But are you having fun?
Even when they're the size of bath mats, red carpets are fun.
My acting coach in Austin learned from Sandy Meisner. (You know he knows Sandy, because he calls him, well, Sandy.) And, like Mr. Meisner, he is a font of Yoda-like wisdom. Four handwritten notebooks full last time I checked.
As you'd expect, his advice on the art and business of acting are invaluable to an actor. But you might be surprised how much that wisdom plays into daily life. Ever been on a job interview? I bet his audition notes would help. No idea where your partner is coming from? Ignore the words and watch the body language. (In Yoda-speak, 'icing the words are.')
Like his advice about words being icing, there were things I had to sit with. Things I had to think about--do I even believe this? And that brings us back to the audition notes.
After a lot of great industry-related advice about where to look, what to do with the script, whether or not to shake hands, it ended up being an odd, personal bit of advice at the end of the conversation that has become one of the most valuable things I've taken with me.
"Tell them you had fun."
That's it. It sounded a little ridiculous. You're in a high pressure situation, being judged for what you look like and what you can do, and you're supposed to tell them it was fun? But then I had this audition. And it was fun. So I tried it. And it was amazing.
“When you let people know you’re having fun, you’re telling them their work is rewarding. That you’re excited to be a part of it. And, that on a personal level, you’re pleased to be working alongside them.”
The whole energy of the room changed. The power shifted. We were all in this together.
Turns out that talking openly about fun doesn't only work at auditions.
In a world that says, 'it's called work for a reason,' this advice may seem impractical. Even threatening.
But sit with it for awhile.
And, when a project or assignment is fun, tell your boss. Tell your team. And I bet you'll find what I found. When you let people know you're having fun, you're telling them their work is rewarding. That you're excited to be a part of it. And, that on a personal level, you're pleased to be working alongside them.
Just think about it.
Try it.
And tell me what happens.
