The Blind Optimism of the Artist
I have 7 bucks and I know I’ll be fine
At the beginning of every year, I usually like to take a hard look at my finances. Where my debt is, any income still pending, and obviously my bank statement. As an actor and new content creator, I’ve become very accustomed to not always liking what I see.
Now, with this crazy virus coming around the bend again as well as the holidays slowing everything down, all of my “survival work” has dried up leaving me with 7 bucks to start off the new year and nothing yet on the horizon.
When you start shaping yourself to become a professional actor, (or any creative passion, really) a kind of “blind optimism” starts to kick in. You’re obviously worried and stressed, and have a lot of anxiety about work, life, and money, but at the same time, there’s always that little fire inside you that says that things are gonna work out.
Sometimes, I may have listened to the voice a bit too much. Leaving survival jobs with no notice, moving to New York with only $200. But here I am, in 2022 writing to you folks out there and letting you know that it worked out. And if you’re in this same boat this year and have that same little voice, I’m here to say that it’ll work out for you, too.
I want to clarify that I don’t mean to throw up your hands and just coast by, thinking that the universe will simply drop something at your feet. On the contrary, when your back is truly up against the wall, that’s the most important time to start grinding.
But what I’m trying to describe is the kind of Taoist belief that everything will work out. This kind of blind optimism isn’t a bad thing as long as you’re also working like hell to get what you want. As artists, we need to embody that. We need to make sure that all the “no’s” we get, all the auditions we don’t get, and the money problems we incur, don’t stop us from opening our hearts on stage, in our writing, in our paintings, or whatever else we work on that requires us to pour our hearts out.
Right now, I’ve got money issues, but as an actor, it’s certainly not the first time, and probably won’t be the last. It’s just time to dig my way out.
If you’re going into 2022 in the same boat, leave a comment down below and let me know what you’re working on to get yourself out. Until next time folks, stay safe out there.
