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Outils - that's French for "tools."
In this section of the site, I'll review the various "tools" I use to help me fly straight and true through the turbulent atmospherics of my life and the New York City Performing Arts Scene.

One of the most important things you need to know about a career in acting is that you need clearly defined goals, and a plan to go after those goals.

Let's say your goal is to get cast more consistently in off-Broadway productions. A couple of obvious goals would be 1) find and attend every audition for any roles you think are appropriate for you, 2) become better in your auditions. Pretty straightforward - but you need a plan, a consistent plan, a plan of action that will daily move you toward these goals.

While it's relatively easy to know what you want, and to set some goals - it's not so easy, at least for me, to know how to break those goals down into smaller goals, to come up with "action plans," i.e., to come up with specific things I can do to move towards my goals.

However, it's critical to do this: if you fail to plan, you plan to fail.

But it can be lonely when it's really just you and your goals. So what to do . . . ?

Advice for the actor. Restoratives for the soul.

Great, invaluable, practical, and insightful, veteran working actors share what they've learned about how to manage the practical and technical aspects of the audition process.

While some trial and error learning will be inevitable in learning any skill, this book will help bring clarity and focus to the acquisition of your audition technique, to the strengthening of your audition skills, and believe me -- it is a skill, and high one at that. You'll learn hard won insights, tips, and revelations that will help you set your audition targets -- and once you know what your targets are, where you weaknesses are, then all you need to do is continually practice setting your sights on those targets. That is the real value of this book. Some highlights are:

AUDITION PREPARATION STRATEGIES:

• how & why to practice your sight reading, a critical cold reading skill: see strategies #8 & #38 (Professional Sight Reading Techniques).
• how to maintain persistence and determination, and why they, not talent, are your true leverage in eventual success & mastery: see strategies #11 (The Power of Habit) & #21 (Fail To Plan And You Plan To Fail).

• how to start an audition (starting off on the right foot is everything): see strategy #42 (Starting Strong) & 63 (Center Yourself).

• how to be clear -- slow the hell down! See strategy #82 (Speed Kills).
• when to know that 'no real acting is required:' see strategy #93 (The 80/20 Rule of Drama).

With this book in hand you gain the most from each of your audition experiences -- and if you stay positive (and that's no mean trick because that's something else to learn), you'll find yourself quickly becoming a much smarter actor in the audition process, and that's the best way to free your talent.

"Something happened with me. It was like a monkey off my back or something. I didn't feel armored any longer as an actor; I felt like I could -- whatever I did -- was going to be alright. It was a beginning for me, of a kind of subconscious work."
- Gene Hackman