Sticking with It.

Sticking with It

Yes, this was the most flattering picture of me. I'm not proud.

Thanksgiving this year was... different. Instead of the traditional turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes deal, we went to an all-you-can-eat Chinese buffet, with Mongolian barbecue thrown in to appease those who can't stand the sight of one more fried offering. Definitely not me. My first plate was covered in a blessed array of meats covered in batter and sizzled in oil. 

I regret nothing.

We did this, not in protest of a problematic holiday, as you might think. We manage to deal with the cognitive dissonance of that on a yearly basis... and yes, I realize that is part of our privilege as whypipo. I see the issues and choose to focus on family and gratitude. I'm picking my battles. 

Anyhoo, the reason for this year's outing was that my wife was working (she's a labor and delivery nurse, read "badass"), and it sounded like fun. Our traditional meal will come Saturday, so if you were totally stressed out about our break from societal norms, fear not. Turkey desecration will still occur, albeit belatedly.

While we were there, we found ourselves introduced to the young family seated next to ours in a dramatic fashion. One of their boys came into the room, paused for a moment, then vomited up the contents of his stomach. It was impressive. It was disgusting. It was A LOT OF VOMITUS.

Now, you might think that this kind of event would stop a family outing in its tracks. Not so for this plucky young brood next to ours. Not only did they not leave, not only did they continue eating, they continued to feed the young boy who had just upchucked all over the banquet hall.

Questionable parenting aside (who knows, maybe they were going with some kind of aversion therapy), I want to talk about the kid for a moment. He kept eating. And not just a little bit. The dude put down more food after his "episode" than I did during my entire stay, and I'm a grown ass man. I'm also cheap enough that I try to get my "money's worth" when I go to a buffet. We can talk about my dubious logic later, the real point here is that this little guy ate a ton of food. All after making a spectacle of the contents of his stomach moments before.

I'm not saying this was a good thing, necessarily; but I will say that I gained a measure of grudging respect for the tiny tyke. He was not going to let something as insignificant as an upchucking jag keep him from enjoying his bacchanal. Hells to the no.

We, as actors and writers, could learn a lesson from this specimen of spew. As we begin our artistic journey, we're going to make mistakes. We'll toss up our deepest angst, wanting to be "real" and "raw" and "artsy." Or we'll overcommit, take on way too many projects, fail spectacularly, and feel horrible about ourselves. We'll hesitate when we should step in and step in when we should hesitate. We will make ALL THE ERRORS.

And then we'll keep going.

Instead of slinking off in shame, we'll take a look at what we did wrong the first time around and then go back to the table. Instead of going for the meat the second time, guess what our intrepid toddler consumed? Ice cream. Again, questionable, but you get the point. He tried something new.

Honestly, it doesn't even matter all that much if we make the same mistakes over and over. Sometimes, our mistakes are what set our work apart. Those errors are our uniqueness. I know that goes against the grain for all you perfectionists out there (it does for me), but perfectionism is a problem in and of itself, isn't it? Hasn't perfectionism kept us from putting our work out there before it's "ready?"

So, I guess what I'm saying is, go upchuck your art. Make a mess. Act. Write. Let it be messy and gross and inappropriate and uncomfortable. Then keep going.

We can always clean up after, right?

And then tip really, REALLY well.

New Classes, Starting in October!

Voiceover artists and actors (or those wanting to start learning)! I'm starting up two classes in October: The Three C's of Acting and Voiceover! Voiceover will start Tuesday, October 9th, and The Three C's of Acting will start Thursday, October 11th. I would love to have you join us for one or both!

Voiceover will meet Tuesdays (starting October 9th) from 7-10pm. It will focus on commercial/industrial, narration and animation voiceover. All your work will be recorded.

The Three C's of Acting class will meet Thursdays (starting October 11th) from 7-10pm. There will be a week break on October 18th for UVU's fall break. It will focus on my specific approach to the art of acting. If you've never taken a class from me before, this is a really good place to start. :)

For those who have taken my classes before, you'll know that they're gentle, but never comfortable. They do well for actors who are just starting out, as well as those who have been working and studying for a long time. I enjoy having a mix of experience levels in my classes, as it enhances the environment for everyone. Each course runs for six weeks.

