Actor Networking that Feels Authentic & Builds Community with CD Erica Jensen

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Explore the ins and outs of actor networking with award-winning Casting Director Erica Jensen (Dickinson). The Calleri Jensen Davis-partner chats with host Robert Peterpaul about tangibles ways how actors can create meaningful industry connections through authentic interactions and genuine curiosity.

This episode covers:

• Digital first impressions and why they matter.
• Authentic actor networking in an oversaturated industry.
• Tangible ways of taking the pressure off, like focusing on building community, not just credits.
• What you can never go wrong by doing in the long game.

This is - How We Role. Discover fresh casting calls at castingnetworks.com.

Follow Host, Actor and Producer Robert Peterpaul (Amazon's Sitting in Bars with Cake, The Art of Kindness podcast) on Instagram @robpeterpaul and learn more at robertpeterpaul.com.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hi, my name is Erica Jensen.
I am five feet four inches.
I like to say five, five, but Ithink it's actually five four
and I am Layla's mom Proud to beLayla's mom.
She's starting high school thisfall and this is how we roll.

Speaker 2 (00:18):
Oh, I love that.
Thank you so much.
Shout out, layla.
That was beautiful.
When it comes to working inentertainment, there's a lot of
hows and they all boil down tohow we navigate this wild
industry.
While how we follow our dreamsis uncertain, how we roll along
the way is in our hands.

(00:39):
Welcome to how we Roll, apodcast for actors by Casting
Networks.
There's that old Hollywoodadage it's all about who you
know.
We've all been to parties andevents where we feel like we

(01:00):
want to put our best footforward so that we can well know
people.
Today, we break all of thisdown in an unintimidating way.
Hi, actors, it's your friend,robert Peter Paul, bringing you
a discussion on building yourown uplifting and motivating

(01:20):
network as an actor.
To discuss this we have anaward-winning casting director
and kind soul, erika Jensen.
Erika Jensen is one-third ofCaleri Casting, with 20 years of
experience across mediums.
She's cast some of yourfavorite TV shows like Dickinson

(01:44):
on Apple and Broadway showslike the recent Tony winner
Purpose.
Erica teaches at the New School, mentors at Brown slash,
trinity, rep and co-runs sheCollective, a women-only acting
studio.
Originally from Tampa, shelives in Brooklyn with her
daughter and is a proud memberof the Casting Society of

(02:06):
America.
Erica enjoys spending time withher dog, running marathons,
watching TV and yoga.
I included that last bitbecause, as you'll hear from
Erica, one of the keys tounlocking networking is to see

(02:28):
people as well.
People If you lead withhumanity, I don't think you can
go wrong.
Speaking of friend, Iappreciate you for being a part
of our podcast network here.
Please follow our socialchannels at Casting Networks and
at Rob Peterpaul to connect andsubmit your hows to be answered

(02:49):
in a future episode.
We really want this to be acommunity for actors.
Now here's how we roll withauthentic networking, featuring
casting director Erica Jensen.
Yay Well, hello, erica, welcometo how we Roll.

Speaker 1 (03:13):
Hi, thank you for having me.
I'm so excited to be here.

Speaker 2 (03:16):
It is such a joy to have you.
I've had the privilege ofmeeting your partners, but I've
never met you and I've heard themost wonderful things.

Speaker 1 (03:26):
So very grateful that you're here.
Yes, thank you so much.
Yes, I love my partners.
James Cleary and Paul DavisLove them.

Speaker 2 (03:30):
That's good, that's very good.
And you know, before we diveinto the wonderful world of
finding partners that you loveand people that you love in this
industry aka networking youbegan your career earning an MFA
in acting.
I don't need to tell you that,and I just wanted to set the
scene here.
How would you say?
Having that perspective as anactor still kind of shapes the

(03:52):
work you do today.

Speaker 1 (03:54):
Yeah, I think when training as an actor gives me a
lot of, I think, empathy forwhat actors, how they have to
move through the world, you know, just being and having come
from that kind of training andbackground, the vulnerability
that you experience sort of likeconstantly as an actor is

(04:15):
something that I that I againreading so many plays, being
trained in Shakespeare, it justmakes me better at my job as a
casting director because I knowhow to read a play, I know how
to you know.

(04:37):
I know how to hopefully, youknow guide somebody through a
scene, if I need to.
I understand how to, like, mapout Shakespeare, for example,
and so there's just like there'salso some practical things that
I just know how to do.

Speaker 2 (04:53):
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (04:56):
Having that kind of training that go beyond
performing, yeah, yeah, I lovethat.

Speaker 2 (05:04):
You know, I think one of the greatest lessons I
learned on the other side as anactor has been being a reader,
because you sort of get theglimpse into casting and how
it's not as personal as youmight think, even though it's
you.
It's personal, but it's notpersonal.
It's such a weird thing, and soI think it's wonderful when
casting directors have that.
I wonder how it applies totoday's topic Everyone trigger

(05:25):
warning.
I'm going to say the wordnetworking.
I think it gives some of ushives, erica.

Speaker 1 (05:30):
Yes.

Speaker 2 (05:31):
Maybe we could call it community building or just
relationship building yeah.
I think it's important, nomatter what our job is in this
wild life, but especially inthis people-driven business.
So to start and I know it mightsound like an obvious question
I just wonder for you what doyou think the purpose of
networking is?

Speaker 1 (05:51):
Well, I like what you said, like reframing it as
community building.
I think the purpose is again toexpand who you know and who you
have as people that you canrely on and people who you want

(06:12):
to work with, and I really likethis idea of finding your people
, finding your community, andthat's what it is, for me at
least.
A lot of the things that Ithink we might be talking about
today are things that I domyself, because I also think

(06:33):
that community building helpsyou expand as a human being,
expand as a person, and maybethat takes I love that you said
that, because maybe that takessome of the pressure off Like
maybe it's not as scary if wethink about all of us as human
beings and wanting to be withpeople who share your values.

Speaker 2 (06:57):
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (06:58):
And share your creative spirit.

Speaker 2 (07:02):
Yeah, and I think we've all heard this phrase so
many times.
Creative spirit yeah, and Ithink we've all heard this
phrase so many times, probablybeen pounded into our brains,
but I know, for me it was sortof a game changer and a work in
progress.
When I say game changer to hearyou know book the room, not the
job, and I think of it a lot ofthe times is when you go to a
party you're also nervous, butyou're excited to meet other
people and just make new friendsand I think, if you can put the

(07:22):
emphasis on that, there is,like you said, a little bit of
the pressure taken out of thatballoon and I also conjured up
the Shonda Rhimes of it all.
You know the famous monologuewhere, I think in Grey's Anatomy
, they're saying you're mypeople, you're my person Because
it is like you said, we get bywith a little bit of help from
our friends.
I mean, how many more thingscan I quote here?

