One of the biggest issues actors face when moving to Los Angeles is how to hit the ground running. At first glance, you might think the focus has to be on yourself. But if you're looking to succeed, create an impact, and be fulfilled you’ll need to give, express, and expand.
The truth of the matter is that we live in a city where it may seem as if survival of the fittest reigns supreme. But that’s not necessarily the case. You shouldn’t be allowing others to walk all over you, but in order to establish a level of trust with those in the industry, you need to be willing to think of others, and not just yourself. Not only does doing so enhance your career, it will invigorate your life.
I’ve lived in L.A. for about seven years now and one of the things I’ve found is that most people are operating on a “competitive” plane, willing to crush anyone in their way to get what they want. This is an incredibly dangerous approach as it can easily lead to your ethics and morals going out the window. Instead, I want you to always have your integrity and be able to truly love the person and performer you are.
That’s why the true secret to the giving is a matter of living on a creative plane instead of a competitive one. The creative plane allows you to come from a place of being completely whole and secure. You understand that there’s more than enough success to go around for everyone. You know that your career is only an extension of the phenomenal person you are. When this is the case, the pressure releases its hold: you have more fun, you are invested in outcomes, you give of yourself freely. And as we know, what you put out is what you get back.
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When I started out in L.A., I was a fitness professional who was fortunate enough to find success. But my true passion was for acting. I had to figure out how to use my current gifts to further my acting career, so reached out to tons of industry people—and their assistants—offering free training in order to build relationships on both a personal and professional level. And you know what? It worked. It got my foot in the door of the industry I wanted to be a part of and to this day, I’m still friends with some of those people.
What can you offer to others that will put you in a position to do what you love? Give it freely and allow that to be a stepping stone to your success.
There’s an old saying that says, “Closed mouths don’t get fed.” That couldn’t be truer Hollywood. If you want something, you’ve got to express yourself. Tap into what makes you authentically you and release it out into the world—you never know who’s watching, searching, or wanting to get to know you as the performer.
The last part of this process—expanding—brings it all together: Stay true to your yourself and your craft. If you’re like me, you don’t just want to be an actor, you also want to write, direct, and produce. With the evolution of technology and video outlets, you don’t need a big studio backing to create your productions. You can shoot, edit, post, and market your projects on your phone. I’m still wowed that this was absolutely unthinkable 10 years ago but now, everything you need to expand is literally in the palm of your hand.
The beauty of expansion is that it will also make you a better actor. It wasn’t until I wrote and produced my first short that I was able to see film and television production from a new perspective. It really gives you the opportunity to see how important all parts are to the vehicle that is the entertainment industry. The ability to expand allows you to step out of your box and grow.
There you have it! Give, express, and expand. Through this formula, there are infinite treasures you will discover as an actor that will take your career to places you could have never imagined.
Shaun Grant is a dynamic “entreperformer” who 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 10 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 40 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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