The classes will meet in Orem at 381 East, 230 South. It's a house, and we'll be meeting in the studio space above the garage. There will be signs, but you will enter through the gate on the right side of the house, then taking the stairs up to the studio.

Signing up:
To sign up, please go here and fill out the form. Once that's done, the payment links are below. Full payment is $175 for the 6 week course. The non-refundable deposit is $35. If you make a deposit, the remainder of the payment ($140) will be due on or before the first day of class.

Payment links:
Three C's of acting full amount--go here.
Three C's of acting deposit--go here.
Three C's of acting balance--go here (only use this option if you've paid the deposit and need to pay the remainder).

Voiceover full amount--go here.
Voiceover deposit--go here.
Voiceover balance--go here (only use this option if you've paid the deposit and need to pay the remainder).

Once the classes have started, the entire amount of $175 is due, regardless of the number of classes you end up attending. If something happens during the course (for example, a show or film) and you need to withdraw, talk to me about it. I can pro-rate the remainder of the classes and use it as a deposit for my next round of classes.

For those who might need some flexibility on payment, contact me (actingwithoutthedrama -at- gmail -dot- com) with a payment plan already thought through. I'll let you know whether or not it's something I can work with. I don't want the price to keep you from studying with me, so I'll do what I can to help you out!

Enrollment is limited (I like to keep the classes small), so make sure and sign up quickly! Your deposit insures your place in the course. Don't worry. If the classes fill up, I'll refund your deposit fully.

A note on tuition: you are signing up for the entire course. If you have to miss a class, you won't be refunded for that day. You're encouraged to clear your schedule on the day of class for the entire 6-week course.

Once you sign up for the Three C's of Acting, make sure you find and prepare a one-minute monologue (have it memorized and ready to perform for when the class starts). For Voiceover, look for commercial copy (scripts for radio or television commercials that use voiceover).  Those will be the first things we'll be working on in either class. If you're having trouble finding something, email me (actingwithoutthedrama -at- gmail -dot- com) for tips and places you can start looking.

I'm excited to work with you, so let's get started!

New classes starting in July! Three C's and Acting for Film!

Okay, actors! I'm starting up two classes in July: The Three C's of Acting and Acting for Film! The Three C's of Acting will start Tuesday, July 10th, and Acting for Film will start Thursday, July 12th. I would love to have you join us for one or both!

The Three C's of Acting class will meet Tuesdays (starting July 10th) from 7-10pm. It will focus on my specific approach to the art of acting. If you've never taken a class from me before, this is a really good place to start. :)

Acting for Film will meet Thursdays (starting July 12th) from 7-10pm. It will focus on specific on-camera technique, as well as information relevant to auditioning/working in the industry. All your work will be filmed.

For those who have taken my classes before, you'll know that they're gentle, but never comfortable. They do well for actors who are just starting out, as well as those who have been working and studying for a long time. I enjoy having a mix of experience levels in my classes, as it enhances the environment for everyone. Each course runs for six weeks.

The classes will meet in Orem at 381 East, 230 South. It's a house, and we'll be meeting in the studio space above the garage. There will be signs, but you will enter through the gate on the right side of the house, then taking the stairs up to the studio.

Signing up:
To sign up, please go here and fill out the form. Once that's done, the payment links are below. Full payment is $175 for the 6 week course. The non-refundable deposit is $35. If you make a deposit, the remainder of the payment ($140) will be due on or before the first day of class.

Payment links:
Three C's of acting full amount--go here.
Three C's of acting deposit--go here.
Three C's of acting balance--go here (only use this option if you've paid the deposit and need to pay the remainder).

Acting for Film full amount--go here.
Acting for Film deposit--go here.
Acting for Film balance--go here (only use this option if you've paid the deposit and need to pay the remainder).