(07:50):
I don't know, Erica, but youtouched on it, and I wonder what
is your personal relationshipwith networking like Is?

Speaker 1 (07:53):
it something you personally find a little scary.
Do you enjoy it?
I don't know if enjoy is theright word, but I do.
Well, ok, you know what?
Actually, let me put it thisway I do like meeting new people
.
I really do.
I have a curiosity about peopleand what they do.
You can ask my partners.
I ask a lot of questions and Ialways want to learn about other

(08:19):
people and like what they'redoing and how they're doing it,
and I think that's so important.
So leading with curiosityalways, I think, is a big thing.
Taking it off of, you know,anytime we can take it off of
ourselves and put that energy ontoward someone that we're truly

(08:43):
interested in, energy on towardsomeone that we're truly
interested in.
Like I'll do little things.
Like if I'm watching a TV showand I'm really I'm particularly
inspired by the casting, I mightreach out to the casting
director and say and tell themjust how much I loved what they

(09:03):
did, and that's not anything,you know, that's not me trying
to get anything, that's just meuh wanting to express um, a uh
like uh, I want to, you know,just express how much I enjoyed
somebody's work and, um, I'm notexpecting anything from that,
but I hope that it that, youknow, perhaps it leads to maybe

(09:30):
a continued friendship or like abuilding, like a network of
colleagues that I, that I wantto talk to and share experiences
with, like especiallyprofessional experiences.
Maybe I can learn more about myjob.
I'll give like an example.
There's a show called Master ofNone.

Speaker 2 (09:50):
Oh yeah.

Speaker 1 (09:51):
Yeah, casting director Cody Becky did that
show and there was an episodewhere the episode is called I
Love New York.

(10:16):
And the episode is called I LoveNew York and it's one of the
episodes that just like flooredme, because they cast there are
cab drivers in that episodebecause of their work, because
of what that person did.
It just sort of blew me awayand I found it very inspiring.
So I wrote to Cody to let themknow.
And you know, like I said, likeI just think that when you are

(10:41):
inspired by someone's work andit's something that you maybe
want to emulate for yourself, oryou want to work with that
person reaching out.
People love, love it when youreach out to them enough in an
authentic way, because you weremoved by something that they did
or something you saw, somethingthey made.
So I really encourage thatyou're not bothering anybody by,

(11:02):
you know, by just sending theemail.

Speaker 2 (11:06):
Yeah, send that email .

Speaker 1 (11:08):
Send it Say, hey, I really loved, I saw, you know,
whatever you saw, like I sawthis play and I loved your work
and you know, I just think thatthat can.
That kind of authenticity isvery welcome.

Speaker 2 (11:24):
Yeah, you know it's so funny.
You bring up Cody because Iwent in for Masters of None for
a little bit and at one of thelast auditions he took a moment
just to compliment me and saysomething nice.
And it changed my entire day.
It changed the way I saw allthe auditions I did that week
and there's kind of sciencebehind that.
So even if you don't everybodybuild a relationship with

(11:46):
somebody, at least you're sayingsomething good and putting it
out there in the world andaffecting someone in a positive
way and it feels good to do that.
You know it's not why we do it,but I think that's really
beautiful.
You would bring up that aspectof kindness which we need more
of in this world.
We need more of yeah.

Speaker 1 (12:02):
Can I tell you so?
I went to.
There's a coffee shop near myhouse and I was meeting before
this.
Right before this, I wasmeeting.

Speaker 2 (12:11):
Oh, we're caffeinated , we're ready to go, we're ready
to go, yeah.

Speaker 1 (12:15):
Well, I don't go into this place that often but I
went in and the barista was like.
He said he's like oh.
I yawned and he said oh, youneed some espresso.
And I said I do.
And he said how about an almondmilk latte?
I said sure, and then we had adiscussion about almond milk

(12:36):
versus oat milk and like how ourjourneys with that.
And then once when he made mylatte, he said to me he said
you're Erica Jensen, aren't you?
And I said yes, and he saidyou're a casting director.
And he said I am an actor andhe'd written down his

(12:59):
information and he said Iusually play this kind of role.
He said you know, he was sosweet and he's like I usually
play this kinds of role.
He said you know, he was sosweet and he's like I usually
play these kinds of roles.
And he was kind of going, buthe did it in such a way that was
just so sweet and thoughtfuland he'd written down like all
his information on like a youknow, just like a paper bag and

(13:20):
handed it to me and I can't waitto bring him in for something
because it was just like reallysweet, and I just thought this
is like he saw an opportunity.
Like I don't get recognized, youknow, like if anybody says
anything to me, it's that theythink I'm Maya Rudolph usually.

Speaker 2 (13:35):
Oh my God, what a compliment.
Oh my gosh, which is fine, I'mhappy with that.

Speaker 1 (13:40):
But I was like, so I was kind of moved by the fact
that, like, first of all, thathe like how did he even
recognize me?
That was one thing.
And then and then just the wayhe approached it was so sincere
and sweet and genuine and notinvasive, yeah, and I really I

(14:03):
love that.
So I've got his information now.
I can't wait.
Next time I have something, youknow, I'll definitely like see
if I can.

Speaker 2 (14:11):
Yeah, how cool that that happened today, right
before this conversation.

Speaker 1 (14:14):
Yeah, exactly.

Speaker 2 (14:15):
I love that.
That story was, I guess, toldand created and you know you can
frame that brown paper bag withtheir number and put it in the
Museum of Broadway one day orsomething, or the Academy Museum
, you know exactly.
All of this actually brings upa really interesting point to me
, erica, which is that I feellike as actors sometimes we do
make the best connections justwith people not thinking of them

(14:39):
as their title, and soeverybody out there, when we're
going out to network, here we go.
Do you think there's somethingactors can do, mindset wise, to
put them in the best headspacepossible for this?
Because you met someone afterhaving some banter at a coffee
shop.
You know an audition settingcan be so different and you
might be friendly and curiousand asking questions, but I'm

(15:01):
sure you'd sometimes see actorswith their brains ticking sort
of thinking OK, how can I answerthis in the most interesting
way possible?
So what do you think actors cando to kind of just like take a
breath and be in that authenticplace?

Speaker 1 (15:25):
what you're saying is maybe like how I would answer.
It is again just remembering tobe.
The person that you're talkingto is a human being.
Having curiosity about anotherhuman being is always, I think
again taking that breath andremembering that everyone that I
work with you know, I feel, isum on the actor's side.

(15:45):
You know, when I'm in anaudition situation, I think very
old ideas about like what's theword?
Like power dynamics.

