The Actor’s Holiday Hustle: 5 Ways to Stay Inspired This Season & Beyond
Seasons greetings, actor friends. What do you do when it’s the season for hunkering down, but it feels like the industry is just revving up again?
After months without work, the end of the strike has many of us eager to jump back into the festive fray. However, the year is almost over.
The good news is there’s no rush: we can all take elf-sized steps.
A lot still needs to be nailed down in our ever-evolving industry from audition processes to filming protocol. That said, if you feel like you’re behind – you’re not. Suffice to say, you’re exactly where you’re supposed to be.
If you’re yearning to stay inspired and hit the ground running in 2024, here are five suggestions for the holiday season to keep your hustle fire burning bright.
1. Observe Inspiring Content
When I say this, I don’t only mean checking out all the awards contenders or the latest binge-able shows. As entertainment addicts, we all do that.
Observe any art that inspires you, or humanity in general. Nothing quite warms my creative spirit like walking down the streets of New York City and watching the parade of characters passing by.
We’re in the business of people. Don’t forget to see them.
2. Dash Through the Snow to Attend Live Events
Broadway is bright.
There’s an onslaught of dazzling shows currently lighting up the world’s biggest theaters with the world’s biggest stars. World-class talent like Sarah Paulson (Appropriate) are closing out the year on Broadway.
But guess what? There’s also incredible live theater right around the corner from you. Support local arts and support your inner spark this season.
Let’s also not sleep on other types of events. From movie blockbusters like The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes to concert experiences such as Madonna’s Celebration Tour to online panels from the SAG-AFTRA Foundation, there are countless events to keep you inspired.
3. Cozy Up By the Fire and Read Plays, Books or Recent Articles on the Industry
If you want to take things up a notch, you can even host a reading of a play or a friend’s new work – hot cocoa and all. If you’re reading this right now (hey, thank you!) then you’re already able to check this off the list.
4. Deck the halls with specific goals for 2024
Resolutions can be tricky, but goals are sticky. Try setting specific career goals for yourself in 2024.
Do you want to book your first TV co-star? Have you been meaning to get back into an acting class? Did you write a play you want to put up? Aim for 3 manageable goals for the new year, then throw in one big, twinkling dream that lives up in the stars. You never know.
5. Ho-Ho-Hibernate with a rest and reset
This one might seem counterintuitive on a list about inspiration.
We just had all this downtime. Even if you used the entire SAG-AFTRA strike to rest and focus on yourself (kudos to you, by the way), fears of the industry’s unknown future likely took up precious space in your head.
Above all else, this holiday season, let yourself rest.
A new year and hopefully a better industry is coming. Get ready for it by spending time with loved ones, taking up that instrument you’ve been meaning to learn and focusing on things that fill your cup.
Make this your mantra for a bit: All is calm and bright.
Happy holidays, friends.
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Robert Peterpaul is a writer, podcaster and performer, who can be seen in films like IFC's “King Cobra,” T-Mobile ad campaigns, and TV shows like CBS' “BULL.” He currently hosts the hit podcast The Art of Kindness with the Broadway Podcast Network. Other writing and hosting highlights include: NBC’s “Access Hollywood” and “America’s Got Talent,” “BUILD Series,” the Huffington Post and serving as the Weekend Editor for HOLA!/ HELLO! USA for six years. He also co-founded his family’s nonprofit the Thomas Peterpaul Foundation, which aims to end pediatric cancer. Robert has studied at the Barrow Group, Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute, UCB and earned a B.A. from Marist College. Thank you for reading and keep following your bliss! www.robertpeterpaul.com
