When being a performer makes you a living...

Tip of the week : Switch from an artist to a business 

What we do, is not our job. What we do is the reward for doing our job correctly. Working at a doughnut shop making doughnuts is not how we get hired. Being a great actor, or comedian, is not why we get paid. Any one can act all day and never get paid. So how does one make a living doing what they love? Shouldn't you get paid for what you do? Change the brain's way of thinking. 

Ever watch one of many movies or a song on the radio that are terrible. Ever say to yourself... 

“How did this get on the radio?”

“How did they get in this movie?”

“My comedy special would be better than this crap!”

The difference between that “crappy” performance and a person's lack of career comes down to an artist brain vs a business brain. They may be crappy but they are doing their job correctly. They are running their business outside of their artistic brain. What you do is the art, and you should do the art. When you are ready to make a living getting paid for what you do, then run your business. 

An artist believes and focuses first on their craft. Hoping people of note will catch their master performance. Steve Martin says “Be so good they can't ignore you.” This is a hopeful statement covering up what is really going on. Steve Martin's success didn't come from being great. And he is great, but he wasn't always amazingly funny. 

His well written book “Born Standing Up” is a must read for performers. But, read between the lines. Every moment of his success came, unintentionally, from his business brain. In the book, he focuses on his battle of getting better. His multiple friendly relationships all lead to opportunities. He stated his friend paid Steve as a writer from his own pocket cause the show didn't think Steve Martin was good. 

Success is found by working hard at your business. There are relationships involved in first impressions, third party introductions, or outright friendships. That doughnut job comes from building a relationship within moments in an interview or having been introduced by a friend. 

These are a few concepts to keep in mind to utilize and understand the value of a business brain. 

• Networking is building and cultivating relationships. Be nice to everyone, you never know who someone is or knows. The future of your career is rooted in who you know. Keeping those relationships growing without ever asking for things. Build and cultivate that friendship. 

• Marketing is having a brand to help build awareness, which creates interest, and ultimately generates sales. Sales is an audience buying into the brand. Refrain from pushing a brand in people's faces and focus marketing your adventure to allow people a chance to willingly jump on board! 

• Practicing your craft is one thing and you should practice. Cause you should still be able to play ball when you get on the field. Being good, great, and even capable helps success. In addition, learn to practice the business brain skills. This list you are reading needs to be practiced. 

• Manage time, money, and people is the start of controlling longevity. Success comes from networking, marketing, and practicing, but it is budging your time and money while being able to delegate your in needs to people which opens your chances of longevity up. 

• Entrepreneur brain is all about taking calculated chances, giving back to your community, thinking of solutions, and being an idea person. Growing from nothing to something by embracing the value of running your life as a business. P.S. Go incorporate yourself as quick as possible. 

• Talent is needed for longevity. As practice allows for success to happen, one must maintain growth on their talents. The talents of their skill and the talents of understanding the needs of running their life as a business. You can only be kind of alright at what you do before fifteen minutes of fame are up.

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Do you have what it takes to Make A Right Left Here… Do you!?

If you need a little blurb “about me” here you go. But please, read it with an English Accent. Or a really bad Australian accent.

Originally a Musician playing with the band TENEbRAE for 10 years. Thomas J. Bellezza added Acting, Stand-Up Comedy, Directing, Writing, Producing, and Raising Capital into his life. Having owned a fully polished performance theater in Holbrook, NY he helped others open their shows including his own productions. He is a consultant for businesses and individuals focusing on the process of building success. His areas of expertise are in networking, marketing, management (time, money, and people), and finding solutions. 

BBR Productions Inc : Our mission is to bring reality to your dreams by being an affordable all inclusive production company for every type of venture and those who wish to find success in possibility through Consulting, Marketing, and Developing. 

oh DEER! Productions : The hands on company. Where BBR Productions Inc designs, raises capital, and is there through the development of an idea, oh DEER! Productions does the physical work after the conceptional stage has concluded. 

Team Rise Together : Our mission is to allow artists an outlet to express their vision in an environment to collaborate with like-minded individuals working in a synergetic growth to success by helping one another in a team effort to say YES to a future in entertainment. A gathering of Actors, Crew, Writers, Producers, and Directors working together to bring media projects to life. We take on interns from colleges and give them real time experience. My we work together, grow together, and rise together!

