The Bells

I love talking to LDL on gchat on an almost daily basis. In fact, when I can't find her online - you know, cause she has other things going on besides sitting at her computer - I find myself in a bad mood with no outlet for my daily stories. She thinks I'm funny and I need that.

In the midst of all our moving, traveling, learning, and adventuring, we are also brainstorming on ways to make our mark in the world outside of our days jobs (mothering & engineering - LDL wins that battle). I, like twenty bazillion other people, would like to one day write a book. Not even a novel and definitely not The Next Great American Novel, but rather a small book of short stories or vignettes based on real-life.

Fast forward to the past couple of months, when my already lackluster hearing has taken a turn for the worst. It's not a funny situation to be in and I am sure there will be posts about the annoyances that occur from that later. But for now, the stories that happen to me because I can't hear much are pretty funny. The following is today's conversation with LDL.

 me:  well - one hilarious thing

do you know that I only have one bowl big enough for mixing?

 ldl:  i did not - seems you should get another bowl

 me:  so I mix dry ingredients in a ziplock and then slowly add them to the wet ones occupying my one bowl

 ldl:  hahahahaha

you should blog about that

 me:  and I use the same ziplock

 ldl:  though it surprises me, being the tree hugger you claim to be

 me:  I know. I have so many stories to tell

 ldl:  oh, that helps

 me:  me:  and I use the same ziplock

 ldl:  got it

i think it is ziploc btw

 me:  so. . . sometimes things have a little baking soda/powder/brown sugar etc and it's not supposed to

patatoe potato

here is what is REALLY hilarious

I was at jamba juice yesterday (after having spent an hour at the post office - but I did make the surly clerk laugh)

and I ordered a strawberry smoothie

the clerk behind the counter then asked me "can I have your number?"

I was SO taken a back

 ldl:  oh my gosh

 me:  aback? one word?

 ldl:  you thought he was asking for your phone number

WAS HE!?

 me:  and I said - "um. no."

 ldl:  no idea, get on with the story

 me:  and he said "well, what else can I get you?"

we are both very confused

turns out he actually said "does that complete your order"

 ldl:  HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

how did that end up turning out????

i mean, its not funny that you can't hear - but that is stinking hilarious

taylor

 me:  he gave me a survey to fill out - I can win a "buy one get one free" smoothie

Never fail. Just Get Rejected.

This industry of mine is certainly an interesting one. I can't think of another line of work where getting rejected can be deemed as a success. Technically, I guess that's not really true here either, but it is certainly looked more positively on than most businesses. Basically the whole process is based on rejections that hopefully eventually lead to success. Let me explain.

The most basic of rejections pretty much comes before a word is spoken. More often than not(there are a few exceptions) if you do not fit exactly the physical characteristics envisioned, you don't get a chance to even read for the part. Now, this particular brand of rejection isn't that bad, because you generally don't hear about it. But every now and again you'll hear how you are too tall, short, thin, fat or have the wrong hair color, eye color, skin color (or hue), blah blah blah.

Next there is the first real level of rejection. Auditioning and getting a, "Thanks" and that's it. Never a real good sign. Other versions of this are,"Ok, thanks" "Great, thanks" "thanks for coming" etc. Sometimes its tough to tell if the powers that be like you at all. Sometimes they make it obvious enough. BUT, getting those first few auditions are also a success because it's better than not getting sent on them at all. That level of "success" fades fairly quickly.

You then get to the callbacks. This rejection level is a special kind of suck, because it means you were actually liked enough to get brought back, meaning you actually have a shot. Again, there is an element of success because you got out of the first round. This level of "success" sticks around, well, I don't really know because I haven't moved past thinking of it as a success yet, so maybe it never does fade.

Probably the most painful rejection notice is being on first refusal, then released. You were selected. You're the guy. You're in. Until you're not. Brutal.

Now, why am I torturing you with my Dante-esque levels of rejection? Well, I've experienced a good number of levels within the past few weeks.

In my last post, or thereabouts, I told you readers about my journey to Atlanta to be rejected. However, I later found out that the casting director called(or emailed or otherwise notified) my agent to say how much she liked me and looks forward to having me back. So, success? Kinda. There isn't really anything to show for it, but the rejection was less terrible.

I also submitted two taped auditions for feature films. One here locally in Orlando, and the other in LA. Didn't hear a word back from either. At all. So I really have no idea how much I sucked, or if I did at all and wasn't the right body type, blah blah blah, or they didn't like my shirt, or a million other things you(I) let run through your(my) head.

Now, I did submit a taped audition to a webseries thing that films in Jacksonville, which I was asked to then drive up for a callback. And ended up booking a part. Probably for free, but the experience/exposure will be good, right? And it's a SAG contract, so that'll be helpful when the inevitable LA move comes. Oh, and I got to kiss a girl (blushing).

Also am shooting a UCF film this week. And have a rehearsal for a "feature film" shooting semi-locally next month. I used quotes there because, we're really only shooting a 10 min promo now, and (fingers crossed) the feature later. And the dates have already been pushed back once. So we shall see.

This may have been a slightly long, rambling post, and for that I apologize. Maybe you'll be interested in why generally try and temper any sort of emotions about my journey, and sometimes(most times) am bad at answering any sort of questions.

Oh, and I went on an audition for a Sonny's BBQ commercial, and got a callback only to not hear back(which means no).

I try not to feel like a 16(or 30) year-old girl sitting by the phone waiting for the cute guy from English class(or the Lodge) to call.

Success to you all.

Or less sucky rejection.