Confidence, Coffee, and Complaining Creatively

 Short. Sweet. And probably funnier than your last audition. This week’s post is a snack-sized pep talk seasoned with just enough sarcasm to keep you booking-adjacent and emotionally hydrated.

You ever scroll through someone’s “I just booked!” post and whisper to yourself, "Was it the vision board? The accidental manifestation? The sorcery of six headshots and a Pinterest-worthy self-tape setup?" Meanwhile, you’re over here coaching your ring light through an existential crisis and wondering if your résumé screams “Please cast me, I’m emotionally available and desperate!”

Listen. Booking a gig in this industry is a lot like online dating: half the battle is showing up without visible resentment. So this week, we're leaning into delusional optimism—our favorite performance art. Because sometimes pretending you’re booked does move the needle. I’ve flirted with entire casting offices using nothing but confidence and a well-timed Instagram story.

This Week’s Pro Tip:

If you’re not booking, brand. And if you’re not branding, nap. Because burnout never booked a commercial.

Weekly Amazon Pick:

Color Nymph All In One Makeup Kit (audition emergency makeup kit) because nothing says “I’m ready for my close-up” like concealer that covers both blemishes and existential dread. Compact, cruelty-free, and perfect for those last-minute self-tapes when your skin decides to rebel.

(Yes, it’s an affiliate link. Clicking it supports this blog and my caffeine habit. Priorities.)

Closing Curtain Call

If this made you giggle-snort or spiral in a productive way, hit that follow button like it owes you money. Share it with your equally unbooked bestie,or drop a comment with your latest rejection story—we’re collecting them like Pokémon. 🎭

Catch you next week, where we explore the artistry of pretending you’re thriving during callback season.

“Networking Without Being a Creep: Is It Possible?”

 

Networking. That word that sends actors into a cold sweat faster than “we’re going non-union.”

They say it’s all about who you know. But nobody tells you how to get to know them without coming across like you’re about to pitch them a pyramid scheme, ask to touch their aura, or slide them your résumé while they’re mid-sip of a $17 matcha.

So here we are:
Can you network without being a complete creep?
Short answer: yes.
Long answer: yes—but it takes finesse, timing, and the ability to read the room (preferably before handing someone your headshot in a bar bathroom).

Here are a few hard-won truths from the trenches:

 1. "Don’t Be Weird" is Not Enough Guidance.
Everyone says this. But what does it mean? It means don’t lead with “Hi, I follow you on Instagram and I think your dog is cute and also I printed my script on scented paper, want to read it?”
It means maybe—just maybe—don’t corner someone at the craft table to explain your five-part web series about time-traveling goats.

2. Compliment Without Groveling.
It’s cool to say, “I loved your work in X.” It’s not cool to say, “You’re the reason I breathe and I named my succulents after your characters.”
(Unless they’re really into succulents. Then maybe.)

3. Talk Like a Human, Not a Walking IMDb Page.
Instead of flexing every credit you’ve ever had, try: “What was the most fun day on that shoot?” or “How’d you get involved in this?” Be curious without being clingy. Basically, flirt without being gross. Like networking foreplay. (But fully clothed. Please.)

4. Know When to Wrap It Up.
If their eyes glaze over or they suddenly remember an "important Zoom" with no Wi-Fi in sight… you’ve lingered too long.
Say thank you, smile, and make a graceful exit—before you become that person who accidentally follows them to the parking lot.

This Week’s Amazon Recommendation:

A Portable Breath Spray That Smells Like “I Respect Boundaries”
Okay, it’s just mint, but still—essential.
Nothing ruins a solid intro like leftover craft services hummus breath. 3 Count Mint Breath Spray Mouth Spray Oral Care Breath Freshener for All Ages 0.33OZ (10ML) Mint Lemon Flavor

 Your Turn:

What’s the weirdest “networking” encounter you’ve had?
Was it someone pitching their screenplay in a hot yoga class?
Did you accidentally insult someone’s reel before realizing they were standing behind you?
Tell me everything in the comments.

 Drop a story.
 Share with your fellow actors who have trauma from “mixer events.”
 Follow for weekly pep talks, industry truth bombs, and a safe space to laugh at our collective awkwardness.

Until next time, fake the confidence, sip the Prosecco, and network like a non-creepy boss.

“No, I’m Not Auditioning for Your Love Life” (Just My Career, Thanks.)

 Hello? Is anyone out there?

Cool. Because I have a bone to pick with the entire universe of dudes who think that because I post my headshots online or share a reel, I must also be thirsting for a date with someone named Brad, Chad, or “aspiring director” Kyle.

Let me say this loud enough for the back row and the dude who slid into my DMs while I was mid-costume change:

Just because I put myself out there to showcase my talent DOES NOT mean I’m casting for a boyfriend, situationship, or your unsolicited man-opinions about “lighting and angles.”

I post a monologue → you clap, or don’t.
I post a scene → you say “great work,” or scroll.
What I don’t need is:
“Hey, you were really convincing as that grieving widow. Wanna grab coffee and trauma bond?”

Um. No.

Actors are already emotionally raw on purpose. It’s literally the gig. I don’t need extra unsolicited feelings from a dude who thinks “Meisner” is a brand of protein powder.

