Episode 374: Stop Lying To Yourself
Acting Business Boot Camp
Self-Perception and the Stories We Call “Logic” Most actors don’t think they’re afraid. They think they’re being responsible. They say things like: It’s not the right time I need to be more prepared I don’t want to do it halfway I’ll reach out once things settle down Those sentences sound calm. Thoughtful. Adult. They also quietly keep you from moving. Fear doesn’t usually sound dramatic. It sounds reasonable. And that’s why it’s so effective. Why This Matters So Much Creative entrepreneurs live in nuance. Actors are trained to consider context, timing,...
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Episode 373: Interview with James Robbins
Acting Business Boot Camp
In this episode of the Acting Business Bootcamp Podcast, I sit down with James Robbins to talk about listening to your inner voice, building resilience, and what happens when you stop ignoring the signals that something needs to change. James shares stories from his life as a climber and leadership coach, including what he’s learned from climbing mountains, facing fear, and doing hard things repeatedly. We talk about burnout, discernment, anxiety, and how these lessons apply directly to actors navigating uncertainty in their careers. This episode is about courage, self-trust, and...
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Episode 372: Underestimation, Overestimation, and Grounded Confidence
Acting Business Boot Camp
Self-Perception and Where We Decide We Belong I want to talk about something we reference a lot in acting, but usually only vaguely. Self-perception. It sits at the center of almost every actor’s journey. It shapes how you talk about yourself, who you reach out to, what rooms you think you belong in, and how far you let yourself go. Most of the time, we don’t even notice it happening. Why This Matters So Much I was thinking about 10 Things I Hate About You and that line about being overwhelmed and underwhelmed, and asking if you can ever just be whelmed. It made me think about actors. We...
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Episode 371: "There is Nothing Going on in My Career"
Acting Business Boot Camp
I hear actors say this phrase all the time: “There’s nothing going on in my career.” And I want to be very clear, that idea is almost never true. In this episode of the Acting Business Bootcamp Podcast, I talk about why that belief shows up, how it distorts your perception, and what you should be measuring instead when things feel quiet. I also share why I reshaped my Weekly Accountability Group to focus just as much on time management as accountability. This episode is about structure, consistency, and staying engaged in your acting career even when results aren’t obvious yet....
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Episode 370: You Can’t Call Yourself a Professional Actor If Your Business Is Running Like a Hobby
Acting Business Boot Camp
The Part of the Business We Avoid I don’t know many actors who got into this work because they love paperwork. Money. Invoices. Contracts. Admin. I avoid this side of the business not because I think it’s beneath me, but because it makes me uncomfortable. It forces me to look closely. At numbers. At patterns. At choices I’ve postponed. And lately, I’ve been reminded how common that is. Why Admin Creates So Much Anxiety I’ve had several conversations recently with actors who are genuinely scared of the financial side of their career. Taxes coming up. Receipts scattered. Invoices...
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Episode 369: How Actors Actually Change Their Year
Acting Business Boot Camp
Actors often think a new year will change things. New calendar, new energy, new motivation. But real change doesn’t come from dates. It comes from how you structure your choices, your habits, and your expectations. In this episode of the Acting Business Boot Camp Podcast, Peter Pamela Rose breaks down the five shifts that actually help actors change their year, not in a dramatic, overnight way, but in a grounded, sustainable way that builds real momentum. This conversation is about business, nervous system regulation, consistency, and self leadership. It’s about how actors move out of...
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Episode 368: Two Tabs, One Artist- Keeping Your Spicy Work Separate (and Safe)
Acting Business Boot Camp
The Art of Keeping Things Separate This topic comes up more than people admit. Usually in a whisper. Or an email that starts with, “This might be a weird question…” It’s not weird. It’s just complicated. A lot of actors are working in NSFW or spicy spaces. Erotica audiobooks. Adult games. ASMR. OnlyFans. Patreon. Sensual storytelling. And at the same time, they’re booking e-learning, commercials, family-friendly narration, children’s content. The work itself isn’t the problem. The overlap is. So I want to talk about how to keep those worlds separate in a way that’s...