Once the classes have started, the entire amount of $175 is due, regardless of the number of classes you end up attending. If something happens during the course (for example, a show or film) and you need to withdraw, talk to me about it. I can pro-rate the remainder of the classes and use it as a deposit for my next round of classes.

For those who might need some flexibility on payment, contact me (actingwithoutthedrama -at- gmail -dot- com) with a payment plan already thought through. I'll let you know whether or not it's something I can work with. I don't want the price to keep you from studying with me, so I'll do what I can to help you out!

Enrollment is limited (I like to keep the classes small), so make sure and sign up quickly! Your deposit insures your place in the course. Don't worry. If the classes fill up, I'll refund your deposit fully.

A note on tuition: you are signing up for the entire course. If you have to miss a class, you won't be refunded for that day. You're encouraged to clear your schedule on the day of class for the entire 6-week course.

Once you sign up for the Three C's of Acting or Acting for Film, make sure you find and prepare a one-minute monologue (have it memorized and ready to perform for when the class starts). That will be the first thing we'll be working on in either class. If you're having trouble finding something, email me (actingwithoutthedrama -at- gmail -dot- com) for tips and places you can start looking.

I'm excited to work with you, so let's get started!

New April Classes--Three C's of Acting and Voiceover!

Okay, actors! I'm starting up two classes in April: The Three C's of Acting and Voiceover! The Three C's of Acting will start Wednesday, April 18th, and Voiceover will start Thursday, April 26th. I would love to have you join us for one or both!

The Three C's of Acting class will meet Wednesdays (starting April 18th) from 7-10pm. It will focus on my specific approach to the art of acting. If you've never taken a class from me before, this is a really good place to start. :)

Voiceover will meet Thursdays (starting April 26th) from 7-10pm. It will focus on commercial/industrial, narration and animation voiceover. All your work will be recorded.

For those who have taken my classes before, you'll know that it's gentle, but never comfortable. It does well for actors who are just starting out, as well as those who have been working and studying for a long time. I enjoy having a mix of experience levels in my classes, as it enhances the environment for everyone. Each course runs for six weeks.

The classes will meet in Orem at 381 East, 230 South. It's a house, and we'll be meeting in the studio space above the garage. There will be signs, but you will enter through the gate on the right side of the house, then taking the stairs up to the studio.

Signing up:
To sign up, please go here and fill out the form. Once that's done, the payment links are below. Full payment is $175 for the 6 week course. The non-refundable deposit is $35. If you make a deposit, the remainder of the payment ($140) will be due on or before the first day of class.

Payment links:
Three C's of acting full amount--go here.
Three C's of acting deposit--go here.
Three C's of acting balance--go here (only use this option if you've paid the deposit and need to pay the remainder).

Voiceover full amount--go here.
Voiceover deposit--go here.
Voiceover balance--go here (only use this option if you've paid the deposit and need to pay the remainder).

Once the classes have started, the entire amount of $175 is due, regardless of the number of classes you end up attending. If something happens during the course (for example, a show or film) and you need to withdraw, talk to me about it. I can pro-rate the remainder of the classes and use it as a deposit for my next round of classes.

For those who might need some flexibility on payment, contact me (actingwithoutthedrama -at- gmail -dot- com) with a payment plan already thought through. I'll let you know whether or not it's something I can work with. I don't want the price to keep you from studying with me, so I'll do what I can to help you out!

Enrollment is limited (I like to keep the classes small), so make sure and sign up quickly! Your deposit insures your place in the course. Don't worry. If the classes fill up, I'll refund your deposit fully.

A note on tuition: you are signing up for the entire course. If you have to miss a class, you won't be refunded for that day. You're encouraged to clear your schedule on the day of class for the entire 6-week course.

Once you sign up for the Three C's of Acting, make sure you find and prepare a one-minute monologue (have it memorized and ready to perform for when the class starts). For Voiceover, look for commercial copy (scripts for radio or television commercials that use voiceover). That will be the first thing we'll be working on in either class. If you're having trouble finding something, email me (actingwithoutthedrama -at- gmail -dot- com) for tips and places you can start looking.

