Working Actor Life

Doors to The Membership are opening soon. If you’re tired of spiraling alone after auditions, ⁠this is where we fix that!
What actually goes through our heads when the camera is rolling and nobody's watching? This episode, we pull back the curtain on the messy, unfiltered, very human
We take turns going deep on the real inner monologue behind the self-tape process, from imposter syndrome to beauty standards to full-blown existential crises.
We're talking:
the thought that makes Gab question whether she should even be coaching
why being "beautiful" in this industry isn't always the advantage people think it is
the hidden time tax of hair and makeup — and why it makes Sam genuinely resentful
second-guessing whether Atlanta actors are just fillers for bigger-market hires
what self-sabotage actually sounds like mid-tape
spiraling from one hard audition into "what am I doing with my life"
whether you have to feel it "in your bones" to be a working actor
the difference between doing this because you love it vs. because you're good at it
how your cycle can affect your confidence (yes, we went there)
what to do when the thought doesn't go away — and when to just tape anyway
Sam's skincare journey update (and a truly unhinged Accutane detour)
Timestamps:00:00 what this episode is and why Gab came up with it02:00 the format: fly on the wall, ping pong style03:00 Gab's first thought: "how can I not know how to do this if I coach people?"05:00 walking away vs. pushing through...how Gab decides07:00 when being in your head can actually work for you on camera09:00 a membership win: booking after an audition they hated10:00 Sam's thought: resentment about hair and makeup prep time13:00 "being beautiful in this industry is not helpful" and why Sam stands by it14:00 Gab's second thought: are they just going to give this to someone from LA?16:00 self-sabotage disguised as logic17:00 spiraling into: what are we actually doing?19:00 acting as a drug, signing up again and again for the emotional toll21:00 synced cycles, spiral season, and the audition thoughts that come with it22:00 Sam's deepest fly-on-the-wall thought: is this as good as it gets?25:00 Gab's honest take: "I don't feel it in my bones that I'm supposed to be an actor"27:00 over-identifying as your job and what that costs you29:00 Sam's skincare update + the Accutane rabbit hole we did not plan for

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Doors to The Membership are opening soon. If you’re tired of spiraling alone after auditions, this is where we fix that!

We break down exactly how we prepped two very different auditions + why there is no one-size-fits-all method for working actors.

We’re talking:
- how to decide how much time an audition actually deserves
- indie film vs network tv prep differences
- when to immerse yourself in research and when to keep it simple
- memorization tricks that actually work for self tapes
- audition burnout and over-prepping
- why consistency with casting matters more than perfection
- how to stop “showing your work” in auditions
- the psychology behind relaxed auditions
- why not every tape needs 12 hours of backstory
- how to treat audition prep like a strategy, not a ritual

Timestamps:
00:00 why we’re keeping this intro short
02:00 sam’s indie film audition breakdown
05:30 reformatting messy sides and making bold choices
07:45 memorizing with repetition and passive listening
10:00 why taking breaks (and naps) actually helps
14:00 filming in stages and not forcing creativity
16:30 over-prepping vs strategic prep
20:00 gab’s “24th time auditioning for this show” mindset
22:00 how to prep when casting already knows you
24:00 why both approaches are valid
26:00 the biggest mistake actors make with audition prep

Follow + resources:
Join The Membership for coaching, live feedback, masterclasses, and real-time actor community support.
Follow Sam
Follow Gab

