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All Acting Work is Real.
Welcome to more fun on The Aligned Actor PodTubeStack!
I’m Amy Schloerb. I’m a professional actress and a mindfulness and mindset coach helping actors ride the roller coaster — all the ups and downs, twists and turns — of being an actor without throwing up.
Once again we’re exploring a letter I wrote a few years ago to Young Actor Amy who had just arrive in LA. This is A Letter to Young Actor Amy: Part 3 about how All Acting Work is Real.
Let’s see what I wrote back then and see how this advice holds up today.
All acting work is real. Enjoy it.
Don’t treat any acting job like a stepping stone or practice session for a “real job.” THEY ARE ALL REAL JOBS. Different budget levels maybe, but your job is always the same. Know your lines, know what you want in each scene, and do your work. Rinse and repeat. Any idea that “Oh, this is good practice for when I’m REALLY working” is nonsense. You’re REALLY WORKING now! Stop missing out on the fun you’re having right now by continually telling yourself that this job doesn’t count. It counts! Enjoy it! Celebrate them all!
Yes! AND I want to expand this idea even more so that it includes ALL ACTING we do!
Paid and unpaid.
On set and in class.
Auditions and silly stuff we throw up on the internet because it’s fun.
Everything.
When we say “This isn’t real” or “This doesn’t count” or “This is just a stepping stone to the real work” in a way we’re disparaging the work we’re currently doing by comparing it to OTHER work that we deem as “better” because it’s “real” and what we’re really saying is, “This isn’t good enough compared to THAT!”
“This scene in class isn’t good enough compared to having a “real” audition.”
“This audition isn’t good enough compared to having a “real” job on set.”
“This co-star role isn’t good enough compared to having a “real” role as a guest star.”
“This guest star role isn’t good enough compared to having a “real” role as a series regular.”
Where does it end?
That “compare and despair” mindset can cause a lot of stress, self-criticism, and even shame because it’s a really slippery slope from “This isn’t good enough” to “I’m not good enough because THIS is all I have and I don’t have THAT.”
Whereas the mindset that says, “All acting work as the same, it’s all real, it all counts” can set us free to enjoy our acting career in a whole new way.
I’m guessing you got into acting because you love it — it’s fun, it’s creative, you get to express yourself, you love playing characters, you love making people laugh, you love making people cry, you love that “performance high” you get when you act — so why not give yourself permission to really love your acting work — ALL your acting work — right now.
BONUS! — I’ve seen so many videos of famous actors saying that when they stopped thinking of auditions as “something they had to do to get an acting job” and starting seeing them as “THE ACTING JOB” — “I get to act today. This acting work counts just the same as being on set” — that’s when things transformed for them. Here’s one. Here’s another. And here’s one more to complete the rule of threes.
This mindset can make our work better because we’re more committed and not half-assing anything or holding back because “Eh, it doesn’t really count.” When all acting counts, I’m motivated to show up in my acting work in a different, deeper way and my work just keeps getting better and better.
It also takes some of the pressure off booking because when we believe all acting counts the same, and therefore we can enjoy acting at anytime, we suddenly have full control over our access our craft.
There are no gatekeepers between us and our passion.
Just like a painter can pick up their brushes and access the joy of painting anytime, we can pick up a scene or a monologue and access the joy of acting anytime.
Sure, some people will say actors need an audience to witness their acting, but do we?
Maybe that’s just another example of “This acting doesn’t count because I’m just doing it for me.”
What if even acting “just for ourselves” counts?
I have a monologue which I’ve adapted from a Martha Graham quote and sometimes I do it just for myself because it speaks to my soul, and what I want to do in the world, and it affects me the same way I hope it would affect an audience.
That counts for me.
You can go as deep or not deep with this as you want, but the point is: In my book, all acting counts.
It’s all your body of work — your acting practice — like a mindfulness practice.
In fact, a mindfulness practice can help you with this mindset shift, because mindfulness is all about staying focused on the present moment — in this case, the acting work you are currently doing — and gently returning your focus to that work whenever your mind wanders off into thinking, “Eh, this doesn’t count…Oh, no wait…I’m getting to act right now, I’m getting to do what I love. Let me get present to that and enjoy it.”
Mindfulness and mindset shifts like this are my jam. This is the kind of coaching work I love to do with 1:1 clients and in my workshops. Mindfulness can help you become more present in your work, more aware of where your mindset might be holding you back, better able to gently shift those thought patterns so that you can approach your craft and your career with more confidence, have more fun, and really enjoy being an actor despite how crazy-making this profession can be at times.
