On being an actor & never being satisfied

This past weekend saw the last performances of my latest NYC play, a remount of Adam Bock's "The Drunken City." We had great audiences, who loved the show [reviews here on Facebook]. A reviewer from Backstage called it "an entertaining take on love, liquor, and friendship" and generally praised the work of the cast. And yet as soon as the show opened 3 weeks ago, I was already turning my attention to my next two goals : Signing with an agent who gets me, and Booking my first TV roles. There's something inherent in acting as a career that has you perpetually chasing the next thing. Even when you do tremendous work and are recognized for it, memories are short and soon people forget. Or those who need to know you don't get the memo, & you still need to reach out to get on their radar. You're always working to capitalize on the latest thing to ensure the next project. It makes it hard to celebrate the successes as they happen, because somehow it's never enough. I try to catch myself & remind myself that every actor is on the same plane. That 2-time Oscar winner Sally Field had to fight for her role in 'Lincoln.' That this is the natural state of an acting career ~ never knowing if you will work again, or where the work will come from. It can be incredibly daunting to live your life like that. But I'm learning that I can choose instead to live in faith. Being an actor - being an artist - is an act of creating something out of nothing. Extend that same energy to your life, & choose to believe that there will always be more work. That the next project will surprise and delight you. The work of connecting with industry & auditioning and looking for work stays the same. But the energy now is calmer, more assured. And you can enjoy the journey more.