So at the end of January I am taking a much needed vacation. Which reminds me of on important saying that all on this planet should remember. It is “all work and no play make Jack a dull boy”. Now I do not know Jack, but I know me and I do not want to be a dull boy, so after three years of very hard work, endless hours of school and barely getting any sleep. I am going to play a little.
What does this have to do with media. I have noticed recently that many in the biz tend to focus so hard on making it that they miss out on enjoying life. I try to enjoy something each day that has nothing to do with my work, my school or my dreams. I call it thirty second vacations. for thirty seconds I just stop and look at clouds, pull over and watch the waves crash on the beach, watch a flock of birds dance in the air or just do nothing.
By doing this I find my little vacations help me handle stress better and improve my stamina to carry on each day. Know do not get me wrong the can barely compare to a real vacation, but this biz does not usually give one many opportunities to just get away, you have to be constantly working those networks and deals to stay alive it seems.
So many just taking thirty second vacations will have to do after I get back.
So its been awhile since my last post. Last semester was a killer all my spare time was spent making a DVD promo reel. Yet that is another story for a latter time.
This post is about what I did last night, “networking”. I went to an event at a Hollywood club called Les Deux which was put on by F.A.M.E.. This event was designed for people in the film, tv,music and fashion industry to have a place to network. Now in this biz networking is everything. I currently have a great internship because of networking, talking to the right person at the right time.
The main problem with most people getting into the industry is they do not know how to network. For me it was pretty easy, I’m from the south and we love to talk. Networking is just that. You have to have the balls to walk up to total strangers and introduce yourself and strike up a conversation. It can be any conversation. I usually do not just hit people up with what I do first that comes after the first couple of minutes of what we call in NC shootin’ da shit. Just make small talk, if people find you pleasant to talk to they will talk pleasant about you.
Now the most important thing when networking and I feel victim last night to not remembering this is always have your biz cards with you. I left mine in the car and did not want to go through the hassle of going outside for them, so I only could collect cards.
So I encourage all those wanting to get that break into the industry to find as many opportunities to network and work em till their dead.
Well my youth is offically over and there is no getting around it. When I woke up today and turned on the computer, what the screen said left me in shock. Farrah Fawcett had died. Now being a kid in the seventies I had my poster mounted on my closet door, being the last thing I saw before I went to bed. She was more than an actress , she was an icon. Now that she is gone so has my grip on the belief that I’m still young. If the heroes and crushes of my youth are fading, so must my youth right. Good news is that a new poster hangs on the back of my door, Megan Fox a new icon for my not so young days. Farewell Farrah, you will be missed.
So it has been awhile since my last post. I’ve been crazy with school and work. Mostly with school. Work has been a bit of a disappointment as of late. I understand in this economy changes have to be made in order to survive. Changes that don’t completely eliminate people would be the best option. My work sees differently, in order to cover their ass, they have elivated a chosen few to carry along with them until prosperity returns. This is crap, I have been pushed aside to die on the wayside like a sick cattle on a run. It is not based on anything but popularity, the same evil we thought we had escaped in high school returns for revenge. I’m all for change, but if change means I have to force some people into the poor house, then find another solution.
So one good thing to remember about surviving this world is protect yourself. The old saying” if you can’t stand the heat, stay outta the kitchen”. Well, I’m adding to it, “ If you can’t tan stay outta the sunlight”. So today being the first day of spring, I decided to sit outside and catch a few rays will doing some homework. I must have only been out there for about thirty minutes. When I came back in I was as red as Santa. I still had to go to work also, being a server and sunburnt equals no fun. So as I sit here waiting for the heavy duty aspirin to kick in and allow me to sleep tonight, I remind all those who venture into the life-giving, loving rays of the sun; wear protection.
So the day started out pretty foggy this morning, matching the way I felt. The day after St. Patrick’s, is a harsh one for any Irish-American.As the day progressed mine and natures fog began to lift. The sun shone down upon southern California with angelic rays, warming the air to a near perfect temperature. I began to notice the flowers blooming along the sidewalk and thought to myself about the old adage “don’t forget to stop and smell the roses”. So I did. Being an audio recording major I walk around all the time listening to the sounds that nature makes, looking for inspiration. So I feel as if there should be a reminder also to stop and listen to the world. In these times of hardship in the economy, many of us can’t afford a vacation or really any little break from the drudge of the work week. So every once in a while just stop where you are and listen to the environment you are in. It doesn’t matter if you are in a city or a field, there is a natural rhythm to the world. Many of the songs I write come from the complex interaction of sounds and noises in the world. You will be amazed at what you’ve missed hearing. So, do stop and smell the roses from time to time. Just remember to stop and hear the birds, stop and feel the grass, stop and taste the sweets. Life has no purpose or meaning if you don’t enjoy it while its happening.
So today started as any other day, alarm goes off. Feet eventually make contact with the floor and out into the world I go. Its a school day, usually spirits are high. Today is different, midterms, enough said. It has always been the way of man to have to test each other, whether on the field of battle or across a classroom desk. Which brings me to my first guideline for living on the planet earth. Always be one step ahead. this applies to all creatures of this planet, whether it be the plankton in the ocean or the mighty dinosaur. See of of these wasn’t one step ahead and you see where that got them. So as it relates to the midterms, I didn’t wait like most to study at the last minute. I try to understand fully what I’m being taught from day one, I test myself by trying to answer questions posed by the teachers and other students. If I stay one step ahead of the tests they can’t hurt me as bad. How do you apply this to life, simple never stop learning about the things around you, about the job you do, about the person you love. Knowledge is power in this world, it’s not the person with the biggest sword that wins, but the one who has mastered its use. Being one step ahead is having the knowledge to anticipate what the world will throw at you next, like maybe something that will cause your extinction as in the dinosaurs case. In our time, something that could cause you to not get that promotion, to cause the end of a relationship, even cause you to fail a midterm. Being ahead of the game like the rabbit that smells the wolf before it is too close, I survive to live another day.
So what does it mean to live on this planet? I wonder this daily. Probably the most profound thing said about living was by William Shakespeare, when he said ” to be or not to be, that is the question”. So this blog will hopefully enlighten others as well as myself in how “to be”. It might seem like a day in the life of type of blog, my wish is that it becomes much more.
jason waters