The Aligned Actor is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
Let’s chat! ☕️
If you’re ready to transform your actor mindset, let’s connect in a complimentary session.
Rest assured, this is not a “sales call.” I’m not Alec Baldwin in Glengarry Glen Ross. In my world ABC means “Always Be Celebrating!” 🥳
This is a chance for us to connect and for you to walk away with some specific, actionable ideas that you can start applying right away to shift and strengthen your actor mindset.
Think of it like an audition where you are the production team. I’ll show you what I do in the role of “coach” by actually coaching you, and then you get to decide, “Does my production need a mindset coach right now, and is Amy right for this role?” Sounds fun, right?
Get my Pre-Audition Focusing Meditation 🎧
I’ve created a free meditation to help you get out of your head and into your character so that you can rock your next audition.
It’s going to help you calm your nerves, let go of distracting thoughts — “How can I book this? What do they want?” — and focus in on what your character wants, what’s going on in the scene, so that you can present your best work every time.
And speaking of calming your nerves…
Accessing Calm is my ebook of super simple, fun mindfulness life hacks I use every day to calm down quickly when stress is high.
These are the tools that help me release tension from my body and keep my mind from spinning out of control with worry and frustration. 😭 ➡️ ☺️
They help me get through the morning rush, calm down before a big audition, and deal with all the stress of the world in general.
It’s a quick read that includes video demonstrations of all tools and some bonus mindfulness meditations — all for just $7!
Upcoming Workshops
I’m hosting online mindfulness workshops in October and November exclusively for members of the SAG-AFTRA LA Conservatory!
Mindfulness 101: Empower Your Craft and Your Career With Your Presence
Come learn about mindfulness and the many advantages it offers performers. Experience a guided mindfulness meditation, explore the benefits of developing a daily mindfulness practice, and learn some quick centering tools to use in auditions and on set.
If you are a member of the SAG-AFTRA LA Conservatory, head to the calendar on the website to sign up. If you’re not a member, I encourage you to join, it’s $45 for a full year of workshops and classes.
Get full access to The Aligned Actor at thealignedactor.substack.com/subscribe
View all episodes
By Amy SchloerbWelcome to more fun on The Aligned Actor PodTubeStack!
I’m Amy Schloerb. I’m a professional actress and a mindfulness and mindset coach helping actors ride the roller coaster — all the ups and downs, twists and turns — of being an actor without throwing up.
Once again we’re exploring a letter I wrote a few years ago to Young Actor Amy who had just arrive in LA. This is A Letter to Young Actor Amy: Part 3 about how All Acting Work is Real.
Let’s see what I wrote back then and see how this advice holds up today.
All acting work is real. Enjoy it.
Don’t treat any acting job like a stepping stone or practice session for a “real job.” THEY ARE ALL REAL JOBS. Different budget levels maybe, but your job is always the same. Know your lines, know what you want in each scene, and do your work. Rinse and repeat. Any idea that “Oh, this is good practice for when I’m REALLY working” is nonsense. You’re REALLY WORKING now! Stop missing out on the fun you’re having right now by continually telling yourself that this job doesn’t count. It counts! Enjoy it! Celebrate them all!
Yes! AND I want to expand this idea even more so that it includes ALL ACTING we do!
Paid and unpaid.
On set and in class.
Auditions and silly stuff we throw up on the internet because it’s fun.
Everything.
When we say “This isn’t real” or “This doesn’t count” or “This is just a stepping stone to the real work” in a way we’re disparaging the work we’re currently doing by comparing it to OTHER work that we deem as “better” because it’s “real” and what we’re really saying is, “This isn’t good enough compared to THAT!”
“This scene in class isn’t good enough compared to having a “real” audition.”
“This audition isn’t good enough compared to having a “real” job on set.”
“This co-star role isn’t good enough compared to having a “real” role as a guest star.”
“This guest star role isn’t good enough compared to having a “real” role as a series regular.”
Where does it end?
That “compare and despair” mindset can cause a lot of stress, self-criticism, and even shame because it’s a really slippery slope from “This isn’t good enough” to “I’m not good enough because THIS is all I have and I don’t have THAT.”
Whereas the mindset that says, “All acting work as the same, it’s all real, it all counts” can set us free to enjoy our acting career in a whole new way.
