The time goes on and on.

The hours melt together into one big, fuzzy, intoxicated, exhausting moment. Emotions build and fade. The voice is tired. The eyes get cloudy. The only way you can tell the time  is by the snack table becoming more and more empty.

It’s been a long rehearsal process. It seems like there is no end.

Then it comes.

The Day Off

The one day out of the week when the Actor is allowed to do what they wish.

To not be in rehearsal and be put through a washing machine of judgment, laughter, movement, drama, gossip, jealousy, bonding and more.

The day when the Actor doesn’t have to be told what to do by someone, or by  words on a page.

This is the day the Actor looks forward to. Although, we quickly discover that the Day Off is mostly filled with running an entire weeks, some times more, worth of errands.

• Laundry
• Grocery shopping
• Washing the car
• Taking the kids to school/the doctor, or the dog/cat to the Vet. Hoping you don’t mix those two up.

THEN, somewhere in all of the chaos, taking a moment to remember to take care of yourself.

• Hit a hip-hop trampoline class.
• Do goat yoga
• Or just take time to breathe.

All within the confines of “Banking Hours”. Actors gotsta deposit those checks!

What you choose to do on your Day Off is your business. It’s ME time.

But this brings to mind what Steven Pressfield wrote about in The War of Art.

“Never forget: This very moment, we can change our lives. There never was a moment, and never will be, when we are without the power to alter our destiny. This second, we can turn the tables on Resistance. This second, we can sit down and do our work.”

See. You can use your Day Off  to sleep a little longer, watch funny Cat Videos on YouTube, or binge watch the seven seasons of your favorite show on Netflix.

OR…..

You use the Day Off  to hustle. To work.

To put in the time on you and your dreams.  Instead of doing the opposite and counting the minutes until you can eat a whole pizza while lounging in your comfy Avengers pajamas.

You work. Because if there’s one thing that the Actor knows, and dreads, it’s that every job ends. Every one.

Even if you’re blessed or lucky enough to get a series, a role in a super-hero franchise, or a show at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, (by the way, if you know someone…).

The inevitable fact is that no gig is forever.

The show will close. The shoot will wrap. So there is no time to rest.

As an Actor and Creative, you are allowed to enjoy your Day Off  by not doing anything. It is okay to “Veg” every now and again. Self care is Super important. 

But how much more would you enjoy your Day Off, if at the end of it you knew you did everything you could to hustle, work, manage and fight your way in to another gig? Or create your own?

• You took that photo
• You wrote those pages
• You created that dance
• You fought for your dreams

Let’s make stuff.