Episode 362: Paywalls, Performances, and the Price of Transparency
Release Date: 11/05/2025
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_outlineThe Irony of Paid Transparency
I saw a post the other day that made me stop mid-scroll.
An actor—let’s call him Workshop Guy—was going viral for saying he was “tired of gatekeeping in the industry.” He wanted to break down the walls, create transparency, build community… all that good stuff.
And then, at the end of his video, came the link.
A $200 workshop.
I laughed out loud. Because, honestly, that’s not transparency. That’s marketing.
Let’s talk about why.
The Anti-Gatekeeping Paywall
Here’s the thing: if your solution to exclusivity is to sell tickets to your version of inclusion, you’ve missed the point.
This particular actor is an NYU grad—one of the most expensive, most exclusive programs in the country. That’s not shade, it’s context. The gate was already built long before graduation.
So now, instead of widening that gate, he’s charging admission.
That’s not transparency. That’s a rebrand.
And look, I have zero issue with people charging for their time. I do it too. I teach workshops, classes, coaching. That’s education.
But when you say you’re ending gatekeeping while collecting checkout links?
That’s manipulation dressed as empowerment.
Boundaries Aren’t Barriers
Here’s where people get confused.
When working actors say no to a “pick your brain” chat, that’s not gatekeeping. That’s energy management.
You don’t owe unlimited access to your time or experience.
Protecting your energy isn’t selfish—it’s smart.
Gatekeeping is exclusion for control.
Boundaries are protection for sustainability.
If someone says, “Hey, I can’t jump on a call right now, but I teach a class next month,” that’s not blocking the door. That’s structure.
And if you’ve done any of Peter’s Core Work, you already know—energy management is everything.
What Real Transparency Looks Like
Transparency isn’t a sales tactic. It’s a culture choice.
It looks like:
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Sharing what you’ve learned, within reason.
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Answering a quick question in a Facebook group.
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Being open about your rates and usage terms.
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Talking honestly about rejection, burnout, or bad contracts.
Transparency says, Here’s what I know, take what helps.
It’s generosity, not a business model.
Why We Still Need Some Gatekeeping
Okay, this might sound controversial—but I think some gatekeeping is good.
Without it, anyone can say they’re an “agent” or “coach” and start charging people money.
Gates aren’t the problem. **Who holds the keys—and why—**is.
If you’re protecting integrity, professionalism, and ethics, that’s structure.
If you’re protecting ego or profit, that’s manipulation.
The goal isn’t to eliminate the gates. It’s to make sure they’re in the right hands.
The Real Takeaway
If you’re frustrated by gatekeeping, start with generosity.
If you’re burnt out from giving too much, start with boundaries.
And if you’re tempted to monetize “transparency,” ask what you’re really selling.
Because $200 to “end gatekeeping”? That’s not transparency.
That’s just good marketing.
Take Your Core Work Deeper
If this conversation hits close to home, it might be time to focus on your energy management.
Join Peter Pamela Rose’s Weekly Adjustment Class and learn how to set boundaries that protect your creativity instead of draining it.
You can start with two free weeks.
Upcoming Voiceover Workshops
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All in the Timing – master the 15-second commercial read
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Radio Imaging – November 17
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E-Learning – November 20
Check out all upcoming classes at ActingBusinessBootCamp.com
Connect with Me
Got thoughts on this episode? Want to chat about workshops or voiceover life?
Reach me anytime at mandy@actingbusinessbootcamp.com or find me on Substack at The Actor’s Index.
Stay curious, stay grounded, and keep your boundaries strong.
You’ve got this.