Let’s talk about networking, because for some people (hi, creepy Steve), it seems they skipped straight to “net-weing.”
Pro tip: just because we’re both in the industry doesn’t mean I’m interested in discussing your screenplay titled Hot Girl at the Bus Stop 2: She’s Still Hot, Now With Trauma.

And while we’re at it, I didn’t ask for dating advice either.
I’m out here trying to book roles, not consult with the local Fantasy Boyfriend Bureau on whether I “smile enough to land a leading man.”

If I wanted pickup lines, I’d be in a rom-com—not a casting call for Woman Who Can Cry on Cue and Dodge Emotional Vampires Simultaneously.

Actors are taught to be vulnerable, expressive, open. But none of that means we’re open for business in the romantic sense just because we posted a self-tape.

So, fellow creatives:
Share your work. Post your weird voiceovers. Cry on TikTok. Be your full dramatic self.
And if someone tries to turn your career into a dating app? Politely remind them:

“I’m not auditioning for your love life—I’m busy being a star.”

🎬 Roll credits. Mic drop. Exit stage left.

Now It's Your Turn, Drama Queens (and Kings):
Ever had someone mistake your reel for a dating profile? Got a cringe “networking” story that still haunts your inbox? Drop it in the comments—I live for the awkward, the absurd, and the aggressively unsolicited.

If this post made you laugh, cringe, or re-read your DMs with side-eye…
 Go ahead and share it.
 Leave a comment.
 Hit that follow button like it's your first callback.

Because around here, we fake it til’ we book it—but we never settle for “hey beautiful, you got representation?”

See you in the spotlight (not in the DMs).

This Week’s Amazon Rec:

The Third Door: The Mindset of Success

This one’s for those of us who want to build real connections, not awkward vibes and passive-aggressive follow-up texts. Alex basically sneaks his way into some of the biggest rooms in the world—not with pickup lines, but with persistence, charm, and zero creep factor. Inspiring and useful, whether you're trying to land a role, pitch a project, or just survive a mixer without punching someone.
 #BoundariesAndBooking

Hello? Is Anyone Out There? (Or Am I Just Yelling Into the Internet Void Again)

 So, quick question—hello? Is anyone out there?

Like… genuinely. Blink twice if you’re reading this. Clap if you believe in blogging fairies. Leave a breadcrumb trail in the comments if you’ve made it this far and haven’t been distracted by a TikTok of a dog playing the piano.

Because honestly? Sometimes writing a blog in 2025 feels like throwing glitter into a black hole. Yes, it’s sparkly and magical and I’m committed to the bit, but… does the glitter ever come back? Do you see the glitter? Do you appreciate the glitter??

That brings us to this week’s theme:
✨“Creating When You Feel Like No One's Watching”✨
(AKA: Channeling your inner drunk Shakespeare in an empty dive bar.)

Whether you're an actor waiting on callbacks, a writer refreshing your inbox, or someone who reorganized their spice rack alphabetically and wanted applause—this one's for you. Sometimes it feels like you're performing for a crowd that ghosted before Act I even ended. But guess what? You keep going. You fake the audience until you book the ovation. You blog into the abyss. You rehearse like Netflix is about to option your life story. Why? Because silence doesn’t mean failure. It means they’re lurking. Probably. Hopefully. Maybe just quietly stalking your brilliance while eating a bagel.

Confession Time:
I started this blog thinking it would instantly catch fire and take off like one of those “day in the life” reels—but with less latte art and more late-night spiraling. But here I am, a few posts deep, shouting “HELLO??” like I’m trapped in a haunted house of unread drafts and ghost followers. I check the analytics like it's a Magic 8 Ball:

• “Are people reading?”

• Outlook not so good.

• Should I keep going?”

• Signs point to wine.

And yet—I’m still here. Why? Because the work matters. Because your voice deserves space. Because someone, somewhere, might stumble on this blog at 2 a.m. while crying into a pint of Ben & Jerry’s and say, “Same, girl.”

Also, because therapy is expensive and blogging is only emotionally draining.

Creative Dry Spells & Wi-Fi Ghosts
Let’s be real: it’s demoralizing to pour your heart into something and get zero reaction. No “likes,” no comments, not even a weird bot saying “DM for collab.” That’s how you know it’s bad—even the bots ghosted me.

But here’s the thing: you keep showing up anyway. Because it’s not really about the likes (okay, it is a little), but mostly—it’s about the doing. You’re training your creative muscles. You’re building something. You’re whispering to the universe, “I’m still here, I still want this.” And that, my friend, is badass.

This Week’s Amazon Rec:
Because even when no one’s listening, you should still look fabulous, I present:

Let That Sh*t Go: A Journal for Leaving Your Bullsh*t Behind and Creating a Happy Life (Zen as F*ck Journals)

Because sometimes the only way to move forward (creatively or otherwise) is to rage-write your feelings and then zen the hell out. This journal is like therapy, but cheaper and with way more asterisks. Perfect for letting go of self-doubt, imposter syndrome, or that one casting director who “loved your energy” but ghosted you anyway.

Conclusion:
If this post made you laugh, cringe, or whisper “same” under your breath—don’t leave me hanging in this echo chamber.

👇 Drop a comment (even if it’s just a random emoji), hit that follow button so I know you’re out there, and share this with your fellow creatives, overthinkers, or anyone currently yelling into the void with flair.

Because this blog isn’t just for me—it’s for all of us still faking it ‘til we book it... together. 💫