Monday, November 30, 2009

I've been saving money to move to L.A. since August and I only have $168.

Fuck.

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Tick Tock...

Happy Turkey Day everyone, as I prepare for a long night at work, watching happy people enjoy a $200 turkey dinner with friends and family.

It's all good, I'm having leftovers with my family tomorrow night. I actually kind of like working holidays. And not just because I get time and a half, but because it's kind of nice being with my co-workers on a day like today. All of us are missing a holiday with family, it gives us a nice "Goodnight Saigon" kind of feeling. We're all in it together.

I can't believe it's already the end of November. Mostly because I've only had to break out the winter coat once. Congratulations Al Gore, you were right.

I have yet to peek into my travel fund for after my 25th birthday. It's looking kind of full, but it's mostly small bills. Maybe people will be feeling generous tonight and tip the poor sad girl whose family is eating yams without her. I figure I should have at least 1200 dollars for the move to LA, provided I can find someplace to stay that won't require "rent" in the strictest sense.

Of course if I become famous before then, rather than go to LA I'm going to Europe. And I feel I've taken a step in the right direction. I just got myself a manager.

That management company that had contacted me over the summer, A Future Star Talent, is now AFST Management, and run by a woman named Jenn who is actually good about returning emails and calls, unlike whoever was working there when they cancelled my audition and never rescheduled.

I got a newsletter from them, so I guess I'm still on some kind of mailing list or something, so I emailed them to explain my situation. The next day I got an email with an audition appointment. Way to go Jenn.

She had me read a scene, first with no direction, and then as a ditsy blonde. Then she had me do my Irish accent, and poof: Management. They're a freelance company, so I didn't have to sign anything. It's good but it's also a little worrisome. It's good because I can still look for my own jobs and submit myself for things independently from them. But it makes me a little worrisome because it's a little hard to tell how hard they're going to be fighting for me. I don't know, no contract kind of makes me think there's no obligation, and I'm undecided as to whether or not that's a good thing.

But one thing is for sure, having a manager definitely gives me a leg up. First of all they have more contacts than I do. They have clients who have booked HBO pilots and roles on Ugly Betty and so on. And also it looks a lot better to have a manager submit my resume than if I just found a casting director's address and slapped a stamp on the back of my headshot. Having representation implies that someone has seen you work and thinks that you have talent. It implies that someone believes in you. And that's great.

I'm still going to be trying to get my own stuff. I've only been Jenn's client for less than two weeks and there's only so much she can tell about me from one reading. Probably the best thing I can do is make sure she sees me work so she can get a better sense of who I am. That way she'll know what to submit me for.

She seems really on top of things and professional, I'm really excited about working with her. So much so that I will excuse her spelling her name "JENN" when clearly only one "N" is necessary.