New York City 2006: Goals and Ambitions Part I -- 2005 Review

Ok - I reviewed the goals I set for myself last year, and I batted about 40 to 50%. Not bad, but not great or even very good:

Summary:

2005 Training Goals: improv skills, on-camera technique, and commercial audition classes
Result: only an on-camera technique class, 2 actually (Jeffrey Zeiner), but I got a lot out of it. Also took a monologue workshop, which was great for finding new material and getting invaluable feedback. So, 1 (or 1.5) out of 3.

2005 Performance Goals: 1 to 2 theatrical productions, a film, and paid professional work.
Results: A lead in a one-act off-Off Broadway production at 13th Street Rep. No film work and no paid professional work. I did do a small 4 night run showcase of scene work at Weist-Barron which was also great experience. Again, 1 (or 1.5) out of 3.

2005 Audition and Audition Preparation Goals: Learn 3 monologues, practice/develop cold reading skills, identify my type, get new head shots, and audition at least once a week.
Results: I learned 2 monologues (a contemporary dramatic and a classic (Shakespeare); I did practice cold reading skills, but of the time I wanted to devote, I only put in 30-40% of that time. I made headway identifying my type, but no new head shots, and I did not even come close to auditioning once a week. So, this is the worst category. I really fell short of my goals here.

2005 Other Goals: Auditioning for 13th Street. This didn't happen.

The one biggest problem I've had is using my time well, and that mostly impacted my 2005 Audition and Audition Preparation Goals category. Of course, the 2005 Performance Goals category depends directly on this. The other category was training -- not bad, but I wanted to do more.

Where I need and want to do better is really with these Audition and Audition Preparation Goals, i.e., it only requires my time and effort, and small daily practice will go far. As for the other goals, e.g., training, finding my type, head shots, the problem is really been not knowing exactly how to proceed, not having clear defined goals that I can put my shoulder behind and push.

Bottom line: Laziness and not being clear enough about what I want/need.

On the plus side, what opportunities I did have (aside from my 2005 Audition and Audition Preparation Goals), I did make the most of those opportunities, and I did grow, and now that I have my own place, it will be easier to work on things myself at home -- in fact, privacy, was a major factor in getting my own place -- and while getting a new apartment took quite a bit out of me, all the experience of last year, and now having my own place, it's becoming surprisingly more clear about what I want, what I feel I need to do, and I feel even more committed, so ... onto part II.