Tip of the week : Networking (Loyalty)

Tip of the week : Networking : Loyalty 

Loyalty is the foundation of relationship growth. The power of friendship is based on being there for those you care for. A working relationship begins with trust then gains loyalty. This is why people are loyal to a brand. Pepsi vs Coke, Nike vs Rebecca shoes, and of course Star Wars vs Star Trek. Now some times a person can like both things, and yes, people can have more than one best friend. The concept of Loyalty is to give respect where respect is due.

When a person(s) goes out of their way for you, or gives you their time without question, this is a great way to build a relationship. The give aspect of networking. Though, when the time comes and you could utilize their 'help' or 'serves' but then you go and pay someone who you have no relationship with... this is bad networking. It breaks the chains of Loyalty. Taking and taking from a person in a relationship then giving nothing back is an insult to the time you spent together.

Be very careful with Loyalty. Loyalty is the difference between someone always being there and someone you showed disrespect to whom won't be there for again. Networking is building and cultivating relationships. It is by far the most important aspect of success in this business of life. It helps us in our careers and with the people within in our three circles; Friends, Family, and Associates. Embrace the value of those worth your circle, but most of all respect the time Loyalty takes to be earn. 

 
Do you have what it takes to... Make A Right Left Here… Do you!?
• Make A Right Left Here (My official page website)
• BBR Productions Inc. (Direct company link)

TIP OF THE WEEK - Networking : The Follow Up

Networking : The Follow Up

More essential than a first meeting is the follow up. A follow up is simply reaching out to a person(s) met recently to acknowledge it even happen. Commonly seen are 'Thank you for meeting me', 'Great meeting you the other night', and of course 'Met you last night, let's get lunch!'. It is a nice way of reminding a person how much fun that initial meeting went. Even when the meeting was at a networking event, or a friend introducing a friend. What is a Follow up really? Why is it important and when and how does a person handle a proper follow up? 

Traditionally a good follow up should be limited to no later than three days after meeting a person. Two days is safe, and one day is a perfectly timed follow up. Keeping it short and to the point is helpful too while adding an 'Emotional Moment' inside the follow up. Maybe a joke was said, or a nice story about XYZ happened, and adding a reminder of this helps recall the feelings everyone had within the conversation in the first place. And finally, but not last, keep from asking for things within a follow up unless prompt too. Such as the other person suggesting lunch at the first interaction.

After a follow up, maintaining that relationship begins with keeping in touch with them. Focus on a routine and naturally flowed schedule of keeping these people in the rotation of life. A follow up, and future contact, with a person can be done through any means of communication: Emails, Phone Call, Text, Social Media Message, etc. I like an email for my follow up, and slowly move up to a phone call over time. My personal favorite is sending out inspirational text messages randomly to my friends, family, and associates to let them know I am thinking of them. 

A network of people will be there at the beginning and the end of a person's journey with communication!

Do you have what it takes to... Make A Right Left Here… Do you!?

• Make A Right Left Here (My official page website)

• BBR Productions Inc. (Direct company link)

COMIC CON 2016!!!

COMIC CON 2016!!!

Four days of amazing adventure. Did I explore a little, Yes, but I mostly stayed put at The Grey Woods booth. Which is fine. 180K+ showed up and a majority of those people walked by and I said hi. Comic Con is different for each person attending. For most it is a fun place to show off their costume they've been working on for months. For others it is a place to be seen, to show their creations off to people: Books, drawings, etc. Unless your Marvel then it's all about LOOK AT WHAT WE HAVE COMING! And that's a good fun thing.

What is Comic Con to me? A place to Network, Market, and Practice my skill in growing my career in life. To be at the mercy of hundreds of thousands of people and just say 'Hey, take my photo' is not what I am about. This event was much more than that to me. I always try to build relationships with people, and most importantly let people know who I am and what I do. This is where the practice comes in. I filmed a little for my Make A Right Left Here TV, messed with a few people to add to the fun of it all. I swapped cards with business owners and people alike! It was fun. Also got interviewed!

