Category Archives: Work

Where I Am (or Staying The Course)

Posted on December 20, 2012 | Comments Off on Where I Am (or Staying The Course)

I haven’t really updated recently about my weight loss.

That’s because there isn’t a lot to share. I’m maintaining the little loss I had earlier this year, but I haven’t lost any since. This is disappointing, but not unexpected.

I haven’t had a ton of time for exercising. On the mornings where I don’t leave for work until 11am, I’m normally trying to get other work things done before I go to work. And I don’t get up earlier because I get home late, and I know that I do not do well with a lack of sleep (I try to get at least 6 hours).

My food hasn’t been as good as it can be. It’s not horrible, but I know it could be better.

I keep saying that once I’m (f)unemployed I’ll be able to spend time on me. But now, my job might end up being year round. I’m now sure if I could do 6 days a week year round. That’s a lot. Only having 1 day off a week is tough, and normally that day is filled with laundry and cleaning since I don’t have other time to get it done.

I don’t want to leave my job. I’m making better money than at my old job and my boss is very cool with my acting stuff. But I’m thinking that I might start looking for something that I can do on the side and maybe eventually turn into my main job.

Yes, I need to make money to pay the bills and pay down my credit card. But I also need to take care of myself, and I don’t feel like I am doing that to the best of my ability right now.

And I want to be working on my career (acting) versus my job and right now I’m not able to focus on it as much as I’d like.

I don’t know what I’m really trying to say, I just needed to get it out there. Maybe after I have 2 days off at Christmas I’ll have a better attitude and feel better about where I am.

You Might Also Like

Default ThumbnailStaying Super Busy (or Another Job) Default ThumbnailScheduling Life (or Trying To Remember What Day Of The Week It Is) Default ThumbnailBack Into The Groove (or Staying On The Right Path While At Work) Default ThumbnailTrying To Go With The Flow (or Staying Calm And Remembering To Breathe) Default ThumbnailFinding A Work/Life Balance (or Preparing to Not Be Unemployed) Default ThumbnailMissing Out On Some Fun (or Flexible Time Management)

Comments Off on Where I Am (or Staying The Course)

Posted in Acting, Tough Stuff, Weight Loss, Work

Tagged ,

Trying to Not Be Defensive (or Accepting Myself)

Posted on December 12, 2012 | Comments Off on Trying to Not Be Defensive (or Accepting Myself)

I made some cute new actor business cards. On the front, I’ve got two of my favorite headshots.

IMG_1120

On the back I’ve got thumbnails or two other headshots and my contact information. I put my phone number, email, twitter handle, website, and I included this blog as well.

I normally give out these cards to actors or other industry people who I meet. When they find out that I have a blog, they are pretty excited about it and want to hear more. And I’m usually really excited to talk about it because they are creative people and this is one of my creative sides.

Occasionally I’ll give a card out to someone random. I had a friend of a friend ask for it because she might use me as a babysitter in the future. These are the only cards I carry with me, so I gave her one.

She was commenting on my photo and flipped the card over. She noticed the URL for the blog, and asked me what it is. I was instantly embarrassed and apologized for not having another card with me. But my friend who was right there spoke up and talked about my blog and how she likes to read it (which I still find hard to believe sometimes). And her friend then started talking about how much she loves blogs.

I don’t know what I was defensive and not being as open about the blog to a non-industry person as I am to an industry person. It didn’t have to do with her being a stranger, because I’ve talked about my blog with complete strangers I’ve met at Women In Film.

I’m trying to have more pride in what I’ve accomplished with this blog. I don’t know what made me be so embarrassed at that moment.

This blog is as much a part of me as my acting career or anything else. When I talk about how awesome other aspects of my life are, I need to remember to start including this.

You Might Also Like

Default ThumbnailBeing Underestimated (or Does My Opinion Not Matter?) Default ThumbnailBack To Basics (or How A Win At My Day Job Can Help My Acting Career) Default ThumbnailGift Shopping (or For Me, It’s That Time of the Year) Default ThumbnailHappy 100th! (or Guess I Might Be A Writer) Default ThumbnailSharing the Truth (or It’s Time To Rip Off the Band-Aid) Default ThumbnailRunning Into An Ex-BFF (or How I Survived My Pedicure)

Comments Off on Trying to Not Be Defensive (or Accepting Myself)

Posted in Acting, Fun Stuff, Tough Stuff, Work

Tagged ,

Alternative Motivation (or Why Can’t I Transfer My Dedication From One Area to Another)

Posted on December 10, 2012 | Comments Off on Alternative Motivation (or Why Can’t I Transfer My Dedication From One Area to Another)

On Friday evening, I attended the Actors’ Network annual holiday party. I love this holiday party! It’s a great mix of industry types and I always run into people who I don’t see as often as I’d like.

