Upon graduation I really gave a listen to my heart. Throughout college as a Communication Management and Design major I was intending on pursuing event planning. That is why I interned with a wedding planner last summer. I'm still very interested in event planning and pursuing that is still the plan..or part of the plan. After Semester at Sea and senior year I started to realize that singing and acting is a passion of mine that I cannot ignore and that even if it may be impractical to sing and act in anything other than a hobby, finding careers that involve performing should maybe be something I should at least try..as a 22 year old who has nothing to lose and no strings attached anywhere. Senior year I decided I wanted to work on a cruise ship-ideally performing (musical theater) or working in some way (with events or kids or something)...I loved the shiplife on Semester at Sea and I love traveling so this just seemed like a perfect career for a couple years or so. I auditioned for Cinderella on a Disney Cruise ship in NYC in July. The owner of Semester at Sea asked me to sing for her and her friends once she found out I was auditioning. When she asked me, I realized "this is what I need to get the nerves out for my 15-second audition." So I sang my audition song for them right on the patio outside of Mahogany Grill and it went well. She then had me sing for more friends occasionally spontaneously in the middle of the restaurant. It was really a blessing because I noticed such a difference when I auditioned-the nerves were minimal. I was kind of waiting around in Ithaca-really enjoying the summer, living in the moment, not thinking about the future too much-only having the cruise ship idea. I found out it can take a while to get on a cruise ship...especially as a performer (very competitive).
Mid July I was hostessing and I sat a gentlemen and a couple of his friends. I found out this gentlemen was a huge movie producer (produced Texas Chainsaw Massacre 3D, Dumb and Dumberer, Jaws 3 and more). We got chatting for a while, and he asked about me, my passions. I told him I love to sing and act...I ended up singing for him right in the restaurant. He wrote down his contact info immediately and PREACHED to me about how I MUST move to LA. He has an acting coach friend who's on of the best and he can hook me up with him, and I'll regret it if I don't go for it. I just must move to LA and just try.....This really caught me off guard. He was so adamant about it. Why was he so adamant about it? He must know what he's talking about! This is crazy! He was like, "We will keep in touch. I'll see you in LA."
I liked LA but I didn't really feel a pull out there, so I didn't think I was going to go back there..until this. Because the producer, Carl, was SO adamant about it..I couldn't ignore it. I've had these "godwinks" "signs from God" whatever you want to call them before..and it sure seemed like this was God. I had signs leading up to this, like I was finally able to get in an acting class my last semester at Ithaca and I loved it more than any class I've ever taken. The professor took me aside on the last day and said I could audition alongside the Acting majors if I wanted to. When she told me that I was like, "Well what am I supposed to do with my life now?!"
I called the wedding planner, Theresa, who I interned with last summer and was very close to. She was like "Kat you have to go for it! Also...I would love to have you work for me, part time starting out!!" Within just 2 days, this new idea about moving to LA was starting to really make sense. I also have a lot of friends out there (from Ithaca College) including one of my best friends, Manda and her fiancee. I prayed about it a lot, my parents were very supportive (really liked the idea of having a job with Theresa) and nothing led me astray from the idea. It seemed to make more and more sense. I realized that I 100% would regret it if I didn't go for it-take advantage of this wonderful opportunity I had, and ignored this door that God opened for me.
So here I am, a few months later. Sitting at home in Andes, about to hop in my jampacked car and head for California! Things have fallen into place. The producer kept in contact with me like he promised, hooked me up with the acting coach. I'm going to start classes once I get there in 2 weeks. The producer, Carl was in Ithaca for a week a couple weeks ago we met up and it went wonderfully. I'm going to work for Theresa part time and find another part time job when I get out there. I have a roommate! She's my Semester at Sea's friend and she is from San Francisco, recently moved to LA. We don't have an apartment yet but we've sent in applications and shes looked at a couple places.
I've wanted to roadtrip across country so much after since Semester at Sea. I had 5 roadtrip buddies back out on me and I was so devastated. I thought going across country by myself was not an option and that it would be too long and lonely...when the last roadtrip buddy backed out on me a couple weeks ago I toyed around with the idea of going alone-mostly because I had my heart set on it and I didn't want to just fly out at this point. I thought about it and prayed about it and I really believe God wants me to do this alone. I always avoid alone time. I seek being around people constantly. It is important though to have alone time..and I really need to focus on myself and time with God now more than never, as I'm beginning this new chapter in a city that can be dark, have temptations, and so so many pressures as a girl around the acting scene especially.
I've totally embraced going alone. I got Catching fire on book on tape, a bunch of podcasts, Reality LA sermons, and 600 new songs thanks to Spotify Premium. :) And now for the most exciting part of this trip: I am visiting SO many amazing friends, some of which I haven't seen in years! Having one-on-one time with them will just be incredible...and the best. I'm taking my time-2 weeks! I'm going out of the way and going through Texas because I'm dying to see Austin, where I honestly think I may move to someday. This is my itinerary:
Tues Nov 7 (TODAY): Andes-> Penn State to visit Mere!
Nov 8- Penn State -> Harrisburg to visit Hilary! Julianne is coming up friday night too!
Nov 10-Harrisburg -> Baltimore area to visit Semester at Sea friends Mica and Grace
Nov 11- Baltimore -> Leesburg to visit my cousins
Nov 12 - Leesburg -> Elon University in North Carolina to visit Brooke!
Nov 13 - Elon -> Nashville to visit Andrea and cousin
Nov 14 - Nashville -> Atlanta, Georgia to visit nice folks I met at Mahogany Grill! :)
Nov 15 - Atlanta -> New Orelans...not sure who to meet up with there yet!
Nov 16 - New Orleans -> near Houston to visit Eleni (SAS friend)
Nov 17 - Austin to visit Dia
Nov 18 - Austin -> Dallas visiting Delaney
Nov 19 - Dallas -> Oklahoma City...where my Dad is flying to ride with me the rest of the way for company and an adventure :)
Nov 20 - > Oklahoma city -> Albuquerque/Santa Fe
Nov 21 -> New Mexico -> Flagstaff
Nov 22 -> arrive in Los Angeles!
I'll be documenting my travels on this blog! I'm exciting to see new sights, meet new people, and really discover myself-as many people tell me I will on this trip!
Time to hit the road-first stop: State College!
No comments:
Post a Comment