Let’s talk about mistakes.

I’ve made them, you’ve made them, we’ve all made them.

But if you want to stride gracefully into your acting and performing career, why not learn from someone who made a lot? 🙋‍♀️

Alright, let’s break down the 5 biggest mistakes I’ve made pursuing acting and singing, but more importantly, the 5 biggest lessons you can learn as you strive with confidence in your performing career.

BTW, if you want to watch this instead, you can do so right below, and subscribe to my YouTube channel for weekly videos!

Mistake #1. Letting emotion drive all your decisions.

It’s easy to hop on social media and see everything that’s wrong with the world.

It’s easy to get annoyed at all the auditions you’re not getting, or the songs you’re not releasing.

It’s easy to let emotion drive every decision you make, but is it productive? No.

Instead of letting emotion drive your strategic decisions, save those emotions for your art, and take things as they are— fact. It’ll take so much less energy out of you— promise.

Mistake #2. Obsessing over what people “saw” me as.

I used to have this obsession over whether people would see me as an actor or performer first. If not? I’d “failed.” Crazy, right? Especially when you think of all the multi-hyphenates we know— actors-turned wellness brand owners (Gwyneth Paltrow), part-time ER nurse/part-time actor with a podcast (Jennifer Stone), or meal planning business owner and Nickelodon’s crazy big sister sensation Trina Vega (Daniella Monet).

Instead of trying to only be “seen” as a performer, embrace your multi-hyphenate pursuits. Not only will it show your beautiful diversity, but it’ll give you more opportunities to leverage your other talents and passions into something that makes your career uniquely yours. Because we’re not here to fit into some box of what people consider a true “performer,” right? 🙅‍♀️

Mistake #3. Only learning from other people’s experiences.

Don’t get me wrong— learning from podcast interviews and autobiographies is like my go-to move. Just make sure it’s not the only way you’re learning. Because ultimately, what actors were doing to be “successful” 10 years ago is certainly going to have evolved and changed from this year.

While learning from other people’s mistakes and experiences can be eye-opening, don’t be afraid to pioneer your own path, too.

Mistake #4. Leaving my destiny up to other people.

As performers, we’re told that we need to get cast in shows or be invited to play at venues in order to be successful, right?

But if you’re creating your own work and uncovering a platform to distribute it to, you no longer have to be in service to people and things you can’t control. Suddenly, you’re in control of your career.

Atomic Habits by James Clear talks about the importance of not goal-setting, but system setting; i.e., instead of setting a goal of getting an agent in 6 months, set a system that you’ll go to at least 5 auditions per week for the next 6 months.

Mistake #5. Not learning to write sooner.

The art of writing— copywriting, content writing, marketing writing, songwriting— gave me worlds of leverage compared to myself 5 years ago.

Being able to write created an income stream for me both full-time and as a freelancer, and it gave me the ability to self-produce my music with my team. At the root of every project— a play, a song, a goal, an idea— it all comes from writing something down.

In the non-arts world, it was a way I could charge for services so other people could have a creative, storyteller perspective to their marketing.

In the arts world, it finally gave me the ability to work on original art!

Wherever your arts journey takes you, I hope this helps nudge you in a direction that best aligns with your dreams. Stay inspired and stay creative!