Teresapalooza in Ireland!!

Yes, faithful readers (all five of you), I'm headed to Ireland for a much needed vacation. Keep up with all my shenanigans and goings on by following me on Twitter!

See you next week!

The Hump Day Update: Pre-Ireland Edition

This here actor/writer/stressball is going to Ireland! To sightsee, relax, and hunt for a sexy, Irish musician/ farmhand like Jeffrey Dean Morgan's character in P.S. I Love You. Swoon.

As I scramble to pack in as much writing as possible in between buying voltage converters and doing laundry, here's what's happening in my land --

• 
  Organized another successful theater outing last week to see The Color Purple at the Celebration Theatre in Hollywood.
  
  I've seen this musical in its full Broadway-scale at the Ahmanson and at the Pantages, and I have to say this intimate theatre presentation absolutely blew me away. Seeing the actors up close, hearing their soaring voices, taking in the nuances of their performances - I cried my eyes out! This is a MUST SEE - don't miss it!
  
  
• Still sorting through my new headshot proofs from Toshiko Photo - so many good pictures to choose from! Hope to make a decision soon so I can replace these crappy old headshots.
  
  
• 
  Enjoying reading the early buzz for all the primetime television network pilots on Deadline. These are the shows I could be obsessed with next season! I'm rooting for projects that sound interesting as well as projects that friends are starring in, including Chelsea General on TNT. More doctor shows mean more work for me!
  
  
• I celebrated Earth Day by recycling my old bras. Sexy and green! Check out BraRecyclers.com to see how you can too!
  
  
• Just a thought - SyFy making more reality shows is ridiculous. Give us some science fiction television for goodness sake!
  

Back to writing...I'm going to Ireland!

Television Writing Program Roundup

'Tis the season for deadlines and personal statements and cramming to finish those scripts!

Yes, it's time to submit to the television writing programs. For aspiring TV writers, these programs are opportunities to be recognized, learn from insiders, and slide into the business. They used to be diversity programs, but now most are open to anyone. (Caucasian males, that means you...)

As I rush (not good) to finish my scripts, I'll be sharing info and insight on applying for these programs on my blog. Today, we'll start with the basics -- what television writing programs are out there?

Open for submissions now:

CBS Diversity Institute Writers Mentoring Program
http://diversity.cbscorporation.com/page.php?id=23
Requires: Spec TV sample
Deadline: May 1, 2012

CAPE New Writers Award
http://capeusa.org/CNWA/
Requires: Spec TV sample or original TV pilot
Deadline: May 25, 2012

Opening for submissions soon:

Disney|ABC Television Writing Program
http://www.abctalentdevelopment.com/programs/programs_writings_fellowship.html
Requires: Spec TV sample
Deadline: May 31, 2012

Warner Bros. Television Writing Workshop
http://writersworkshop.warnerbros.com/web/index.jsp
Requires: Spec TV sample
Deadline: June 1, 2012

Austin Film Festival Teleplay Competition
http://www.austinfilmfestival.com/submit/
Requires: Spec TV sample or original TV pilot
Deadline: June 1, 2012

NBC Writers on the Verge
http://www.nbcunicareers.com/earlycareerprograms/writersontheverge.shtml
Requires: Spec TV sample
Deadline: ???

So yeah, you gotta write a spec script. More on that coming soon...

Are You Looking at Me? You Should Be!

Actors. Follow me here...

Have you ever met someone – at a party or networking event – and even though you’re talking to them, they’re looking everywhere but at you? Like they’re searching the room for someone better to talk to?

Annoying, right? You just want to flick them between the eyes and say, “Hey! Am I boring you here?”

You’ve been there. You know what I’m talking about.

Now let me tell you about something I’ve noticed in my acting classes and casting director workshops –-

Actors. Doing scenes with scene partners or off-camera readers. And not looking at them!

They look away, look down at their hands, look around at the air – look anywhere but at the person they’re talking to!

Have you ever seen actors do this? Or have you done it yourself? Are you one of those actors? If so, you gotta stop!

I don’t know what you think you’re doing – embodying the character’s carefree nature, displaying nervousness, whatever – but what you look like is one of those party people with the wandering eyes. You don’t look like a character engaged in an authentic conversation – you look like you’re “acting.”

Because I don’t know about you, but when I’m talking to someone in real life, I look at them. It’s kind of standard. Watch a scene with your favorite actor on TV or film – chances are they look at the people they’re talking to.

Think about this the next time you’re doing a scene with a partner. Put your focus on them completely. It may feel weird, but it looks right. Trust me.

