Why I‘ll Never Make It
Episodes
Monday May 08, 2023
Monday May 08, 2023
Actors are no strangers to making choices. Every time we step onto the stage or into an audition room, we are faced with decisions to make. What character traits to emphasize? How to relate to others in the scene? Why is this story being told? These choices can make or break a performance or audition.
But the choices that actors make don't end when we leave the stage or audition room. They extend far beyond our professional lives and into our personal responsibilities as well. Actors are constantly juggling the demands of a career with personal priorities, always having to strike a balance between our craft and our private lives. Sometimes, these choices can be incredibly difficult. Actors may be faced with the choice between pursuing our dreams or just making rent, between accepting a big role or spending more time with family, or between living in New York or elsewhere.
Previous guest Michael Kushner loves to use the term multi-hyphenate to illustrate the many ways we can express our creative selves. Well, Corrie Legge describes herself as a multi-passionate actor, having performed in television, film, theater, commercials, video games, audiobooks, and more. She's also a filmmaker and a coach, helping others to build thriving creative careers without having to sacrifice a fulfilling personal life in the process.
Corrie and I spoke earlier this year about a particular struggle she faced that actually led her into work as a voiceover artist, which she now balances with her other role of being a mother. But we start off talking about back-to-back experiences that made her question even pursuing a career in theater altogether.
Timeline of this episode's conversation:
03:26 - Corrie has accomplished a lot with her 10 years in the business
05:41 - Story #1: Back-to-back negative experiences in theater
14:53 - Not taking bad experiences personally
19:14 - Story #2: How an adopted dog led her into voiceover work
29:03 - Letting go of fear in performance and auditions
35:09 - A sample of Corrie's Audition Story available to subscribers
36:26 - Story #3: Balancing motherhood and a career as an artist
41:00 - How parenthood has made her a better actor
Subscribe to WINMI
If you wanna listen to the full conversation (with Audition Stories and the Final Five questions) as well as get early access to every episode, then become a monthly or yearly subscriber to Why I’ll Never Make It. Though producing this podcast is rewarding in its own way, I’m essentially a one-man operation, and it is both costly and time-intensive to put together each episode. So for just $5-10/month you’ll not only support these podcasting efforts, but you’ll also get to access to these extended conversations and other bonus content. Your financial support of this podcast is greatly appreciated:
Subscribe to get early access to episodes and bonus content
Make a one-time Donation to support transcripts and podcast production
If you'd like to support WINMI but have limited funds to do so, then contact me directly for reduced-price or even free access to the bonus content.
Follow WINMI: Website | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube
----------
Why I’ll Never Make It is an award-winning, Top 25 Theater Podcast hosted by actor and singer Patrick Oliver Jones, and it is a production of WINMI Media, LLC. Background music in this episode by John Bartmann and Blue Dot Sessions is used under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Monday Apr 10, 2023
Monday Apr 10, 2023
There was a study that came out the year before the pandemic called “Quantifying and Predicting Success in Show Business.” It starts off by saying that the unemployment rate for actors hovers around 90% —now, this was before Covid, when unemployment shot up to 100% for all actors. More recent statistics, however, show us bouncing back with about 85% of actors unemployed at any given time, while only 12.08% earn more than $1000 a year. Now, any actor who’s been around for a while has probably heard these doomsday numbers before. But if there’s one thing I hope that you’ve gathered from listening to this podcast, is that “making it” can mean many different things, and it can happen in any number of ways. This is why being a multi-hyphenate can be extremely beneficial, not only for us professionally but personally as well.
Michael Kushner is an expert at multi-hyphenating—he's producer, director, podcaster, actor, photographer, and educator. Earlier this year he added author to that list, when he released his first book titled How to Be a Multi-Hyphenate in the Theatre Business. It’s full of conversations, advice, and tips from his wonderful podcast called Dear Multi-Hyphenate. More importantly, though, he’s the partner, and soon to be husband of another former guest of this podcast, Remy Germinario, and so it’s great to bring Michael here to talk about his own career—the challenges he’s faced in figuring out its many paths and what it’s taught him about his own value and worth as an artist.