I haven’t been able to go to many Actors’ Network events since starting my new day job in May. Most events are between 1 and 7:30pm and I pretty much always working then. I plan on attending more events when I’m (f)unemployed soon.

As I was chatting with a friend who I hadn’t seen in almost a year, we were discussing what had been keeping us busy. I mentioned this blog, and they asked me about it. I said how I just recently passed 100 blog posts and they commented on how motivated and dedicated I must be.

I always have thought of myself as someone who needs more motivation in life. If I was a motivated person, I shouldn’t have a weight issue. I would be motivated to eat better and exercise more.

But the more I thought about it, it’s true that I’m really motivated.

I’m motivated to write every day here, and I’m super happy about that. I love thinking of what to write about and what you will all think about it.

I’m also really motivated in my job, which is good.

I’m motivated to keep acting. I know that one day I’ll “make it” and it will all be worth it.

I’m motivated to watch my favorite tv shows even when I’m tired (this might not be the best one, but it’s true).

I just can’t find the motivation all the time for my health. I don’t know what the block is in my brain. I want to do it, but I can’t seem to do it. I don’t know if I’ve convinced myself that I don’t have enough time/energy/whatever to do it. But now that someone else has made me realize that I do have a motivated personality, I’m going to work on figuring it out.

You Might Also Like

Default Thumbnail3 Years Down (or Where I Started) Default ThumbnailEnding My Challenge Early (or I Guess I Made A Mistake) Default ThumbnailFinding A Community (or Online Motivation) Default Thumbnail500 Posts! (or A Reason To Celebrate!) Default ThumbnailTrying To Make A 5K Plan (or Maybe This Is The Motivation I’m Missing) Default ThumbnailSurprising A Friend Headed To Broadway (or I Have More Motivation To Plan My NYC Trip)

Comments Off on Alternative Motivation (or Why Can’t I Transfer My Dedication From One Area to Another)

Posted in Acting, Fitness, Food, Tough Stuff, Weight Loss, Work

Tagged ,

Happy 100th! (or Guess I Might Be A Writer)

Posted on November 30, 2012 | 1 comment

It’s my 100th blog post! I’m kind of in shock. When I started writing this, I hoped that I would love doing it and it would become a part of my day that I looked forward to, but I was not sure. Fortunately, I’m loving this!

I never really thought of myself as a writer. But I’ve always thought of a writer as a screenwriter or someone who writes books. I’m not very good at either of those. I wish I could write scripts, but there is a disconnect in my brain for writing something for visual media.

But ever since I started writing this blog, people have commented to me in person that I’m a good writer. I’ve even had a few people ask me why I’m not writing this as a book instead of a blog. Whenever I got those comments, I blew them off. I always said that I’m not a writer.

But maybe I am.

When I was at the Women in Film mentoring event this week, everyone else was introducing themselves as a hybrid (actor-writer, writer-director, producer-makeup artist). I’ve always said that I’m an actor. That’s it. Even though I produced a documentary, I don’t think of myself as a producer. That was a passion project and I’m not seeking another producing job.

But I started introducing myself as an actor-blogger at the event this week. And to my surprise, everyone seemed impressed that I write a blog. Maybe I’ve been underestimating this, but I was surprised how much people wanted to know about the blog. But I was so excited to be able to introduce myself as a hybrid that I’m proud of.

In the first 100 posts, I feel like I’ve gotten so much off my chest that I’ve been keeping secretive. Now that I don’t have to focus on hiding those parts of my life, I’ve been able to focus on moving forward and growing as a person. I feel like I am a much better me than I was 100 posts ago.

Can’t wait to see where I am after the next 100!