Looking for an Agent? Do the Detective Work!

You got the call! An agent wants to meet with you! Your days of pounding the pavement all by yourself are over! Woo hoo!

Now who is this agent?

There is no Yelp! for talent agencies. It's up to you to do the research to figure out if an agent (or manager) is someone you want to work with.

Watch for the obvious red flags - sketchy contracts, claims of guaranteed work, or demands for money up front - and do your due diligence. Here's the basic detective work I suggest --

• Find their physical address - I know casting submissions are all done online now, but if you're based in Los Angeles and the agency is based in Milwaukee, it's unlikely they have the contacts that can advance your career.
  
  
• Google them - Search for the name of the agent contacting you and the agency itself. A bunch of agent directory lists will come up first - keep looking through the results and see what else comes up. Are they mentioned favorably in news articles? On message boards? Look for red flags among the results and take note of any clients that are represented by the agency.
  
  
• Check their client list on IMDB Pro - If you don't have an IMDB Pro subscription, you can sign up for a two-week trial or ask a friend to borrow their password. Review the other clients at the agency and see if any trends emerge. Is it primarily an agency for kids? Hot blondes? Do they have 200 clients or 2,000? Look up each client and see if they're working.
  
  
• Try to connect with clients - If you've done the previous two steps, you have the names of some of their clients. Check Facebook to see if you have mutual friends with them. Don't email blast - choose a few and send a short, polite message asking what they think of their representation - it could get you some valuable insight.
  
  
• Take the meeting! - It never hurts to meet in person. Feeling the energy of the exchange and asking questions in person is the best way to determine if it's a good match. (If they don't want to meet in person, RED FLAG!)
  

Remember, an agent works for you. You'd be just as thorough if you were hiring an employee, right?

What do you do when researching an agent?

My Supporting Weekend

I'm a supporter. It's what I do. Got a Kickstarter campaign? I'll be a backer. Are you starring in a new play? I'll try to make it to opening night. Really, I will.

Because I love supporting the artistic endeavors of friends and colleagues. Take a glance at my schedule and you'll see it's filled with friends' screenings, fundraisers, etc. I do it because I enjoy it.

On Saturday afternoon, I drove down to Costa Mesa to attend an event at Christopher's alma mater. They screened Misusing Irony along with several other film projects made by alumni. He rocked the Q&A after - he always does.

I didn't have time to really see the campus, which was beautiful, though I did see this great sign --

Love it! Christopher also showed me the "Breakup Bench," a spot where couples were often found breaking up in his day. We staged our own breakup --

Next, I rushed up to the Laemmle NoHo 7 to catch a theatrical screening of my friend Valerie's feature Losing Control.

Val and I bonded back in Boston - I was cast as her best friend in an indie feature. We did one day of shooting...and then never heard from the filmmaker again!

I first saw Losing Control at the Temecula Valley International Film Festival and absolutely loved it. Charming, hilarious, and it's about scientists! You can still catch it in NoHo through this Thursday - or catch it in Tempe, AZ, Tacoma, WA, or Modesto, CA.

I capped off my supporting weekend with a trip to the Artists at Play yard sale fundraiser! One word: EPIC. I purposely overpaid for a handful of books and a silk necktie, which I'm going to use to make a trendy necktie necklace.

The sale was still hopping when I was there --

Though my friends were sufficiently beat after weeks of collecting and organizing donations. Peter collapsed just as I was leaving --

Congrats to all my talented friends for doing their thing this weekend!

Money Monday: Taxes for Artists, Part 2

Two more days to do taxes! Hopefully you're already done and waiting for that tax return.

Now is actually the perfect time to start preparing for next year's taxes. You've already started saving your receipts for tax deductions, right?

Here are more random tips to help you prepare for next tax season --

• Evaluate your spending - Did you spend more on office supplies than you expected? Were you shocked by how much you spent on acting classes? Take a moment to refocus how your money supports your artistic career and try spending less this year in the categories you overspent on last year. Reducing expenses is a great way to save more money.
  
  
• Consider setting up a home office - Investigate and follow the IRS guidelines on home offices now and you could take more tax deductions next year.
  
  
• 
  Add a revenue stream - Did doing your taxes show you that you need more money? Then do something to make more money! Learn how to sell on eBay or Amazon Marketplace and clear out everything gathering dust on your CD and DVD shelves. Start selling AVON, pick up some freelance work, fold sweaters at The Gap - whatever. You can do it.
  