Timeline of this episode's conversation, including the bonus segments:
03:17 - Michael and Patrick discuss his upcoming marriage
4:26 - Story #1: Almost making his New York City debut
14:07 - Story #2: The long-term effect of Covid on his life and work
20:16 - How Michael juggles all the various jobs he has
29:25 - Story #3: Why people think he's given up acting (even though he hasn't)
36:53 - Creating and producing his own one-man show
43:32 - What led him to write a book about being a multi-hyphenate
49:36 - Bonus Segment: Michael's audition story for 13 the Musical on Broadway
53:49 - Bonus Segment: Michael answering the Final Five questions
Subscribe to WINMI
If you wanna get the full conversations of previous and future episodes (which include Audition Stories and the Final Five questions) as well as get early access to these episodes without pesky promotions, then become a monthly or yearly subscriber to Why I’ll Never Make It. Though producing this podcast is rewarding in its own way, I’m essentially a one-man operation, and it is both costly and time-intensive to put together each episode. So for just $5-10/month you’ll not only support these podcasting efforts, but you’ll also get to access to these extended conversations and other bonus content. Your financial support of this podcast is greatly appreciated:
Subscribe as a WINMI Producer to get early access and bonus content
Make a one-time Donation to support transcripts and podcast production
If you'd like to support, but have limited funds to do so, then contact me directly for easier access to the bonus content.
Follow WINMI: Website | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube
----------
Why I’ll Never Make It is an award-winning, Top 25 Theater Podcast hosted by Off-Broadway actor and singer Patrick Oliver Jones, and it is a production of WINMI Media, LLC. Background music in this episode by John Bartmann and Blue Dot Sessions is used under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Monday Mar 27, 2023
Monday Mar 27, 2023
Recently, I went googling for articles about downsizing and simplifying my life, and I found this one called Simple Living Manifesto, which sounded great. But then the title of the blog post was “72 Ideas to Simplify Your Life“ — who has time for 72 ideas?? That doesn’t sound simple to me. But in all fairness, the writer did give a short list before going into that very long list of ideas. And on the shortlist, they were only two steps: 1) identify what’s most important to you and 2) eliminate everything else.
But figuring out what’s important to us, can sometimes be a little difficult, and today’s guest is an actress and acting teacher, who has spent her career figuring out ways to simplify the way we actors move and interact on stage, and how we use our energy in performance.
Jocelyn Jones has been an in-demand acting teacher for over thirty years. From A-list movie stars to hand-picked beginners, and she is here with us today offering insights that can enhance our confidence, guide us in own unique perspective, and leave us with some inspirational nuggets of wisdom. She’ll also be sharing insights from her most recent bestselling book Artist: Awakening the Spirit Within, which provides a blueprint for awakening and connecting to the spirit within each of us. And this is useful for all individuals, whether you’re in the arts or not. Because, as Jocelyn believes, each of us has artistry and creativity within us that should be respected and cared for.
Timeline of this episode's conversation:
03:50 - Jocelyn's transition from acting into teaching
08:11 - Story #1: Overcoming loneliness and connecting with nature as a child
17:32 - Can anyone be a good actor?
25:46 - Story #2: Discovering her own way of learning as the result of dyslexia
39:25 - How to become a subscriber and stop listening to these promos :)
40:54 - Story #3: Overcoming age stereotypes by producing work in her 70's
Subscribe to WINMI
If you wanna listen to the full conversation (with Audition Stories and the Final Five questions) as well as get early access to every episode, then become a monthly or yearly subscriber to Why I’ll Never Make It. Though producing this podcast is rewarding in its own way, I’m essentially a one-man operation, and it is both costly and time-intensive to put together each episode. So for just $5-10/month you’ll not only support these podcasting efforts, but you’ll also get to access to these extended conversations and other bonus content. Your financial support of this podcast is greatly appreciated:
Subscribe to get early access to episodes and bonus content
Make a one-time Donation to support transcripts and podcast production
If subscribing isn't possible for you, then please contact me directly for reduced-price or even free access to the bonus content.
Follow WINMI: Website | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube
----------
Why I’ll Never Make It is an award-winning, Top 25 Theater Podcast hosted by actor and singer Patrick Oliver Jones, and it is a production of WINMI Media, LLC. Background music in this episode by John Bartmann and Blue Dot Sessions is used under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Monday Jan 30, 2023
Monday Jan 30, 2023
Welcome to Season 7!
One of the joys that can come from being an actor, besides getting to perform on stage, and feeling the energy of a live audience, is that of working with other wonderful actors and collaborating on stage as well as building friendships off stage. Throughout the past six seasons, I’ve had the pleasure of bringing on some of these wonderful castmates, and not only share with you their stories, but I to get to learn a little more about them as well.
