Are You Really a Professional?

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                                     ARE YOU REALLY A PROFESSIONAL?

Being a professional is doing the things you love to do, on the days you don't feel like doing them."-- Julius "Dr. J." Erving

What makes you a professional?  I like the above quote by Dr. J.  

When do you turn into a professional?   As a coach, director and teacher, I watch student after student and there is a moment when they start to work like a professional.  Here are some of the signs:

            A professional works constantly on improving his talent.

A professional scrutinizes herself after each performance, audition, and practice or rehearsal.          

A professional knows that if you are standing still you are really falling    behind.

A professional believes in “the team principle”.   He realizes that for his optimal performance it does “take a village”.        He knows that even the top professional athletes still have coaches and other people who help him perform at a optimum level.

A professional realizes what he knows AND what he doesn’t know.  And nothing will stop him from learning what he DOESN’T know!

Why am I talking about this?  People ask me why actors continue to study their craft, practice, rehearse?  As if somehow learning to act is like taking 2 aspirin. And yet everyone understands that the best professional athletes continue to practice and be coached. Just like athletes actors and writers need to strive to be the best every time they perform their craft.  They need to continue to understand human nature and to explore the reasonings of their characters.  And every time they work on a new script it is like starting over – once again. 

 I have some workshops scheduled in Hong Kong starting December 1 st.  Go to Jason Tobin’s Event page to make sure you have a place.  

I do think you will get a great work out as an actor, director, and writer when you come to my workshops but most important is that as a professional artist you need to find ways to continue to grow. 

You can work on your craft in many ways.  The point is do you do it?   Part of why Jason and I try to schedule my workshops at least twice a year is to both teach you new techniques and also show you how to practice those techniques.  Practicing has no substitute.   You can’t learn to become a first class soccer player or basketball prayer unless you practice.   You can’t just think about it.  You need to work the muscles and that is true for actors and writers as well. 

So find a way to practice and learn about your craft.  I welcome you to come to my workshops this December.  If you can’t do that, find other ways to practice your craft.

It can be a joyful and enjoyable journey – learning about your craft.   Also find your community – your artistic community of people who understand why it is important to continue to study and practice.   It’s your club!  They understand you and will be of support to you.  It is also a great way to “network”.  Let people know what you can do and what you are willing to do to help them realize their dreams as well as your dreams. 

John Lennon said, “A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality.”

You can find Jeanne Hartman’s schedule of workshops in Hong Kong at www.actingisbelieving.com.

For more information about Jeanne go to:

JeanneHartmanActorsDetective.com

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