The 98%

Something a bit different for The 98% on this episode - with a practical aspect! Guest Dana Middleton is an Alignment and Tapping Coach who helps creative peiple raise their vibrations and unlock their most actualized lives. She teaches her Affirmation Tapping Formula to create laser focus while releasing common blocks and patterns of sabotage that hold creatives back. What is tapping? Well; disciplines that rely on a body-mind connections have evidence showing that they can relieve stress, depression, anxiety and other psychological disorders. Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) tapping falls into this category. Tapping draws on the ancient Chinese practice of accupuncture, which teaches that the body's energy travels along specific pathways. Certain points on these pathwaysare stimulated to improve the flow of energy. Scientists believe that it works because it stimulates the central nervous system and causes the body to release helpful chemicals.

In this episode you'll hear Alexa and Dana discuss what EFT tapping is and why it is importnant and powerful, advice for actors to raise their vibrations and change their mindset to 'move from stuck to shining', and more! Dana even takes listeners along a mini tapping session for actors! Check out our instagram page for a diagram of the tapping points so you can tap-along!

Dana hosts Momentum Monday at the Aligned Artist Facebook Group and Instagram and offers recorded courses and live workshops through her website: thealignedartist.com

Since the recording of this podcast Dana has completed her new course: 30 Days to a High Vibe You. Sign up here! https://thealignedartist.thrivecart.com/30-days-to-a-high-vibe-you/

Follow Dana on instagram @the_aligned_artist

And join the Facebook group The Aligned Artist for live 'tap-along's'

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Follow us on twitter/instagram at @the98percentpod for relatable #actorslife content, tips and advice for actors, and news about our new series. . If you've benefitted from, and enjoyed, the podcast and want to give a little back; we have a ko-fi where every penny thrown in our hat goes straight into contributing towards the costs of running the podcast and creating helpful content online for actors. Every little helps and is so appreciated! https://ko-fi.com/the98percent . Want to connect with other actors around the world, be coached, see castings, read in for self tapes or earn money reading for others? You can do all this and more at https://www.weaudition.com with 25% off your monthly subscription with the discount code 9825!

Something a bit different for The 98% today - with a practical aspect!

Guest Dana Middleton is an Alignment and Tapping Coach who helps creative people raise their vibrations and unlock their most actualized lives. She teaches her Affirmation Tapping Formula to create laser focus while releasing common blocks and patterns of sabotage that hold creatives back. 

What is tapping you ask? Well; disciplines that rely on a body-mind connection has evidence showing that they can relieve stress, depression, anxiety, and other psychological disorders. And emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) tapping falls into this category. Tapping draws on the ancient Chinese practice of accupuncture, which teaches that the body's energy travels along specific pathways. Certain points on these pathways are stimulated to improve the flow of energy. Scientists believe that it works because it stimulates the central nervous system and causes the body to release helpful chemicals. EFT tapping stimulates acupoints by touch rather than by the use of needles, making it similar to acupressure.

In this episode you'll hear Alexa and Dana discuss what EFT tapping is and why it is important and powerful, advice for actors to raise their vibrations and change their mindset to ‘move from stuck to shining’, and more! This episode is an invigorating injection of positivity and reminder of how brave, courageous and admirable actors and creatives are for pursuing thier goals and being professional artists. Dana even takes listeners along on a mini tapping session for actors! As well as giving specific examples of affirmation tapping actors can use when needed.

Dana hosts Momentum Monday at the Aligned Artist Facebook Group and Instagram and offers recorded courses and live workshops through her website: thealignedartist.com

Since the recording of this podcast Dana has completed her new course: 30 Days to a High Vibe You. Sign up here! https://thealignedartist.thrivecart.com/30-days-to-a-high-vibe-you/

Follow Dana on instagram @the_aligned_artist
And join the Facebook group The Aligned Artist for live ‘tap-along’s’ 

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Three jobbing actors turn on the mic. One of them loves dealing with tax..the other two looooathe it. What happens next? Tune into find out! Alexa, Katie and guest Pete Mooney talk all things "tax for beginners" and really break it down to empower actors and other creatives to feel in control and in-the-know about being taxed as a freelancer. Tax returns, expenses, claims, budgeting, the importance of checking your bank statements, and more - all explored to the back drop of personal stories from Alexa, Katie and Pete about their tax woes and lessons learned.

Pete offers a personalised, friendly and helpful tax service for creatives and those who are self emplyed through his side hustle Tax, Back and Craic. Find out more and book in a session by following @taxbackandcraic on social media!

