"I think we should talk about risk-taking. I'm talking about trying to find a balance of pursuing acting full-time and doing odds and ends jobs versus settling into a job that is comfortable and pays the bills. I am speaking of my own personal experience throughout the last few years. I have been putting acting on the back burner, questioning whether or not it is something I really want to pursue because of the uncertainty of it and doubting my skills. I am finally at a point in my life right now where I need to decide if I want to keep my day job or leave it and take some serious risks and (for lack of a more better term) 'follow my dreams.'" -- Aimee S.
"About risk taking. I did a long running show for 3 and 1/2 years straight. I was lucky in that I got paid well for it and didn't need to look for other shows during that time. I also got really lazy. Now it's closed and I haven't had to do an audition for over 4 years. A little scary, but what the hell, I'm still young. Young is the time to do it because the more layers of responsiblity that pile on, the harder it is to leave that comfort zone. Now, paying bills is nice, but so is following that passion that got you all those school loans." -- Julie M.
"Regarding risk-taking, Aimee is telling it like it is. I moved out to NYC almost two years ago, and right away I got a job doing web graphics for a ridiculous amount of money. As a result, I felt no impetus to get out there and audition -- acting became something I did in my spare time when I wasn't working. Even though I had enough flexibility to go and audition during the day, I didn't -- lazy, lazy, lazy! I was laid off last month, and in the last three weeks, I've gone to more auditions and received calls for more films than I have in the last year! The reason is that I need the work, and I'm devoting myself to it. Not to say that I haven't done anything for two years, but I'd do a mailing, and then just work for a couple of months; then I'd take a class, and then work for a couple of months. It sounds ridiculous, but it's easy to do when you're paying all the bills and buying the stuff you want." -- Chris B.
"And get a good job that JUST pays the bills and you can JUST stand, and if you find yourself getting comfortable, or starting to care about the job you do there more than what you want to do... QUIT!!!! I'm about to do that myself." -- Jamison H.