Think you started late in this business? Did you start out life like everybody else with dreams and ambitions and believing things were possible and soon chose sensibility and university and regular paycheque only to wake up at 40 and remember that you always wanted to perform?? We it is never too late. For some inspiration, here is Backstages feature on actors who started late in life. It is never too late to live life by yo

Hello there!

So here we are in a brand new studio at 480 Adelaide WEST in Toronto and I just want to let you all in on what you can expect from the Robyn Kay Studio in the coming months.

Firstly we will be planning a grand opening event around the beginning of September to give you a chance to come in and check out our new space and mingle with fellow artists, misfits and the like. At RKS we are creating a space for actors and people in all fields related to interact and have the chance to collaborate. We want to be a springboard for your success and that starts with interacting with other actors on a regular basis, sharing ideas, sharing tips. We will be bringing in experts in the industry, casting directors and talent agents so that you can be armed with the most up to date information on what it will take for you to succeed. We plan to offer courses in Audition technique as well as our Meisner technique classes to prepare you with the skills necessary to achieve your dreams. 

To begin with we are offering a new studio summer promotion rate for a 4 week Meisner Technique session with Robyn Kay. If you make your payment by August 30th you pay only $250 tax incl. For either the Tues/Thurs day or evening class. Even if you don't use that month until November, you are eligible for the promotional price if you register now. We look forward to having you and are very excited to be a part of your success.

Ok, so August is here- already! Everybody and their dog is complaining that summer has come and gone so quickly! The truth is that there is still a solid 4 weeks before September really starts and things start getting really busy again.

If you are truly serious about your craft and your career, you will see summer as an opportunity to grow and not a chance to vacation. Take a long weekend or take a few days to sleep longer, tan, drink excessively or do what you gotta do to give yourself a vacation. But like it or not, 4 weeks from now castings are back in full force and you want to impress and show how you've grown over the summer- not how many new notches on your bedpost you have. So here are 5 things to do over the next 4 weeks to prepare you for the fall. 

1. Exercise. Consistently.

Whether you need to drop 10 lbs, just tone up or even if your body is perfect, we all need about 60 minutes of exercise a day. Like it or not, what you look like counts for a lot in this industry. That goes for your weight and how your skin looks. Late nights drinking poolside and extra helpings of ice cream and frappucinos do nothing for either. More exercise improves your skin tone, helps you drop fat and will have you looking well rested and healthy. Don't wait for fall to start good habits. Besides how you look, exercise contributes to healthy sleep patterns, improved moods, improves circulation and does wonders for your esteem and sex drive. All these things are confidence builders and there is nothing better to walk into an audition with than stellar confidence. 

2. Take an acting class


Summer is a great time to learn a new skill or technique. A lot of schools start back up in the fall however it makes for some pretty rusty Septembers. Try a weekend workshop, a voiceover class or if you'd like to learn the Meisner technique, I run classes continuously through the summer at the Robyn Kay Studio. There should never be too long a break from working on your craft.

3. Prepare your headshots and resumes

You must do these inane paperworking tasks a few times a year. Now is a great time for getting your ducks in a row. Need new headshots or more copies? Plan to get that done before August is through. Make sure you have a stack of headshots and resumes to take you through the new year. Update your resume, have thank you cards prepared for all the casting directors youll be seeing- its even a great time to start your own website or work on your reel once and for all. Take some time to do those things that we are often too busy for during the rest of the year.


4. Watch TV

Or read plays, or see live theatre or go to the movies. Know whats current. Figure out what kinds of roles move you. Figure out why you love some actors performances. Pinpoint what you hate about others. In order to excel in this business you need to be hip to what is current. Everyone needs to watch Breaking Bad if only because it is the most critically acclaimed television show to date and its all anyone can talk about. You need to develop cultural class and as an actor, that means having opinions on what is currently being talked about. 

5. Wake up earlier with a plan in mind. 

Whether you wake up at 9 am or 3 in the afternoon. Start waking up earlier. You have a lot to do. Don't just wake up early to enjoy your coffee longer or take a longer morning walk. Sit down and plan out your day. Figure out a few specific measurable goals for the day and get them done. Clean your desk or learn a new monologue or make some new contacts. Every day you should be accomplishing a few things that will take you to your ultimate goals. Taking actions, no matter how small, lead to increased confidence, motivation and hinder depression. They also help you accomplish your dreams. 

 

Socialising. Talking to people. Being yourself but being the absolute most charming, sexy, interesting, non threatening version of yourself. As someone who used to do it for a living (thank you Celebrity Cruises) I know it can be so gruelling but it is so necessary. For your career and your life. Like it or not you need friends- in both hi and lo places, Garth. It takes serious effort. Even acquaintances require effort to maintain. And you never know when you will walk in to an audition and the monitor will be that guy you told off at a party for being cheeky. This business is way to small to burn bridges. 

Yet sometimes its so hard to make a connection. Sometimes it just feels like work. A bunch of equally creative and charming people standing in a contrived circle everyone trying to outdo the next with interesting ass kissing comments in hopes that someone with the power to advance their career will here and make them a star. And you stand there and listen. Nothing is mildly funny or the least bit interesting yet you contribute with whole-hearted uh-huhs and guffawing at mediocre punchlines. But you do it. You meet someone who grew up two towns over from you and you regale stories teachers who got fired in your school board and what you remember their secondary school for (possibly your school kicked their ass in basketball)

But once in a while and it happens more than you think,  you get the thunderbolt. You walk into a room and are immediately drawn to someone and the banter comes easily and there is no misunderstanding. It's as if that person was made with you in mind. As if nobody would understand the language the 2 of you are speaking and the 2 of you are in on a secret, a wavelength that nobody else can access. Like all the awkward interactions have been your journey to this. Like you were in the right place at the right time. Like everything is aligned, the stars, the planets and their perfectly white teeth. The thunderbolt. The truth is that the stars are aligning for you. When you are working towards a goal or better yet a dream, your calling, putting out that message to the universe there are plenty of obstacles and things that get in your way- contributing to frowns and negative outlooks. But when you truck on and keep going when it's hard and no longer fun, the signs will appear. Little thunderbolts that tell you you are supposed to be here and everything is working out as it should be. Do not discount any thunderbolt as too small. Those moments are what you're working for. The closer you are to your dream the more often they will appear and the more obvious they will be.

So carry on, become a master of socialization. Make more friends than enemies. And look out for the thunderbolt.