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Follow us on twitter/instagram at @the98percentpod for relatable #actorslife content, tips and advice for actors, and news about our new series. . If you've benefitted from, and enjoyed, the podcast and want to give a little back; we have a ko-fi where every penny thrown in our hat goes straight into contributing towards the costs of running the podcast and creating helpful content online for actors. Every little helps and is so appreciated! https://ko-fi.com/the98percent . Want to connect with other actors around the world, be coached, see castings, read in for self tapes or earn money reading for others? You can do all this and more at https://www.weaudition.com with 25% off your monthly subscription with the discount code 9825!

In 2010 a new theatre producer hit the twitter scene. But this wasn't like any other producer, this was a persona and he was talking the talk. After swiftly gaining popularity for his tongue-in-cheek relatable showbiz musings, it was time for 'West End Producer' to walk the walk. Which he did..donning a mask, sticking a pillow down his trousers and adopting a voice that is now so synonymous with the character he portrayed. For 14 years the real identity of 'WEP' has been a secret...until now.

After writing two books, being a columnist for The Stage, appearing at countless press nights and industry events and amassing a cult following, it was time for the man behind the mask to be revealed. With rumours swirling and some steadfastly believing it was really a producer akin to Sir Cameron Mackintosh, actors across the country (including Alexa and Katie) were delighted to discover that the genius behind this character was, in fact, a "jobbing actor" in the 98%.

Christian Edwards started posing as West End Producer all those years ago partly out of frustration at the industry and all it entails for actors, and partly as a need for a creative outlet he was in control of. He had no idea when he sent that first tweet that he'd gain 60,000 followers, be a voice of guidance for many, have a sell out show at the Edinburgh Fringe, become an author, and be the centre of London's best kept theatre secret for over a decade.

In today's episode you'll hear from West End Producer himself, as well as Christian who shares the times he was almost at breaking point, the imposter syndrome he faced as WEP, close calls of people finding out, why he is unmasking now and more classic 98% actor stories than you can imagine (including how going from the red carpet as WEP to a promo work shift the next morning really puts a new spin on #actorslife!)

Follow West End Producer @westendproducer And Christian @chrisedwards79

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Follow us on twitter/instagram at @the98percentpod for relatable #actorslife content, tips and advice for actors, and news about our new series. . If you've benefitted from and enjoyed the podcast and want to give a little back, we have a ko-fi where every penny thrown in our hat goes straight into contributing towards the costs of running the podcast and creating helpful content online for actors. Every little helps and is so appreciated! https://ko-fi.com/the98percent . Want to connect with other actors around the world, be coached, see castings, read in for self tapes or earn money reading for others? You can do all this and more at https://www.weaudition.com with 25% off your monthly subscription with the discount code 9825!

A few months ago The Cut published an article 3 years in the making. Journalist Sara Jin Li spoke to 26 ex-students of acting studio Lonsdale Smith & Company, ran by "dogmatic leader slash guru" Michèle Lonsdale-Smith; who has been running acting classes in studios acros North America, and now Europe, for 20+ years. Actors described, in detail, cult-like abuse, mistreatment and bullying exhibited under the guise of "doing the work". Since the release of the article, huge comparisons have been made online between what these actors have described, and the workings of dangerous cults..from survivors of cults themselves.

In today's episode one of those ex-students, Brooke, joins us to share her experience and the ways she is using it to retrain as an art therapist with the aim to provide person centered, trauma informed safe spaces for artists. Brooke shares her inspiring story and strength, harrowing experience, important thoughts around how actors are viewed by the profession and themselves, why person-centered training is key, and why actors shouldn't be performing monkey's jumping through hoops for those percived to be 'important' in this industry. An important listen for all.

Content Warning - this episode contains discussion around mistreatment and verbal abuse

Follow Brooke on instagram @ababblingbooke and her traum-informed safe space for artists @rise.artists

If you'd like to find out more about the acting studio, and teacher, discussed in this episode you can read the article in The Cut here: https://www.thecut.com/article/michele-lonsdale-smith-acting-class-students.html

You can also listen to a two-part episode from podcast A Little Bit Culty who chat to three ex-students, including Brooke https://open.spotify.com/episode/1EDnectgYfgtg78i6ISLpc?si=_p4AGFlWQUOJEnDaZ9_P2w

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Follow us on twitter/instagram at @the98percentpod for relatable #actorslife content, tips and advice for actors, and news about our new series. . If you've benefitted from and enjoyed the podcast and want to give a little back, we have a ko-fi where every penny thrown in our hat goes straight into contributing towards the costs of running the podcast and creating helpful content online for actors. Every little helps and is so appreciated! https://ko-fi.com/the98percent . Want to connect with other actors around the world, be coached, see castings, read in for self tapes or earn money reading for others? You can do all this and more at https://www.weaudition.com with 25% off your monthly subscription with the discount code 9825!

