Hey gang! My apologies for the super infrequency of my updates lately. Not that they've ever been super frequent, but still. You're all kind enough to support me, so I should at least keep you informed.
Why haven't I been writing? Well, that's an answer I'm still working out. Something about sitting down and writing what's going on feels daunting. Chaotic, uncertain times like these feel like the exact time I should be journaling, but it just feels so heavy. Just...a lot.
But I've started, and that's the hardest part. So here are some updates.
How was LA? Well, unexpected. I was hoping either to love it or hate it and leave with a clear course of action. Shoulda known better. I was, honestly, neutral. There were things I liked. The traffic wasn't nearly as awful as advertised. (If you've driven the NJ Turnpike or 695 at rush hour, you'll be fine.) Surprisingly, the access to stand-up comedy got me the most excited. I loved finding out I had more friends, good friends, in LA than I thought. And, yes, there are a lot of opportunities.
I visited some really cool museums and had a lot of coffee dates.
I had an amazing weekend with my cousin, Ryan, and his husband. I got to snuggle fur babies, and they took me to an incredible two-Michelin Star restaurant. Hot. Damn. If you have the means, check out Birdsong in San Francisco.
What did you learn? I learned LA is a place I could live if I needed to, but I have no particular draw to it. I realized I just want to work. So wherever that is. Hayden and I learned what does and doesn't work about long-distance, so we'll be better prepared for it in the future. I've learned that people are not kidding about how fucking expensive LA is. And I now have experience renting a car and an Airbnb.
So, where do your plans to move stand? First off, I never had plans, per se, to move. I simply needed to tick this box off my list as I'd never been to California. Second, it seems like keeping Maryland as my home base and traveling to jobs makes the most sense. I've had that validated from a casting director I had a class with and an agent I met with. So much is self-tapes these days anyway, and a move would be so fucking expensive.
Things are still marinating. I agreed to a twice-a-week nanny give from April to June, so I will take this time to double down on my acting as a business. That means checking casting listings EVERY day, hoping on self-tapes ASAP, and investing in agent meetings and showcases. That last one is a big one. I'm just hoping that if I make enough contact with agents, one will fall in love with me and sign me sooner or later.
The acting studio I'm a part of sets up private appointments where you get to do your scene for an agent, a manager, or a small panel of one of those. In August, I'm definitely going back to Atlanta for their next Atlanta showcase. Remember when I did that back in January? Yeah, that.
So I'm cracking down on my spending. No new summer clothes this year. (Not that I need them, obvi.) Some new art pieces will have to wait. Limiting take-out is a good idea anyway.
What was that potential opportunity you were vague-booking about? Oh yeah, that. So while I was in LA, I applied to a casting listing for the ring announcer for Women of Wrestling. It's like WWE or Glow. Actually, it's even produced by the same people from Glow. Well, they emailed me and asked if I'd be interested in IN-ring performing. Ya know...wrestling. And I was like, HELL YES. Not literally. I responded more professionally than that.
So I attended a training with some of the team. It was hard as shit, and I've never been so sore in my life, but that's what I expected, and it was great. I liked the team. I liked the trainers. I enjoyed getting physical and learning choreography. And it toootally seems like a good direction for #FitForFelicia, right?!
After the practice, I spoke with the woman in charge (I don't know her actual title). She said I picked things up quickly and asked what I thought. I told her I loved it and that it was hard but good. She told me she'd have to talk with their producer when he got back to town, but she thought she could set me up with a gym back in Maryland so I wouldn't have to stay out in LA for training.
It all seemed like the stars were aligning with just the right opportunity for me.
Famous last words, right?
I got an email from her a few days after returning home, a full two weeks since I attended the training. She basically said call us if you ever move to LA. I...was...crushed. I felt lead-on. I felt panicked. Honestly, I still feel kinda panicked. Things just are moving fast enough, and just because this doesn't fit as perfectly into my life as it seemed like it would, does that mean it's not the right opportunity?
Maybe? It's a big move to make for a gig that only pays for the shows. The practices are not paid. Kinda sounds like some theatre bs.
Sooooo I have some thinking to do. Some pontificating, as my boss, Evo, would say. I'm trying desperately to breathe and allow space for the right move, the right answer, to come to me. For now, I'm trying to enjoy being home, focus on the things I have power over, and -
GET HYPED FOR MY PODCAST DROPPING MAY 17TH!
Yes, you officially heard it here first; I and my bestie, Nick Mercer, have been working on a podcast since January! It's called Tabula Rasa, B!tches!: A Buffy Rewatch Show. I was worried it would be just one more thing on my plate, but it's actually been lovely. Nick and I have been like one synchronous mind this whole process, and seeing his lovely face once a week has been a balm for my soul. (Just take the compliment, bitch. I know you're reading this.)
So look forward to the trailer soon and follow my socials for updates.
@Daughterpick on Twitter and Insta, and @futureblackcat on TikTok. Give those a follow, please and thank you. You can also follow the show on all socials at @tabularasabpod.
Last Movie I Watched: The Batman
Currently Bingeing: One Piece