Better Safe than Sorry... NOT!

March 15, 2015

Better Safe than Sorry... NOT!

"You Don't Have the Sense You Was Born With"

(This quote is from a story that Mrs. Jenatatos [sp?] read to us in 3rd grade)

I have been brought up with the usual: stranger danger, look both ways before crossing the street, sort of mentality. I appreciate those lessons a lot. However, I have learned that trustworthy people are everywhere. Yes, untrustworthy people are everywhere too, but let's concentrate on the good for now.

This past week, I took a trip to visit Manchester and London, where I met different constituents of my agency, Regan Management. I absolutely loved Nicky (not to be confused with my Cardiff agent, Nikki, who I also love) and George, who had some really helpful tips to enhance my actor's profile. I now have some projects I want to complete, and a better sense of direction, and I'm so grateful to them for giving me guidance and advice. Thank you Nicky and George!

Since I have never stayed in Manchester before, I decided I would perch there for the night and travel to London the next morning. However, I knew nobody in Manchester and was trying to get friends of friends to house me for an evening! I also decided I would try my hand at couchsurfing for the first time.

I advertised my stay: one night only, and I got three responses from Manchester inhabitants. One of them seemed ideal. He was a graduate, staying in the heart of the city with a job as a fashion designer, just a few years older than me. However, two days of chatting over fb, and I knew his intentions were not just "you're welcome to stay on my couch". Another couchsurfer offered his place, and I decided to give him a phone interview to see what he was like. He was a Bulgarian who lived in Salford (just west of Manchester), and I thought to myself: it's to be (I had met a Bulgarian the night before, see, and she was the sweetest person. Not to mention this guy lives in "Sal"ford, so that's like, an obvious sign he's a cool guy, hahaha)! When we actually met, I said, "do you believe in fate?"

Not complaining about my 5am Coach because that Sunrise.

The story's actually quite cool. my schedule was flexible; I only needed to meet Nicky at 2:30 but the rest of the day was ours. We went to coffee beforehand, dinner afterwards, and I said I'd treat him to a night at the theatre, granted that he drove us there. It turned out to be a wonderful day!

After we watched our little comedy sketch, we snuck into the larger production at the venue (his idea). What fun!

"Forever Young" at the Coliseum (Oldham Theatres)

Bulgarian Guy (who has asked to be unnamed, so I'll call him BG), helped me out so much, telling me more about Manchester and driving us everywhere. He said he wanted to treat me as an old high school friend, and that he did. We've made a really sweet friendship. While I was there, he told me a bit of his background, and how he wants to change careers. I offered to help him write his cover letter for his prospective job. BG had done the research, showing me the job description, the LinkedIn profile of his prospective employer, and his research on what that job entails (across many companies). Then, I helped him paint his talents in the best of light.

(He's Typing up the Final Draft)

He got a response within a day, had a successful first interview, and is on to the second round. I'm so glad I could help him out in this way! Maybe I should look into a career as a Career Adviser or something...

London

Every time I travel to London, I'm astounded by the excitement I feel for the place. There's a bustle about it for sure, a certain magnetism that only large cities can possess. When I go to London, I walk around thinking, "everyone here is a Somebody"; there are an astounding number of people there, all with stories I want to know. I could be walking past some big casting director or actor or production manager and not know it! Being in London makes me look on everyone with rose-tinted glasses. It makes me feel like I'm a Somebody too.

My meeting with George was in the afternoon, and it was a beautiful day so I walked throughout the city and straight to Pineapple Studios, the infamous place for dance classes and auditions in London. While there, I bumped into +Morgan Cambs, and we danced to Chicago's "Cell Block Tango" with feisty power! I had so much fun, and I'm so glad I went.

MAMT Americans in the UK!

After my instructive and friendly meeting with George, I headed back to Victoria Station, where I'd be departing later that night. Before I left, however, I met up with Jules for the first time in nearly a year. We had a brief, but wonderful catch-up before I got my coach home, and I couldn't have asked for a better send-off that day.

All of this, and I still managed to pick up More hours than usual at work, due to the Rugby match yesterday. I am indeed a lucky duck. Oh, and I got the zorb football/dodgeball refereeing job. I am now concocting inappropriate humour for the stag parties that I will be hosting in the future. I've already got four parties scheduled over the next two weekends!