For so long conservatoire drama schools have been the only way to get invaluable training to set you up for the industry...but not anymore. IAmPro is just one of the alternative training offerings out there for actors and creatives who want to work in the entertainment industry. IAmPro trains talent digitally and gets them discovered, collaborating and networking, and offers personalised end-to-end learning which prepares people for the future creative industry. Their mission is to democratise the historically archaic systems which have driven multi-layers of inequality within our industry.

Today's guest is Ben Brooks, co founder and director of production at IAmPro. Ben himself started off in-front of the camera as an actor and then studied Musical Theatre before deciding to work behind the camera in television production, which he has done for the last 15 years. He is also and agent and director of acting agency iAP Talent Group.

Ben tells us about his journey from being an actor as a youngster to working behind the camera, and eventually co-founding an alternative to the standard actor training to make it more accessible for all creatives to explore multiple avenues within the entertainment business. We chat about nepotism within the industry (and his own experience of having a famous actress as a sister!), going from working in front of the camera to behind the camera in production, how and why IAmPro started, the perception of success, thoughts on casting director workshops, as well as brilliant advice from an agent's point of view as director of an actor agency!

Make sure you listen all the way through to hear an exclusive DISCOUNT for listeners of The 98% for all the amazing things IAmPro has to offer!

Follow IAmPro online @iampro Learn more about IAmPro and join here https://iampro.com

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Follow us on twitter/instagram at @the98percentpod for relatable #actorslife content, tips and advice for actors, and news about our new series. . If you've benefitted from and enjoyed the podcast and want to give a little back, we have a ko-fi where every penny thrown in our hat goes straight into contributing towards the costs of running the podcast and creating helpful content online for actors. Every little helps and is so appreciated! https://ko-fi.com/the98percent . This episode was recorded on Squadcast - the virtual podcast recording site. Find out more here https://squadcast.fm . Want to connect with other actors around the world, be coached, see castings, read in for self tapes or earn money reading for others? You can do all this and more at https://www.weaudition.com with 25% off your monthly subscription with the discount code 9825!

"It's all corporate greed"

July 2023 marks an historic time for the entertainment industry. For the first time in decades the actor union in the United States (SAG-AFTRA) and the Writers Guild Of America (WGA) have joined forces to strike after the expiration of their contracts with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers and the AMPTP's refusal to engage in negotiations for fair pay, safe working conditions, protection against AI and other basic rights for performers, writers and creatives.

Whether you are a member of SAG-AFTRA or not, this strike affects and represents us all. Knowledge is power and we are all in this together, so tune in to this episode to arm yourself with insight and fuel your solidarity.

Why are the strikes happening? What caused them? How does SAG-AFTRA work as a union? How are they different to Equity and other sister unions? How can you support the strike and how does it affect you? What are some experiences of actors that are happening right now in terms of why we need this strike?

Find out all of this and more from this episode's two brilliant guests; Kylie Sparks (they/them) an actor, writer, singer, comedian and strike leader on the ground at the picket line and Dominic Burgess (he/him) a British actor who has been living and working in LA since 2007. They give detailed, open, honest accounts of the importance of these strikes and show why this should be a global movement. Follow them online @kyliesparks and @dominicburgess

Some links mentioned in the episode...

https://www.sagaftrastrike.org Information on the strike

tinyurl.com/2023support Free resources and assistance for strikers and how to support them

https://www.equity.org.uk/solidarity-statement-advice-regarding-sag-aftra-industrial-action-2023 Comment from UK Union Equity on the strikes

https://www.ubcpactra.ca/strike-updates/ Information from Canada's Union UBCP-ACTRA on the strike

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Follow us on twitter/instagram at @the98percentpod for relatable #actorslife content, tips and advice for actors, and news about our new series.

Follow alexa @alexamorden . If you've benefitted from and enjoyed the podcast and want to give a little back, we have a ko-fi where every penny thrown in our hat goes straight into contributing towards the costs of running the podcast and creating helpful content online for actors. Every little helps and is so appreciated! https://ko-fi.com/the98percent . This episode was recorded on Squadcast - the virtual podcast recording site. Find out more here https://squadcast.fm

While The 98% mostly discusses everything about the real #actorslife aside from the actual art of acting…this episode is a slight gear change as Alexa talks to renowned acting teacher Terry Knickerbocker. In this down to earth, honest chat you can hear discussion on the importance of laying the foundations for working on your craft, why your goals should be more than just "be a working actor", what to look out for when finding a good coach, the importance of self care and finding a nurturing teacher, how to handle the business and stay resilient, self taping advice…and the reasons why Terry loves to work with Daniel Craig!

Terry has been teaching new actors as well as coaching experienced actors for decades, and despite working with some of the most famous actors in the world - he has never got caught up in the smoke and mirrors of the profession and remains steadfast in offering training for actors to realize their full potential at his acting studio in New York; Terry Knickerbocker Studio. This is a hugely relatable episode and one to inspire those who may need a reminder, in this difficult and draining industry, of why we are in it in the first place.