(16:13):
Like the power dynamics and likethere's some kind of
adversarial, that theserelationships are adversarial or
antagonistic somehow, and forme they're really just not Like.
I don't see it that way and Iunderstand why maybe actors feel
that way, particularly ifthey're feeling a little

(16:35):
frustrated, which we all areBecause, like especially now,
like feel, you know, the feelingin the air is pretty
challenging right now.
Um, for lots of reasons thataren't just about um all of us,
but are about like biggerpicture, um, uh, but what I want
actors to know more thananything is that, um, I, you

(16:58):
know, I'm always, you know,we're all we're.
Every casting director I knowat least advocates is like a big
advocate for actors, and sowe're always wanting to know,
wanting to know like theauthentic person that's coming

(17:20):
in the room Like we want anauthentic experience always and
it doesn't mean you know, so wedon't want you to.
We don't want actors tooverthink or try to do like what
they think we want to see.
We want them, we want the, wewant it to come from who they
are and it's the same.

(17:41):
And it's the same with aconversation Like if I'm, you
know, out in the world again,you know, like I said, that
person I just met at the coffeeshop, again very authentic, just
like he recognized me, he saidsomething nice and that's all I
ever want.

Speaker 2 (18:01):
I'm a total sucker for kindness.
Same Kindness is my philosophyand I love that you say that and
I think it speaks to you too,because both parties sort of
have to be open to view it inthe way that it may be
authentically, genuinely is.
You know, it's a tricky thingthis life and it makes me wonder
.
You know, part of networking ismaking a first impression, and

(18:24):
I just want to put that buzzphrase out there.
First impressions, I guess.
How have you come to trust themover the years?
What are your thoughts on them?

Speaker 1 (18:33):
Yeah, that's a really really good question.
I know it's a tricky thing, it'stricky because, you know, there
are so many ways now that wemake first impressions and, like
, sometimes those firstimpressions come from social
media.
And so when I'm thinking aboutfirst impressions, like there

(18:54):
might be ways that I've likegotten an impression of a person
before I've even met them,right Because of social media,
because of website, because anactor has a website and I might
go to their website too.
I do explore websites a lot,especially like when I don't
know an actor, when I've not metthem in person or seen them in

(19:18):
an audition space.
If I want to get to know them,figure out if they might be
right for what I'm working on, Iwill definitely go to like
their website.
So that's going to be like myfirst impression, right.
And so we sort of have to thinkabout what first impressions
are these days.

(19:39):
It's not just like the handshakeor the like it's not always
going to be like the physicalinteraction, because so much of
what we're doing is online now.
A lot of times now, like selftapes are going to be like a
first impression If I've nevermet the actor and they're
submitting a tape for somethingI've invited them to submit a

(20:00):
tape for.
That's going to be my firstimpression of them, right yeah?

Speaker 2 (20:05):
And the slate, I guess.

Speaker 1 (20:06):
And the slate.

Speaker 2 (20:06):
yeah, Just to hop there for a second, like if
you're having an actor come infor the first time.
Let's say, coffee shop comes onin, does the slate?

Speaker 1 (20:14):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (20:14):
Do you like a little bit of personality in the slate?
I do yeah.
Do you like just business?
I do yeah, Okay.

Speaker 1 (20:19):
I do, but I also don't want everybody to start
thinking like oh gosh, I've gotto come up with something like.
I've got to come up with like50 wigs in 50 seconds.
Yeah, I've got to like think oflike a way to like you know
again, like, if it's likeauthentic, like what is
authentic to you.
On occasion we might give aninstruction in like a slate to

(20:39):
share something, and usually thesharing is connected to
whatever it is we're working on,connected to the project.
If I'm asking, like in theslate you know, name, height,
location, that's perfect, that'stotally fine.
And then, like my impression ofyou is going to come from your

(21:00):
level of professionalism, didyou read the instructions, um,
and the slate?
Have you prepared all thematerial that I asked to prepare
?
Can I, um?
Is your tape um?
Like?
Can I, uh?
Can I hear you?
Can I see you?
You know properly, you know Um,and then so that level of
professionalism is going to bemy first, you know, and then so

(21:22):
that level of professionalism isgoing to be my first, my first
impression.

Speaker 2 (21:25):
Yeah, yeah, that makes total sense.
I loved reading about you inthe sense of you saying that
casting director is sort of likematchmaking, which is such a
fun analogy.
You know there's so many folksthat listen to this podcast that
feel like they're never goingto get their match because, for
whatever reason, they just feellike they don't have any
connection to the industry, theydon't know anybody.
And you know, the flip positiveside of everything going on now

(21:51):
even though there's a surplusmaybe for casting to view is
that there are moreopportunities, there are more
digital ways, no matter whereyou live, to get seen.
And in this sort of overloadedworld with maybe generic
networking and people justfollowing a course or taking one
interview that they heard andkind of running with a buzz
quote, what does authenticnetworking kind of look like to
you?
You gave a great example of itearlier, especially, I guess, in

(22:14):
regards to actors firstbreaking in.

Speaker 1 (22:18):
Yes, yes.

Speaker 2 (22:34):
So I love that you're talking about the overload,
because there is, it does feellike we're in, like a we're in a
.

Speaker 1 (22:37):
We're in a time now where everything so much of what
we, the house, get out of thehouse, get off the sofa, go see
shows Volunteering at theatersis a big thing, box office or
volunteers finding those places,those smaller theater companies
that need help getting outthere to do that.

(23:08):
If you can volunteer time insome way, I think that that is a
great way to meet people andyeah, so again it goes back to
what we said before likebuilding community, not credits,
right, not just credits.

Speaker 2 (23:25):
Oh, I love that.

Speaker 1 (23:26):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, building community, not just
credits, and I think that that'slike a big thing.
Like, um, the other thinginvite your friends over to read
plays and scripts and thingslike that.
Like, you know, um, who knowswhat comes of that?
Like, but don't haveexpectations necessarily that
anything comes of it.
It's just I've got friends, orinvite people that you want to

(23:48):
get to know better.
Who do you want to get to knowbetter?
Invite them over to read playswith you.
You know we have.
You know the big thing now thatI that I encourage and I know
that everyone's not capable ofthis but self-produced work,

(24:08):
content creation.
It doesn't have to be contentthat you post online necessarily
, or on social media, but like,if you are that kind of person,

(24:29):
if you're a writer, if you're a,or if you want to even explore
writing, or if you even want toexplore producing something else
, that that like really inspiresyou so that?
kind of then you've got a littlebit more control and that gives
you other ways to break in.
Or someone who wants to writeplays, or you want to write a
web series, submitting likegetting those things done and
then getting those things outthere to festivals, writing

(24:50):
short plays that get into likethose short play festivals,
that's a big deal, you know,like anything that kind of like
again, and then you find, andthen that's going to just help,
that's going to build yournetwork authentically, because
people who want to go to the SamFrench you know short play
festival you're going to meetthem.
And then you know Red Bull.

(25:12):
Yeah, like Red Bull Theater,they have like short play
festivals, you know like.

Speaker 2 (25:16):
Red Bull gives you wings, you know, and Red Bull
gives you wings.
There you go, and Red Bullgives you wings, you know.

