1. If I just get into, go to, find the right acting coach, or train in the right program, and become a better actor, then I’ll make it.

2. If I just look better, get skinnier, work out more, get a boob job, nose job, hair extensions, get better pics, clothes, then I’ll make it.

3. If I just meet the right people in LA, have a better agent or manager, then I’ll make it.

4. If I just have a more positive attitude, get more spiritual, say affirmations, find God, believe in myself more, then I’ll make it.

5. If I can just do the right showcase, get seen by the right people, get my showreel onto the right website, then I’ll make it.

6. If I just get out of this city I live in now, and move to LA, then I’ll make it (after all, I’ve made it HERE…)

7. If I just …

Well, it’s been too long since I wrote my last Acting Room post, and I’m sorry friends!
The reason? I’ve been too busy ACTING!

As many of you know, I write this blog since I’ve taught acting for years in LA, and produced and directed several films. I also was an actress all through my 20s in LA. What many of you may NOT know is that I’m now 45, and have spent the last 20 years helping others to act, but not acting so much myself. I was in many commercials all through my late 20s, but haven’t been in a proper big play/theatrical production, since grad school.

The reason? Well, the LA theatrical/play scene is pretty much limited to stars performing at the Mark Taper Forum, or smaller 99 seat theatres that often are precast, And there is very good news. You can …

Hi Acting Room Family! I’ve been getting so many private emails about this question lately that I felt it was time to write a new post. Here is an example of a recent email I received from Michael, whom I will address hereafter as Mike:

So I’m a 26 year old living and working in D.C. with a really great day job. My first love is improv comedy,I keep thinking about the three big cities I would love to train in.but I’ve been getting more and more into acting. I’ve read a lot of your posts, and find your wisdom extremely enlightening.

My question for you is this. As I’m getting older…I keep thinking about the three big cities I would love to train in. Chicago because of the improv (yet with still a great theatre scene and training grounds)…New York, because it’s New York. And then of course LA…because that’s …

This is a recent email I received from an actor we will call John.

I’m a recent graduate of the (name withheld for anonymity) MFA program. And honestly, I feel I was cheated out of a great actor training experience. My teachers tried to kick me out of the program because I “wasn’t demonstrating abilities to be a professional actor,” but I fought my way back in the program. I didn’t want to lose my chance to get an Equity card and showcase to NYC agents. But going into a few months after graduation, I have no viable, healthy nor any existing relationship with my peers from that program. It’s like they all forgot about me and those three years in the MFA program have never happened. I guess my question is, how do I move past this? How can I maintain my confidence in being …

I get many emotional reactions to my post “The Seven Reasons Why Professional Acting Training Programs Simply Aren’t Worth It.” In fact, that one post alone gets about a thousand hits a month, and brings lots of traffic to this blog. That blows my mind. I never meant to be so controversial.

Heck, I have an MFA in Acting and there were many things I absolutely LOVED about my two year USC program. But after I got out of the program, I learned that I’d spent about $75,000 to go there, and I could have spent that much money putting a down payment on a house in LA, or even funded my own indie film. I could have taken ten years of private classes (on my own time and schedule) with the most famous acting coaches in the world! I’ve also received many angry comments …

I recently received a lovely email from a young actor/actress in the UK, wanting more advice and information about being a Christian actor, especially when you’re still in your teens and you want to “fit in.” Although I’ve tried to answer many of these questions in my previous posts: Being a Christian in the Acting Game (Parts 1 and 2) — I always feel there’s a need to repeat and update. Here is a summary of Jo’s beautifully written and thoughtful email:

“I have a topic and also a future post that would be very interesting for all Christian actors I’m sure; to know howWhat if it’s a really awful play that doesn’t hold any moral themes?far to go at college in your drama class and everything you might do involving drama. At school it’s really hard to stand up and say ‘I don’t wanna do …