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What Creative Season Are You In?

by Mario A. Campanaro

What Creative Season Are You In?

by Mario A. Campanaro

What creative season are you in? For many actors, this may be a time of great opportunity—growth, expansion, success, excitement, and prosperity. But for others, it may be a season marked by disappointment, distraction, disregard, frustration, struggle, or even depression. Whatever your experience, understand this: you are the pilot of your season. You have the power to shape how you move through this time based on how you direct your thoughts and energy. Are you squandering your mental and emotional resources with defeat, overwhelm, jealousy, comparison, competition, stress, helplessness, or laziness? Or are you channeling your focus toward creative opportunities—whether they come from others or are generated by your own vision and drive?

You are not a helpless victim in this industry. (Yes, I can hear the eye-roll, but it’s still true.) You are an active participant—capable of creating a reality that serves you. Your alignment of thoughts, energy, and talent determines how effectively you navigate this business. So, I encourage my students and clients to adopt these six crucial steps to stay empowered through the highs and lows of an unpredictable industry:

1. Maintain your peace. Whether auditions are pouring in or are frustratingly slow, you must stay grounded. Be the oak tree in the storm—not the blade of grass tossed by every gust of wind. Stress robs you of your creative power and limits your potential. Cultivate calm. That calm is your fuel.

2. Do not compare yourself to others. Your only real competition is your internal fear telling you that you’re not capable. You are the president of your own one-of-a-kind corporation. Comparing yourself is a waste of energy and only breeds a false sense of competition. Your essence either resonates with a project, or it doesn’t—and that’s okay. Stay authentic. You are your own instrument. Play it with honesty, pride, and integrity. Who knows—your uniqueness might even shift the entire vision of what a role was originally meant to be.

3. Accountability: Do. The. Work. In the words of Tom Hanks: “I find there are no shortcuts.” Memorizing lines is the bare minimum. You must breathe life into the character. Use your full instrument. Trust your craft. Bring the truth and humanity that gives meaning to every line. Take risks, but don’t underestimate the power of simplicity. Real complexity lies in truthful simplicity.

4. Own the room—whether it’s in-person, Zoom, or self-tape. Never walk into an audition apologetically. You’ve invested time, energy, and often money to be there. You deserve that space. You are worthy. Your time is valuable. If you’re given a note—take it, execute it, and move forward. Don’t carry it like a burden. Auditions don’t always bring immediate results, but every time you show up fully, you’re planting seeds. Own your moment. You are not a dime a dozen. You are you—priceless and irreplaceable.

5. Let it go. Once you’ve left the room or hit “submit” on that self-tape, let it go. If it went great—celebrate. If it didn’t—process, learn, and move on. Do something that brings you joy or resets your energy. Don’t get stuck in the past. The present is overflowing with inspiration and opportunity, but you won’t see it if you’re mentally trapped in what already happened. And maybe—just maybe—it’s not about whether you’re right for the role. Maybe the Universe is auditioning the role to see if it’s right for you.

6. Don’t stop studying. Whether you’re booking consistently or in a dry spell, you must keep training. Get into a class that reflects the standards of the real industry. Surround yourself with actors who share your work ethic. Study as if you already had the job. Kerry Washington said, “If I’m not acting, I’m studying acting.” David Harbour echoed this: “I go to acting class. Still.” Why wouldn’t you want to be the best version of your artistic self? If you're not acting, you should be studying. Period. An actor who stops training is like an athlete who quits working out but still expects to win gold. Use your muscle, or lose it. Auditioning is not the craft—it’s a skill to get access to the work. Once you get the job, you better be ready to do the job. The director isn’t there to teach you. That’s what you’ve been training for.

At the end of the day, if you love acting—really love it—you’ll always find a way to keep going, no matter the season. So align your thoughts. Channel your energy. And make. it. happen.

I’m rooting for you.