  
• Learn how to cook - Face it, we all spend too much money eating out. You don't have to become the next Michael Voltaggio, but learning a few go-to dishes for times when the budget's tight will help. Search for budget-friendly recipes online or browse around BudgetFriendlyCooking.com.
  
  
• Start giving - Tax-deductible donations help the receiving charities and help your tax return. You can find deserving charities at JustGive.org or just shoot me a message - I have a ton of charities I love to support that would appreciate your support too.

A Glimpse at TV Writing

The title was provocative - TV Series for Virgins.

Hey, get your mind out of the gutter...

I'm talking about an event I recently attended at the Writers Guild of America for feature writers interested in crossing over into TV.

Because more and more screenwriters are realizing their business is wack - the spec market is dead and scripts that do get sold may never make it to the big screen. In television, you write something and a few weeks later, you're shooting it. That's a satisfying prospect.

The panel included comedy showrunners Lee Aronsohn (CBS’ Two and a Half Men) and Jenny Bicks (Showtime’s The Big C), drama’s Matt Corman and Chris Ord (USA’s Covert Affairs), Graham Yost (FX’ Justified), and ICM TV series agent Mark Gordon.

I've been on my laser-focused path long enough that I already knew most of the information presented, which felt good. Check out the recap article from the WGA for more details.

My favorite moment of the night was the candid discussion about taking meetings with showrunners for a job. Once you get the meeting, they're just wondering, "Do I want to be stuck in a submarine with this person?" Because that's what the writer's room is like - trapped with no escape. In a good way.

All you have to do is be normal. Some no-brainer notes --

• Don't say what you don't like about the show
  
• Don't badmouth people you know
  
• Don't name drop excessively - you don't need to prove that you're showbiz-savvy
  
• Don't offer up more material for them to read - you're already in the room
  
• Have a passionate POV about why you wrote the pilot that got you the meeting
  
• Doesn't hurt to end by saying you really want to work on the show
  
• A handwritten thank you note after the meeting is nice - reiterate why you're passionate about the show

I also came away with my favorite new showbiz quote ever --

"The most important thing in Hollywood is sincerity. And if you can fake that, you've got it made."

You Don't Know S#*t from Shinola!

Perhaps you know Gregg Lee Henry from Payback --

Or from one of his 100+ roles in TV and film - he's kind of everywhere. He played Quinn Fabray's dad on Glee. Yeah, he's a "that guy."

I know him from playing my boss on The Riches --

Since our days as Panco people, we've remained wonderful friends. Even though he often portrays hard ass corporate types and various unsavory characters, he's actually the sweetest guy on the planet.

I've also become a big fan of his music. Yes, that's right people, Gregg Lee Henry is a talented and prolific singer/songwriter. Dwight Yoakam recorded one of his songs. Taylor Swift covered it. He's incredibly awesome.

This is his latest song "Shinola" - it makes my liberal heart smile.



Check out more of Gregg's music on MySpace! (My favorite is "This Ain't a Game")

Premise, Shmemise

This is how I spent my Saturday afternoon --

I love taking one-day workshops on writing techniques and The Writer's Junction plays host to some great ones, including Storygeeks' How's Your Premise?: The 7-Step Premise Development Process Workshop.

An afternoon well spent! The class was geared more for screenwriters and novelists who are telling stories with a clear beginning, middle, and end, but I still found the information very helpful as I put together my next wave of original pilot pitches.

The biggest piece I learned from Storygeeks founder Jeff Lyons was about determining if you actually have a story or just a situation.

"Teresa wants to fly to the moon" is just a situation - a problem with a direct solution that doesn't reveal character. Boring.

"Teresa needs to find her way to the moon in order to confront the rocket scientist who could hold the key to proving her father's innocence" - now that's a story! It combines character motivation, plot complications, emotions, and human choice. You want to see it, right? Right?

While furiously taking notes in the class, I realized that some of the pilot ideas I've tried to develop in the past were just situations - they had no story! Like that awful idea about the orphans assassin agency that I beat to death before realizing it didn't work. I could have applied Jeff's 7-step premise process and saved myself a whole lot of time. Sigh...

If you're a writer who needs a little kick in the structure butt, I highly recommend this class. Click here for details on the next one Jeff is teaching at the Writer's Store in Burbank on April 21!

Happy Peep Easter!

The Washington Post recently revealed the winners of Peeps Show VI, a sugary sweet Peeps diorama contest I've blogged about before.

This year's top prize went to "OccuPeep D.C." - check out the gallery for all the winners!