Now after all that, what is the point of Comic Con!? For me, it was about follow ups. I reached out to people and emailed them, where I could I added them on social media, and I showed interest in what they have to offer because I actually care too. I had to organize all the photos and videos and set up a release of each so I can get the most out of it instead of just sharing everything in one big shot. Marketing is about slow and steady to get the most out of it. Anyone can do it, they need only have a schedule filled with patience.

Oh, and I enjoyed the experience of Comic Con for the first time! Great fun!

Do you have what it takes to... Make A Right Left Here… Do you!?
• Make A Right Left Here (My official page website)
• BBR Productions Inc. (Direct company link)

Casting a cast

• Casting a cast

It begins, the next level in the world of possibilities! Things are aligning to a point of unstoppable momentum. Every year things must continue to grow. If by steps, leaps, or extremely large bounds. This passing week me and a team of people I work with held an audition for a web series. Thirty plus people are sending their interest to act, and in addition there were even more after the fact. So now we are handling Self Tapes. Self Tape is when you film your audition and send it in. These are steps, not to filming, but to a means to an ends. Every step leads to a stronger stance to help others. To help a cause, to give an open door to chance.

Everyone deserves a chance in life. Becoming more involved with producing projects gives our team opportunity to excel at the triangle of life. Networking with different actors, crew members, investors, and only to name a few. This will also help us with Marketing our Brands, and who we are as people. What our personal motivation can lead to. Our perseverance and hard work. There is nothing more exciting than coming up with an idea, figuring out how to make that idea come to life, then getting a team together to bring that idea to life. One step at a time. That's how it has always been for me. Each year, every idea!

At the end of the day, I did nothing on my own. A person couldn't it. The hands of many bring life to ideas. The supporters of the cause pushing and rutting for you to win. They are your energy of encouragement. Everyone helping in bringing life to this idea. Working within their strengths to find the money, build, write, draw, cast, act, crew, etc, etc!!! One person is useless. My proud sense of accomplishment comes from believing in those to my left and to my right. We are equal. Some work harder than others, some have more skills, even so, others might not even know what they are doing, and that is okay... because doing anything is still something!

• Make A Right Left Here (My official page website)
• BBR Productions Inc. (Direct company link)
• Top Of The Bottom Pile (Comedy Tour I Am On)

Radio, TV for my Grandpa

• “Radio, TV for my Grandpa”

Got a radio show. Okay, thanks for reading. Check back for more news and a lot of stuff is happening!

I hate blogs like that. Where's the panache? I mean, give the audience something to read about. So, I like to bring up the subject matter in my first paragraph. When the audience is able to jump right into my subject then boom! Radio! I got a radio, internet. It was nice getting this opportunity! Radio is a great way to be heard, but more important it is a nice place to let others be heard. All steps must lead to the upstairs. Well, you could go downstairs but I mean, I have leaks down there. See, now I can move onto some other things, like how I feel about, or my thoughts on the idea.

If there is one thing I enjoy, it is being able to talk about anything, but with direction, to people willing to learn, listen, enjoy. More importantly; Be entertained, Educated, and have a sense of Edification while on the journey of Thomas Talk. Also, this world is much better when people get to help others have a voice. While I will be on each week, guests and other people are going to have my door open for them. A voice must be heard, but about what? I want people to laugh, while learning about the business of life / entertainment / other crap. More so I want the journey of successful people to be understood.

Hmm, this is where I normally express what I learned from the experience. I'll go on about how it added or took away from my life, and how I will grow from it. This will be my forth internet radio show, and about my thousandth time on radio airwaves. So, the experience is fairly familiar. This time around I look to have a lot more fun doing it, and I'll be ready for anything. I really hope I can bring a sense of change to the community when speaking. That is important to me. I want to change the game. I want to let people know there are other ways around making things happen. We, as people, must become the light of inspiration!

Also, the studio is in Dumbo, Brooklyn. I mean, come on! Dumbo.

