In the world of performance, the best types of jobs are those in which no audition is involved. Instead, someone just calls you up and says, “Jim (or, whatever your name happens to be), we’re doing a [insert type of job here] and we’d like to cast you as the [insert role here]. Are you interested?” Once one has acquired such name-brand recognition, doors begin to open on a much more rapid scale. And, in fact, this is what happened to me yesterday–sort of.

One of the CDs in the area called me to find out if I was willing to be placed on first refusal* for a television commercial to be shot today. They needed someone with a specific skill–the ability to swim. In fact, I do swim, having grown up in a hot climate where swimming pools are prevalent, and I indicated so, and that I would be willing to work the job were it offered to me. I was gratuitously and multiply thanked, … Read more »