by David Petro
There’s no business like show business like no business we
know!
Before any actor hits it big, they have to endure some incredible struggles and make major sacrifices.
Before any actor hits it big, they have to endure some incredible struggles and make major sacrifices.
You’ll need to overcome the multiple obstacles that will come your
way. I moved back to New York in 2006
with no job, little money and very little prospects. In just two short years I
had started David Petro Casting and was casting my first television series on
Nickelodeon and co-cast my first Broadway show.
Broadway Break Thru was created during the most difficult
time of my life. Through that adversity, I learned many difficult lessons, I
re-created myself and I imagined this spectacular new life that would include all of
you.
Sooner or later, you’ll have hesitations about your ability
to succeed. People will ask you...
“What’s your back up career?”
“You have a
better chance of winning the lottery than becoming a successful actor?”
“You
want to be an performer? WHY!!?”
In your journey, you will doubt yourself. If you don't, your feet aren't on the ground and your head is somewhere shoved in a cloud.
Every superstar from Sutton Foster to Zac Efron to Beyonce,
has felt this uncertainty at some point in their career. The difference between those who persevere
and those who quit is being prepared for what it takes to cross the success
line.
Some of my favorite lessons to share while teaching, are you
must find a way to preserve your spirit and to keep finding the joy that drove
you to this crazy business of show.
In other words, embrace the worst that will inevitably
come your way and have the resiliency to continue, believing that the best is
yet to come.
Anyone can make the decision to start, but the winners are the
ones strong enough to make the decision to continue.
Here are seven of my beliefs that may help you
keep pursing your dream:
1. You’ll always have more opportunities.
Whether you’re 15, 30 or 50 years old, you have all your
lifetime to succeed. Steve Carell become a household name
when he landed the lead role on the
American version of "The Office" in
2005. He was 43 at the time. Colonel Sanders franchised the first KentuckyFried Chicken in 1952, when he was 62 years old. Most importantly, I created BBT when I was 34.
2. Be patient.
Achieving long-term success takes time. It’s as simple as
that. Don’t fall into the hype of the Justin Biebers and the Amanda Bynes. Look
where that instant success got them.
3. Knock off the knocking yourself.
When the going gets tough, it’s natural to begin losing
confidence in yourself. Know that we’re a lot stronger, mentally and
physically, than we give ourselves credit for. My Aunt Sherry used to tell me all the
time, “We are given exactly what we need, exactly when we need it.”
4. Experiment, experiment, experiment.
Failure is not a dead-end, it’s a new beginning. The
solution is often in the struggle. Take this time to experiment, re-envision
and re-define.
5. See it to be it.
We’ve all heard the phrase “fake it until you make it”. It’s
a phrase I feel was created especially for the entertainment industry. I recently
heard a line is a movie that resonated with me, “A goal without a plan is a
dream”. Have a goal, make a plan and live your dream.
6. Only compare yourself to yourself.
The only person you need to be better than is you,
yesterday. No one else.
7. Embrace the lowest moments.
Know that when things are at their worst, there will always be
light at the end of that cold dark tunnel. SPOILER ALERT: here come the cliché,
but true inspirational phrases:
“It’s always darkest before the dawn.” ~Proverb
When you come to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang
on.” ~Franklin D. Roosevelt
“Don’t wait for the perfect moment, take the moment and make
it perfect.” ~Zoey Sayward
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