• Make A Right Left Here (My official page website)
• BBR Productions Inc. (Direct company link)
• Top Of The Bottom Pile (Comedy Tour I Am On)

Managing

• “Managing”

It is fun managing your time, money, and the people around you. Oh, and I also got signed to a management company for acting. That feeling to be doing things which progress my career in entertainment. Working hard to be “the best in the field” is one thing I have never really pushed to do. Well, except when I was a child in music and didn't know the value of business. Since becoming fluent in business, my companies and career has consistently been growing. From my consulting company, to 'oh DEER! Productions' and even the fun of being an Actor / Comedian / Musician / Writer... oh, you get it, I am a Resilient Entertainer with wits!

I get to do these things because I have organized my life in a way to create a structured business world. I have given myself freedoms to pursue any aspect of life I want. It is easy if you have the tools, and of course, to be willing to DO. Attempting is where I see most people fail. Managing time to try things, managing finances to secure, grow and have play money, and even managing the people in my life. Relationships with people, etc. This is a tough business; this thing called life. But if you want it badly enough, go for it. I see people all the time killing themselves for a job they hate. If only they put that same effort into the life they love.

That mentality is what lead me to getting a manager in less than 12 months. Of course I had to Network, Market, and Practice to get there too. But getting representation is more than career changing, it has to have value and points. Why would anyone sign a person who says things like “Well, if I have X then I can do Y”. This perspective is a hopeful one. Be sure and aware of what is needed. This is important to success. Do not just jump out of a plane, have a plan. I was able to sell my Brand of who, what, where, why, and how I have accomplished so much on my own. People want to work with successful businesses they can sell.

Learn, change, and do! You can!

• Make A Right Left Here (My official page website)
• BBR Productions Inc. (Direct company link)
• Top Of The Bottom Pile (Comedy Tour I Am On)

The perception of success

• “The perception of success”

There are many ways success can be obtained. Those achievements come with very specific rules. Being aware of the rules increases a person's chances to live their dream as a career. Some individuals unknowingly find resolve while on this path through luck (Hard work?). Another path, which always leads to failure, is traveled more frequently. Both roads are designed by different rules. An interesting perspective: If thousands of people fail doing it one way, why could it work for you? Are you really that awesome, amazing, and unique? Follow a path less traveled by those who have seen the mountaintop and constructed a nice house there.

My path, a path taught to me, and refined through research, is basically this; Have a plan, focus, be capable, and good at what you do. What does that all mean? Ready, I will show you. 1) Budget / save up 18 months of income / quit job / focus on career. 2) Network, Market, Practice; even before quitting a job. 3) Learn to manage time, money, and people. 4) Learn to organize money over expense to secure, invest and enjoy that wealth. 5) Life is a business, treat it that way. Earn vacation time, earn freedom, earn it all. Working to find balance in a life lived deep in debt; That is a failing business.

There is a path where the road is covered in thousands of footprints. Within this destination is a mentality which suggests: “A person need only be really really good at their craft.” This notion of greatness will get people to notice. Once noticed, all doors to a big chance open! Ultimately, more awesome, amazing, and unique, the further a person will go. Ego will close more doors than open them. How many Twitter followers or total Social media numbers do you have? How many friends do you keep in touch with? If you believe you don't need anyone, you are in the wrong business. Any business you are in, you will need everyone.

Also... have fun in life. If you are sad, miserable, or tired of what you have going on; change. That's correct; change your life up. If you are in the same place after three to five years and you are still sad, miserable, or tired of what you have going on then it is time to change. Now get out of here and go make changes!

• Make A Right Left Here (My official page website)
• BBR Productions Inc. (Direct company link)
• Top Of The Bottom Pile (Comedy Tour I Am On)

A Bit Part

• A Bit Part

“But you were background.” Yeah, it was a bit of a bit part. And you know what? That's the point. I was doing one more thing greater than a person who wished they could be in this business. Being an entertainer is bit part after bit part. Because we are never truly satisfied with just enough. Anyone action is more than zero effort with working background on a TV show, movie, playing guitar on a small stage in front of ten people, or even telling jokes to less than a few laughing future fans. These are all successful moments in an entertainer's life. Doing what they love, and living within the field of their interest. A bit part, but a big part forward. But what is the point of doing little things?

