You are not an actor

Before I begin, I have to acknowledge that I picked a very clickbait title. But there's truth to it. You yourself are not an actor. An actor is not a living creature. Being alive is what makes up your career but your career does not make up life. Sounds cruel and almost cynical doesn't it? This no name guy is telling me to give up? No. That's not what I'm saying. Do not give up but don't make your life all about this. I've been living in LA for almost five years now and luckily I came to this conclusion early and I hope you do too.

When I first moved out to LA the only thing I could think about was being a professional actor. I was going to a well credited school that made me think that I had a guaranteed career. Two years later and guess what? "Dad I need money because rent is due tomorrow and my paycheck doesn't come in till Friday." Not my favorite phone call.

Recently I've been training to become a certified pilates instructor. This isn't my first attempt at trying something new to make money. I've gone down various paths that would've helped me eat, pay rent and have some extra cash in my pocket. But I would drop out due to a fear of it becoming a distraction from acting. In some cases this can be true. Working a full 9-5, five days out of the week could be a distraction from a career. However, with this certification class I've come to a new realization. This is only adding to my credentials as an actor.

Number one, I wear a mic and stand in front of an audience. Bonus! Number two, how many people walk into the room and say that they're a pilates instructor? Okay it is LA so maybe a few but I bet not many!

I would fill out applications or send in auditions and the question that would always stump me is "Tell us a fun fact about yourself!" A fun fact? Well the coolest thing about me is that I'm an actor right? Wrong. You and the fifty other people waiting to get into the room.

I made my entire life about acting. I thought that's who I am, an actor. The answer is I'm just James. I do things that build me into me. I ran a podcast, I'm working to be a pilates instructor, I go to the gym five days a week, I hangout with friends on the weekend, I write in my free time, I love watching videos on space and theory's! That's a way more interesting resume than "Hi I'm James and just like the guy before me, I'm an actor."

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