You Might Also Like

Default ThumbnailHappy Birthday To FMIB! (or 2 Years And Finally Taking Myself Seriously As A Writer) Default ThumbnailBeing Proactive (or Bringing Acting To Me) Default ThumbnailOne Last Work Happy Hour (or I Guess I Really Am Unemployed Now) Default ThumbnailAlternative Motivation (or Why Can’t I Transfer My Dedication From One Area to Another) Default ThumbnailHitting Writer’s Block (or This Is Going To Be Me Rambling) Default ThumbnailHappy Hour and Happiness (or I’m On Another Blog Now)

1 Comment

Posted in Acting, Celebrations, Fun Stuff, Work

Tagged , ,

I’m Back (or Planning On Keeping My Routine)

Posted on November 26, 2012 | 2 comments

I’m finally back home! I had a great Thanksgiving week with my family. Lots of quality time with everyone. And lots of funny memories and stories were said. Some of my favorites were from my cousin’s kids. Her 5 year old was convinced that my older cousin was Superman and called him that for 2 days (we explained that his cape was at the tailors being hemmed). And her 3 year old had one of the funniest quotes of the week. On Friday at dinner, she suddenly shouted “roll me in sugar and bake me in the oven!”. None of us know where she got that, but it was pretty entertaining.

Yesterday I spent the day unpacking and then spending time with my brother and his fiancée, who came to town for the USC game.

But today, it’s back to usual. I’m back to my 6 day a week job (at least until the season is supposed to end in January). I’m back to my own food. And I’m back to the schedule that I’ve gotten used to for the past 6 months.

I’m trying to plan out things to do when it’s the off-season for my job and I’m unemployed. My mom and aunt are coning to visit me in February to see a taping of one of our favorite tv shows “2 Broke Girls”, and my future sister-in-law and I are thinking of taking a trip to NYC sometime in the winter as well.

I have no idea what life is going to look like for me in the off-season (which is supposed to be January until the beginning of May). But I’m trying to schedule things for myself that I would have done even if I was working.

I just signed up for The Color Run in February. I decided to create a team (called Hue Did It!). Right now, I have 3 members on my team, and need to have at least 4. So if any of you readers are interested in doing The Color Run, you can sign up for my team here.

While I can’t plan too much since I don’t exactly know what’s going on, I’m trying to plan on doing things that I would want to do whether or not I’m working. I’m hoping that this will help make the transition to being temporarily unemployed (whenever that may be) easier.

You Might Also Like

Default ThumbnailTrip Planning (or Keeping Panic To A Minimum) Default ThumbnailNew Routine Time (or Time Management At Home) Default ThumbnailScheduling Conflicts (or Maybe I Should Stop Planning) Default ThumbnailLast Official Mentee Meeting (or Planning For 2016) Default ThumbnailKeeping Life Exciting (or Making Sure Tomorrow is Different Than Yesterday) Default ThumbnailFitting In My Workouts (or Planning For The End Of The Year)

2 Comments

Posted in Family, Fun Stuff, Work

Tagged , , ,

Making Ends Meet (or Needing a Side Job to My Side Job)

Posted on November 9, 2012 | Comments Off on Making Ends Meet (or Needing a Side Job to My Side Job)

Most of the money I make at my day job are commissions. This was great when it was the high season and I was making in a day what it would take a week at my old day job to make. But now it’s the low season and I’m making much much less.

If I wasn’t worried about paying off credit card debt, this wouldn’t be a big deal. I would have saved up the “extra” money that I earned over the summer to cover me for the lean times now.

But I put all money above and beyond my living expenses to my credit card (I’m pretty sure you’ll all agree that that is the smart way to do it). So I’m back to trying to make my budget as tight as I can. This month, I’m only going to be able to pay a little bit over the minimum on my credit card. It’s still going to make a dent in my debt, but I wish I could make a bigger dent.

This day job will most likely be ending in January (although that is up in the air too). I’m not going to look for another full-time day job for a few reasons. I like this job and plan on returning next season in May. Also, I’ve found it so tough to find a day job that works with my acting. I’ll go back to my old day job of substitute teaching, but because I work for a small district, I know it won’t pay for all my bills.

So while it’s the slow time right now at my day job, I’m looking for something to do on the side. I already babysit for a friend’s kids, but most of the time I do it for free as a favor because my friend will do my hair sometimes for free because I can’t afford to pay her. I might look into adding some more babysitting clients, but since that isn’t guaranteed income, I need to look for more.

