We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Bethany Lauren James. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Bethany Lauren below.
Bethany Lauren, appreciate you joining us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?
Well, I was in my early twenties and on tour with Max and Ruby, a children’s musical based on the Nickelodeon TV show. I was paying my bills entirely from musical theater, which was supposed to be The Dream, right? I mean, it’s what I had spent years of my life working for. I had even received my Equity card by this time (the equivalent of SAG for stage performers), and casting directors in NYC were starting to know who I was. I was achieving the goals I’d always talked about. Thing was, at that time, I wasn’t very happy. I loved performing in musicals, but I was much more excited by gritty shows on television -like Breaking Bad or The Killing- than I was about the string of children’s musicals I was booking. I realized I wanted to do television, but I didn’t have any on-camera craft. You have to understand, at that time, there wasn’t Zoom- if you were a working theater actor, you were consistently leaving the city: on tour and doing regional work, and you weren’t able to just stop and go to a New York studio -or any studio- for the time that it takes to really develop a new skill. You weren’t in one place long enough. I realized if I wanted to try on-camera, I’d have to quit what I was doing. For as long as it took to grow new skills. But then how would I pay my bills? Was I really willing to risk leaving what I knew was working financially, for the potential of satisfying a ‘gut feeling?’ Plus I felt like I’d be letting people down. My parents who’d invested so much in a singing career with me. My social network which existed almost exclusively in the musical theater world at that time. And even myself, you know? Because they say to “capitalize on your momentum,” not to run from it. And “They” seem to know a lot- after all, momentum is hard to build. “Use it” is the popular wisdom. I started to think I was a bit nuts, “Am I sabotaging myself?” “Shouldn’t I just keep going?” But then one day, between jobs in the city, I saw an email for an on-camera class, and I just signed up. After all, it was only one class. I would just see. And the teacher there was so kind, and easy-going, and worked with theater actors who wanted to transition into on-camera work. And I felt it in my gut. It was my honesty: this was me right now. I feel like there are times in your life when something just drops in, and the extra noise that buzzes around your head, keeping you in the same place, it just doesn’t hold quite the same power. And that happened then. I just let go. And I didn’t really tell anyone- I just slowly started defining myself differently by the actions I took. I knew I needed a steady job to stay in the city for awhile, and so I got a job at an Olive Garden in Times Square through a friend. And this is my truth: I left a small but lucrative musical theater career for Unlimited Soup, Salad, and Breadsticks, and an acting class. And not for a few months. For a few years. Because craft takes time. Nothing goes from “plant” to “harvest”– you need time to cultivate. And in that time, other things came to me. I created an accountability group from a fantastic new group of friends I found. I enrolled in marketing classes as they related to acting. Why? I followed my honesty. I continued to gut check myself- what do I think I need? What do I want? How do I want to grow? What feels like me? And after two years, I felt ready to put myself out there again. And though I didn’t have any on-camera credits, I got representation. I did this simply through getting my craft in shape, getting my marketing materials together, writing emails, and having coffees. No magic pill. Just showing up for myself. Planning tasks, and finding the accountability I needed to see them through- and then doing it again. And the first thing I booked from my new representative was a lead in an indie film opposite Erika Christensen, who I watched for years on Parenthood on ABC. It was eye-opening. That original risk led to me being on tv shows on CBS, Hulu, NBC, HBO, Amazon Prime, among others, and to work in voice overs, plays, and yes, musicals again! I pursue the work I really want to do in whatever medium now because I engage with my honesty and do what interests me. And if I need to change course, I do so. I have now written or co-written four tv pilots, one of which we’re in talks with an actress I love about potentially Executive Producing, and it’s a combination of both music and television- my first love and my second. Who knows where it all goes? But I can continue to show up fully engaged. Because that original risk taught me that I continuously define identity; my identity doesn’t define me.
Bethany Lauren, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
Sure! Nearly ten years ago, I founded the Actors Forum NYC (www.actorsforumnyc.com), where we strive to help artists achieve their career goals in a supportive and inspiring community. Originally it was business and accountability coaching for actors mostly. But as I grew to write spec scripts for tv and film, and I took pitching classes with development executives at the School of the Visual Arts, my client base expanded to include writers, directors, and producers as well. With Actors Forum, I love helping fellow artists because I am one! As artists, we are small business owners, and it can be REALLY hard to make time for yourself and to hold yourself accountable because it’s JUST YOU. I totally get it. I enjoy creating personalized systems for productivity and accountability so much because I love helping people achieve their potential. Truly. So when I found myself talking to a military veteran who wanted help transitioning to civilian life, I accepted their request for coaching. They either wanted to get into a reputable college program, or nail an interview to land a job, and I said, “Honestly, I’m not sure I can help you. But I’m going to try.” And they not only got into the top three business programs in the country, but they received a job offer within that time as well. I was jazzed about their personal success, and I practically ran to apply for an Executive Leadership and Business Coaching Certificate program through IPEC to expand my toolbox. Now, I offer executive business tools, for-scale, to artists through Actors Forum. In addition, I offer certified Personal Development and Transition Coaching through www.
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.
Yes totally. Sometimes non-creatives will ask the question, “Oh you’re an actor? Have I seen you in anything?” or “Oh you’re a musician? Are you playing anywhere?” or “Oh you’re an artist? Have I seen your stuff?” Probably not, if you’re asking. And that leaves me feeling kind of, less-than. Like my career has let us both down just now, which doesn’t feel great. And honestly, we may have done lots of cool stuff you might not recognize! My advice? Try altering your question to be open-ended, and to ask something in the vein of, “What work have you done that you are most proud of?” or “What are you most excited about right now?” This allows us to share more about ourselves, and you may hear names of tv shows you don’t know, or art gallery exhibitions that we’re proud of. Or you may hear other cool facts like we’re in a class we absolutely love with Leonardo DiCaprio’s acting coach, or that we just signed with a new agent, or we just recorded an EP! You’ll get more information, and you don’t risk inadvertently making us feel like we’re not valid or good enough because we haven’t worked in the sphere of what’s familiar to you. You’re more likely to set us up to connect, and hey! Who knows! Maybe you did catch us on last week’s episode of The Blacklist…
Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?
As a working artist and business coach, I really recommend The Slight Edge by Jeff Olson. This book is one stop shopping for breaking down exactly how and why small actions equal big results, and for making a plan to engineer change in your own life. Essentially, the things that give you a Slight Edge personally or professionally are both easy to do but just as easy NOT to do. And they add up over time, equaling success or failure. So it’s a helpful examination in your own life or business, I often reference this book while coaching my clients. Another great read is Atomic Habits by James Clear. This book is a really engaging read, and it breaks down exactly WHY habits are so dang hard to build -and he offers fantastic tools you can leverage to build them anyway. (Even when it’s hard!) I love the section on using your environment to cue you. Whatever you’re trying to achieve, think about one simple thing to adjust in your home environment that will cue you to a better habit. I bet you can think of something right now even- a thing you’ve been pushing off because it’s relatively low-priority, but honestly it would make your life easier, more efficient, or promote one healthier habit. Just do it. Start with small (aka atomic) habit change. Break it way way down. Do the next tiny step tomorrow. Something so little it looks like nothing. But little things, over time, grow. Happy Reading!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.actorsforumnyc.com / www.blcoachingsolutions.com
- Instagram: @actorsforumnyc / @bethanylaurenjames
- Linkedin: Bethany James
- Other: [email protected]
Image Credits
Brian Parillo, Ben Esner