Curtains Up!

Attaining a successful career in the entertainment industry goes much deeper than a listing on a talent roster, or having a well-known agent or manager. Sure, if you are part of the right roster, or have people working around the clock on your behalf to scout out the best gig opportunities, then you may land better gigs or get booked more frequently. If you find a great agent, one who believes in you, then you may have an advantage over someone who does not. Or, if you get that one gig, the one that puts you in the right place at the right time, and you are on your game, it could lead to an important opened door for you.

Longevity is what we all strive for in the entertainment business. A long career doing what we love. What we were born to be doing. This is success as a performer. But how do we find it? How do we get from here to there?

I believe the answer is found in these three qualities: hard work, passion, and persistence. If you want to be a working actor, musician, singer, dancer, model, magician or clown, then work hard, every day. Train, learn, practice, audition. Be heard and seen without getting discouraged when you don’t get the part or when an event planner chooses another act over you. If this does not sound compelling to you, then do something else.

But even if you do find something else that floats your boat, you are still going to have to apply the above to whichever profession you choose. So do what you love so that the process isn’t daunting and difficult to approach each day. To be excellent and successful in your vocation, you must master your craft. If there’s a talent in there, whether natural or learned, then you can make it. There’s a Biblical proverb that says: Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before obscure men.

You can do it, but don’t whine… and no complaining. You can’t be a victim if you’re not where you want to be because it’s nobody else’s fault. Life is too short to point fingers. Keep your eyes on the prize and work hard. The cream always rises to the top.

-Mark