(New Post) “If You’re An Actor, Act!” — Being In The Moment

A week ago I was watching Oprah and she was interviewing poet Mark Nepo about life and passions and he said something simple that struck a chord with me, he said “if you’re a singer, sing! If you’re a writer, write” and he continued to go on about the simplicity of that concept but the importance of just doing whatever it is you have a passion for. Don’t over think it, don’t worry about being famous or outside pressures but rather just be in the moment and do it.

Being in the moment and being present is a concept that I’m working very hard on right now because I have a tendency to worry and over think everything and it takes me out of just the simple enjoyment of doing whatever I do. The other day I put my new resolution to the test at an audition, it was for a Theatre company and I’ll be honest theatre auditions usually make me pretty nervous.

My comfort zone is film/tv and singing so I often enjoy the fact that I have to sing in Theatre auditions but it’s not exactly in the style that I’m most comfortable with and I usually have to go through my repertoire and find the most “musical theatre” style song that I can pull off within a weeks notice. Theatre auditions also usually require a monologue and this is the part that makes me really nervous! I love to act and I love dialogue and doing a scene but I always struggle with finding a good contemporary or classical style monologue that shows my range as an actress and makes me memorable. Being memorable is always my biggest concern so I often opt for doing something completely different and unexpected at an audition just to make sure that the name “Andrea Lewis” won’t be forgotten. Most Theatre auditions that I go to I find the quirkiest monologue that makes me laugh because I know it’ll make my audience laugh and laughter is a good way to make someone remember you! But like I said before, I usually worry and overthink about everything but this time around I decided to just “be”.

I went to my audition, wore my favorite red pants because red is a fiery color and I’m a fire sign! I picked a monologue that had subtle hints of comedy and a unique story and I sang one of my favorite songs from the show “Once on This Island”, which is an amazing show but I don’t often hear people sing songs from it so I knew it would be something that the casting director hadn’t heard yet for the day. And I thought of Mark Nepo and the casting director Debra Aquilla who many years ago, gave me the advice to “just play” and that’s exactly what I did. I loved performing my monologue and was super proud of myself for memorizing a 2 minute monologue in 2 days and I felt fantastic singing one of my favorite songs and I was completely, honestly and openly in the moment. I didn’t worry about what the casting directors were thinking and if I booked it or would have a call back or if I sounded good or looked good, or convinced them, instead I just focused on convincing myself and it was the best I’d felt in an audition in a long time. Singing, acting, and entertaining is what I do and whenever I get the chance to do what I do that’s all I should be thinking about. Being in the moment, enjoying it and grateful for it.

This post is to remind all of you guys  to just do what you do, if you’re an actor, act, if you’re a writer, write, if you’re a singer, sing, if you are a designer, then go design! Whatever it is, just do it, don’t worry about anything else except being in the moment and doing exactly what you are meant to do.

Happy Monday! Peace Out!