"A ship in a harbour is safe, but that's not what ships are for."

So I'm about a week shy of being in LA for 11 months, and I have been so fortunate to have a lot of really great things happen for me here. One of the best things I ever did was making the move out here, and that was truly unplanned and completely based on a gut feeling. I mean, it was a loud and clear "move to LA" gut feeling, but I will admit that till this day I don't really understand the why. Well, I'm learning more and more that the why isn't always evident. Things happen. Could be a cumulative effect of tasks you've completed or certain events you have set into motion, but all things happen for a reason. I do not believe anything is coincidental.

With that said, I have been looking back over my life and how it has changed so drastically from where I was just a year ago. Things are aligning nicely, and though this is not without a tremendous amount of work and perseverance, it is with such ease that it appears effortless. I had goals for myself when I moved to LA, and they changed as I got to know myself and the business and myself in this business better, but I am realizing that I may just be centering myself on a path that was already predetermined for me, even down to the survival job I happened to land out here in LA. Not to say this is the only life I could live, but it is definitely something I strongly feel I was called to do. There is way too much that cannot be explained logically, and being a strong willed and high logical person, I struggled with this - again, not being able to know the why. Well, like I said, LA has changed me, and I feel for the better - in more ways than I have even begun to chisel at or understand. I have solidified past relationships as well as built new ones that have become so crucial to my development as a person and soul.

As for the progression of my career, well, this may sound simple, but other than all the hard work that goes into making it happen (whatever your path may be), you have to have focus. Hard work without focus is just dissipated energy. You have to be specific. You have to know what you want. And before all of that comes the knowing who you are as well as understanding your surroundings. I am still on a learning curve here, but I am beginning to understand myself better than I ever have in my entire life, and because I do have a good grasp on how my business works, I knew where I needed to be, what goals I needed to set, and what steps I needed to take to realistically make things happen for myself. I believe that a delicate balance of sheer, blind faith and hard work is what brought me to where I am.

So, a good friend I met for coffee one afternoon sat me down and had a "come-to" chat with me. He asked what I was striving for in my career, what I wanted short term, what I was doing to get it. Well, at that time I was fortunate enough to be booking small jobs here and there, but as I began taking CD workshops I realized, I'm not really going to get called in or make the transition I want to within the time frame I'm giving myself unless I have rep. And not just any rep. Good rep. Rep that truly believes in me. Rep that is willing to work with me instead of just for me (I have never been a Yes Girl, I do have my own mind and ideas and I knew I needed someone that respected that). So I was on a mission - I needed the best representation I could get (and by best I don't mean who's necessarly ranked #1, but someone I felt could transition me to the next phase I saw my career heading in). So as I sat across from my dear friend, sipping on my overpriced unsweetened tea, I said, "I want to get good representation. That is my next goal." Well as we talked about everything I was doing and how I was going about it - what I was spending my time and money on, he said, "It doesn't seem like you're trying to get rep. It just seems like you're trying to work." As much as I tried to contradict him, I knew he was right. I thought, well, why can't I do both?! That brings me back to my point on dissipating your energy. Not that you cannot pursue more than one thing at a time, but just be aware of how thin you spread yourself.

So I went home and started to refocus all my energy I could spare from my already predetermined responsibilities to getting an agent. I set aside the money I needed to showcase myself every chance I got - but I was also smart about when, there is a "downtime/hiatus" in LA when agents do some "spring cleaning" on their rosters and either scout for new talent or just flat out replace existing talent - yes a cruel reality, but thus is my career. So I knew when I needed to be seen, I knew by who (I had researched agencies I felt I would be a good candidate for, and even strove for some that seemed to be slightly out of my reach - which I think it's ironic that the one I ended up with was one of those - never underestimate yourself), and I had the funds set aside to make sure I could really commit to this search. I must have auditioned for 40 different agents/managers from small mid ranked boutique agencies to top 50 agencies/managers. I had material that I had gotten great feedback on and made sure that I dotted all the i's and crossed all the t's. It didn't end there though. I created vision boards. I took down my previous vision boards that had all the projects I wanted to work on because I knew the segway to get there was landing my rep first. So up went the boards about the type of team I wanted to create for myself. I practiced visualization every spare chance I got - I just made sure every part of every day was placing energy and focus and work into getting that rep. Not only that, there's a very particular window of time in which you want to do this. That's where knowing the business comes in handy. Yes, there are the few and far between cases where people get signed during pilot season or when shows return to air but it is so rare, why chance it?

So that's that. I made everything about getting my rep, and I was able to achieve a team of people I am SO excited to start working with - all in about two months. I am not kidding. I know this was a mix of hard work and manifestation - which is why I believe it came about in the amount of time it did. Some of you may think of it as preparation meets opportunity - that's cool, I agree, but I know I manifested this into being. And I was able to do that by believing in myself, and going for what I knew could be attainable - and working my butt off for it. And just a little note to those that do have good rep, or any rep for that matter - even if you LOVE them and they are the best team you could have ever dreamed up, still keep in mind that it is YOUR career. Never leave it completely into the hands of someone else. Agents/Managers make 10-20% and that's because they put in about 10-20% of the effort. The rest is all you. Don't stop working and always stay one step ahead of your team.

If any of you have any other questions, need some advice, or just want some inspiration sent your way - don't hesitate to email me. You can contact me through the contact section on my website. And I mean it. Believe me, I was there. We all were. And I don't pretend to know everything, but I am an open book. I love helping and inspiring others, and at the end of the day, we are all in this together. Art begets art.

So that's all I have for now. I'll be going back to work on some more vision boards, revamping my business strategies, and visualizing/manifesting all the wonderful things I know are yet to come!

Looking forward.....

Love & Light!

Life is simply wonderful, wonderful...in every way...so they say - and I agree with they....er, them ;)

Man, have I hit the jackpot or what?! This is totally me NOT bragging, but life is pretty darn sweet. I can't deny it. I have to admit, after years of not understanding all the "no's" or the "you're just not ready's" or "fill in the blank with any other random you just didn't make the cut" statement and you will understand my pure JOY at seeing things unfolding as they are for me. And it's the little things too, but it's those little things that I know and believe make the big things come together -- and I am ultimately thankful for it all.
I've been in LA for just under a year and I have found an excellent team of reps that believe in me and my talent as much or more than I do. I have solidified some of the best friendships I have ever had in my entire life. I have an AMAZING group of people back home in FL that are rooting for me every step of the way. I have been networking and workshopping with the very best of the very best. I have witnessed and been a part of some incredible moments in my loved ones' lives. I have been blessed to work with an array of talented people on multiple projects as well as met some of the most inspiration, talented, and driven people I know in this crazy city known as Los Angeles. I have adopted two guinea pigs that have stolen my heart and own a cranky betta fish that is all too quick to put me in my place (yes, he flares up at me, but only when I deserve it, hahaha). I am one lucky gal. Truly.
I have been practicing patience, utilizing my sources to practice my craft at every chance, and patiently persevering over any obstacles that may have been thrown my way. I am ready LA. And for those that have been taking this journey with me, literally as well as vicariously, I must thank you, for it is your passion and fire that fuel mine as well. And to think, I almost didn't do it....
Now I will leave you with some pretty darn cool pics that recently came out in the LA Times on my current show "Evangeline, the Queen of Make-Believe."

Love & Light!

"Anything's possible if you've got enough nerve." - JK Rowling