There's enough success for everyone.

I was shooting a commercial yesterday-very easy, non-union, quickie gig. I just had one line, and my scene partner had one line. I arrived on set not knowing who I was acting with. It turns out it, it was Jeff, an actor I audition with all the time-an actor to whom I've LOST many jobs.

Let's examine that last statement. Have I LOST jobs to Jeff in the past? Is that accurate?


I was reminded of a great piece of advise a director/mentor of mine, Shorey Walker, gave me when I was just starting out. "There is enough success for everyone."

At the time I was going to tons of musical theatre open calls, and not getting the roles. These auditions took all day, and you waited in big rooms with the same people over-and-over. They all seemed to know each other, and were having a great time. Long story short, I grew resentful. Quickly.

Her advice was to make the choice to be happy for people when they got work. What did you have to lose? It enabled you to have fun with these people, who were no longer your rivals, but your associates-your co-workers. You weren't meant to have that job, and there is ALWAYS another one right around the corner.

Life changing advice. It won me peace-of-mind. It won me confidence. It won me friends. It won me a career.

So, to say that I LOST roles to Jeff, my scene partner... is totally inaccurate. He gets the jobs he gets, and I get the jobs I get. No rivalry at all - and I was happy to get to work with him.
Honestly. No BS.