Speaker 1 (25:20):
And Red Bull gives you wings.

Speaker 2 (25:21):
There you go.
I love all these tangible ways.
We're really big on tangibleadvice, so I really appreciate
that and I mentally startedcreating a newsletter to my
friends saying we're doing amonthly play reading, because I
feel like a lot of us maybe didsome of these things during the
pandemic to pass the time andmaybe got fatigued and that was
such a blur.
But bringing all of these backor starting them up for the

(25:42):
first time, like you said, canonly lead to meeting like-minded
is such a tricky phrase, butsort of like your people, I
guess we could say.
And I think this is all sohelpful.
I wonder for you do you have afavorite way you like to build
relationships with actors?
I know you teach a lot.
I know you audition a lot.
Is there something that you youknow most enjoy?

Speaker 1 (26:04):
Well, teaching is a big one.
I love, I love teaching and soand I like and I love building
relationships that way, becauseit gives me an opportunity to
really get to know the actors.
Like the actors that I'mworking with, and also watching
their progress over time issomething that really excites me

(26:25):
.
Watching somebody just reallyprogress that way In this day of
, like lots of self-tapes, I'vebeen able to maybe, not I've
been able to see more work fromactors that I might not have
been able to see work frombefore.

(26:46):
And whether you know the actorsa lot of actors are not.
They don't know this becausethey're throwing you know,
they're sending their castingsomething and I'm not able to,

(27:09):
maybe and like, maybe someactors are not getting called
back for that thing.
When I see someone that excitesme, you know I keep them in
mind for other things and thenthat builds my network of actors
who I want to bring in andintroduce to the teams that I'm
working with.

(27:29):
I love being able to introducenew people to the teams I'm
working with.
I was just, I saw the play Well, it's called.
Well, I'll Let you Go.

Speaker 2 (27:41):
Oh yeah, great thing, so good, I loved it so much.
Well it's called.
Well, I'll Let you Go.

Speaker 1 (27:42):
Oh yeah, I've heard great things so good, I loved it
so much, and there was an actorin it who I did not know and
and I was just having a meetingabout another, about another
show, and I mentioned thisactor's name and now, you know,
I was like I don't know him.
I saw him on stage.

(28:03):
I thought he was amazing andI'd love to.
And now we're, you know,seriously considering him for
this play that I'm working on.
So I can't say who it is,because it's not, you know, I
don't know.

Speaker 2 (28:15):
You better say it or I'm leaving.

Speaker 1 (28:17):
No, I know we're in like that, we're in the early
stages and so, but that isanother, but that is another way
, you know, like just me again,like taking my own advice and
just like getting off the sofa,going to see things, like I see,
I try to see a lot of plays, Itry to go to the theater a lot,
I.
That's a way that.

Speaker 2 (28:38):
I have a lot of casting directors and aspiring
you know casting professionalsthat listen to.
So I think that's helpful forthem, but also for actors.
The way you put it somethingclicked in my brain, even though
it's so obvious is that castingdirectors are also networking.
Even though it might feel kindof awkward and scary and like
you're going to put them off ifyou say something or just make
that connection, it actually ishelping them, because if they

(29:00):
don't have a network of actors,they can't really do their job.
So I think it's a beautifulsort of insight to just have you
say that, and I've heard yousay in the past there's so many
great articles about you, you'reso amazing.
It's good to have castingpeople that like you and call
you in, especially in a timewhere just getting an audition
is a win.
What would you say ondemystifying sort of the fact

(29:23):
that it kind of happensovernight Because you might see
someone on self-tape and thennot have something for them, you
know, until like a year or twoor more later?

Speaker 1 (29:32):
Or more yeah.

Speaker 2 (29:33):
Yeah, so would you say.
It's sort of a long gamenetworking.

Speaker 1 (29:36):
Yeah, yeah, networking is a long game and
you have to.
you know you need to sometimeslike remind- people that you're,
that you're out there, I wouldsay not to be afraid, like once

(30:01):
you've established arelationship with somebody, like
once you've like been invitedto audition for them, making
sure that you maintain that byletting them know what you're up
to.
You know, like when you've gotsomething going on, not being
afraid to drop them a notesaying hey, inviting them to the
things that you're in, even ifthey haven't brought you in in a
while.
It's likely that they justhaven't had anything for you.
It's not like it's not that youdid anything wrong or it's not
that you're not talented or thatyou're not, like you know, a

(30:21):
good actor.
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (30:24):
I love that.
We just heard maybe a cabhonking in the background.
It might get blurred out inpost, but everybody there was a
cab.
This is so New York for my LApeople listening.

Speaker 1 (30:32):
I know, I know yeah.

Speaker 2 (30:35):
Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt you, though.

Speaker 1 (30:37):
No no, no, no, I'm on a.
This is a very quiet place roomthat I'm in, but I am looking
out a window.

Speaker 2 (30:45):
Oh well, that's probably why the lighting's so
good yeah that's nice.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, that'sunderrated too is just also
taking a moment as creativepeople to look out the window.
I know that sounds kind ofsilly and woo-woo, but I talk
about that a bit on here.
I just feel like being bored isa little underrated these days.

(31:06):
I think so too.
Yeah, you know, yeah, and weshould create our own things.
And at the same time, don'tforget that that sometimes, like
the seeds are planted forsomething creative because
you're just like sitting in thegrass, you know so, anyway,
that's where my brain goes there, but you were talking about the
long cave.

Speaker 1 (31:18):
Yeah, yes, and I'm going to keep talking about that
, and I also just want to add towhat you're saying.
I set up my like I set up myremote workspace to look out, to
look out the window so that Ican like look up and like look
out and and just yeah, and justtake moments to just see at the

(31:39):
trees and look at the prettyhouses and the architecture.
Yeah, it's nice, but anyway,yeah.
So the long game, one of thethings, a strategy that I can't
take credit for this.
But another casting director,friend of mine, sujata Pace, I'm
not sure, if you know her, yeah, she's wonderful, but she talks

(32:02):
about like keeping lists, like,ok, my list of like immediate
friends, family, and then, likethe second column is like
casting directors, agents,managers.
And then, like the third columnis like who haven't I been in
touch with in like three, fouror five years?
Haven't I been in touch with inlike three, four, five years?

(32:23):
And who can I, who should Ireach out to and like reconnect
with you?
Know, looking at those lists,like who knows what happens from
that?
Maybe nothing Again, keepingyour expectations again genuine,
and like the desire toreconnect with people that
you've lost touch with?
Maybe, but who knows, likemaybe something does come from

(32:45):
that you don't.
You just don't know Like thenumber of times that, like I'll
be like working on something andI just get a random email from
someone that I haven't heardfrom in a really long time, like
all of a sudden I'm like, ohyeah, that that person.

