative people.
One of the most underrated strategies to a long lasting career is building a palpable sense of community. It can boost your chances of work, encourage you to take action & make the whole process just so much more enjoyable.
You've selected a career that is filled with creative people. You've probably noticed, creative people can be thrilling to be around. So lets go make our life thrilling.
Cultivate a "Build it and they will come." mindset.
I would like to encourage you to establishing a semi regular get together/ food & drinks for filmmakers (or theatre makers) within the local area. Schedule it quarterly or half yearly and keep showing up for it, even in the initial stages when there might not be many people available. Invite, creatives at every opportunity you can. Spruik the night on socials and in person.
"Hey, I'm organising an industry drinks night and would love to see you there!"
From there, ask the creatives you feel you have affinity to, to grab a coffee once or twice a month. Keep interested in what others are doing and they will likely reciprocate. If someone you know is in a show, go watch it. This industry is build on the support of one another, so lets actively practice supporting. Take the first step. Don't wait for an invite. Have a look at your schedule. Pick a date that works for you and get people talking about your event.
I would love to hear from you either directly or leave a comment below. What other ways could an actor build a sense of community within their local precinct?
A note for my regular readers: Going forward, I will be publishing blogs on a Saturday morning instead of the midweek post.
Talk soon.
Lachlan is an Australian Actor who has been working within the industry nearing a decade. He’s worked in Film & Theatre.
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