Fair Abby: 2014

So, I had a very interesting and exciting experience yesterday, … I got to be an extra on a film set. It was actually for a TV show, but saying I got to be an extra on a TV set sounds like I am meaning an actual TV, so… yeah. Anyway, you might be thinking, "Well, that is not very interesting and exciting at all. Being an extra is actually really boring and also kind of annoying because you are basically treated like a prop and not the wonderful person/aspiring actor that you are.":) And I would agree with you. But yesterday was a little bit different for me. After getting past the fact that I had to be down in Lindon at 7:30 in the morning, and because I live in Bountiful, getting up at 5:00 in the morning to make sure I was on time, and finally getting there 10 minutes late (because my car was annoyingly out of gas…why does that always happen when I need to get somewhere far away in a hurry?), and then realizing that I never really had to rush anyway because, you know, extras aren't really important, and then only to realize that I could very well be there 12 hours instead of the 4-6 hours that I was told (which changes my pay rate of $100 from pretty good to below minimum wage), and I wouldn't get to see my baby all day, and I would have to inconvenience my husband and mother-in-law as they so kindly watched Lucy for me, … after getting over all of that… and once I actually got to be an extra and not just the extra in the waiting room waiting to be an extra… I had an enjoyable time! I never realized before just how many times a scene needs to be shot to get every possible angle, and make sure that everyone is doing everything just right, and the extras are just mouthing the words without whispering the tiniest little bit because the freakishly sensitive microphone guy can hear every little noise that is made on set... it was quite fascinating. It made me realize that an extra's part actually is important even though you don't feel that way because you aren't one of the lead actors. If the extras weren't important then I could whisper without it affecting anything, but no. I have an important job. It is to do what I am told, exactly as they want it, no questions asked, and then everything is peachy. :)

But this was not the only thing that made it exciting. Aside from getting to be the only extra used as a waitress, and getting to bring in the cheesecake, (I felt like Penny from the Big Bang Theory for a minute), and then of course forgetting to bring the cheesecake at the right moment because of course I had to space out and loose myself in the scene watching the actors, (such an Abby thing to do…**forehead slap**), during lunch I got to talk with one of the actors whose been in the entertainment business for over 9 years and get great career advice about how to launch my acting career in a more proactive way, instead of the why-won't-someone-just-discover-me-and-my-awesomeness-and-make-me-billions-of-dollars-already kind of way. But before I just take his advice and run with it, I thought I would post it online and ask you, my friends, what you think about it, just for kicks and giggles.

So here goes…

This actor basically told me, in a nutshell, that instead of waiting for someone to give me the nod and start my career, I should start my career myself. Instead of taking classes at an agency from some other actress who doesn't have the power to cast me in anything (which by the way I haven't taken any of those classes because they are too expensive), go take classes from the top directors and producers in Utah, like Jeff Johnson or Rob Diamond. He also said a great way to start is by marketing myself in every way possible through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Blogging, YouTube and starting up my own website. This would essentially make it so that any director or producer looking for talent would easily be able to see everything and anything that I have to offer as a performer (and just being a cool person) through the grapevine and the wonderful sharing network that is THE INTERNET.

Now, I admit that I have actually always wanted to do this myself, but I have always been too scared to do it, for whatever reason. Too scared of what people might say or think, too scared that I would do it the wrong way or I would mess something up, or that I wouldn't be able to keep it up enough to get enough followers, and likers, and people who will just read whatever I have to put out there because, you know, they actually want to know what I have to say. *sigh* Anyway, I am a little nervous. And I am also unsure of how to do it. What should I post where? Can I just post anything? What about religious stuff? That is kind of a big part of my life and I want to share it, but in the right way, you know? This actor also said you want to have everything named the same thing so that you are consistent and easy to find. That makes sense, of course, but I asked him, "Is it ok to use my full name "Abbylynn Payne" for everything… isn't that a little risky. 'Cuz I have already checked and 'Abby Payne' is already taken." Then he said that I could change my last name or I could do just a nickname type thing. He said, "Well, looking at you right now, something you could call yourself is 'Fair Abby', or 'Abby Fair' since one of your defining features is that you have fair skin." ooohhhh…. So I have thought about it, and thought about it, and thought about it, and I think I like the sound of that: Fair Abby. Kind of like the guy in Italian Job is called Handsome Rob. Anyway, I have already checked and fairabby.com isn't taken (so don't anyone take it) and I think I might go with it. But once again, I wanted to just put this out there to see what you have to say. Did this guy give me good advice? Do you like the name "Fair Abby" or should I do "Abby Fair"? Or do you have another cool nickname I could use? Or should I just go ahead and use Abbylynn Payne for everything just to eliminate all confusion? Or could you not care less about any of this in which case that is totally fine, just to don't post anything mean about me below. :) Anyway, what are your thoughts. I actually do want to know, so just comment below.

Thanks much friends!
Fair Abby (or some other name that I haven't come up with yet.)