Last week we were on actor HIGHS: SEVEN auditions between the two of us. Voiceover sessions. Commercial callbacks. Zoom auditions with five-minute slots. Manager calls about new agents.This week? Nada.So let's break down the MENTAL hustle of staying in the game when the momentum spikes and then fades. Cause this is what we signed up for as working actors.⸻We’re talking: • What a 5-audition week actually looks like behind the scenes • 12-hour turnaround auditions and how to handle them • Auditioning at 6am for a major Netflix show • How to approach dummy sides when you have zero context • Using coaching to shape strong first takes • Why Zoom auditions are worth saying yes to • How to ask for time in the room without panicking • Commercial agent expansion and pitching yourself strategically • Direct-to-callback commercial auditions • The emotional crash after a big audition week • Your nervous system in context to actor life⸻Timestamps00:00 – Why we hit record immediately02:00 – Manager calls and commercial agent expansion06:00 – Five auditions in one week08:00 – 6am Tyler Perry audition for Netflix11:00 – Coaching choices and finding the comedy13:00 – The crash day after momentum15:00 – Audition flow vs emotional regulation21:00 – Taking the Zoom audition that scares you24:00 – 5-minute live audition breakdown27:00 – Asking for time in the room30:00 – Direct-to-callback KFC commercial33:00 – How many times is too many auditions for one brand35:00 – Meeting reps in person and relationship building39:00 – Why this industry is emotional whiplash⸻Links & Resources:Join The MembershipSam’s InstagramGab’s Instagram

If you’re only measuring your career by bookings, you’re going to feel like you’re failing.Booking signifiers are getting rarer. Callbacks, avails, pins, chemistry tests. They don’t show up the way they used to. This episode is about the new scoreboard.We break down what actually counts as success for working actors right now and how to recognize momentum and success metrics for yourself.⸻We’re talking: • Why traditional booking signifiers like callbacks, avails, chem tests, and producer sessions are happening less frequently • How industry contraction is changing what “success” looks like for working actors • What positive signifiers are and how casting feedback and agent feedback matter more than you think • Why getting more focused auditions from your agent or manager is a huge career marker • How to interpret audition rejection without spiraling • The difference between booking signifiers, positive signifiers, and momentum markers • Why feeling strong about your self-tape is a legitimate career win • How to build confidence when you’re not booking • Why comparing bookings on Instagram is distorting your perception of success • How intuition develops over time and why experienced actors trust their work more⸻Links:Check out all things Vas + Online actor here.
Take the free Actor Type Quiz⁠⁠Join the waitlist for The Membership⁠Sam’s IGGab’s IG

Timestamps:00:00 Why booking signifiers are disappearing03:00 Why agents may not tell you about avails or producer passes06:30 Positive signifiers: feedback from agents and casting09:00 Getting more aligned auditions from your reps12:00 Why agents can’t submit you for everything15:00 Momentum markers and feeling strong about your work18:00 Letting go after auditions instead of obsessing21:00 The four stages of competence and acting growth24:30 Confidence, intuition, and why actors get better with age27:00 Social media, comparison, and the “tape vs who booked it” trap30:00 Building long-term confidence without bookings32:00 The White Lotus near-booking and “onto the next” mindset

Managing losses without letting them define you will be the thing that makes this all do-able. So let's talk about the difference between a setback and a defeat and why your response to not booking matters more than the booking itself.

We're covering:
handling avail checks and callbacks that fall through
managing audition rejection and disappointment
why comparing your acting career to others keeps you stuck
turning rejection into creative fuel
processing casting director feedback (too young, too old, not right)
self-care on a budget for actors between bookings
creating your own content when the industry says no
building resilience as a working actor
why quitting acting might take more courage than staying

Take the free Actor Type Quiz⁠
⁠Join the waitlist for The Membership⁠

Sam’s IG
Gab’s IG

Timestamps:00:00:00 intro and why we're talking about losses00:01:05 hot take: if you can't handle small losses, bigger ones will break you00:03:04 the personalization trap and why bookings aren't about hustle00:03:32 why quitting might take more courage than staying00:05:00 Gab's January losses: avails, holds, and canceled plans00:08:03 how to tangibly process rejection and disappointment00:10:38 what to do when you're tight on funds00:14:21 Sam's losses: being too young and too old in the same week00:19:05 getting excited about a role you'll never audition for00:24:09 discovering what you're actually upset about00:27:11 two different approaches to handling losses00:30:21 being a creative who uses creativity instead of sitting on it00:31:34 Bad Bunny's Grammy win and taking your moment00:33:05 Super Bowl halftime shows and representation00:36:04 closing thoughts and what's next