To find out more about Terry's teaching work and studio visit: https://terryknickerbockerstudio.com Follow the studio on instagram @terryknickerbockerstudio

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Follow us on twitter/instagram at @the98percentpod for relatable #actorslife content, tips and advice for actors, and news about our new series. . If you've benefitted from and enjoyed the podcast and want to give a little back, we have a ko-fi where every penny thrown in our hat goes straight into contributing towards the costs of running the podcast and creating helpful content online for actors. Every little helps and is so appreciated! https://ko-fi.com/the98percent . This episode was recorded on Squadcast - the virtual podcast recording site. Find out more here https://squadcast.fm . Want to connect with other actors around the world, be coached, see castings, read in for self tapes or earn money reading for others? You can do all this and more at https://www.weaudition.com with 25% off your monthly subscription with the discount code 9825!

An episode years in the making and one The 98% is SO excited to share. A first-of-its-kind chat where an Assistant Director for TV and film shares all the insight an actor could possibly need for working on set. This is like a crash course in everything they don't teach you at drama school..but what you should know!

In this insightful, informative episode 2nd A.D Erin Morris-Large shares the ins and outs of #setlife, the do's and don't's for actors working in TV/film, a breakdown of a call sheet, and what Whoopi Goldberg's trailer is like! This is an excellent episode for all actors wanting to do screen work, or any creative interested in working on tv and film crews. So much knowledge and insight to be shared..along with some cracking stories only an A.D can tell you!

*Important note*: During the second half of this episode Erin helps listeners decipher a call sheet. We have posted the call sheet we are referring to on our twitter and instagram page, as well as our website under "About - The Podcast". We strongly recommend having the call sheet up as a visual to accompany listening to you can be as prepared as possible for the next time a call sheet arrives in your inbox! Find it at @the98percentpod

Follow Erin's meme page for funny lessons on #setlife @assistantdirectorhuns Erin is part of the Assistant Director's Guild. Learn more about the guild and how to get into this line of work here! https://adguild.uk

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If you've benefitted from and enjoyed the podcast and want to give a little back, we have a ko-fi where every penny thrown in our hat goes straight into contributing towards the costs of running the podcast and creating helpful content online for actors. Every little helps and is so appreciated! https://ko-fi.com/the98percent . Want to connect with other actors around the world, be coached, see castings, read in for self tapes or earn money reading for others? You can do all this and more at https://www.weaudition.com with 25% off your monthly subscription with the discount code 9825!

*Content Note/Trigger Warning: This episode contains conversation around mental illness and eating disorders. Please take care while listening.*

Grab a cuppa and settle in for a feature film length episode! We feel so privileged to platform stories on The 98% that are not usually heard in #actorslife circles, and today's episode is a really special one of that nature. Alexa and guest Em Holdaway could have chatted for hours thanks to Em's incredible honesty and transparency about her journey, which makes for inspiring listening. Listen to hear how Em went from child actor and student at the Brit school with high hopes and sights set on being a musical theatre performer and actor, to doing what was completely unimaginable to her and leaving the industry altogether - gaining an unexpected joy for life and general happiness almost over night. Em tells us about her mental health journey including a Type I Bipolar diagnosis, university choices, finding (and actually liking) a remote job, breaking up with acting, unpicking who you are if not through an actor lens, relationship jealousies when your spouse is "successful", moving away from London, experiencing burn out..and so much more!

This is an eye opening and important episode for ANY actor to hear, at any point in their actor journey. We can all learn a lot from Em, her experience and words of wisdom. Most listeners probably aren't thinking about leaving the industry or stopping acting, but there are so many wise words in this episode that every actor needs to hear. The importance of hobbies and spending your time doing things that are separate from your careers, knowing that it will be ok if you do choose to go down another path, separating who you are from your job. For better peace of mind, this is not an episode to miss.

In this episode Alexa mentions Wellbeing In The Arts, an organization that provides low cost counselling for people in the arts, find out more here https://www.wellbeinginthearts.org.uk

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Follow us on twitter/instagram at @the98percentpod for relatable #actorslife content, tips and advice for actors, and news about our new series.

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If you've benefitted from and enjoyed the podcast and want to give a little back, we have a ko-fi where every penny thrown in our hat goes straight into contributing towards the costs of running the podcast and creating helpful content online for actors. Every little helps and is so appreciated! https://ko-fi.com/the98percent . Want to connect with other actors around the world, be coached, see castings, read in for self tapes or earn money reading for others? You can do all this and more at https://www.weaudition.com with 25% off your monthly subscription with the discount code 9825!