Fits and Starts

So, yesterday was kind of a rough day in the life of Patty. I mean...not reeeeaaaallly. I have a roof over my head. I have food to eat. I have the clothes on my back (and the stupid amount of clothes in my closet). But as much as I was trying to see all the positives about my "A" agency dropping me, I couldn't help but get bummed. Fuck, I got BUMMED.

By the way, did I tell you I'm taking a break from the booze and ganja as a new years resolution? Uh...ok, I know I didn't, it's my own damn blog. So yeah...I am not shy to say I'm a social drinker and a smoker of green. But it was getting excessive because of my very "relaxed" lifestyle. I mean, I bartend two nights a week, but the rest of my week is open. The great thing is, I pretty much NEVER miss an audition. The bad thing is, I have too much free time sometimes. I have too much free time a LOT of the time. So, my occasional puff puff turned into a much more regular habit. Not only that, but I feel like everyone in LA smokes. So anyway, I decided that I was going to stop for two whole months. I know what you're thinking. Two months? That's it? Hunny, two months solid of not smoking is pretty damn good in my book. And plus, the point is to change the habit. After the two months is over, it will feel normal to be not smoking. While I was at it, I decided to just not drink too. And actually, it is WAY harder not to drink! Dinner parties with wine and meeting up with people over a drink are choice socialization options in this town. But it feels really good to be clean and I might just stay sober for longer.

ANYWAY, the reason I even went into that is because yesterday after I pounded out my submissions to those agencies (I sent them my photos, resume, and a brief intro message), the sun went down, and it really sank in that I lost my theatrical rep at one of the best agencies in town. FUCK. I was sitting at my desk, starting to feel tired, and MAN, all I wanted to do was smoke a fatty. But I didn't. It's just funny...i wanted to escape and not feel shitty. But it would have actually just made me feel shittier in the long run.

Of COURSE I have to end this entry with some decent news. One of the agencies that I wrote, AKA , called me to set up a meeting for next week. They commercially represent Daniel Dae Kim, and Lauren Holly for voice over, plus some young folks that are entering the scene through teeny bopper gigs like Twilight (Rachelle Lefevre) and 90210 (Adam Gregory) commercially as well. I still need to gauge how they are theatrically, but i'm thinking maybe i'll start looking at my options commercially as well. Who knows! Change is great!!!

Now that I have the meeting, I'm excited again. I'm hoping to get more meetings with other agencies as well. Please keep your fingers crossed for me!

Peaks and Valleys

So, i hit a major speed bump in my career today. My agent Melissa calls me from her cell and says she has bad news. Uh oh...i knew what was coming. Innovative cut the breakout division. Completely axed it. They made major cuts in their client roster, and unfortunately I have the misfortune of getting cut. The only clients they kept from that division were those who were currently on a show or film, or recently booked a substantial gig. For example, one of Melissa's clients is AnnaLynne McCord from the new 90210. My recent co-star on Brothers & Sisters didn't quite cut it. I am, however, still with Innovative commercially.

I immediately emailed a manager that I met a few months ago. Her name is Stephanie Nese. She represents Melonie Diaz, Rick Gonzalez, and some other young development clients. We had a great meeting and she told me she was interested in me, but that she couldn't take on a new development client right now, with the pending strike, etc. It wouldn't have served me or her other clients for her to take someone new on, with fewer jobs than usual out there for all of us. However, she said that I should keep in touch with her, and that I should call her or email her if I ever had questions.

SO, I emailed her today and told her what happened. I asked her if she had any agents that she recommended I contact. Almost immediately she emailed me back and listed a few companies. KSA, Gage Group, Corsa Agency, and Glick Agency. She told me to let them know she referred me to them, and that she was interested, but couldn't take me on right now. How seriously cool of her. Her company, Framework Entertainment, represents some huge names like John C. Reilly, and Lucy Liu, so it should help me get meetings with these agencies.

On a positive note, i got a callback today for the other audition I had last week--this one is for Audi. I feel really great about it, but the problem is that it shoots on the dates I'm supposed to go to Taiwan to see my Grandmother. I'll have a tough decision to make if I book the job, but also, it's a terrible time to lose representation because pilot season is about to start. So I am feeling very anxious about leaving town in this position where I need to really HUSTLE and get new rep.

s t r e s s f u l .

I'm looking at this positively though. In all honesty, I've felt disconnected from my representation. I never felt like they knew what I was all about and what I had to offer. And even though I wanted more, it was so comfy and safe in a great name like Innovative. So I think this is for the best in the long run. Melissa in part took me on as a favor to her good friend. I want an agent to take me on because he or she really believes in me and GETS me. Wish me luck finding the one!