Feeling uninspired? Sometimes as artists we need to refill our creative cups. Getting lost in a sea of headshots, resumes, and breakdowns can be overwhelming when we forget to take care of the little creative in all of us. We love to share insider business tips, but over the next two posts, we’ll take you deeper and share our favorite ways to stay inspired and fresh in this crazy business. Here we present, REIGNITE YOUR PASSION AS AN LA ACTOR, Part One!

Take yourself out on an Artists Date. This means go out solo on an adventure, just you with your inner artist. Alone. Sometimes being alone is harder than we think, we’ll try anything to wriggle out of it. But truth arises and creativity blossoms when we give ourselves time to just be, without having to impress anyone else. What did you love to do as a kid? Was it going to the batting cages, drawing outside, visiting the aquarium? The things we loved the most as children can often bring us just as much happiness today. So take inner artist on a date and odds are you will feel your creativity and spirit rejuvenated.

Do your chores. Seems counter intuitive, but sometimes the most clarity comes when we make ourselves do something else. Especially if that something else is repetitive. These seemingly menial types of chores are called “artist-brain activities” and they are mysteriously powerful. Ever notice how you get your most brilliant ideas in the shower or driving on a long stretch of highway? Brilliance comes to me while washing dishes. These repetitive activities trick our logic brains into giving over to our more creative brains.

Get walking. Nothing clears the mind like a good, brisk walk. Even when you don’t want to do it, when you’d rather just sit home and watch more Breaking Bad episodes, get up and do it. If a question is nagging at me, or a role isn’t clicking in, a quick twenty minute walk brings me clarity. Answers often come more quickly when we move as opposed to just sitting and letting the challenges marinate. And even if the perfect solution to your woes doesn’t emerge, the sense of peace that you get after a walk will enable you to move forward in your challenge with a clear head.

Shut your Censor up! When we are on the brink of some exciting, creative change, the little critic in us gets really loud. You’re too fat to actually book the role, you’re too old to wear this wardrobe on camera, you’re voice is too generic to make a living at this. It is our job to tell our censors to shut the F up. How do we do it? By first acknowledging it. You can even write down all the nasty comments your inner censor makes (turn it into a n evil comic strip!) and then reverse them. Write, say, chant our response over and over again. “I am a wonderfully prepared actor ready for my next success” is a great mantra to counter the critic. It may feel funny to say something like that, but say it enough and it will become more second nature as the critic’s words.

Fill your artistic well. In order to create, we draw from our inner well. But what happens when the well is dry? Time to refill! Nothing is more powerful than a strong image, we believe that whole heartedly as a photography studio. So spend time finding images that ignite you! Visit a local museum, thumb through a favorite old children’s book, even Pinterest is a great resource for this. Don’t clip pictures that you think are “right” or “intellectual.” Clip pictures that delight you! You can turn them into a vision board, glue them to the cover of a new journal, or thumbtack them around your desk area for constant inspiration.

Break legs!
Megan Manzi