If the pandemic occurred 10 years ago, here's what would've happened to me.

If the pandemic had occurred in 2010 instead of 2020 my entire world would have come crashing down.

Not only would my dream job have been gone (I spent part of that year performing at a dinner theatre) but my day jobs doing retail, promoting Broadway shows in Times Square, and my internship in a Broadway producer’s office would’ve all disappeared as well.

I would’ve been without opportunities, without options, and incredibly scared--especially when I saw that extra $600 per week of unemployment benefit expiring.

Even way back then, I had this gut feeling that I needed to find flexible work that I could do on a laptop, but I wasn’t sure where to start. I loved the idea of working from home or from anywhere, not depending on the fickle nature of the industries I was in to ensure I’d be able to make rent.

That kind of flexibility and autonomy resonated with me in my BONES, way before I had Eloise and saw firsthand how incredible it is to have a flexible work arrangement when you have a little one who is growing up before your eyes.

The opportunity I’m about to share with you now would’ve changed my life if it had been presented to me then.

My friend and colleague, April Herndon, is hosting a FREE Virtual Conference titled The Work From Home Cure: Learn how to legitimately work from home and make an incredible income without sales, network marketing, scams or data entry. 

April is CEO and founder of My VA School where she teaches folks all over the world how to successfully work from home through virtual assisting and freelance work. 

After hitting well over six figures doing virtual assisting from home, April is now passionate about showing others how she did it.

I've been asked to be a keynote speaker for this Virtual Conference which means that I have a complimentary ticket for you as part of my community!

I’ll be alongside several other amazing guest experts covering topics like how to find clients, work/life balance, self-care, working from home with kids and the actual logistics of freelance work.

I’m so thrilled to be sharing how building a personal brand helped me pivot to the career of my dreams and how you can employ these same tactics to explode your opportunities too. 

This is not like other conferences. My VA School has strategically put this virtual event together so that you can take the information you’ll learn and apply it RIGHT NOW to get started on your work-from-home journey.

Imagine working from home or working from anywhere, and never having to worry if you're going to get laid off or furloughed again. You have EVERYTHING within you RIGHT NOW to create the life you want. Let us lead the way for you.

We'll teach you how to have full control over your schedule, your income and your life.

Join me HERE and I can’t wait to see you there.

10 Pieces of Advice for a Young Theatre Major (That Have Nothing to Do with Acting)

Today's post is a slight detour from the usual. I'm getting specific and giving some advice to young theatre majors. Back to our regularly scheduled programming next week when I come at you with a #TuesdayTip video! 

If I could do anything differently in my past I would’ve been a theatre major.

I know, some of you may be surprised that I wasn’t one. I wasn’t! (And let me edit that slightly--I would've double majored in theatre and communications.) When I started college I hadn’t been exposed to theatre very much and I really didn’t realize that one could make a career out of stage performance outside of Broadway (I know…). Luckily I was exposed to great theatre training and experience when I was in college so I got the opportunity to embark on this wild ride of a career after all. (When God has plans for you, He makes a way.)

Now I’m entering my 10th(!) year in professional theatre and I'm thinking back on the lessons I've learned along the journey. While I haven't been a full time actor every day of those ten years, I have spent at least part of the year on a professional contract each year since 2006 (with the exception of 2011--grad school.) Here's a few lessons I've learned over the duration that I wish I had known my freshman year of college (if I could do it all over again). 

10 Pieces of Advice for a Young Theatre Major 

1. You’ll never regret getting a second skill. Now, don’t confuse this with a “Plan B.” When you want to become a professional actor you don't have a Plan B. But you should diversify your skills. You'll be able to contribute to society in more than one meaningful way and you won't resent your passion during those times that said passion might not provide for your basic needs. 

2. Don’t look for your creative fulfillment solely in one kind of artistic expression. Disappointments come. Make sure you are finding joy in more than just your "one thing." 

3. Talent is critical, but so is work ethic and kindness. It's not just about who has the "it" factor. An incredibly practical piece of advice I got from Tory Ross has rung in my ears ever since: "be early and over prepared." Go the extra mile. 

4. Don’t be so competitive that upon graduation all you leave college with are a bunch of memories of roles. Invest in friendships. College is where you can make friends for life. Don’t let competition keep you from community.

5. Practice things that help to thicken your skin—whether it’s a new art form, asking for a discount, or traveling alone. Bravery is a critical part of performing. If you don't feel confident pretend to be a confident person. You're an actor after all. (Stolen from the brilliant Lindsley Register.) 

6. Diversify the important voices in your life and career. One person’s opinion is just that. Don’t put too much stock in it (whether he thinks you’re brilliant or hates your work.) 

7. As important as it is to get lots of experience, it’s also incredibly important to see great work. Go to plays. Go to movies. Rent the really good, old movies. See as much as you can. 

8. Build relationships with actors from other programs, technicians at your own school, people older than you, people outside the theatre program, etc. It’s important to not get in a silos where you’re insulated from others’ experiences. Learn all you can about the many artists who contribute to the creation of a show. And make a point to collide with people who are different than you. You'll be a better actor and a better human for it. 

9. Know what your boundaries are and stick to them. And beyond that, know why you have those boundaries in place. Figure that out while you're in a safe, collegiate atmosphere. Once you get out into the professional community it will be much more challenging to make those decisions without the support of your mentors, professors and peers. 

10. Keep at it. The secret to success in this business is going to one more audition. Keep going. Listen to Rocky: “One step. One round at a time.” The reason I continued to book shows throughout my twenties is because I continued to go to auditions. It's as simple as that. 

So there’s my list of advice for someone starting out in a theatre program. There's obviously TONS more to learn. That's what your degree is for! :-) 

Bottom line, remember there’s always another show. And there’s always another audition. It’s up to you to show up and make it count. 

If you're curious about my acting work or if you're like wait, what? You're an actor? Go here to get the scoop.