Now this was something I thought was pretty funny.  I ran into a guy that I thought I recognized, but I could not remember from where.  After 20-30 minutes it dawned on me that he was the “Can you hear me now?”  I can only imagine how often people approach him and think they know him from somewhere.  He was super nice so I asked him about it and he said “Yeah, I get that a lot”.  Then he said, “Do you have a commercial running right now?” 

I thought he was saying that that was something that people often say to him, but in actuality he was asking me if I “had a commercial running right now”.  I was stymied by the question and paused, then said, “Are you serious?”  Yes, he was actually asking me the question.  Wow, I have to tell you THAT made me smile; I was just caught so off guard by the notion that anyone recognized me.  It’s funny, because even though I’ve done 35-40 commercials I feel as though I’ve never booked anything in my life.  I guess I have.  Maybe I do have a chance in this business. Just maybe...

Something else really cool happened too.  I let a co-worker borrow one of my new books - Clark Howard's LIVING LARGE IN LEAN TIMES and he is RAVING about how much he's learning about getting his personal finances in order. Made my day I tell ya!  Changing the world – one person at a time!


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Callback: “Planet Fitness” @ Francene Selkirk Casting. I can’t count how many times I’ve been to this office for auditions, callbacks and avails.  BUT I have never booked anything!  Nothing.  Not yet.  But it’s coming, I feel it. I know it. 

The callback went great...well, I nailed the 3rd take, LOL.  The director, based in New York, was very hands-on, very nice and complimentary of my initial audition.  My scene partner was taller than me, stronger than me, had a much deeper voice than me, wore waaay more lipstick than me AND had higher heels than me. She was a sweetheart though. Yeah, I was confused too...I just "went with it".

Wardrobe from BEVERLY HILLS CHIHUAHUA 3 called again today.  I guess that means I’m still employed AND I received a script from FedEx…2 good signs.

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Today was pretty crazy to say the least.  Actually, kinda mind-blowing in many ways.  Things are about to get interesting…I’ll leave it at that.

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Audition: “Capital One” @ ASG Casting.  Fun stuff.  

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Audition: “Planet Fitness” @ Francene Selkirk Casting.  Ha! This seems like it’ll be a pretty funny commercial.  I think I’m really right for it too.  So hopefully I’ll be at the callbacks next week.  

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This morning the assistant at my theatrical agency called to see if I was available on Monday. I’m not sure why, but hopefully it’s for something good.

CUT TO: - Many hours later.

My theatrical agent calls to inform me that I have an offer/booking for a role in “BEVERLY HILLS CHIHUAHUA 3” a Disney Home Video Production. Cool. I’m thrilled to book something. I hope it’s the start of something…

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Audition: “Xxx” @ Xxxxxing. Non-disclosure agreement signed. Didn’t happen.

Alright, a full week later, I’m still trying to figure what the deal is with my car. I don’t like what I’m hearing from my mechanic so I’m forced to look deeper. The internet is a tremendous tool in doing free research. My battery tested bad, but I think those test simply read the current state of the battery; they don’t tell much more than that. First they wanted to sell me a new battery…I said “No, no, no”. I got the battery from Costco and I knew I could exchange it.

My research pointed to the notion that the problem might be the electrical part of my ignition switch. So I priced it, bought it and installed it myself. YEAH! Saving the auto shop labor cost and learning something new myself. I think I diagnosed it correctly…time will tell.

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Audition: “Target” @ Alyson Horn Casting. Here I am, back again, to audition for this commercial with different direction. It’s not a callback, just a “do-over” I guess. Anyway, I think it went well enough. Maybe. I kinda felt myself working…I don’t usually like that feeling, we’ll see.

Callback: “AT&T” @ RMB Casting. Ha! Me and my partner were in and out of that room so fast it was actually funny. I’m thinking “no” there not at all interested in us. Not even a little. NEXT!

After the callback in Santa Monica I decided to brave afternoon, rush hour traffic and attempt to get to the Barnes & Noble in Burbank for a book release & signing. The author is Clark Howard and his new book is called LIVING LARGE IN LEAN TIMES. Clark was instrumental in helping me change my thinking about how I spend my hard-earned dollars. It’s made a huge difference in my life because now I feel that I have some control over how, when and why I spend. I wanted to meet him and personally thank him for his guidance. It has not only helped me, but it has given me the opportunity to “pay it forward” and encourage many others to get on the bandwagon of personal finance.

I made it to the signing and got a chance to listen to him speak. It was a little weird hearing his voice and seeing him in person after listening to hundreds of hours of him on podcast over the years. Actually, I listen to him 2x speed because I usually have a lot of podcast to catch up on. In person, it sounded like he was talking really slow, LOL!

