Lots of rehearsing lately. Tonight I’m singing at The Royal Oak in Brooklyn (594 Union Av at 11th St). We’re doing some four-part a cappella music!

I also had my first rehearsal with Cherub Improv this month and am looking forward to performing regularly with them. We perform at hospitals, senior homes, hospice, homeless shelter, cancer support organizations and many other venues where we can utilize our talent to make a positive impact in the lives of those who really need to smile.

Lastly (for this update) I’m performing in a reading on Friday called “Collected Stories: The Best and Worst of Me and You” by Corey Pajka. I portray a playwright that’s trying to sort through his recently failed relationship and possibly win back his ex-girlfriend by writing a play. The show plays at 11pm in the Richmond Shepard Theater at 309 East 26th Street, New York, NY after Wide-Eyed’s presentation of The Last Days of Judas Iscariot. Admission is $10 at the door.

Whew! Well, I’m off to Brooklyn.

Matt spends another three hours brooding about cash flow vs. creative fullfillment. Bonus casting coach details.

Nothing in N.Y. comes easy. That’s why when you achieve something you feel like you own the world. At this point in my career though, it doesn’t always take me long to realize I don’t. I’m sitting in Starbucks waiting for my very first rehearsal with Cherub Improv, a group that performs improv comedy at hospital, correctional facilities, nursing homes, etc… It should be an exciting moment. Instead, I’m haunted by my lack of income.

I shouldn’t be worrying about this. I should be in performing RENT. I got cast to do a regional production. But, sadly, I got uncast suspiciously close to my rejection of the producer’s offer to let him be “a bad influence” during the production. “I’m looking forward to being friends, but I meant that in the plutonic sense”, I said shortly after he tried to kiss me. “That’s too bad because I’m not looking for plutonic friends,” he replied. The next day I received a call stating that I was too young to play opposite their Roger.
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Matt works hard for the money but the ideas don’t always pay off. Today he hatches yet another scheme.

So, the idea solution to this problem is to just book a show that pays more than most of the shows I book. But I have no way of knowing if that will happen. And aside from my regular bills I need to send out postcards to tell everyone about the parts I’ve booked, I need money to print off my new headshots, I need money for my classes and to be able to meet casting people (oh yes, that’s a whole other can of worms — we’ll discuss later). It’s expensive to be an actor.

Lately I’ve been paying the bills flyering in Times Sq. Sometimes I teach computer lessons or build websites. I had a temp agency. I’ve waited tables. I’ve written magazine articles. I’ve setup video games for corporate parties. I do bus tours… yes I do. So yesterday my roommate asked me to take a look at his computer. It was speaking and crashing. Crazy right? Well, it just so happens I’m very good at fixing things like that. So while I was sitting there, going through the system registry. I thought, I’m going to make a Craigslist ad. Maybe I can get people to pay me to fix their laptops. Anything to keep money in my pocket and a flexible schedule.

Matt is inspired to spend four hours simmering things he found in his refrigerator by the daddy of all theatre publications./

So, it’s certainly been a while since I posted to musings. 2009 got a little crazy — in a good way. I was booking shows left and right and so my whole struggling artist thing didn’t seem to make much sense. But then I discovered Playbill listed my website and talked about my blog that explored life as an actor. Well, that inspired me to keep going. I still do plenty of struggling, but I’m also having a bit more success. So, in 2010, I promise to give you a larger picture of the life of an actor and try to explain everything there is to know about our way of life no matter what stage of my career I’m at. It’s not going to be all business, business, business though… oh, no! It’ll be a picture of my life. So, anyway, my first post in 2010, is part of what I hope will be a series of videos on how to cook on an actor’s budget. Enjoy! Continue reading The Actor’s Diet

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