Breaking Down the LAAPFF Schedule

Look what came in the mail yesterday!

That's right, it's the full schedule for this year's Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival! (You're excited too - I can tell...)

I love a good film festival and this one is massive. Hosted at three venues in Hollywood, Koreatown, and Long Beach, this year's festival schedule is packed with fantastic films and programs for filmmakers and film lovers.

Flipping through the schedule was especially fun because I found several projects starring people I'm blessed to call my friends.

Check out the all-Lynn Chen page of the brochure! She has four projects in the festival - Nice Girls Crew, Surrogate Valentine, the Surrogate Valentine sequel Daylight Savings, and Yes, We're Open. Talk about Lynn-sanity!

Crossover abounds - Sheetal Sheth, who I recently met, is in Nice Girls Crew and Yes, We're Open. Fellow Taiwanese-American Michelle Krusiec is also in Nice Girls Crew and Sunset Stories, which recently traveled to SXSW.

I'm finally going to see my friend Kimberly Rose-Wolter's Hawaii-set feature Knots! (I've read the script - it's fantastic!)

And Lily Mariye's first feature Model Minority is also premiering. We met while judging a pitch competition last year. I remember her working the heck out of Facebook and Twitter to get this movie made. Can't wait to see it!

Finally, a blast from the past is coming to LA. Patrick Wang and I both went to MIT and even starred in a production of Into The Woods together. (He was the Baker, I was the Wicked Stepmother. You see it, right?)

His feature writing/directing debut In the Family has been taking the world by storm. It was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award, won top honors at the San Diego Asian Film Festival and San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival, and is starting a theatrical run this month.

I remember Patrick being fiercely talented and committed - I can't wait to see this masterpiece!

My schedule is packed - now I just need to buy tickets!

Are you going to the LAAPFF this year?

Fiction Friday: City of Fear, Part 2

Click here to read City of Fear, Part 1

She’d cut off all her hair and dyed it blonde, giving some lame excuse about being inspired by Rosemary’s Baby, which she’d watched at midnight to feel something other than her fear. She pulled out all her large earrings and hats, jackets with fashionably high collars, and scarves that went around her head. She was staying at the hotel where the conference was being held, but reasoned that she could still dress as if she were going outside until she got to the ballroom. Thank God for room service.

The taxi took the expected route downtown. Past the courthouse where a mother had thrown hot coffee at her, past the Greek restaurant where the owner had told everyone he’d seen them plotting suspiciously, around the corner from the flower shop he’d bought her roses from after stuffing the boy’s body in a drain pipe. This was a city with eyes and she could feel them on her like heavy mud, even though she was just riding in the back of a taxicab wearing sunglasses at 7pm.

The display materials for the booth had arrived by the time she checked in, so she didn’t have to talk with the conference manager. Grateful, she politely declined the bell hop and rolled her suitcase toward the elevator, waiting for an empty one. She took off her sunglasses to look at the brass floor buttons in the dim light. And then she heard her name.

“Shirley?”

She raised her broken eyes to see Phillip Decker, a boy she’d dated for a month in college. His hair was almost gone but it was definitely him. He was standing at the threshold of the elevator wheeling his suitcase behind him.

She wanted to cry. Caught in less than an hour. What would he do? Phillip stepped in slowly and pressed the button for his floor. And he looked at her, thinking, putting pieces together he didn’t think he’d have to that day.

“The Hydro-Thermo conference?” he asked, already way ahead of her. She nodded. They stood, looking at each other as the floors dinged by. She willed up a wall that would protect her, keep him from stabbing open old wounds, protect her from an update on the state of her story in the city. She stared into his eyes, a helpless lamb, begging for mercy and yet pleading for him to get it over with, just say it, destroy her quickly before she did it herself.

But he didn’t. He shifted his weight, looking at her with curiosity and pity, lips pursed in deep thought. His floor came first. The doors opened and he grabbed the handle of his suitcase, though he didn’t move. When the door went to close again, he swung out his arm to catch it, to have one more moment to form his words. And he did.

“Shirley, don’t let him kill you too.” Her eyes went wide – was he out? He saw her panic and held up his hand to explain.

“No, he’s still locked up. It’s just…you survived. You’re okay. Be okay.” The elevator dinged impatiently and he moved through the doors obediently. He turned – “I’ll see you at the conference.” The doors closed.

Shirley closed her eyes. She was back in the center of the storm and had just received her first glimpse of calmer weather. Could she just be okay? Did she even remember what that was like? The elevator dinged and she put on her sunglasses, getting ready for the doors to open.