At any rate, I bought the book for him to sign. I felt weird about spending the cash on it (he recommends getting it from the library for free!) because I hear so much in the podcast, but I looked at it as supporting what he does and a small price of thanks. Plus, after I read it, I’ll have it to let someone else borrow and they can hopefully benefit from what he has to say too. I’m really glad I made it over there.

Myself & Clark Howard

While I was on my way to Burbank the guy that I met last week at the audition that recommended that I try stand up comedy called and invited me to his comedy show later this evening…60 or 70 miles away. Cool, I’m off work tonight I’ll go.

Well…I tried to go to the comedy show. Half-way there my car broke down on the 605 in the middle of…somewhere. Ugh! I had it towed to my mechanic in Studio City and left it there so they could, hopefully, fix it in the morning.

Now, to get home from Studio City. I skateboarded to the subway @ Universal City, rode it one stop to Hollywood/Highland and then skateboarded the rest of the way back to West Hollywood. I LOVE riding the subway and I LOVE skateboarding. I don’t love when my car breaks down though and I hated that I missed the comedy show.

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Life on the Sunset Strip…

I'm curious as to how many people, when staying in a hotel, order room service and when it's delivered answer the door completely naked, but act as though they are fully clothed? Just curious.

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Audition: “Target” @ Alyson Horn Casting. Yes! This one went great! Good, simple solid work. I also ran into a friend from back in my New York days. A wonderful actress named Susan Santiago. It’s always great to catch up with her. We have similar concerns about the future as performers, but we are both making headway in the game.

Interesting. My agency called to say that I need to go in again tomorrow for “Target”. Not a callback; they need to re-tape with different direction. Oh well. I guess the ad agency/client changed the direction. Cool, I hope it goes well again.

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Life on the Sunset Strip…

A gentleman at work last night gave me a $20 tip because he wanted to support my acting career...I wasn't even his server. I had a feeling I'd have a good, positive night last night. Today was another great, positive day...things are happening.

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Audition: “AT&T” @ RMB Casting. This went well and I had fun. I recognized one of the people I was auditioning with as the host of a comedy night I went to early in the year. As we were walking out together I mentioned it to him and said that I enjoyed his work. We started talking about comedy and doing stand up and he said that I should definitely try it. He felt that I had what it took and would do well. It meant a lot coming from him; someone I had actually seen work. I think he’s right. I just have to find the balls to do it and stop being intimidated by the thought of it.

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Life on the Sunset Strip…

Customer: Hey, what's in your Mac n Cheese?

Server:... umm...Diamonds & Pearls.

Customer: Cool. eh...just give me a burger, medium, fries, cheese and bacon.
 Server:...perfect.

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Audition/Director: “Beverly Hills Chihuahua 3” @ Caroline Liem Casting. I was very happy with how it went. The only issue was that I didn’t get the sides for the 3 different roles I was reading for; but I got the entire script. It made for a little bit of confusion because I wasn’t sure where to start and stop, but I handled it well…even the director Lev L. Spiro said so. I would love to book one of these roles.

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Life on the Sunset Strip…

She asked: Why is mine white and hers red?

Me: Because she ordered Merlot and you insisted on Pinot Grigio.

Her: Oh.



...

Different she: Could I get something else? I didn't know this had eggs in it.

Me: It's called an Eggsadilla.

Her: Oh.



...

To the different, different she: I found one of your Black pumps...under table 4; it's at the front desk.

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Geez, it’s over already??? Yup, time to get on this aeroplane and make my way back…home… to Los Angeles. Yeah, it’s probably about time I start to consider Los Angeles “home”. I’ve been fighting it, but for a few reasons I need to do just that. It’s only taken 13 years.

As usual, I already have an audition scheduled for tomorrow. I have a feeling things are going to be busy. I will be taking a commercial class in the very near future and, most likely, a stand up comedy class.

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Life on the Sunset Strip…

Mrs. Ex Hulk Hogan...Kinda tall, very blonde AND very, very nice to me...I don't ask for much.

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Home Sweet Home – what does that mean to me? I’m not sure but I know that I love being around my two younger brothers, younger sister and niece and nephew. We are great together; we laugh, we agree, we disagree, we learn from each other, but mostly we laugh…and I LOVE to laugh. I also love to make others laugh. I always wonder what it would be like if I moved back there.

Today we went gokarting and had a complete blast! It was such a great time! I REALLY wish I could stay longer, but I was only able to get a certain amount of time off of work. I really look forward to returning to the day when my “work” means acting and smart personal finance/saving/investing. I’ll get back there.

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Life on the Sunset Strip…

Yes, I will deliver cigarettes to your room. It will only cost $14.29 and, yes, the matches are included.

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After nearly 3 weeks without a single audition I have one scheduled for a show I really want to go in on…and book. The only problem is that I am going home to Virginia Beach for a much needed vacation and the shooting days conflict with the days I’m gone.