I’m guessing you got into acting because you love it — it’s fun, it’s creative, you get to express yourself, you love playing characters, you love making people laugh, you love making people cry, you love that “performance high” you get when you act — so why not give yourself permission to really love your acting work — ALL your acting work — right now.
BONUS! — I’ve seen so many videos of famous actors saying that when they stopped thinking of auditions as “something they had to do to get an acting job” and starting seeing them as “THE ACTING JOB” — “I get to act today. This acting work counts just the same as being on set” — that’s when things transformed for them. Here’s one. Here’s another. And here’s one more to complete the rule of threes.
This mindset can make our work better because we’re more committed and not half-assing anything or holding back because “Eh, it doesn’t really count.” When all acting counts, I’m motivated to show up in my acting work in a different, deeper way and my work just keeps getting better and better.
It also takes some of the pressure off booking because when we believe all acting counts the same, and therefore we can enjoy acting at anytime, we suddenly have full control over our access our craft.
There are no gatekeepers between us and our passion.
Just like a painter can pick up their brushes and access the joy of painting anytime, we can pick up a scene or a monologue and access the joy of acting anytime.
Sure, some people will say actors need an audience to witness their acting, but do we?
Maybe that’s just another example of “This acting doesn’t count because I’m just doing it for me.”
What if even acting “just for ourselves” counts?
I have a monologue which I’ve adapted from a Martha Graham quote and sometimes I do it just for myself because it speaks to my soul, and what I want to do in the world, and it affects me the same way I hope it would affect an audience.
That counts for me.
You can go as deep or not deep with this as you want, but the point is: In my book, all acting counts.
It’s all your body of work — your acting practice — like a mindfulness practice.
In fact, a mindfulness practice can help you with this mindset shift, because mindfulness is all about staying focused on the present moment — in this case, the acting work you are currently doing — and gently returning your focus to that work whenever your mind wanders off into thinking, “Eh, this doesn’t count…Oh, no wait…I’m getting to act right now, I’m getting to do what I love. Let me get present to that and enjoy it.”
Mindfulness and mindset shifts like this are my jam. This is the kind of coaching work I love to do with 1:1 clients and in my workshops. Mindfulness can help you become more present in your work, more aware of where your mindset might be holding you back, better able to gently shift those thought patterns so that you can approach your craft and your career with more confidence, have more fun, and really enjoy being an actor despite how crazy-making this profession can be at times.
The Aligned Actor is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
Let’s chat! ☕️
If you’re ready to transform your actor mindset, let’s connect in a complimentary session.
Rest assured, this is not a “sales call.” I’m not Alec Baldwin in Glengarry Glen Ross. In my world ABC means “Always Be Celebrating!” 🥳
This is a chance for us to connect and for you to walk away with some specific, actionable ideas that you can start applying right away to shift and strengthen your actor mindset.
Think of it like an audition where you are the production team. I’ll show you what I do in the role of “coach” by actually coaching you, and then you get to decide, “Does my production need a mindset coach right now, and is Amy right for this role?” Sounds fun, right?
Get my Pre-Audition Focusing Meditation 🎧
I’ve created a free meditation to help you get out of your head and into your character so that you can rock your next audition.
It’s going to help you calm your nerves, let go of distracting thoughts — “How can I book this? What do they want?” — and focus in on what your character wants, what’s going on in the scene, so that you can present your best work every time.
And speaking of calming your nerves…
Accessing Calm is my ebook of super simple, fun mindfulness life hacks I use every day to calm down quickly when stress is high.
These are the tools that help me release tension from my body and keep my mind from spinning out of control with worry and frustration. 😭 ➡️ ☺️
They help me get through the morning rush, calm down before a big audition, and deal with all the stress of the world in general.
It’s a quick read that includes video demonstrations of all tools and some bonus mindfulness meditations — all for just $7!
Upcoming Workshops
I’m hosting online mindfulness workshops in October and November exclusively for members of the SAG-AFTRA LA Conservatory!
Mindfulness 101: Empower Your Craft and Your Career With Your Presence
Come learn about mindfulness and the many advantages it offers performers. Experience a guided mindfulness meditation, explore the benefits of developing a daily mindfulness practice, and learn some quick centering tools to use in auditions and on set.
If you are a member of the SAG-AFTRA LA Conservatory, head to the calendar on the website to sign up. If you’re not a member, I encourage you to join, it’s $45 for a full year of workshops and classes.
Get full access to The Aligned Actor at thealignedactor.substack.com/subscribe