Diversifying talents and exploring different avenues increase opportunities and prevent being pigeonholed in the acting industry.
Putting oneself out there, seeking paid projects, and building strong connections create a snowball effect of more work and better opportunities.
Balancing the drive to succeed with finding moments of relaxation and escape is crucial for navigating the intense and competitive environment of New York City as an actor.
Deep dives
Overcoming failure and diversifying talents
The podcast episode discusses the importance of overcoming failure and diversifying talents in order to succeed in the acting industry. The guest, an actor from New York, shares his personal experience of initially struggling but eventually finding success. He emphasizes the need to have multiple skills and explore different avenues in order to increase opportunities and avoid being pigeonholed. The guest also highlights the importance of investing in oneself, taking risks, and constantly striving to improve and evolve as an artist.
Building a freelance career and getting paid for your art
The guest discusses his journey of building a freelance career as an actor. He emphasizes the significance of putting oneself out there, attending auditions, and constantly pursuing opportunities. He also highlights the importance of getting paid for one's art and not settling for underpaid or low-quality projects. The guest explains that by delivering exceptional work, being professional, and building strong connections, one can create a snowball effect where word of mouth leads to more work and better opportunities.
The allure of New York City and the challenges it presents
The guest chose to move to New York City because he believed it offered more diverse artistic opportunities and a greater sense of legitimacy compared to Los Angeles. He highlights the energy, culture, and diversity of the city as key factors for his decision. While acknowledging the challenges of living in New York, such as the high cost of living and the intense competition, the guest appreciates the city's vibrancy and the abundance of talented people. He also mentions the importance of balancing the drive to succeed with taking breaks and finding moments of relaxation and escape from the city's intensity.
Setting and Reevaluating Goals
One of the main insights from the podcast is the importance of setting and reevaluating goals. The speaker mentions how their new year's resolution involves assessing their previous year and identifying areas of focus for the upcoming year. They emphasize the significance of having a clear vision of what they want to achieve and taking deliberate steps towards it. The speaker shares a personal experience of wanting to sing more and subsequently receiving an offer to tour with a theatrical show. This highlights the power of articulating one's desires and putting them out into the universe.
Asking Important Questions and Staying In Tune
The podcast episode also emphasizes the importance of asking important questions and staying in tune with oneself. The speaker interacts with various individuals and discusses how they struggled at the beginning before finding their passion or purpose. They highlight the significance of asking oneself why they are unhappy and what they truly want. The episode encourages listeners to shift their focus from simply pursuing promotions and job switches to finding fulfillment and happiness. Asking these deeper questions and continuously evaluating one's desires are crucial for personal growth and satisfaction.
RJ Woessner is an actor living in NYC and he's doing pretty damn well for himself. But that wasn't always the case. We talk about how he got started out, some of his early struggles, and how he made his own way in the cutthroat world of voice over acting.
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