I actually took this idea of negative encouragement to the next level when I was asked to speak to kids at several schools on Professional's Day. I was, I'm sure, supposed to go in there and wax lyrical about the acting profession, and instead, I told them all the things that made it one of the most frustrating, difficult, and unrewarding careers imaginable if one doesn't possess the following-Luck, Connections, and Talent-and in that order.I told them that only 1 percent of the people in the profession can actually make a living at it, and that they'd better get used to the word "no" coming their way with relentless frequency. I told them it was hard work, and often controlled by people who were ego-driven rather than creative minds...I told them it was easier and made more sense to consider acting on an amateur level with their local community theatre, and get a degree in something that would assure them financial security all their lives.

I went on in this fashion for the entire talk, and finally, as I watched their faces...some becoming disillusioned, some becoming confused, and some growing in determination-I ended by saying "And if after all of this information, you STILL know in you heart that you want to be an actor/actress because you HAVE to be...then you just MIGHT be the one person in this room to make it!

I think it had the desired effect...xx..e