Speaker 2 (33:00):
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (33:01):
Jane Jane Right.
Jane I love Jane, but I haven't, you know, haven't talked to
Jane in a really long time andshe, jane just so happened to
like email and it just sohappens to align with like
something I'm working on and,great, I can bring Jane in for
this thing.

Speaker 2 (33:20):
Just putting yourself out there is such a great
lesson in itself, and I foundthat to be true too in my own
life.
Even sometimes, just respondingto someone I know's Instagram
story, it's like, oh hey, wait,the stars are aligning you,

(33:43):
which can be.
I hate to call them a steppingstone in the TV film world,
because they're just a win initself, but how do you think
actors can kind of use thoselittle little things to create
memorable connections?

Speaker 1 (33:55):
Yeah, yeah, I think having those wins they are.
They're wins.
Like.
It's always impressive to mewhen someone books a co-star and
I'm always you know making sureagain that you've got those
things that you've shot likeaccessible somehow and letting

(34:17):
people know like, hey, I'm onthis TV show, you know I'm doing
this.
Anything that you're doing,making sure that you let people

(34:37):
know that you're that it andjust remembering it's not a
bother.
It's not a bother to remindpeople of who you are and what
you're doing, especially whenyou have something going on.
That's the best time to look atthat list of folks that you
haven't been in touch with in awhile, making sure that they
know what you're doing, thatyou're still around.

Speaker 2 (34:57):
And that's sort of what a social network is for
right, it's to be social, butdon't forget to feed the other
side too, which is to amp peopleup, champion them, and you know
, maybe the underbelly of this,as we enter the fall and spooky
season.
Erica, without naming folks, Iwonder can you share any horror
stories or networking knots?
What people should avoid doingpeople should avoid doing.

Speaker 1 (35:25):
What should people avoid doing?
Well, okay, here's somethingthat people should avoid doing.
We all understand I'm always alittle turned off when people
say things like I need a job, orI want to.
You know, I want to, you know,I want this, I know that, like
we all know that already, youknow, like I know.
Or when people are defensive,like immediately defensive.

(35:52):
It's really off-putting when I'mfirst meeting someone and I'm
perceived as the bad guy becauseof my position.
I'm very sensitive.
Yeah, I'm a very sensitiveperson and I never have seen
myself or I've never seen thisjob as like a.
I've always seen my job as likea positive, and I think it's

(36:16):
just because of how I work andhow I work with my partners.
I've been mentored to begenerous, you know, and to be
kind, and I didn't need to bementored to do that.
I'm already that person.
But I know, and I alsounderstand that that might not
always be how other people movethrough the world, through the

(36:43):
world, but the immediateimpression that somehow, because
of my position, I'm not goingto be that, that there has to be
a defensiveness, that's alittle bit, that's a turnoff, it
makes me not want to work.
You know that that will make menot want to work with somebody.
And then like yeah.
And then like again, like whatI said, like the sort of obvious
, like well, I need a job.
I'm like yeah, so so do I.
You then like again, like whatI said, like the sort of obvious
, like well, I need a job Likeyeah, so do I.

Speaker 2 (37:03):
We all do, we all need a job.
Yeah, yeah, so like you knowthe trick or treat.
I need a job.
Trick or treat.

Speaker 1 (37:09):
I need a job, yeah, like I need a job yeah, we all
need jobs that are positive,which is like, again, like
showing genuine curiosity andasking questions and like being
you know.
Like you know, we have a youknow, we have a play on Broadway
right now Purpose, and whichrun, don't walk everyone.

Speaker 2 (37:31):
Yeah, try to get there before it closes, it's so
good, so good, so good Deservesall the acclaim.

Speaker 1 (37:37):
Yeah, it's so good and, like you know, anytime
anybody wants to talk to meabout that because they loved it
so much, you know I'm like, yes, I will talk to you about that.
And finding those ways ofconnection, you know, like
finding ways to connect that arenot just about the industry,
you know like I'm always happyto do that, you know.

Speaker 2 (37:57):
Yeah, I love that so much.
First of all, I'm so gratefulthat you lead with kindness and
that you are generous and thatyou enjoy questions, because we
can put that generosity to thetest with all these questions we
have from our listeners and ourCasting Networks users.
Great, they sent in a flurry ofcues here just for you and we
got a lot.
I had to pick some everybody,I'm sorry.
I tried to pick the most commonones and I thought we could

(38:20):
just try and answer them in alittle flash round, if you're
down, okay.

Speaker 1 (38:22):
I'm down.

Speaker 2 (38:23):
Yep Okay.
The first one is from Janet atJanet's underscore.
Life simply wants to know howcan I not hate networking so
much?
I'm an introvert.
Help me, Erica.

Speaker 1 (38:39):
I know I'm a little bit of an introvert myself.
So one of the things that I tryto do again is I, if I want to,
if I'm, if I'm curious aboutmeeting somebody, what I do,
what I encourage, is doing alittle research about that
person beforehand and thenhaving something like in my
pocket to say or ask, ask, youknow, ask that person, get that

(39:03):
conversation started in a waythat um again takes the pressure
off of me.
Um and um again.
I know I've repeated this amillion times now, but just
leading with curiosity, um andum, if you find that you're like
in a such like, you know, likeyou're in a situation where like
, say, you've just seen a play,for example, and then you see

(39:25):
somebody that you want to meet,you've already got an in right
there, you know, like you'reboth at the same play and you
get to talk and you can talk tothem about the play.
You can just say hey, I reallyliked, you know, you can
compliment them on their thingand then talk about the play,
and that's genuine, that'sauthentic.

Speaker 2 (39:43):
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (39:44):
Yeah, so I think that there's just ways to.
I so relate to this because Iam also someone who is very
introverted be very quiet.
You know I can be very shyabout like approaching people,
but finding that in just findingthat way that like feels you

(40:11):
know that's excellent advice.

Speaker 2 (40:12):
Good, yeah, yeah, I once heard to listen for the
weird thing.
So when you're talking tosomebody, oh I love that, listen
for the weird thing.
If they say, oh, I just tookthe subway here and there was,
you know, someone in a Santasuit did this.
But anyway, I'm going to thislater.
It's like wait, someone in aSanta suit Tell me about sort of
like listen for the weird thing.
And that's a nice tangible way,if you're feeling a little
awkward or shy, to just likeplay that own game in your head

(40:33):
and be curious.

Speaker 1 (40:34):
I love that.
I'm going to write that down.
Listen for the weird thing oh,okay.

Speaker 2 (40:38):
Well, I've already written down mentally like 80
things you've said, so this willbe nice trade.
Our next question is from elizaand emma, I believe.
Hello the at d o u c e atduquette dot twins.
How can we break the ice andapproach people organically?