This past year I was cast in my second production of 42nd Street, this time at the Goodspeed Opera House in Connecticut. You heard from Kate Baldwin last season, and so for this first episode of the season, I wanted to bring on another wonderful performer from that production.
Blake Stadnik is probably most well known for his role as Jack Damon in NBC’s This Is Us, but he’s actually been performing since his childhood thanks to his mother, who introduced him to dancing and performing after he lost the majority of his eyesight due to Stargardt’s Disease. He went on, though, to get his BFA in musical theater from Penn State University.
In our conversation, Blake will talk more about this disease and how it’s impacted his life on and off stage. We’ll also discuss the responsibilities of being an actor, and how Blake has had to remind himself at times why he is a performer. Lastly, he shares the tragic events that led to his father’s passing, the impact of that loss, and the ways in which he carries on his father’s legacy.
Timeline of this episode's conversation:
03:12 - Blake and Patrick discuss 42nd Street at Goodpseed
06:54 - How Blake dances with Stargardt's Disease
13:53 - Story #1: Not getting cast because of his disability
19:47 - The limits others place on Blake vs. those he places on himself
33:11 - Story #2: Blake's internal struggle with selfishness for being an actor
38:55 - Story #3: Losing his father just as he was about to start This Is Us
49:23 - Missing his father and carrying on his legacy
Subscribe to WINMI
If you wanna listen to our full conversation (with Audition Stories and the Final Five questions) as well as get episodes a week early from now on, then become a monthly or yearly subscriber to Why I’ll Never Make It. Though producing this podcast is rewarding in its own way, I’m essentially a one-man operation, and it is both costly and time-intensive to put together each episode. So for just $5-10/month you’ll not only support these podcasting efforts, but you’ll also get to access to these extended conversations and other bonus content. Your financial support of this podcast is greatly appreciated:
Subscribe as a WINMI Producer to get early access and bonus content
Make a one-time Donation to support transcripts and podcast production
If you'd like to support, but have limited funds to do so, then contact me directly for access to the bonus content.
Follow WINMI: Website | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube
----------
Why I’ll Never Make It is an award-winning, Top 25 Theater Podcast hosted by Off-Broadway actor and singer Patrick Oliver Jones, and it is a production of WINMI Media, LLC. Background music in this episode by John Bartmann and Blue Dot Sessions is used under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Monday Jan 23, 2023
Monday Jan 23, 2023
Welcome to Season Seven of Why I’ll Never Make It, an award-winning theater podcast. After a few weeks off, I’m so excited to be back for another year of great guests and wonderful discussions. Some of these artists are just getting started in the business, while others are Tony-nominated actors and directors.
I’m your host and producer, Patrick Oliver Jones, an actor and singer living in New York City with more than 30 years of experience. This season I’ll be talking with guests every other week as they share meaningful stories and experiences that have affected them and their careers. The defining moments uncover personal setbacks as well as professional failures.
As always your support of this podcast is both needed and appreciated. One of my ongoing efforts is to transcribe each episode for more accessibility to deaf and hard of hearing artists. But that takes time and money, something in short supply as a one-man production team, so please consider a one-time donation or monthly subscription:
Donors will get a shoutout on the podcast.
Subscribers get the added benefit of bonus content as well as early access to every episode.
Subscriber episodes include the full interview along with Audition Stories and the Final Five questions.
So as you can see there’s a lot to look forward to in 2023! Join me on Mondays every other week for engaging stories and candid conversations as we talk more about Why I’ll Never Make It.
Follow WINMI: Website | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube
Monday Jan 16, 2023
Monday Jan 16, 2023
Each of us has an inner voice that can be very loud and persuasive. Hopefully, it’s pushing us to do better and reminding us of all we can accomplish. But sometimes it leads us to believe that the theater industry is too hard and constantly tells us we’re not good enough or don’t deserve an amazing acting career.
With an inner critic like that it’s gonna be really difficult to motivate ourselves to keep going, to go to that next audition. The very title of this podcast is an example of the ways in which we can stifle our own potential. Yes, training and talent are certainly important too, but it’s our mindset that is the key to using our training and talent to their fullest extent.
So as we start off this new year, I’m continuing where we left off last week with Brooke McNamara by talking with another psychologist, Alisa Hurwitz. In this episode from 2020, we dive into why mindset is so important, and how we actors can better handle rejection and the challenges we face in this business.
