For one, I am not a celebrity impersonator. I don't care if you think I look like Alan Houston, Pete Sampras, Esai Morales, Tiger Woods, Jim Carrey, Donny Osmond or Papa Smurf. I don't do this to be any of those people, I do this because to be Ricardo and the character I'm assigned to play. I have my own style and brand (have we not established some semblance of this in my years of blogging and video updates?) that I have to trust and rely on. It's what I have and all that I have. And we already have the names listed above, we don't need more of the same. We need ORIGINAL people and there is a great deal of courage needed to do that because you're in uncharted waters. That's OK. You may be rejected and your strengths may initially be seen as weaknesses. That's fine too. The key is to know where and when is the right place to learn something new and when to stick to your guns. When it comes to who you are, stick to your guns!! Don't try to ape your favorite celebrity or follow the advice of others who think you look like Brad Pitt, therefore you must be his carbon copy. This will only lead to mediocrity and selling yourself short of reaching your true potential. Why do that? Which leads me to my next point.
I am NOT a Stand-up Comic
There are some wonderful men and women out there who do this for a living and I have heard of the hardscrabble lives these people go through to chase their dream. The life of an aspiring (even semi-established) stand-up comic is, in my opinion, far more brutal than that of an actor trying to make it. Traveling from town to town, cheap motel rooms, unruly audience members. It all makes me feel as if I am in the lap of luxury even as I do background work.
All that being said, some very well intentioned people suggested that I attempt stand-up comedy. Why? I guess I have some remote sense of humor and can tell stories in a manner that can elicit a chuckle here and there but if I wanted stand-up, I'd be in stand-up. Never have I had the faintest desire to do this nor will I. It's not a setting that I personally want, nor was it what drove me into acting. Truth is, I don't give a fuck if I can make people laugh or not. I do my thing. If they laugh, fine. If they don't, whatever. But never do I engage people looking for the laugh or gain gratification from laughter, nor do I understand what makes the comedian's mind tick. But going up in front of a crowd to provoke laughter? Just not into it personally.
To be fair, the great comics do not just go for laughs. By no means am I minimizing their craft. Some have made great political statements and pushed the envelope. Lenny Bruce and George Carlin come to mind. But again, when it comes to me thinking about what would get me up in the morning, being on a set as a lead character and blowing shit up, arguing in a court room, or doing a sex scene with a hot babe trumps being on stage at even the most respected of comedy clubs. But that's just me and some can't see or respect that.
Insistence
Of course refuting those who want you to channel some celebrity or go into stand-up only leads them to become more adamant in their claims. They will insist and persist in trying to make you see their vision of you instead of letting you be you. It could even lead to a verbal or physical conflict if the parties are passionate enough. I sort of see it as a cross between a religious fanatic trying to get you to convert and a pushy manager trying to get you to work for them. Can we use improvements to enhance our performance and careers? Yes, but let's leave that to ourselves and the agents of the world. Other actors should be worried about what they can bing to the table, not what they think another actor should bring. This is not a perfect world so the friction of all I discuss goes on. The other lesson, and perhaps most important, is to let this all flow by. Quickly, without giving it a second look or thought. The unsolicited is mostly sewage which does nothing but stink and pollute if left to sit.
Coming up....
No, I am not a student!
The amazing, shrinking electric bill.
I spoke up.