Starting at the bottom is an accomplishment greater than never starting at all. All those dreamers sitting at home wishing they could try and fail. That's it though, trying to fail is important. I would rather work hard at failing in life than be fearful that I would fail and never have tried. What is important about being an entertainer? To be. To move people. To live truthfully within imaginary circumstances. As I worked background on Gotham, then in the same week, The Blacklist I saw my efforts of Networking, Marketing, and Practicing working. That's the point of trying to fail. To get on set and meet people over and over again. Being seen to market my brand. And, most importantly, to practice my craft of “what is the back-story to this character”.

Moments like that seem silly. But to me, to a person working hard in this traveling adventure, it is that moment of thought “What is the back-story to this character” that drives me. Working on little moments so I am quick to work on big moments. Because I will be further along this time next year. So why not practice failing small jobs so I can know how to do big jobs! Networking helped me get an upgrade to Stand-in on The Blacklist this week. I made friends quickly, got P.A's to laugh, and one thing led to another. “Thomas, have you ever done Stand-In work?” YES. And there I was standing in for David, “Warriors come out and play” Patrick Kelly. Man stood 5'6 but they asked and I said yes. Ah, love this life! Learn to fail. You'll be great!

• Make A Right Left Here (My official page website)
• BBR Productions Inc. (Direct company link)
• Top Of The Bottom Pile (Comedy Tour I Am On)

The few Devils we see

• The few Devils we see

There is an old biblical saying “The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he doesn't exist...” How powerful of a statement? What if we look at it bit by bit? Imagine what power Lucifer would have if he could truly get us all to believe he doesn't exist? Then he could come and go as he sees fit. Having power over all of us, while talking directly with us. That's a lot of power to give anyone. Belial could be your friend; actions you make; family members; Cop; Lawyer (The Devil's Advocate) is a great example. Now, to me, this is far from a religious thought. As religious as I am, I personally do not believe in the Devil. However...

This statement is truthful on multiple levels. Look at yourself as the Devil. Even your lack of actions as a Devil. Entertainers are really great at two things; A) Being filled with a deep Ego and B) Being the first to put themselves down to the point of not believing in themselves. That must be some battle inside a person. Thinking you are so amazing that people should just want your artistic expression, yet on occasion, that same artist of entertainment feels they could always do better. That, the work they are showing you isn't good enough. Entertainers become their own Devil doing these two things. Pushing people away till they want nothing to do with us simply by thinking we are awesome, or have no faith in our ability is scary.

If you don't believe in yourself than how can anyone else? Giving your surrounding world a gift to want nothing to do with you manifests with your attitude. I was once immersed in music entertainment. It was my life; I knew nothing else. Then I began seeing what it all was. In an art form designed for your ears, no one was listening to anyone but their own voice. No one cared about anything but themselves. I have an extremely deep, and painful, love/hate relationship with music now. Dealing with musicians, even any entertainer. It saddens me greatly when I am directly witness to an “Entertainer Ego”. The ideals these people have. We are in this together, yet so many people push others away. I want to know there is hope.

“Even the strong are defeated in a war of many when you are standing alone.” ~ Lord Telmorn Altayon

• Make A Right Left Here (My official page website)
• BBR Productions Inc. (Direct company link)
• Top Of The Bottom Pile (Comedy Tour I Am On)

What is happening

• What is happening

How does a person succeed in this business? What busy you ask? The entertainment business. That's why you are reading the “Traveling Adventures of a Resilient Entertainer” – By the way, thank you for reading! I am going to give a basic outline of what a person needs to do so they can bring their dreams to reality. Then, I am going to show you what people are doing. Because, honestly, how many people can you count on your hand that are in the business you want to make a living at that are also successful? Even on a local aspect, some of them should be doing something by now. A business, if not successful and earning income by their 3rd year, must close. Yet, entertainers are doing 10 – 20 years still putting the time into their day job to make a buck.

1) Foundation; save 18 months worth of capital so you can give yourself an opportunity to say “YES” to your life.

2) Network, Market, and Practice; Build those relationships up so you can say “It's who you know”, grow your Brand through Marketing and have people “Know who you are”, then Practice your Skill and the business you are in.

