Pretty much everyone you can think of in L.A. are knee deep in pilot season: actors, agents, managers, cd’s, etc.  Yup, it’s truly that time of year again. You ready? I made a comment on twitter/facebook at the end of last year: “Everyone out here is getting ready for the holiday season…while I’m getting my mind right for PILOT SEASON!” And I meant that.  A lot of what I share on my blog to my fellow actors is about being PREPARED. Prepared in any and every way you can think of out here. A lot of people I come in contact with haven’t been in an acting class or worked their acting muscle in MONTHS when pilot season comes along. WHAT? I mean I get it…it springs on you after the holiday season and you’re tired and you’re pockets are empty from all the gifts you bought. But, trying to get ready in January for a season that truly has a soft start in November/December is a little cray cray. But, we can talk about that stuff at a later time. Here’s a few tips I use to stay ahead of the eight ball during this time of year.

1. The Workout. Get yourself into class. Cut back on the drinking and use that money for class. It’s imperative that you keep working your acting muscle. You ever say to yourself, “i feel so rusty.” Get into a class. A GOOD class. And if you can’t afford a class right now, form one. We as actors forget that we have a lot of friends that are probably broke too. Get a bunch of your friends together, get a showfax.com account that you split and pull sides off the site. I did this a few years back with a group of people and it was truly one of the best things I could have done. We met once a week like class and had class assignments and it was virtually free. I say virtually because someone had to bring the snacks. We stopped doing this because one of the ladies in our group booked a series and the others started booking so frequently!

2. Your Car is your best friend. Start using your car as your closet, office, shower — everything! I hear too often actors say, “I left my picture and resume at home.” Really?! In L.A.? THAT’S your excuse. Wow. Keep about FIVE headshots and resumes in your car. Put them in an envelope so they don’t get damaged on your way home from your all-nighter. Your car should also have what I like to call the “ACTOR BASICS” in it: Deodorant, toothbrush/ mints, stapler, pens, highlighter and whatever else you personally need. Basically anything that might lead you to say, “oh, crap i forgot ‘blank.’ Auditions are a crazy thing and sometimes our minds aren’t working right. I know I’ve walked out of the house w/o deodorant and thank goodness for keeping it in my car.

3. Coaching. Seriously. Get coached for these auditions. I think this is a YEAR’round thing I share with my fellow actors. Find yourself a GOOD coach that you vibe with and you believe understands the business. And most of all gets YOU and what YOU’RE SELLING. You’ve pulled out your hair for weeks, months, worried about getting the audition — why not make it your best? Get coached. And just remember – coaching isn’t going to work wonders if you aren’t doing the work on your own beforehand. Re-read TIP #1. Coaches can’t sprinkle fairy dust on you and make you better if you don’t come to the table with something. Honestly, how much do you think can happen in a hour? Come armed with choices and ready to play.

If you have any pilot season tips you’d like to share, comment on the fanpage. I truly believe that it’s a jungle out there and helping each other might be the only way to make it out. Til next week…

Networking. It’s one of those crazy things that needs to be done, but yet SO MANY people hate it. I listen to a lot of my friends say, “I just don’t want to kiss anyone’s butt to get anything done.” Or “DaJuan, you’re just GOOD at it – I’m not.” Which is funny because I happen to think I’m NOT good at networking. What I am good at is striking up a conversation with just about anyone. And not expecting anything in return. I just enjoy talking to cool people.  Honestly, I find the whole networking thing extremely confusing. On one hand a large part of our business (show business) has to do with relationships. Who you know as they say. Just like ANY business out there. Then on the other hand, if you “network” it’s frowned upon. Makes you come off slimy. But, if we were working in Corporate America and a new job opened in your college buddies workplace  — you bet your bottom dollar you would ask for a referral or a way in. But, not in LA. If you do that…you’re “using” that person. Even though we hear stories of the behind the scenes deals that went down because of their relationships (i.e. connections) ALL THE TIME.

So, what’s the secret? What do you think of networking? Is there a way to do it? Do you steer clear of it. I turn the question over to YOU. What’s the proper way, if any, to NETWORK? Leave a comment here or on my fanpage: http://www.facebook.com/DajuanJohnsonFanPage

We can chat about it and then I’ll share my personal idea on the topic.

Let’s discuss.

Listen to Your Heart

“When the world is so confusing you just don’t know what to do, It may help to stop and listen to the voice inside of you, For it speaks the words of wisdom that, somehow, you’ve always known, And it guides your feet along the path that’s meant for you alone. It may be just a whisper that you hear within your heart, But, it gives you courage, strength, and hope to make another start. “

This is from a little card that is tacked to the cork board above my desk. Been there for years and today it popped out. Almost as if to say, “READ ME.” Seems to be the recurring theme in my life at the moment. Listening to my inner voice. I had a situation this past week where that inner voice was SCREAMING to be heard and I simply ignored it. I had to put myself on tape for an audition, but the finished product was just…okay. Not my worst work, but not my best work either. It was…just okay. And I knew that. But, I had a deadline when I had to get the tape in and I was SO concerned with meeting “IT” that I sacrificed the quality. Isn’t that something, I was so concerned with being perceived as reliable and a dependable actor – I sacrificed the product. The thing which is most important. During all the mayhem before turning it in, I recall having a very clear moment where I sat back and said, “You shouldn’t send this in.” I didn’t listen to myself and I did anyway. Somehow, I rationalized away every reason my inner voice said NO and did it anyway. hmp. Now, the feedback from the audition wasn’t horrible…it was just okay. They liked it. Didn’t LOVE IT. But, how could I expect more when I didn’t LOVE IT. I acted out of fear. Fear of not wanting my reps to think I could do this, fear of screwing up this big audition, fear of…well a lot of things. And look where that fear got me. It never fails…when I let fear guide my decisions…it never turns out well. Hard lesson to have to learn over, but I got it. Again. Loud and clear. LISTEN TO YOURSELF. And if you don’t trust your judgment, this is where your support system comes into play. Ask someone with sane judgment when yours is a little cloudy.