Support this podcast in one of two ways:
Subscribe to WINMI and get Bonus Episodes
Make a one-time Donation to the podcast
Timeline of this episode's conversation:
04:25 - Setting Realistic and Aspirational Goals
15:59 - Defining Success as an Actor
20:17 - The Peter Principle
24:45 - Comparing Ourselves to Others
27:03 - Our Performance Onstage and Online
32:51 - Strategies of How to Push Forward in Life and Career
35:43 - The (Not-So) Secret of Positive Thinking
Her moniker Dr. Drama comes from her many analytical interviews, discussions, and articles on theater, specifically her lifelong passion for musical theater. She’s even consulted on regional and off Broadway productions on elements related to psychological concepts and mental health issues. So she is the perfect person to help us face some of the realities of this make-believe world of theater, a profession that can bring us tremendous joy but also disappointment and frustration.
Follow Alisa: Website / Instagram / Twitter
Follow WINMI: Instagram / Twitter / Website
Monday Jan 09, 2023
Monday Jan 09, 2023
Happy New Year! Thank you for listening to Why I’ll Never Make It!
The next season is just a few weeks away and I wanted to start off the year by going back to conversations I had to with two psychologists in 2020. I think their insights are a good reminder for us as we continue to grow and better ourselves as artists.
The first one you’ll hear from is Brooke MacNamara, Ph.D. We talk about the amount of training, coaching, and practice it takes to continually hone our craft as performers. One often talked about strategy is called the 10,000 Hours Rule, popularized by Malcolm Gladwell, who you’ll also be hearing from throughout this discussion. But Dr. MacNamara, has done research that shows the importance of quality over quantity.
In his 2008 book Outliers: The Story of Success, Gladwell proposes this 10,000 Hours Rule based on a study of violinists conducted by psychologist Anders Ericcson. And the rule is pretty simple: mastery comes after someone practices one skill, like playing the violin, and according to Gladwell “10,000 hours is the magic number of greatness.” This rewind episode focuses on this rule, its implications, and how or if it can even be applied to us as artists.
Subscribe to WINMI and get Bonus Episodes
Make a one-time Donation to the podcast
----------
Why I’ll Never Make It is an award-winning, Top 25 Theater Podcast hosted by Off-Broadway actor and singer Patrick Oliver Jones, and it is a production of WINMI Media. Background music in this episode by John Bartmann and Blue Dot Sessions is used under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Follow WINMI: Website | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube
Wednesday Dec 28, 2022
Wednesday Dec 28, 2022
Happy birthday and thank you for joining me as Why I’ll Never Make It turns 5 years old today! It was on December 28, 2017 that this theater podcast began from very humble beginnings and has slowly gained attention and even some accolades in the past five years of talking with actors and creative professionals.
There’s a certain kind of magic in the art of theatre, as the Tony award-winning actor Brian Stokes Mitchell once said, ”It has the power to transform an audience, an individual, or en masse, to transform them and give them an epiphanic experience that changes their life, opens their hearts and their minds and the way they think.” The same can be said of podcasting as well.
Why I’ll Never Make It strives to engage and enlighten with every episode as I have insightful and meaningful conversations with artists who truly share from the heart about their own experiences and challenges in this industry. And in this anniversary episode I’ll be sharing some of those former guests of the past year as well as provide an overview for what this podcast has accomplished in 2022.
Please consider a monthly subscription to bonus episodes OR a one-time donation, which will help offset the cost of producing this podcast. Whichever way you choose to contribute, your support is so very much appreciated!
Guests mentioned and featured in this retrospective episode...
Matt Vinson and Matte O'Brien - writers of Anne of Green Gables
Kate Baldwin - Tony-nominated actress
Barton Cowperthwaite - dancer and actor on stage and screen
Elizabeth Swain - acting teacher and Broadway actress
Steven Warner - former child actor and professional ice skater
Brian Patacca - podcaster and life coach for actors
Briana Packen - actress and movement coach
Al Blackstone - Emmy-winning director and choreographer
Judy Tenuta - award-winning comedian
Muriel Miguel - Artistic Director of Native American Spiderwoman Theater Company
----------
Why I’ll Never Make It is a Top 25 Theater Podcast hosted by Patrick Oliver Jones and is a production of WINMI Media, LLC. It is also a part of Helium Radio Network and a member of the Broadway Makers Alliance.
Background music in the episode is by John Bartmann and Blue Dot Sessions and used under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.