One of my biggest thrills is learning something new and applying it to my craft as well as my life. Acting class has always been fun, but I definitely want it to be worth it if I’m going to devote my time. Flashback to last week when I found the opportunity to audit a class that seemed like it would be right up my alley based on the description.
It was located in North Hollywood, and started at a time with the illustrious LA traffic is at its peak. Enter obstacle #1. Now, I typically give myself an hour and twenty minutes to get to the Valley/Hollywood for auditions and meetings, but the day of the class, my GPS was telling me the fastest I’d get there was in 90 minutes. Great, I was going to be late—what an awesome first impression. Enter obstacle #2.
I’m pretty good at not stressing out, so I just got in my car and started driving. But I’m sitting in traffic and see the time of arrival slowly ticking up on the GPS—I feel the stress start to rise. I call the studio to let them know I’m running late but no one answers the phone. Enter obstacle #3.
Like I do in other stressful situations, I do some deep breathing exercises that help calm me down. And as my route takes me through Nicholls Canyon, I take in the scenic overlook and remember why I moved to LA six years ago to follow my Hollywood dreams. A rush comes over me and I’m suddenly excited to make it to class and share my gifts with the students. Enter triumph #1.
I’m still frustrated, but I remember that it’s ok to feel my emotions and so I voice them out loud. This makes me feel better and actually warms up my voice! Enter triumph #2.
I finally make it to North Hollywood but of course, there are no parking spaces. Instead of letting this turn into yet another obstacle, I spend the drive looking for parking remembering when I lived in the neighborhood, sleeping on a relative’s couch, not know when but trusting that things would work out for me. I’ve come a long way. Enter triumph #3.
READ: 3 Ways to Use Your Own Life to Be a Better Actor
I pull into a Walgreens parking lot plastered with signs that parking is for customers only, but I’m running late so I throw caution to the wind, park, and get to class. There are about 20 people in the class and try as I might to focus, all I can think about during introductions is that my car is definitely getting towed. (It was also pretty obvious this wasn’t the class for me.)
After 40 minutes of trying to be present, I dart out, back to Walgreens and breathe a sigh of relief that my car is where I left it. Enter triumph #4. Before I take off on the 90-minute, 25-mile drive home (L.A.!), I stop, think, laugh, and give thanks. The day was a whirlwind, a roller coaster of emotions and frustrations, but it gave me the chance to appreciate my city, to recognize how far I’ve come, and to not waste money on a class that wasn’t a good fit. Enter triumph #5.
The next day, I told my brother what had happened, and responded, “You just went through an advanced acting course. All those things you were dealing with on the inside while still being present in the moment—that’s the true art of acting. Being. The obstacles and triumphs give your character the substance it needs to be relatable to your audience."
I was speechless because he was right. That 90-minute car ride was likely the best acting class I’d had in a long time. It served as a reminder to me—and hopefully now you—that the learning comes from the journey, not the destination. If you can remember this in the course of your career, you will always be a success!
Shaun Grant is a dynamic “entreperformer” that is a recognized authority in personal performance and transformation. He is the author of “Prosperity Secrets: How To Live the Life of Your Dreams.” He is also the creator of The Vibrational Actor and hosts his own podcast called The Actor's Area. Shaun has been acting, writing, and coaching for the past ten years. He teaches the concept of vibrational acting and vibrational consciousness to performers around the world. His soul purpose is to inspire, uplift and motivate actors through cutting edge mental and spiritual practices. He's at his happiest when his students experience successful breakthroughs in mind, body, and spirit as it relates to their acting careers. Shaun has acted in over forty projects, working alongside some of Hollywood's brightest stars, and has written and produced his own projects as well. When Shaun isn't acting, writing or coaching, he enjoys engaging in his love of travel and creating life-changing content through his blogs. Visit www.shaungrantacting.com and www.uplifterentertainment.com for more career information. Find Shaun on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
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