3) Have a Social HUB attached to a well designed Website; Learn to speak with people not to them, sell on your website what you want people to have and express yourself through your Social HUB.

4) Selflessness; Remember success has nothing to do with you, it is always about other people.

5) Be proactive; get things done and DO. You want something, go after it.

These are the simple versions of what needs to be done. You can take it and grow with it. These little things create big opportunity for you. They did for me and changed my world. I began listening to people instead of relying on my talents and my lack of knowledge in how the system of entertainment worked. One other major change was, I started being around the world I was interested in. I didn't just go when I thought it suited me. I was there because it was there and I wanted to be around it, all of it. Everything, the music, the comedy, acting. I wanted to see how it all worked, and how I could help others by giving my time to them without asking for anything in return. I still live by this philosophy. Life is short, so why live your life away for other people's dreams when you should be living your own!?

A few things people, who are stuck on the road to being Jaded, do; since they “Should be discovered because they are amazing, awesome and unique!”

• Practice far too much; The idea that if you become good enough, all things will fall into place.
• I need a product; Writing Jokes, Recording Musical CD's, Film a TV Pilot / Movie, Have a book, etc. YOU are the product.
• They are in this alone; Look to your left and right. Everyone is in it, now work together.
• I am better than them; So what. It is not how amazing you are over others but how much people like you. Be nice!
• Show, Show, Show!; A show defines nothing of your brand. It is a place for fans to come see you, not grow them.
• Must have the best, be the best, perform the best; HAVE FUN, enjoy the ride. You are an entertainer.
• I am too old; So were Rodney Dangerfield, Harrison Ford, Jane Lynch, Samuel L. Jackson, Melissa McCarthy...

You are never too old to live!

• Make A Right Left Here (My official page website)
• BBR Productions Inc. (Direct company link)
• Top Of The Bottom Pile (Comedy Tour I Am On)

Making waves

• Making waves

The world is simple; Put in an effort and you will get results. It works. I am living proof. I dropped out of high school and became a self made man. Spent ten years making waves in music. That lead me to Canada, other States in America playing my heart out. It also lead me to my breaking point. Wanting to leave music forever. I think about music, but I don't think about playing out. I remember this one time, I had not touched a stage with a band for about 5 years. I practiced and got ready to have a ball. Even got to play on stage with a drummer I've wanted to perform with since I first met him. When I got off stage 2 guitar players said “You ruined those solos. You really destroyed those songs”.

They were making waves, playing me with silly jokes. The band liked what I did, we had fun, and until that moment I thought I could do it again. I hung my head and remembered how much I hated performers at that level of the music business. 10+ years in and they were still beginners. If you have a day job, you are still a hobbyist. Even more so, if you are not paying your bills in the field you love doing for a hobby, then you are still a beginner. Why can't people just have fun and keep from tearing others down? If they are happy, and everything is going well, then stop being the quintessential hater stereotype.

It is your job to Love that you are playing, love that you are there. That is the point to performing. You want to be the best then practice, but you want to work in this business without having a day job? Be nice to everyone, because you never know who someone is or knows. I recently worked with Martin Scorsese on a TV pilot. Yeah, I was background, yeah I didn't have lines. But in my life time, I've played in front of thousands of people on a huge arena stage, had a chance to act and make Martin Scorsese laugh, and even get to hang with some of my favorite professional Comedians. I suppose when people make waves it depends where you are in the ocean for it to matter in a positive or negative way.

Then I began to think about the truth. I am making my own life happen. Good or bad, I am doing things that make me okay with dying. I have no regrets. I wrote a book, I performed, I had my own theater and brought that to life as a childhood dream come true, played music, got to be Hamlet in Hamlet, and everything under the sun that I wanted to do in my life I accomplished. If for one time, or continuously. Not many people can say that. So yeah, those two guitar players made waves in the kiddy pool while I'm swimming in the ocean of life. I took a dump in the kiddy pool a long time ago. Become what you want in this life. Take chances. If anyone deserves it, it is you. We all deserve to do the things that make us happy.

Just don't hurt people physically, or kill them and you should be good! Make your own waves to show the world you are ready to get wet!