Speaker 1 (40:56):
how can you break the ice and approach people
organically?
Well, again, I think it justdepends on who they are knowing
something about them before yougo in, like before you meet them
, making sure you've done yourresearch, making sure that you
again, like, have questionsno-transcript to get.

Speaker 2 (41:41):
That's going to go a long way.
Yeah, oh, I love that follow upwith gratitude and I I think
too there's something to be saidfor that old trick and maybe
somebody listening hasn't heardit, so I'll just say it of
repeating someone's name whenyou first meet them.
Yes, so it's sort of like,after you walk away, take a
moment to to follow up on yourown brain and just say, oh, okay
, that person was this and theydo this and that's a human.
I now know on this green andblue circle that we're on so

(42:02):
well, speaking of sort of this.
Our next question is from myfriend, jake underscore S30.
What's the best way to networkvirtually with agents and
casting directors?
You touched on that a littlebit, but anything tangible there
?

Speaker 1 (42:16):
Well listen, email is your friend.
Well listen, email is yourfriend.

Speaker 2 (42:33):
And so, I think, one of the things that you can do is
utilize, like, using onlineservices, you know, like casting
networks, for example.
Everybody have a cookie.
Take a little shot.
There we go.

Speaker 1 (42:37):
Yes, and when you see something that you want to be
seen for, for example, findingout, like who's the casting
director or finding out who'sthe director, or finding out
who's the playwright, and usingemail to you know hit them up
directly and you know and seewhere that, see how, see if, if

(42:59):
there's room for you to be seen,for you to audition.

Speaker 2 (43:02):
That's really smart.

Speaker 1 (43:04):
Yeah, I think it.
I do think that's smart, Ithink that I think that that can
like really help.

Speaker 2 (43:13):
I think so too.
I want to, before you move onto your next bullet.
There, I might be about this.
Forgive me if it is, but what'syour ideal cold email.
Do you like like a littlesentence, sort of like pitch of
who someone is in in a human way?
Do you like it just be quickand say hey, I saw you're doing
this, would love to pick yourbrain, yeah totally, uh, yeah,
um, uh, I love the um.

Speaker 1 (43:31):
Hey, I saw that you're doing this um and I
really love this because I love.
You know I have a connection tothis material because you know
there's some reason.
You know I really feelconnected to this character and
I'd love to be seen for it.
Now I will offer this doesn'twork on every casting director.

(43:51):
There are some castingdirectors who don't want you to
tell them what you want to beseen for, like the specific role
, because they want to make thedetermination role because they
want to make the determination.
So I would say that, like forsome people, just you know, I
think maybe keeping it at like Isaw that you're casting this, I
, I, I would really love, loveto be seen for this, um, uh,

(44:13):
yeah, I think that that's.
I think.
Just, I think going that routeit doesn't mean that you are
going to get the audition, butit does.
But just making that effort is,um, it's better than not um
yeah, getting on the radar.

Speaker 2 (44:28):
You know you never know who's going to see you on
the sonar radar and call you in,but just like keep being on
that little screen with thelittle beeps and the green and
the.

Speaker 1 (44:34):
I don't know what I'm talking about now yeah, yeah,
but in terms of um, I think thequestion maybe I don't know if I
answered the question exactly Ithink about online.
I want to just say that I dothink having a social media
presence can be useful.
I think is, again, it has to be, it has to be approached

(44:56):
authentically.
If you like social media andyou want to be on social media
sharing work that you do Like,if you're particularly like I
see a lot of musical theaterpeople posting like themselves
singing songs or like playinginstruments, or I also will see

(45:17):
actors who posted, maybe,auditions that they've had as
examples of their work, and Ithink that that can be useful
and as long as that feelsauthentic for you.
I don't I'm not asking everybodyto run out and have a social
media presence, but if you do,the other thing that you need to
make sure that you do is forevery post that you do, that you

(45:37):
post, everything that you post,post about yourself make sure
you uplift two or three other um, other other people or things
that you you know that, that youreally enjoy that, speak to
your values.
Um, that yeah, so that you're,so that you're continuing to
again think more broadly, thinkin like a more human way.

(46:04):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (46:05):
And not only is that kind, but technically, I believe
all these social mediaplatforms value that in the
algorithm, so it actually helpsget it's sort of like the
science of kindness.
It helps get your stuff outthere, like kindness always
gives back and it's not why youdo it, but it's a reason,
another reason why you like, whynot and why not?
The next question actually hasto do with social media, which

(46:27):
is from Andrew Azuna.
Ooh, I love that name.
Andrew wants to know is it okayto DM folks on Instagram that
are maybe more well-known in theindustry?

Speaker 1 (46:38):
Uh, you know, I think that you can, but it doesn't,
but just but, but, but again,like it, it's there and you know
, I think social media makes theworld a little smaller.
We do have access, you know,maybe in a way that we didn't
before you.
You have access to folks whoare participating on social
media in a way that you didn't,that we, that we haven't before.

(47:01):
It doesn't mean that you'regoing to hear back, you know.
So I think, as long as you'reagain approaching things with
like, you're being authentic andkind and leading with like and
leading with something that'spositive, you know, but I

(47:22):
wouldn't like, I wouldn't saythat that that should be your,
your, your, your.
You know a habit that you.

Speaker 2 (47:33):
That makes sense.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Well, thank you, erica, andthank you all for submitting
your cues.
You can submit them via CastingNetworks or at Rob Peterpaul.
Hey, I'll accept them as well.
You co-founded a wonderfulorganization that I do want to
shout out, that does a lot ofwhat we've talked about here
today, which I believe is calledshe Collective.
It's a creative, safe space forwomen and non-binary folks.

(47:56):
Thank you for your work there,first of all, and I wonder what
lessons about trust-basednetworking from that experience
do you think can apply to allactors when they go to meet new
people professionally?

Speaker 1 (48:11):
I wonder if you've seen any lessons come out of
your work there why, why Istarted she collective was to
create a safe space, you know,for for women and non-binary
people, um, uh, to um be able to, you know, explore their work

(48:31):
and um, work in a, in a waywhere they, you know, where they
felt like they were beingsupported, um and um, and they
can be a little bit morefearless perhaps, um, but um, uh
, and.
And the thing that I reallythat I really want to emphasize,
what thing that I emphasizewith she collective again, is

(48:53):
community building and um, andtrying to relieve the
transactional nature of thebusiness.
You know, like I again like Ijust feel like when you're
working from that space, wheneverything's transactional, it
just feels it does.

(49:15):
It feels it doesn't feel good.
It doesn't feel good to workthat way and it feels like you
have to.
You're constantly bendingyourself to be what other people
want you to be If you're, ifyou're working from that space.
And so I want the, I want thefolks who come to me through she

(49:36):
and take classes which at sheCollective and take classes at
she Collective, and want them tofeel like they are connecting
with their authentic self andthat that's enough.
Like being yourself is you'regoing to find the people who
want to work with you and whoyou want to work with you know
and not, and again, likerelieving that idea of the trend

(50:00):
of, of of it all beingtransactional, I just, yeah, I
don't, I don't like it and Idon't think that and I don't
think I'm being naive, you know.
I think that there's like Iunderstand what this industry is
.
I don't want to sound like youknow, I'm not like you know, I
get it, but at the same time, Ido think that we can operate

(50:23):
differently.
And if more of us are operatingdifferently, then things change
.