I got the call late yesterday evening and didn’t get back to my agent in time to find out if the casting director still wanted me to come in considering I’ll be gone for part of the shoot dates. This morning I got the answer that “no”; I shouldn’t come in. Cool. I wanna go home. I NEED to go home. Bad.

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Life on the Sunset Strip…

HER:...ahh ah...is this the menu?

Server: No, it's a parking ticket.

HER: Okay, can I get the hangover burger - well done?

Server: ...sure.

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4,748 days ago I left 61^st & West End Ave NYC 10023 and set up shop in Hollywood. It’s been a long, sometimes exhausting journey, but quite rewarding at the same time. I’ve been relatively successful as a performer…even though it doesn’t always feel that way. The plan is to keep on keepin’ on and breakthrough to what is next on my path.

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Life on the Sunset Strip…

..and this part is REALLY important.

If say to the guy (who's super in-shape and built like an NFL safety) 

"FU!!! I ain't your house %^$^$**#^! I'll see yo a** outside!"

IF you say that, it's important to either:

a) NOT be outside.

OR

b) be able to reasonably defend yourself.

If "a" or "b" isn't an option you risk getting "knocked the EF out!" AND being asleep on the pavement when the ambulance comes to "pick yo a** up...just sayin.

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I’m back! Back in class that is. Same drill as last week except that I received an email this morning from my scene partner saying that she had to work and can’t make it to class today. Oh yeah, we are video taping too.

Since my partner wasn’t there I had to work with someone else who already had a partner and she was great. Our first take was just okay. We received our feedback and the second take went really, really well. Everything was on-point with props; the only thing was that I missed one of my marks by a little bit. I left there very happy and much more confident than before I took the class. I call that a success, in fact, I may even take the class again later this year. The stuff Bethany taught over these 8 hours is vital to my success. Thanks Bethany Rooney…and Tracy Weisert who was gracious enough to introduce me to Bethany.

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Life on the sunset Strip…

Her: Does the Portobello Sandwich have mushrooms on it?

Server: ...only if you want it to.

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Today I had my first of two 4-hour workshops with veteran TV director Bethany Rooney. It did not go well…at all. The basis of the class is much about working with props, blocking, hitting your marks, being able to duplicate a performance, etc. The requirements were to be off-book with the dialogue, incorporate 3 separate movements and use 3 different props. Our classmates put marks on the floor for our movements in the first take and we assigned a “script supervisor” to notate movements, dialogue and actions.

My performance was extremely flat. I was worried about the props and the blocking. The only bright spot was doing very well with the 4-pages of dialogue. After the first take Bethany gave me and my scene partner feedback and we took another stab at it. In all honesty, the second take wasn’t much better. I was disappointed in myself and embarrassed. My scene partner had a lot of trouble with remembering her lines, but that didn’t have anything to do with me sucking. I was embarrassed because my resume shows that I’ve been hired by many top casting directors, writers, directors on many successful shows over the years. My performance said otherwise...

The bright spot was that I was determined to do better next week. I had no problem understanding the direction I just could unclutter my mind enough to execute the direction. I often overthink things…nothing new for me.

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Life on the Sunset Strip…

Oh snap! Is that Ludacris?! Ima get a record deal tonight... Lay down some raps 'n sh*t!

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Audition: “Wal-Mart” @ Kathy Knowles Casting. Fun time with a group of guys talking smack to each other; full of testosterone! It was like being in the football team locker room. We had a great time.

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Life on the Sunset Strip…

Her: How many items are in the 3-item omelette?

Server:....(blank stare).

Her:...(C'mon, tell me, stare).

Server:....(blank stare).

Server (Cont'd.) ....47.

Her: Really?

Server: No....

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Audition: “Target” @ Ross Lacy Casting. Simple stuff. Fun stuff. Worked with a wife, son & daughter. Not sure how “spot on” I am for it though, but I’ll let the powers that be make that decision.

Audition/Tape: “Jessie” @ Sheryl Levine Casting. This is a hot, new kids show that is due to start airing soon. I felt good about my work and hopefully I’ll get to the next step in the process.

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Life on the Sunset Strip…

How do I "graciously" not accept two, oddly small green apples from a customer? He said he grew them for me.

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Audition: “Wal-Mart” @ Spot Casting. Great, fun. I worked with 3 other wonderful, lively performers and had a blast. See ya at callbacks?

Audition: “Bank of America” @ Ross Lacy Casting. Nailed it! Just kidding. No, seriously, I felt great about this one. I’ve auditioned for SO many of these “B of A” commercials that I eventually have to book one. Right? Yup!

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Life on the Sunset Strip…

Lady, I/we did NOT take your green jacket...it's not even my size. The better question is who stole your bra...

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