Learn to Balance Your Life as an Actor or Forget Bollywood

Are you balancing your life as an actor as Ajay Devgan and looking HOT?

The key to a successful acting career is finding the right balance in your life.

The yoga which I have practiced over the years, has constantly reminded me that balance in life is essential. And I’m not just talking about one-legged poses where the slightest shift can send you crashing to the floor. It’s also important that both sides of your body are equally strong and limber. They need to be balanced.
 
This basic lesson applies to all aspects of our lives and especially is a crucial success factor for an actor.  So let’s understand how as an actor you can find the right balance in your life as an actor to be a Bollywood Star.

First, I want you to get a piece of paper and a pen. Draw three columns with the following titles at the top: Skill, Career, and Personal Life.

These are the three parts of your life that must be in balance if you’re going to be successful.

Format for balancing actor's life

Now you need to do some honest writing.

Let’s start with 

1. Skill 

This is  another word for Talent. What are you doing to be the best possible actor that you can be? If you’re currently in an acting class or you have a private acting coach, or have both (wise aspiring actors do this), write down the name and type, how long you’ve been studying with that tutor or class. Is it a time for a change? Have you learned to become a camera smart actor? Or techniques of how to give a great audition?

What else are you doing? One of my younger students gets together with a group of like-minded actors every week to practice putting themselves on tape. Are you doing something like that? Good. Write it down.

Do you go out of your way to watch others act? For example, maybe you see a theatre play every week or watch some good films NOT as a viewer, but as a learner, hoping to learn from the performances. If that’s the case, write it down.
Are you starting to get the picture?

2. Career 

What have you been doing to advance your career? Is your circle of contacts swelling? Are you trying to contact casting directors, visiting production houses or TV channels, interacting with co actors to find out about auditions being held or casting being done for serials and making an all out efforts to meet.
Do you analyze every audition, you give and identify your strengths and weaknesses? Think and write down.
Do you have a detailed list of every industry professional you’ve ever met? Have you noted under what circumstances you met, and have you stayed in touch with them about advances in your career? That’s excellent. Write it down.
Are you tracking the casting directors of specific projects you’re right for? Have you made an effort to attend events that allow you to network? Do you have an outstanding website? Write it all down.


And finally, let’s discuss your 

3. Personal Life

This is the one category that actors tend to ignore. They argue that life can wait. Career comes first. This is nonsense. If acting is based on life experience, how can you be a great actor when you have no life?

Make a list of everything you do that has nothing to do with acting. Do you sing or dance and a member of any association? Are you an avid reader? Do you love to paint? Do you like to explore your city? Are you into photography?

Your physical and mental states also have a huge effect on your ability to perform. Are you in shape? Are you HOT? Do you eat well? Are there people in your life who listen when you need to talk?
And let’s not forget about the money. It’s hard to focus on an audition when you’re worried about the rent you have to pay as a paying guest in Andheri. Or, the loan you have to repay, which you borrowed from your room partner. So do you have a system that protects you from financial despair?

Do you have a part time income from some job? Are you smart about how you spend your money?

Write it all down.

Now pour yourself a cup of coffee and take a long look at that list. Is it in balance? Are there areas that need more attention? The answers should be obvious.

Finding balance for an actor is more than a career goal. It’s a way of life.