Why Does the Audition Room Scare Us So Much?

I acted with Joe Hernández-Kolski on a short film called Mr. President and have continued to run into him around town. He recently posted this fantastic advice for actors on his Facebook and agreed to let me re-post here. This is insight from the inside! Enjoy!

I had the good fortune of being a reader for Risa Bramon Garcia and Toby Guidry the other day. I had met Risa through one of her daylong acting workshops (I highly suggest taking her next master class). I read opposite of about thirty actors, both men and women.

Now, everything that I’m about to say, you probably already know but I’m gonna say it again because sitting on the other side of the camera is SO FREAKING INFORMATIVE.

First of all, when you walk into the room, you are walking into a room full of people who want you to do well. They want you to knock the crap out of the ball and send it screaming into the left field stands. And trust me, I get it. The insecurities, wondering if you’re good enough, the fact that this is your first audition in a while, the thought that, “This could change EVERYTHING.” But put it all away and get excited to play. Risa once said, when you walk in the door, you should demonstrate the idea that, “If I was on set right now, in this role, this is how I would play it.” No disclaimers, just stand behind your choices. That’s the most important thing – MAKE CLEAR CHOICES.

Give yourself way more time than you think you need to prepare. Yes, you’re incredibly busy between your job, your volunteer work, your late-night rehearsal and that unexpected thing that always pops up just because the universe knows that you have an audition. You say to yourself, “Okay, the audition is at 2pm tomorrow. I’ll work on it when I get home tonight and then I’ll do more work tomorrow morning. I’ll be fine.” Honestly, you might be. But I watched several actors the other day (and I’ve watched myself do it many a time) walk in and they were nowhere near prepared. They’re buried in the sides, the technical jargon trips them up, they have a great presence and delivery but they just don’t bring it.

The casting directors are dealing with a lot of different things at the same time. So if they’re not in your session, trust me, it has nothing to do with you. Just focus on your work. Be happy to be there. And use your reader. Make eye contact with them as soon as you get in the room so the connection between the two of you doesn’t surprise you when the audition starts. We’re there for you. With one actor, I could see that he was in his head. With a couple of others, we actually played. One actress came so strong that she threw me off my game and I missed my line. She was very well prepared. And last but not least...

Do not sabotage yourself. Very often, the casting directors are open to what you bring to the role. You are there for a reason. Just because you might’ve read the breakdown and said, “That’s not me,” play it with everything that you’ve got. If you're given this opportunity, know that the casting directors have already gone through a lot of submissions from actors who don't even get the chance to come in. But YOU DO. And I saw some amazing actors who just weren't right for the roles but, trust me, Risa and Toby made note and I know that they'll bring them back in. I was very impressed by the care that both of them took with their actors.

Throughout the day, I just kept coming back to the idea of living in your truth. Sure, you’ve gotta do the homework, find your beats, make your choices, etc, but, most importantly, just let them see YOU. That’s the most valuable tool that you have when you walk in the room.

Joe Hernández-Kolski is an actor, poet, and comedian. Follow him on Twitter at @pochojoe

The Hump Day Update: It's April!

Where did the first quarter of 2012 go? That’s what I’m asking myself as I look forward to a spring filled with deadlines and more deadlines. Time to hunker down and write, write, write!

Here’s my exclamation point-filled Hump Day update!

• Spent most of Monday dealing with the aftermath of spilling a glass of water on my laptop that caused it to shut down immediately. After letting it dry overnight, it still wouldn’t turn on, so I took the whole thing apart, contemplated the meaning of life, put it back together, and crossed my fingers. Success! Old Bessie is back! (Not my laptop’s actual name.)
  
  
• No news on what’s happening with the CAPE / FOX Digital Marketing Initiative. I’m still hoping it will move forward, but if it doesn’t, I’ve decided to just shoot it as my next short film project. The concept and my amazing actors are just too good to waste!
  
  
• I saw 21 Jump Street last weekend. Surprisingly fantastic! Though if I followed Rotten Tomatoes more religiously, I suppose I wouldn’t have been surprised – the last time I checked, it was the highest rated movie on the site! Go see it – you’ll love it. Great buddy cop character work, loose and funny performances from Channing and Jonah, and truly worthy cameos from original 21 Jump Street stars. Not telling who!
  

• I’m putting my name in the hat at The Moth again tonight. The topic is “Duped” – I’m going to attempt to tell the story I prepared last year when the topic was “Lies.” Fingers crossed that I get picked!
  
