What to tell your parents this holiday season

Since many of my friends connected through MySpace are artists, actors, musicians, I'd like to give a little advice to them. "Struggling" "Starving" "Hopeful" If ever you hear one of your darling, dear, well-meaning parents or other relative use one of the terms above to describe you, as in "Oh, my Johnny is a 'starving actor' down there in Los Angeles" -- take action. Nip it in the bud right now and take that lovely family member aside. Tell them it does you no help to have any augmenting adjective in front of your professional description. You are an actor, writer, singer, painter, musician, welder, whatever. Done. Period. No need to add a disparaging word. We know that there are a limited number of roles for a large number of talented people. We know that only a fraction of those roles are paid, and that the big movie and television roles are coveted. But it's about being proud of your work as an artist. About knowing that your work is good, that you deserve to be seen, that you have an individual voice which can offer up a new way of seeing the world and of what human nature is. We can be proud of our work whether we are performing in a coffee shop, 99 seat theater, concert hall, or if our work is seen on a screen. Strive for the large dream, of course, but remember that we climb the ladder by accomplishing many great things on the way up, and affecting many people along the vertical climb. So if Aunt Ethel introduces you to her friend as "Johnny, the Struggling Artist", break in with "actually, I just did a very sucessful run at the Matrix Theater this past month, so I wouldn't consider myself struggling at all." Indeed, you're not struggling when you are doing what you love to do. Most people choose to put their dreams aside and work at their job just to make money, follow their parents wishes or those strung up by society over the years. These people may not "struggling" in a monetary sense, but they may be struggling with their dreams, or the lack of trying to accomplish them each and every day. In 2007, make a vow to yourself. Wether you've accomplished your dream or are still on the road towards it, make it a plan each day to do something, anything, that will take you closer to the next step. I temp during the day, but when I can I read a play, do online submissions, call a friend who may be a good source of support or may have a contact for me. Those actions add up. Push forward this year and get that dream out of your head and into reality. The only struggle is when you don't do something about it. Love you all, Si

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