Ignore the Rules... There aren't any.

Ignore the Rules… There aren’t any.

This past November marked the 10 Year Anniversary of booking my First Principal Role on Network Television when I played a stripper named Sierra on NBC’s Parks & Rec opposite the brilliant Amy Poehler.

It was just shy of the 4-year mark from when I packed my bags in my small-town hometown of Mahopac, NY and drove 3,000 miles away from friends and all my family to pursue my dream of being a professional working actor.

After spinning my wheels doing plays that no one saw, and starring in low budget non-union films that almost killed me - literally - I refocused my approach and started treating my career like a business.

I took casting director workshops 5 days a week at a place called Actorsite. They had an incredible deal where I could get unlimited workshops for a year for less than a $1k. There was a group of us that took advantage of it. And it was the turning point of my career.

I was quickly called in for Series Regular roles. Recurring Guest Stars. Main players.

It was also where I learned “the tiers” of actors. And perhaps adopted some less than healthy mindsets towards pursuing this career.

Whereas someone who knows nothing of “co-stars, guest stars, day players, etc” they don’t know what they don’t know. And getting called in for a lead in a series might not throw them off as much as it started throwing me off.

I felt out of place like “I didn’t earn it” because I heard all about how you have to “work up to it.” You have to do the co-stars. The guest stars. Before you can play the lead.

We had professionals, and God bless them because I know they meant well - but they nurtured this mindset. I had one actually say to me: “Don’t speak unless spoken to in the casting room.” I heard things like: “Don’t make eye contact with the producers, but say ‘hi’ to everyone.”

All of a sudden this dream I had was given “rules” and “boundaries” and “tiers.”
And you were made fully aware of what you were and who you weren’t.

But really amazing things also came out of this time. I made incredible friends who are also working actors. I signed with my first legit manager. Who believed in me. And just before I hit the 1-year mark of seeing every casting director who walked through those doors - multiple times - Dorian Frankel called me in for an audition that changed my life.

I’ve been lucky and blessed to continue working consistently from that moment on. Every year, for the past ten years, I’ve booked TV shows, movies, commercials, and most recently voice-overs.

I love my job. I love this journey.

I wasn’t given a roadmap. Few people are. And as much as my parents supported me and cheer me on from every angle, they didn’t uproot my family at 6 years old to help me pursue my dreams like some souls out here. And for that - I’m extremely grateful. I’ve never had to question why I do what I do.

I’ve made a lot of mistakes getting to where I’m at. But as I was recently reminded, I’ve also done *a lot* right. And I need to acknowledge myself for that.

Wherever you’re at in your journey, I pray you keep going and ignore “the rules.” There aren’t any. Just be good at what you do. Work hard. And appreciate the people who love and support you along the way. And don’t forget to acknowledge yourself for how far you’ve come.

Break a leg!