  
• This red band trailer made me laugh out loud!
  

• This trailer made me want to splurge and get HBO as soon as possible!
  

How is your Wednesday looking so far?

Tasty Asians at Tasty Words

The Moth isn’t the only storytelling game in town. Actress, writer, and comedian Wendy Hammers created Tasty Words in 2002 to provide a space for friends and artists to tell their stories.

I attended my first Tasty Words last year and introduced myself to Wendy afterward. She invited me to submit a piece for an upcoming Asian-themed show she was dreaming up. Hooray for being Asian, I thought! I sent her a story the next week.

Last week, Wendy’s dream was realized – the first all-Asian Tasty Words! Featuring an all-star lineup -- Eric Mark, Annie Kim, Anzu Lawson, Fu-Ding Cheng, D'Lo, Jude Narita, Amy Anderson, and Suzanne Whang.

And yours truly!

The Lounge Theatre in Hollywood was our performance home - a terrific space with a huge lobby filled with trendy art --

I arrived early to test drive my piece and get a feel for the stage. Here was the view!

I wrote a piece called "Over It" about how I'm over identifying solely as an Asian-American because I'm really so much more than that. I was worried it was too controversial, but it went over beautifully with the audience.

Oh, the audience! So supportive and so receptive. Performing for the Tasty Words audience was such a rare opportunity because Asian-American artists are often only performing for audiences seeking Asian-American material. But this was a mainstream audience seeking good storytelling. And I think we delivered.

Everyone's stories were diverse in subject and point of view. From Anzu talking about rubbing Steven Seagal's feet to Fu-Ding talking about dealing with hostile tenants in the Nixon era to Amy talking about spanking her child for the first time.

Suzanne brought the show to a close with a hilarious and heartbreaking story about her grandfather. I laughed and cried in the same breath. It was fantastic.

I was so grateful to be included with such spectacularly talented artists. We greeted the primarily not-Asian audience in the lobby afterward and posed for pictures.

I finally got to tell Amy about seeing her do stand-up when I first moved to LA and how she made me laugh so hard I could barely breathe. She told me that my name had been on her radar too - what what what? It was a mutual admiration society all around.

Thanks again to Wendy for including me in the lineup! Here's to gracing the Tasty Words stage again very soon!

Money Monday: Stupid Money Mistakes that Artists Make

You’re creative – it’s undeniable. You’re a dreamer and a visionary. You’re bringing your unique voice to the world and nothing is stopping you.

Except not having money!

You can be artistic and money-savvy at the same time. Start by making sure you don’t make these mistakes --

Not having health insurance – Unacceptable! Your body, voice, and well-being are your work tools. Without them, you’re screwed. Protect yourself and your future by getting covered now.

If you don’t qualify for SAG-AFTRA or WGA’s health plan, you can buy an individual plan from a health insurance provider. Do research and compare rates at ehealthinsurance.com and then buying directly from the company’s Web site. If you’re young, single, and healthy, I highly recommend Tonik from Anthem Blue Cross – low rates and great coverage.

Living beyond your means – You need materials, classes, and a working car to pursue your dream. You do NOT need that new pair of UGGs. Don’t stress yourself out by budgeting every cent you make, but make sure you’re spending more on career and life “needs” like additional training or new headshots instead of “wants” like eyelash extensions or those hubcaps that spin even when your car’s not moving. (Sorry, but those hubcaps are dumb.)

Not having an emergency fund – The work of being an actor is looking for work. When you are working, put some money in a money market fund or other short-term savings vehicle for the times when you’re not working. An artistic career will naturally have ups and downs – saving money in an emergency fund will help ease the roller coaster effect.

Wasting money without noticing – Parking tickets, ATM fees, overdraft charges, buying lottery tickets, and drinking excessive amounts of Starbucks or Coffee Bean are all ways you waste money that could be invested in your career. Paying attention to your money ensures you’ll have more when you need it.

Not having a retirement plan – Because you’ll want to hang up those character shoes someday and have enough to enjoy the rest of your life. If you don’t qualify for SAG-AFTRA or WGA’s pension plan and you don’t work for a company that offers a 401K plan, you can still invest for your future by getting a Roth IRA at a do-it-yourself financial services company like Vanguard, Fidelity, or TD Ameritrade. Saving early pays off later – trust me.

For more money advice for artists, check out this free ebook I found – 5 Big Mistakes Creative People Make With Money

What do you think is your biggest money mistake?