Being an actor is a very time consuming profession, being an actor who also works full time to support her developing career whilst trying to keep up with a blossoming social life is even more so! But I really can’t complain!
So, the last week has been a pretty fun packed and exciting week, and I thought I’d let you in on it.
Acting
As I’ve mentioned, I am a professionally trained actor, I have been graduated for a year and in that time I’ve been trying to take the steps to start carving out a career. Thus far it has been a slow and steady process filled with highs and lows (trust me!). In the last month or so, things have seemed to be improving somewhat and I’m getting more and more opportunities – HURRAH! And so! On Wednesday I had the pleasure to film a short web commercial – I shan’t say for what as I’m not sure I’m allowed, but it was brilliant fun and I lap up any opportunity I get to learn more about the industry and to network with fellow industry professionals. I didn’t have to audition for the role which is surprising, and a testament to all the hard work I’ve been putting in to develop my CV and ‘image’ over the last year, so I was fairly chuffed with that! Soon, I will write a blog post about the acting side of my life. To make sure I could get there on time I travelled down to London on Tuesday night and stayed with one of my friends. Not only am I thankful to having a friend like that who will let me bunk up at the last minute, but I am thankful to my glorious iPad for keeping me entertained on the journey. Who said “Diamonds are a girls best friend”, eh?
Here’s me being a brooding actor!
This week I was lucky enough to get another audition! However, I did require me to get up at 5.25 AM. Yes!! You heard correctly! 5.25 AM! On a Saturday! I hopped on another train down to London for a 9 AM audition in Covent Garden. “Why so early?” you ask? Because I double booked myself and had to be in Ipswich at lunch time to go to East Coast Live with one of my besties! I love the piece I auditioned for on Saturday, so any positive vibes you want to send across will be greatly received!
East Coast Live
Saturday lunchtime I met my friend in Ipswich and we went to the East Coast Live festival. We managed to get 2 tickets for £20 each on Groupon (by the time we’d paid for booking fees etc) so it was an absolute bargain. We’re both camping at Sundown Festival this year (buzzing!) so it seemed like a good warm, and we’re always looking for fun things to do!
Although it was absolutely hammering down when we met, the rain died off when we got there and it only spat occasionally for the rest of the day. Luckily my friend lent me a spare parka jacket she had which saved my day!
Rocking my friend’s parka
Who Played?
Rixton, Neon Jungle, Union J, The Vamps, Katy B, The Saturdays, Jason Derulo, Rizzle Kicks, and Jessie J. I think there was an act before Rixton but I missed them!
What we ate
There was lots of typical festival food there, in fact, so much choice we couldn’t decide. I ended up going for a Hot Dog, whilst Natalie had a Burger – my Hot Dog was delicious but it was a struggle to eat it without making an absolute mess! Later we treated ourselves to a 99 with a Flake… they’re certainly not 99p anymore… £2.80!
A beautiful sunset in Ipswich
The Performances
Surprisingly, everyone was pretty good . Neon Jungle started a bit shaky but they soon warmed up, they were fairly early on and my friend and I were enviously eyeing up their hair! The Saturdays, although good live singers, looked very bored. I really couldn’t work that one out but it looked like they had had a barny before they went on stage.
Jason Derulo was FANTASTIC. No, no, not just because of how hot he and his handful of dancer’s looked, but because of the entire spectacle of it. The music was brilliant, complete with a DJ, but the real highlight was the full scale dances and dance offs – Brilliant! Based on this, if you get the opportunity to see him live, do! I didn’t know what to expect of Jason Derulo and I wasn’t that fussed on seeing him, but I’m so glad I did.
Hot naked men… I mean, Jason Deruloooo!
This is the second time I’ve seen Jessie J, the first time was at Sundown last year, and she is just brilliant every time! Her vocals are faultless and she’s a real crowd pleaser – something which, although I’m a fan, The Saturdays really lacked! When I saw Jessie J last year she was a bit too inspirational
“Don’t let anyone tell you you can follow your dreams”
And all that. Easy to say when you’ve already made it! Saturday however, she was funny, interacting with the crowd and crew, even bringing on one of her crew to have the audience sing happy birthday to him and presenting him with a cake- I’m not embarrassed to say I had a tear in my eye.
Rizzle Kicks
Other notable performances came from Katy B – seeing her join in with her dancers was a pleasant surprise, but her set was too short for my liking! And Rizzle Kicks – They’ve never blown me away when I’ve seen the perform on TV but they were real entertainers and really fun to watch – at one point Jordan ran away from the security guard, hilarity ensued! Their musicians had little dance routines too which just added to the fun, they get a tick from me!
A very long, but very good day!
The Dogs
Its not often me and my work colleagues go out together socially any more, but when my colleague found a Groupon voucher for tickets to the dogs, plus burger and chips, and a drink, we couldn’t refuse!
I’m not sure what my thoughts are on dog racing. My family have always owned dogs, and the last two dogs we’ve had have not only been rescue dogs but also Lurchers (Greyhound crossed with another breed) so I have strong feelings towards the treatment of dogs and animals in general. Sure, the greyhounds that race look healthy, shiny coats, wagging tails, and even after the race they look like they’ve had fun. But what about when they’re too old to race? Thankfully, I know that Yarmouth Greyhound Race’s do have a re-homing scheme.
What we ate
A very grey looking burger and chips!
What I wore
We went straight from work on Monday, so I had to wear something that would transfer from day tonight. I went for a bit of colour blocking in this grey H & M crop top, a grey H & M skater skirt, this god send blazer from Primark which makes any outfit flattering, and black heels from Topshop (which I got in the sale!) – who say’s you cant look good on the cheap!
Grey doesn’t have to be dull!
The Night
Due to my averseness to dog racing (despite having been before), it was actually a good night, and it gave us an opportunity as colleagues to have a laugh and a chat about things other than work. There were £13 races and bet a pound on each, and won £14! But then I put my pound up on a hit or bust and lost it… so I came out even.
Here we all are enjoying the last of the evening sun
So that was my somewhat busy week, and theres more to come. Tonight I have my best friends coming round for nachos, pizza, and Orange Is The New Black – none of us have seen it so we thought we’d test the waters. Then I’m in a Gala performance Saturday night, and Sunday in a rehearsal for a Musical Revue next week. PHEW! I’ve had no time to shop, what a disaster… or a help to my bank balance!
Act Fashionably 