I'm excited to work with you, so let's get started!

Acting for Film class starting March 15!

Okay, actors! I'm starting up an Acting for Film class starting March 15th, and I would love to have you join us! 

The class will meet Thursdays (starting March 15th) from 7-10pm. It will focus on acting for the camera, with my specific approach to acting. If you're looking to make the transition from stage to film, if you're wanting to increase your charisma, or if you've just always wanted to act, this class is for you!

For those who have taken Acting without the Drama classes before, you'll know that it's gentle, but never comfortable. It does well for actors who are just starting out, as well as those who have been working and studying for a long time. I enjoy having a mix of experience levels in this class, as it enhances the environment for everyone. 

The classes will meet at 381 East, 230 South. It's a house, and we'll be meeting in the studio space above the garage. There will be signs, but you will enter through the gate on the right side of the house, then take the stairs up to the studio.

To sign up, please go here and fill out the form. In order to secure your place in the class, you'll need to pay at least the $35 non-refundable deposit. Links are below for each class.  Full payment is $175. The non-refundable deposit is $35. If you make a deposit, the remainder of the payment ($140) will be due on or before the first day of class. That final payment can be made in cash, check, or credit card.

Signing up:

To sign up, please go here and fill out the form. Once that's done, the payment links are below. Full payment is $175 for the 6 week course. The non-refundable deposit is $35. If you make a deposit, the remainder of the payment ($140) will be due on or before the first day of class.

Payment links:

Acting for Film full amount--go here.

Acting for Film deposit--go here.

Acting for Film balance--go here (only use this option if you've paid the deposit and need to pay the remainder)

Once the classes have started, the entire amount of $175 is due, regardless of the number of classes you end up attending. If something happens during the course (for example, a show or film) and you need to withdraw, talk to me about it. I can pro-rate the remainder of the classes and use it as a deposit for my next round of classes.

For those who might need some flexibility on payment, contact me (actingwithoutthedrama -at- gmail -dot- com) with a payment plan already thought through. I'll let you know whether or not it's something I can work with. I don't want the price to keep you from studying with me, so I'll do what I can to help you out!

Enrollment is limited (I like to keep the classes small), so make sure and sign up quickly! Your deposit insures your place in the course. Don't worry. If the classes fill up, I'll refund your deposit fully.

A note on tuition: you are signing up for the entire course. If you have to miss a class, you won't be refunded for that day. You're encouraged to clear your schedule on the day of class for the entire 6-week course.

Once you sign up, make sure you find and prepare a one-minute monologue (have it memorized and ready to perform for when the class starts). That will be the first thing we'll be working on. If you've never looked for a monologue, email me (actingwithoutthedrama -at- gmail -dot- com) for tips and places you can start looking.

I'm excited to work with you, so let's get started!

Three C's of Acting, starting in January!

Okay, actors! I'm starting up The Three C's of Acting starting January 25th, and I would love to have you join us!

The Three C's of Acting class will meet Thursdays (starting January 25th) from 7-10pm. It will focus on my specific approach to the art of acting. If you've never taken a class from me before, this is where you need to start. :)

For those who have taken the Three C's class before, you'll know that it's gentle, but never comfortable. It does well for actors who are just starting out, as well as those who have been working and studying for a long time. I enjoy having a mix of experience levels in this class, as it enhances the environment for everyone. The course runs for six weeks.

The classes will meet in Orem at 381 East, 230 South. It's a house, and we'll be meeting in the studio space above the garage. There will be signs, but you will enter through the gate on the right side of the house, then taking the stairs up to the studio.

Signing up:
To sign up, please go here and fill out the form. Once that's done, the payment links are below. Full payment is $175 for the 6 week course. The non-refundable deposit is $35. If you make a deposit, the remainder of the payment ($140) will be due on or before the first day of class.

