GOOD TIMES, BAD TIMES, YA KNOW I’VE HAD MY SHARE…
Had a BLAST in San Antonio for the one-day Mizuumi Con event this past weekend, on the campus of Our Lady of the Lake University. If you guys saw my video blog, the registration line was huuuuuuge. The staff and fans were awesome, then topped the day off with a delicious dinner at Mi Tiera. Little hard to have a conversation with mariachi musicians stopping by the table every five minutes wanting to serenade, but the meal was worth it. I also would like to take this time to thanks ALL the staff and fans at all my appearances, as well as on Twitter and Facebook. You guys truly are the best!
I get to travel the country, meet amazing new people, stay in nice hotels, all because I have been so blessed to be in the awesome world of voice acting. But getting to do what I love comes at a great price: financial stability. And throughout the past year, the amount of work that I’ve been very fortunate to be a part of, has been steadily dwindling. Going to cons as a guest means I get treated like a rock star, and its very flattering and humbling. Staffers always wanting to assist, fans standing in long lines…it never ceases to amaze me. And its a fantastic escape from the harsh realities that I always must return to once the weekend ends. Just like everybody else, I have bills, debt, obligations. I’m also a single father. But its still worth it to me, because I love what I do. I have a wonderful support group, besides the fans: my parents. They’ve helped me so much to help stay afloat ever since I moved to Los Angeles. I can’t express enough the gratitude I have for my family. My friends, both old and new, have cheered me on for many years.
While I’ve added some great credits to the resume, the cost of living has consumed any and all financial rewards. As the bills stack up, I’m constantly wondering, when will that phone ring with a call to work? When will an email show up in the inbox with good news? When will the mailman deliver that money I made from 3 weeks back or longer? The economy has struck everybody hard. And I’ve never been more broke. And ya know what? Its still worth it to me, because I love what I do.
This is a huge point I always try to drive home to people interested in getting into the acting profession. You have to want this so bad, that you refuse to give up, no matter what. And in this field, there’s a lot of sacrifice on the road to achieving your dreams. Constant stress, waiting, and disappointment. With all the competition, the law of averages say you won’t get cast from most auditions. The upside is, I get to work with a fantastic talent pool, tour the country, and get paid for having fun. No matter how depressing things get, every time I step into that booth, all the pain goes away. At least for the length of the session. And that’s plenty. I’m getting to do what I’ve wanted since childhood. I don’t have any delusions that I’ll become a millionaire. But the riches I’ve earned are worth so much more than money. And I’ve got many more goals to reach.
Its still worth it to me, because I love what I do.
