Understudying a British icon


Last week I was asked to understudy Helen Lederer (pictured centre).



If you've never had the absolute JOY, PLEASURE AND LIFE-AFFIRMING YESNESS OF AB FAB IN YOUR LIFE...

...then I'm sorry for you. Get on that shit today. It will change your life.

Helen is a British comedy icon and worked with Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley, as well as Dawn French and Ruby Wax in the female-led genius tv show Absolutely Fabulous.

And I was asked to understudy her last week.

Am I terrified? Yes
Will I be terrified for months? You bet your sweet ass.

Do I think I deserve it? HELL TO THE YES.

I have worked hard.
I have learned a lot.
I have been rejected by directors and producers for most of my life.
I have been put to the bottom of the pack for years.

It's my turn.

And you know what? It's your turn too, my klein aspoestertjie.

If you have been working your face off...
Being told no...
Being told you can't...
Being told you're not good enough, right enough, smart enough, experienced enough...

You take that messaging and you own what you do with it.

Here's the thing about running a business.

You are going to be rejected.
You are going to be told no.

You have to take that disappointment, anger, upset, low self-esteem and say "No one gets to tell me what I can and cannot do with my life. No one."

Okay? Okay.

So, that thing that's making you nervous...

That thing you're dreading...

That thing that you think you can't do...

You can 100% do it.

Here's some truth on crack:

All the shows I've auditioned for and NOT been cast in...
ie failed...
ie been rejected...
ie told I'm not good enough...

The Sound of Music
My Fair Lady
Grease
Phantom of the Opera
We Will Rock You
Rent
Jersey Boys
Kinky Boots
Phantom of the Opera
Cats
Cats
Cats
Cats
42nd Street
Wicked
Cats


The shows I have been cast in:
Funny Girl (the lead)
Avenue Q (the lead)
Shrek the Musical
Mamma Mia
Heathers
Come From Away
Fawlty Towers


Two lessons from this:

1. When you see the success of someone you admire, remember they have failed. A lot. You just haven't seen it.

2. We are all so frightened of being rejected, because we've been rejected before and it stings. I've been rejected far more times than I've been accepted. But the more we expose ourselves to it, the easier it gets. Like exercising a muscle. And then we can start to flex that muscle and use it to our advantage. And then BOOM. The work's a game.

So, do your hair and make-up, get into costume, and keep auditioning. It'll come. I promise.

But, here's the kicker.

Mindset is not enough.

Belief is not enough.

Manifesting...you got it. Not enough. This is not a chapter of The Secret. You are not Deepak Chopra.

Instead, you need tools. Techniques. Exercises.

Things that you can do every single day, before the fear even has a chance to seep in and take over.

It requires commitment.

Strength.

And a little bit of time.

This is what I teach now - and it is one of the most exciting, important things I've ever done with my life.

Because look at what it's done:

If you have strength, commitment, and some time...you have access to magic. Truly.

Have a bloody fantastic weekend, see.

Ash.

Behind the Curtain

Whaddup. I'm a performer (currently in Fawlty Towers in the West End). AND I run a business. Because art and commerce can exist together. Quite successfully, in fact. If you're an audience-facing professional, and you want the tips, tricks and techniques used by theatre performers all over the world, then this is the place for you. This is where you get confident, you get charisma, and you start owning the room in a whole new way. This is Showing Up 2.0. It's a vibe.

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