Payment links:
Three C's of acting full amount--go here.
Three C's of acting deposit--go here.
Three C's of acting balance--go here (only use this option if you've paid the deposit and need to pay the remainder)

Once the classes have started, the entire amount of $175 is due, regardless of the number of classes you end up attending. If something happens during the course (for example, a show or film) and you need to withdraw, talk to me about it. I can pro-rate the remainder of the classes and use it as a deposit for my next round of classes.

For those who might need some flexibility on payment, contact me (actingwithoutthedrama -at- gmail -dot- com) with a payment plan already thought through. I'll let you know whether or not it's something I can work with. I don't want the price to keep you from studying with me, so I'll do what I can to help you out!

Enrollment is limited (I like to keep the classes small), so make sure and sign up quickly! Your deposit insures your place in the course. Don't worry. If the classes fill up, I'll refund your deposit fully.

A note on tuition: you are signing up for the entire course. If you have to miss a class, you won't be refunded for that day. You're encouraged to clear your schedule on the day of class for the entire 6-week course.

Once you sign up, make sure you find and prepare a one-minute monologue (have it memorized and ready to perform for when the class starts). That will be the first thing we'll be working on. If you've never looked for a monologue, email me (actingwithoutthedrama -at- gmail -dot- com) for tips and places you can start looking.

I'm excited to work with you, so let's get started!

Two November Classes--Auditions and Acting for Film

I've got a couple of new classes starting in November! Take a look!

Auditions
Tuition: $175
Feel like you're an amazing actor, but that you just can't book? Wanting to move to LA, but are afraid you don't know what to do? Need that extra edge in the room? This class will knock your socks off!

Auditions will start Monday, November 13 and will run through December 18.  Each class session will meet from 7-10pm (depending on class size).

To sign up, please go here and fill out the form.

Acting for Film
Tuition: $175
Want to understand how to translate your performance for the camera? Feel like you're a good actor but lack experience with television and film? Want to understand the industry better? This class is a perfect fit for you!

Acting for Film will begin Tuesday, November 14 and will run through December 19. Each class session will meet from 7-10pm (depending on class size).

To sign up, please go here and fill out the form.

Location:

All classes will meet at 381 East, 230 South. It's a house, and we'll be meeting in the studio space above the garage. There will be signs, but you will enter through the gate on the right side of the house, then take the stairs up to the studio.

To sign up, please go here and fill out the form. In order to secure your place in the class, you'll need to pay at least the $35 non-refundable deposit. Links are below for each class.  Full payment depends on the class. The non-refundable deposit for all classes/camps is $35. If you make a deposit, the remainder of the payment will be due on or before the first day of class. That final payment can be made in cash, check, or credit card.

Tuition payment links--

6-week Acting for Film: 
Link to pay full $175
Link to pay $35 deposit
Link to pay balance of $140 (only after paying deposit first)

6-week Auditions:
Link to pay full $175
Link to pay $35 deposit
Link to pay balance of $140 (only after paying deposit first)

Once the classes have started, the entire amount is due, regardless of the number of classes you end up attending. If something happens during the course (for example, a show or film) and you need to withdraw, talk to me about it. I can pro-rate the remainder of the classes and use it as a deposit for my next round of classes.

For those who might need some flexibility on payment, contact me (actingwithoutthedrama -at- gmail -dot- com) with a payment plan already thought through. I'll let you know whether or not it's something I can work with.

Enrollment is limited (I like to keep the classes small), so make sure and sign up quickly! Your deposit insures your place in the course. Don't worry. If the classes fill up, I'll refund your deposit fully.

A note on tuition: you are signing up for the entire course. If you have to miss a class, you won't be refunded for that day. You're encouraged to clear your schedule on the day of class for the entire 6-week course.

Once you sign up, make sure you find and prepare a one-minute monologue for the Acting for Film class (have it memorized and ready to perform for when the class starts).  For the Auditions class, bring in auditioning sides that fit you as far as casting. That material will be the first thing we'll be working on. If you need help with this, email me (actingwithoutthedrama -at- gmail -dot- com) for tips and places you can start looking.