Letter six...also somewhat delayed due to no internet

Dear Unemployed Actor,

It's pretty shit being you. I expect so at least. You've trained for a few years (University, Drama School, classes whatever route you decided to go), you've splashed out on Headshots, printing CV's, writing to hundreds of Theatre Companies, Film Companies etc. You may have even found an agent and completed two years of TIE. And now WHAT? WHAT? Well nothing's really happening is it? I mean you had an audition on Monday but that was the first one this month. You're pretty sure you're going to be moving back home next week unless you can persuade your boyfriend/girlfriend to let you move in with them despite the fact you KNOW your relationship isn't ready for that. You're taking on more and more part time work which started off being just promotions work (which you sort of squished onto your CV as Acting work) but now you're really just working in a bank. In fact it's starting to look less part time and more...well like you have a job. A JOB? Jeez. That's what you trained your ass off for?

Look...I write this to cheer you up. I know it doesn't seem that way, I'll probably get to the cheery bit soon. But I admit it's not entirely altruistic. I'm about to join you. Of course I hope I'm going to join the slightly more successful version of you BUT I'm not writing off the possibility that I might go through a um...resting period. And I'd like to be prepared. So let's have a joint pep talk. Okay? Okay.

So...we kinda knew this might happen. We can't say we weren't warned. No we were warned. We were warned numerous times. By numerous people. Sometimes people we didn't even know cornered us a dinner parties to ensure we understood the folly of our profession didn't they? But we smiled smugly, ensured them we understood and that we were well prepared. But really we weren't. We were living in a fantasy world, expecting to fall right into our first job and never look back. Why? Because some SOME people do. We've read about it in the Sunday Times Culture Supplement. But the reason that these have made the news is because they're not really the norm. The norm is you. What you're going through right now. Sorry, what WE'RE going through right now (theoretically of course, I may NEVER be in your situation...). So we have a choice. Are we going to stick with it or not? I mean let's be honest, that really is what it boils down to. There are factors that will affect this decision but ultimately you need to devote yourself as much as possible to your career if you're gonna run with it. Don't worry about letting people down, looking stupid etc. If this is NOT the career for you, if you really have had enough GET OUT! There are too many of us here anyway! But if your heart and soul are still in this job. If you still want to act more than you want anything else (perhaps not including family and friends: I feel that ambition doesn't necessarily need to be ruthless to be effective), if you truly believe you are good enough to get out there and put on a great performance...then go for it. Even if you need to step back, gather some cash and come back to it...make sure that you do. Don't take the easy route.

I believe in you. And I want to see your show!

Lucy xxx