Speaker 2 (50:27):
Yeah, I love that so much too, because even as actors
it's sort of like don'taudition to get the job because
you're going to get something ina transaction, audition because
it's a chance to do what youlove to do yeah.
So it sort of puts the emphasison the passion, the people,
versus maybe you know, gettingsomething, yeah.
Oh, okay, random, but you saidwhen you were acting you didn't

(50:49):
feel like you were very good atauditioning and I would feel
remiss not to ask you when Ihave you here, since you coach a
lot about auditioning, I'mwondering what you see most of
all being on the other side nowand I guess what your sort of
number one just audition tip ingeneral is for actors.

Speaker 1 (51:07):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (51:08):
I'm sure you never got that question.

Speaker 1 (51:09):
No, well, ok, the reason why I wasn't good at
auditioning, I think, is becauseI would get.
I would just get so nervousthat I would fall asleep, like I
would fall asleep in theaudition, like in the waiting
room.
Oh, literally fall asleep.
Literally fall asleep.
Yeah, I would just like passout.

(51:30):
And like I think that I thinkauditioning for me, I think, um,
I I really loved, I reallyenjoyed being an actor in the
bubble of graduate school.
When I got out into the worldof New York City and I saw what
it, what, like the kind ofstamina you have to have, I
realized that that wasn't for me.
So I think that's more what Imeant when I said I wasn't good

(51:52):
at auditioning the, what youneed, the stamina and the, and
the continued like looking forwork and looking for someone to
just see you, like trying tofind things to audition for and
then balancing that with like asurvival job, like that was like

(52:15):
I just realized it just wasn'twhat I, how I wanted to move,
like it just wasn't like what Icould.
I couldn't do it and just theday to day of that was just very
hard for me.

(52:43):
When I see actors who cannavigate all of that and who are
prepared, you know, becausethey've read the script, they've
they've researched who's in theroom, they have they just feel
they have like a real passionfor what they're doing, people
who just love what they're doingand you can see it and you can
feel it.
You can feel it when somebodycomes in and they've made
choices, they they're, they'reexcited to be there.
Um, um, you know it is.

(53:05):
They see it as an opportunityrather than like a hassle.
You know um and and um.
So that's, those are the thingsthat like that I love.
I love that kind of energy, youknow, and you can see it in
people's self tapes, like ifsomeone, if, like if I have a
lot of, if I have somebody whoI've invited to like send a tape

(53:25):
in like a few times and I keepgetting the same response back,
like there's always like areason why they can't.
Then I then I sort of feel likemaybe that person just doesn't
want to, maybe this isn't thewhat they should be, maybe
they're, maybe they're.
They don't want to do this.

Speaker 2 (53:41):
They can't prioritize it.

Speaker 1 (53:42):
Yeah, if you can't prior, yeah, if you can't
prioritize it, then I'm notjudging, that's fine.
But then you have to kind oflook at your life like, okay, do
I want to do this, like forreal?

Speaker 2 (53:52):
um because it's just because it is.

Speaker 1 (53:55):
It's just harder than when I started, like this is,
this is a lot harder, likehaving to make tapes um, that's
hard.
I know how hard that is.
Like I understand that.
That's like really hard.
It's harder than just gettinglike an appointment and then
showing up.

Speaker 2 (54:14):
You know it makes me wonder, to kind of like come
full circle a bit, because a lotof the questions and the other
ones I have for you I think docome back to just that
authenticity leading withkindness, being yourself, sort
of, if it feels like somethingyou're proud of.
If you wouldn't, let's say, beembarrassed if somebody

(54:34):
screenshotting the email andposting it you know not that
anyone's going to do that If itfeels authentic to you, then
that's probably the way to goand to trust in.
I think a lot of the businessthings and even little pieces of
advice that we run with thatmaybe make sense can put
pressure on us, and so I justwonder what do you think is a
good way to recenter yourself asan actor, now that we've talked

(54:54):
about all of this, and allowyourself to then shine through
in your interactions and in yourwork?

Speaker 1 (55:01):
Yeah, okay.
So one of the things I think isfinding the ways that you care
for yourself, like the self-careyou know, like self-care is
such a big thing, right, yeah,but it's true.
Like finding ways to like andalso your relationship with

(55:24):
auditioning, because that is somuch of what you're doing, like
you hope at least like as anactor, reframing how you think
about auditioning, reframing howyou think about self tapes you
know like, and seeing it more asan opportunity rather than like
a hassle.
How?

Speaker 2 (55:43):
do you?

Speaker 1 (55:44):
make it like, how do you make it something that's not
terrible, you know, like, maybe, like again, like going back to
like OK, I have this self tapeI have to do.
Maybe I have some friendsaround who can help me with that
, and that way it's a little bitmore, it might be a little bit
more fun, um, um, uh.

(56:05):
So, yeah, I just think thatthere's like, yeah, making
things fun, um, you can't alwaysmake it fun, but finding ways
that, uh, that help you resetyour mind, and again, you're not
always going to be successfulat that, right, you're going to

(56:27):
have like just bad days, that'sjust the way it is, but not
living in that space all thetime, you know, like I wonder
how we can all not live in, like, if that is not the constant.
And if it is the constant, thenmaybe just take a step back and

(56:48):
say, hey, do I still want to dothis?
It's OK if you don't want to doit anymore.

Speaker 2 (56:53):
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (56:54):
You can give yourself a break.
Let yourself off the hook.

Speaker 2 (56:57):
Yeah, you know, take a break and also find it's OK if
you don't want to do it the wayyou've been doing it anymore
too.
You know, I think a lot of usget stuck in this ring light
backdrop situation now, and Imean, for the first time in a
long time, I had a scenerecently where the person was
sitting on a bed eating cake,and so you know what?

(57:17):
I put my backdrop behind me onthe bed and I did it, and then I
got a callback because it feltit was more fun for me and I
mean, I think there's somethingto be said everybody for maybe,
like breaking the rules a littlebit sometimes and making it
your own in a professional sense.
So I love everything you'resharing and you know, speaking
of that self-care, I got to goon my daily walk soon and let

(57:39):
you go.
But before we do, erica, can weplay a very quick surprise game?
Sure, do-do-do-do-do-do.
I know we didn't know wherethat was going to build to.
We're like what we're at thetop of the coaster now.
This is called Casting Keywordsand basically I'm going to name
a keyword or a phrase thatyou're going very familiar with
as a phenomenal casting director.