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Episode 367: Utilize Invisible Guidance
Acting Business Boot Camp
Listening to Invisible Guidance I’ve been thinking a lot about how guidance shows up. Not in big dramatic flashes, but in the tiny whispers. The quiet nudges you feel before anything becomes a full blown lesson. And honestly, the more I look back on my own life, the more I see how often I missed the first whisper. When the Whisper Becomes a Shove I cannot tell you how many times I’ve thought, oh, I already learned this. Except I didn’t. Because the message comes back. And when I still don’t listen, it comes back again, a little louder each time. It’s not punishment. It’s just the...
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Episode 366: The Power of Yes
Acting Business Boot Camp
The Word That Changes Everything I’ve been rereading Larry Moss’s The Intent to Live, and there’s a line that stopped me. He calls “yes” the most important word in acting. It sounds simple, but the more I sat with it, the more true it felt. Why We Default to No I notice how quickly I say no in my own mind. No, I’m not ready. No, someone else deserves that more. No, they’d never want me. It feels responsible. Really, it’s fear. Fear of being seen trying. Fear of messing up. Fear of stepping into something bigger than I’m used to. What “Yes” Actually Means I’m not...
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Episode 365: How to Handle Difficult Family Members Over the Holidays
Acting Business Boot Camp
Family gatherings can be beautiful. They can also feel like emotional landmines, especially when you’re an actor. One minute you’re passing the mashed potatoes. The next you’re answering a pointed question about your career from someone who hasn’t watched a show since 1998. In this week’s episode of the Acting Business Bootcamp Podcast, I talk about how to stay calm, centered, and grounded as you navigate family dynamics. These tools help you protect your energy so you can enjoy the holiday instead of getting swept up in other people’s anxieties. The Question Doesn’t Require a...
info_outlineWhen I Froze on “Three Takes”
I’ll be honest, the first time a casting director asked me for three takes in the same vibe, my brain short-circuited. The first one felt okay. The second? I made it louder. The third? I whispered and hoped for divine intervention.
Sound familiar? If you’ve been there, you’re not alone. No one really teaches us how to do this. We just… guess.
But over the years, I’ve learned that “three takes” doesn’t have to be torture. It’s actually an opportunity to show range, subtlety, and intention — if you know where to focus.
My Five Go-To Tools for Variety
Here’s what I rely on:
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Change the environment. Close your eyes and imagine where you are. A noisy coffee shop shifts your energy in a completely different way than a quiet office.
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Add human sounds. We don’t speak like robots. A breath, a chuckle, a little “mm-hmm” makes your read feel alive.
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Play with pauses. I love a pause. It can create tension, warmth, or surprise. Same words, totally different rhythm.
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Change your listener. Who am I talking to? A best friend feels different than a five-year-old. A stranger feels different than a coworker.
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Shift your motivation. This one’s huge. Maybe I’m trying to inspire. Maybe I’m trying to tease. Same emotion, new motivation — and suddenly the take has layers.
These adjustments keep me from falling into the “loud-soft-whisper” trap. Instead, each take feels intentional.
Why I Lean on Improv
Here’s the secret I wish someone had told me sooner: improv isn’t about being funny. It’s about being present.
When a casting director says, “Make it feel more natural,” what they really mean is, “Stop performing and start reacting.” Improv trains me to do that. It helps me:
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Make stronger choices quickly
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Stay grounded when I mess up
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React honestly instead of overthinking
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Give multiple takes that feel genuinely different
As Kristen Wiig said, “Improv is about listening and not trying to be funny. It’s about being honest.” I’ve found that to be absolutely true.
What Fear Taught Me
I know improv scares people. It used to terrify me. My brain would scream, “Don’t mess this up. Don’t look stupid.”
But here’s what shifted everything: fear means I care. Fear tells me I’m right at the edge of something interesting. If I can use it, not run from it, that’s where the magic happens.
Now, I remind myself: I don’t have to be clever. I don’t have to be perfect. I just have to be available. And ironically, that’s when my best work happens.
Why This Matters for You
If you’ve been frustrated by the 1-2-3 take request, know this: it’s not about pleasing the casting gods. It’s about showing them you can be flexible, creative, and real.
With these five tools and an improv mindset, you’ll stop guessing. You’ll start delivering takes that feel grounded and alive — and most importantly, like you.
If you want help practicing this, I’d love to work with you. I offer free 15-minute consults, and I’m always excited to help actors build confidence in the booth and on the mic.