I’m not really sure what I’m going to do. I’ve been given a writing job on another blog (when I can tell you which one I will), but that job doesn’t pay. Maybe I could use it as a reference for a paid writing job, but to be honest, I never thought of myself as a writer. Maybe I should.

If anyone out there has ideas of what I could do as a side job, I’d really appreciate it. I don’t know what I’m going to do, but I know somehow it will turn out ok.

You Might Also Like

Default ThumbnailTime To Make A Game Plan (or Guess I’ll Be Doing Some Job Hunting) Default ThumbnailGearing Up For Another Temp Job (or At Least It’s More Work) Default ThumbnailAsking For Help Again (or Trying Not To Feel Desperate) Default ThumbnailA Job Hunting Update (or Making Sure I Don’t Repeat My Financial Year Again) Default ThumbnailJob vs. Career (or Being Undercover At My Day Job) Default ThumbnailDay Job News (or Things Are Getting Better)

Comments Off on Making Ends Meet (or Needing a Side Job to My Side Job)

Posted in Saving, Tough Stuff, Work

Tagged , , ,

Working Girl (or The Secrets of Day Jobs)

Posted on October 9, 2012 | 4 comments

As much as I wish I could survive on the money I make from acting, right now, that isn’t a reality for me. Hopefully it will be in the future, but for now, I work a bunch of random jobs to pay the bills.

I have my main job which is working membership and ticket sales at a performing arts center on the westside. But that job is seasonal.  But right now, we have no idea when the season will be ending.

It’s put me in a weird spot. It seems like all of my co-workers seemed to have lined up other jobs already. But my other co-workers are not actors, so they don’t have the same issues with jobs that I do.

I need a job that pays enough but at the same time has the option of leaving for auditions or booked acting work when I have them. So many jobs in LA don’t want to hire actors for that reason. But I hate having to tell jobs that I’m going to the dentist/doctor/car repair shop in order to leave for auditions. This job lets me go and I’m not willing to lose that.

I’m lucky at my job now. I’ve also got my substitute teaching credential and the option to go back to the district I used to work for. I also do random side jobs like babysitting and personal organizing.

Why am I saying all of this? Because I find that actors are super secretive about their day jobs. I don’t know if they are embarrassed to say what they are doing or they just want you to believe that they are making their entire living on acting, but for a majority of actors that I know, I have no idea how they pay their bills.

There are some exceptions. I have a friend who works for Nielsen checking advertising before films and working at screenings. I have one friend who owns their own business and is very successful at it. I know of a few people who are waiters or temps. And there is the odd friend of mine who does make their entire living by acting, and they share how tough it can be for them.

When I was looking for a job earlier this year to get out of a bad job, I looked for so long. And I told everyone that I knew I was looking for work. But other actors seemed so guarded when it came to day jobs. Most people just told me that it’s hard to find a day job. No guidance into what types of jobs are best or anything. I don’t know why actors aren’t willing to help each other with this part of life. Maybe they don’t want other actors taking the types of work that they want?

But I believe in being fully honest about my life. I’ve discussed my credit card debit and my eating disorder. And I don’t want anyone to think that right now, I’m lucky enough to be able to not have a day job. I’m struggling with whether or not I need to be looking for a new job. I feel so lucky to have found the one I’m in right now, and I want to come back next year for another season. And I know that unemployment is always an option if necessary when the season does end for this job.

But I feel so lucky and grateful to have found such an actor-friendly day job, I wonder if I could get lucky again. The fear of having another bad day job is paralyzing. So for now, I’m sticking with my current job and trying to not let uncertainty get to me.

You Might Also Like

Default ThumbnailJob vs. Career (or Being Undercover At My Day Job) Default ThumbnailHolding Out For Perfection (or Maybe I’m Too Picky) Default Thumbnail6 Jobs Not Enough? (or How Can It Be That I’m Still Underemployed?) Default ThumbnailActors With Day Jobs (or An Empowering Hashtag) Default ThumbnailFeeling Secure (or Not Letting Past Jobs Make Me Feel Bad Anymore) Default ThumbnailProductive One Way And Slacking In Another (or Working On Finding Time)

4 Comments

Posted in Acting, Tough Stuff, Work

Tagged ,