(57:59):
You just tell me the firstpiece of tangible advice for
actors that pops into your brainand we'll move through it kind
of quick if that's cool.

Speaker 1 (58:09):
I'll try yes.
I know that I talk a lot.

Speaker 2 (58:11):
You'll succeed.
Oh, you can talk a lot.
I just want to respect yourtime.
So do you talk as much as youwant, please.
You're blessing us all, okay,so the first one we have here is
headshots.

Speaker 1 (58:23):
Look like you want a good day.

Speaker 2 (58:24):
Oh, I love that.

Speaker 1 (58:29):
The slate Name, height, location, and usually
it's great if it's separate from.
I usually like it if the slateis separate from the and it's
very OK if you have like a slatethat you've created and you
want to just tack that on toyour.
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (58:50):
I think that's fine.
Yeah, that's a great idea.
I love that.
Ok, yeah, breaking down abreakdown as an actor.

Speaker 1 (58:57):
OK, so breakdowns this is good.
Okay, so breakdowns this isgood, depending on what it is.
Make sure that you, if it's aBroadway show, there's a big
likelihood that a lot of thoseroles have already been cast or
there's offers out on the roles.
That should not stop you fromlike going to the EPA.
Always go to EPAs foreverything If you know.

(59:22):
But like if it's like if it's aregional job, there might be
some offers that have alreadygone out on some of the roles.
You should always, but youshould always pursue because you
don't know exactly what'shappening with it.
But go to EPAs.
People Just go to EPAs.
You know.
If you can make sure, you go,yeah, that's a way to like,
that's a way to expand again,that's a way to expand your
network, expand your communityyeah, I love that, and then it's

(59:44):
a.

Speaker 2 (59:45):
It's a free way usually too, you know, although
it costs your time and yourenergy.
But I love that, always, alwayspursue.
I think that's brilliant,taking adjustments taking
adjustments.

Speaker 1 (59:56):
Okay, make sure you take the adjustment like you
know.
Yeah, just do it like make surethat you the adjustment.
Just do it Like make sure thatyou do If you're given an
adjustment and you don'tunderstand, make sure you ask
the question.
Ask for more details.
You know that's the hardestthing.
I think for me is like watchingsomeone get an adjustment and

(01:00:17):
then they don't do it.
And it's probably because theyjust don't understand what the
director's saying, but theydon't want to ask.

Speaker 2 (01:00:26):
Yeah, don't be afraid to ask.

Speaker 1 (01:00:27):
Don't be afraid to ask the audition.
It's your audition, so makesure that you ask.

Speaker 2 (01:00:32):
I love that so much.
It goes back to curiosity.
I wonder.
Okay, the next word here isimprov, so I wonder what you
think about that.

Speaker 1 (01:00:38):
Yes, yes, yes, yes.
Okay, improv, um, this is agood one.
Um, I think, making sure thatyou honor the writer's words
writers want to hear whatthey've written.
Um, if you want to improvsomething like right at the end,
um that's okay.
Sometimes.
If there's like a little improvat the beginning to get you

(01:01:00):
into the scene, that's okay too.
That can be okay.
If you're given definite likestrict permission, strict
permission to improvisesomething, then please go with
it.
You know, make sure that you do.
I think that I think improvvinghappens a lot in like

(01:01:24):
commercials and some TV shows.
Like sometimes they'll give youlike an opportunity to
improvise on it for TV.

Speaker 2 (01:01:29):
Not so much with theater, you know, yeah, yeah.

Speaker 1 (01:01:33):
Yeah, we don't do too much improvising at theater,
although sometimes like an EPA.

Speaker 2 (01:01:37):
if you're in person, you got to improvise if
something happens in the room.
You know if, like, the ceilingfalls down, if there's a leak
I've kind of seen it all Ifsomeone's granola bar falls out
of their mouth, I think it'sokay to address it.

Speaker 1 (01:01:47):
I think that's okay.
Yes, please, yeah, don'tpretend like things aren't
happening around you.

Speaker 2 (01:01:52):
Yeah, cause people people aren't doing that that
are on Broadway shows.
You know the.
I saw a show recently where thelamp prop shattered on stage
and they had to make a littlebit of a bit out of it.
So, yeah, try to be present inthat way, and I have so enjoyed
being present with you.
Before I let you go, I wouldjust love if you could give us
the best piece of advice thatyou've gotten and then have to

(01:02:14):
give.
So we always end with a gottenand a given, if that makes sense
in this industry.

Speaker 1 (01:02:20):
Okay, let me see the best piece of advice that I've
gotten.
Oh, that's so hard, oh gosh.

Speaker 2 (01:02:27):
I know, these are big ones.

Speaker 1 (01:02:28):
These are big ones.

Speaker 2 (01:02:29):
Best piece of advice I've gotten is In this moment
too, you reserve the right tochange your mind.

Speaker 1 (01:02:36):
Yeah Is about mostly, I think, like advice that's
around.
Maybe this is both.
You know this is answers forboth, but like the right thing
comes, you know, like the whenyou are present and when you are

(01:02:57):
at, you know, maybe like atyour most quiet.
You know, and if you'relistening, if you're paying
attention, then you know thethings that are right for you
will come, and sometimes itmight feel like the wrong thing,

(01:03:18):
but maybe there's alwayslearning in whatever comes right
.

Speaker 2 (01:03:25):
Oh, I love that so much.

Speaker 1 (01:03:26):
Yeah, there's always learning in whatever comes, and
sometimes you're not going toget this role that you're dying
to get.
Or, for me, maybe I'm not goingto get this job that I really,
really want.
It's going to go to somebodyelse, and I believe that that's
because things land wherethey're supposed to land, and it

(01:03:47):
just means that there's goingto be space for me for the thing
that is right for me.

Speaker 2 (01:03:53):
Yeah, and the prep you sort of did for that meeting
or that audition is going tocome in handy one day down the
road.
It's going to come in handysomewhere down the road, yeah.

Speaker 1 (01:03:59):
Yeah, I love that.
My nanny always says come inhandy one day down the road,
it's going to come in handysomewhere down the road.
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (01:04:01):
Yeah, I love that.
My nanny always says watch whatcomes into the void.
Yes, I think it's nice to justsort of let things come to you
sometimes while you'reproactively, you know, following
your dream and doing what youlove and speaking of.
I loved listening to my friendJennifer Apple's podcast with
you Empowered Artists Collective, so I want to shout that out as
I was preparing for this.
That was such a greatconversation as well, and I hope

(01:04:23):
you enjoyed this one.
Erica, Thank you just forenriching this community by
being you and leading withkindness.
We're lucky to have you.

Speaker 1 (01:04:31):
Well, thank you so much for having me.
This was so much fun.
I love talking about this.
Thank you, oh, I'm glad.

Speaker 2 (01:04:36):
We'll come back anytime.