An Insight.

So, I am a struggling actor. Well, not really struggling. One cannot struggle when one is not even an actor at the present time. I am an out of work actor. Seriously, that is my profession. It kinda sucks. I am starting this blog to try to make sense of where I want to go. Literally, spiritually, emotionally, yada yada yada. And also because I spend a lot of time thinking up ideas about new things that I want to do, and never actually end up doing them. I enjoy writing, and yet haven't got round to setting up a blog until now. I moved to London over two years ago to pursue my acting career, and aside from one commercial (a blink and you'll miss me moment), three unpaid plays and a whole lot of money wasted on rent, I haven't actually achieved that much.


Last week at work - a truly heinous job that I kept at because of its 'flexibility for out-of-work actors' - I had a minor breakdown. To cut a boring story short, they screwed me over, I cried, and then I left. With hindsight this is probably the best thing that could have happened. I realised that I've just been coasting along hoping that something is going to come up, but I haven't actually been doing anything that I really love, mainly because I have been worrying about my unfortunate financial situation.


Therefore, as of today I am going to try not to worry so much about money, and am going to do more of the things I love. And I'm going to document it.


I love to paint. My masterpieces are never going to win the Turner Prize, but I enjoy them, and feel that I can create some kind of harmony within the colours. It calms me. I've decided to set up a website so the general public can see them, and conduct an experiment of sorts. I'm going to set up PayPal on the site, with a basic rate of the paintings at £20; this covers costs of materials and approximately £3 a hour for my time. Now, the premise of the 'experiment' part is this; Pay What You Think It's Worth. If someone thinks a painting is worth £30, or £50, or even £100 (that would be awesome), then that's what they pay. Currently my thoughts are that most people will pay the least they possibly can, but hey, maybe the public will surprise me. I plan to keep the world posted on any developments in this area. Worst case scenario, no one buys them, but I still get to paint. Nothing to lose!


To conclude for today, this is something of a new beginning for me. As William Shakespeare writes in 'As You Like It';


All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances,
And one man in his time plays many parts,
His acts being seven ages.


Cliched? Perhaps. Screw it, this is my new part.