• Make A Right Left Here (My official page website)
• BBR Productions Inc. (Direct company link)
• Top Of The Bottom Pile (Comedy Tour I Am On)

Face the faceless

• Face the faceless

Entertainment comes with some pretty interesting people. They are even more interesting when they are on the bottom floor. The bottom floor, level, the beginning stages, however you see fit. I even consider people 10 years, or more, in entertainment, beginners if they are doing what I call the “Oh, you're an entertainer too” face filled with discussed. Or to make it easier for everyone “Face the faceless” moment. These people who give you the face you “need” to see until then figure out they can't sell you on them, so now you get the face of their true purpose. Which means, maybe they didn't care in the first place and were making a fake face to get you interested. Truth be told, the truth works better than the sale.

Great example, I deal with entertainers all the time, and most of the time they don't realize I am an entertainer myself. I approach these people, while they are “barking” for a show; (Barking is when you stand out side and ask every person passing if they will come to your show) and they give me their full attention. I listen, talk, and am engaged to what they are presenting. The moment they find out I am an entertainer they make a face and walk away. Another example would be when I talk with any entertainer hanging out near a club and they ignore you. As if “Who do I think I am?” We all start at the bottom, but sometimes these people forget they too are at the bottom.

The truth is, I get it. You need to bring in people to make money, or even more sad, to do a free show and make other people money. The worst idea is that some of these people look at you as competition and thus they give you the stink-face. I get it, I really do. It still saddens me, as everyone should be working together and supporting one another. I suppose if they could see how it works for an already successful group of people, then they might change their tune. The person you think can't help you now might turn into the next person standing in your way for your “Big Break”. Look at Ted Alexandro, or Louis C.K. always working on projects with people they like... you know, friends they made in the business.

Be nice to everyone, you never know who someone is, or knows...

• Make A Right Left Here (My official page website)
• BBR Productions Inc. (Direct company link)
• Top Of The Bottom Pile (Comedy Tour I Am On)

I hate, hate; but most of all, what the hell

• I hate, hate; but most of all, what the hell

The traveling adventures continue: When It comes to being out networking and marketing, I am a very open person. One of my well known traits is how expressive I can become around new people, or even strangers. I know my actions can be different for every person; but what the hell!? Let me explain. I was walk around New York City creating conversation with people. I walk up to groups, but rarely will I approach a single standing person. I want people to feel comfortable. However last night was different. I kept seeing individuals walking small cute dogs. Seeing this, I would look at a dog, not the person, and say to myself “Aw, look a puppy, cute puppy” And variations on that.

What am I getting at!? Oh, so there was this old lady walking her dog and I said the aforementioned statement and she says back to me “Asshole.” First off, her dog didn't bark, jump at me, look at me, or try and take her master for a run. It just kept on its way. Second, I only said it to myself, not her. The funnier part was I turned to one of my friends and said, “Did she just call me an asshole?”, and then I hear her say “Fagot.” Let me get the puns out of the way; A) do I look like a bundle of sticks? B) I am not a cigarette. Okay, with that out of the way; I was very confused by this moment as I think people should be a little nicer in life. To boot, my sexual preference is not determinate by how much I like puppies.

Her cruelty made me think about how often I am kind and open. My life is about making people laugh and entertain their emotions in a positive way. So when this lady said what she said, and all the rest of it, I also got to thinking how calling me a Fagot isn't an insult. She didn't understand situational context since I am not a homosexual. Clearly she wasn't utilizing the other terminologies of Fagot. I did place into consideration that she was very old and maybe Fagot was an insult back in the day. To me, I wish I could have just made her smile. I did nothing wrong, and maybe she wanted to be in her own space. But I was talking to myself at the time. You can't always win with people, but what the hell!?

Speak to people, it is more entertaining than you might think... plus, they have seen a different world than you!

• Make A Right Left Here (My official page website)
• BBR Productions Inc. (Direct company link)
• Top Of The Bottom Pile (Comedy Tour I Am On)

In my experience...

• “In my experience...”

There is an exercise I truly enjoy. I enjoy helping individuals obtain their dreams. Some people I help refocus, or get their life back in order. As a traveling entertainer I know that my life is about entertaining. Beyond that, I learned it is a big NO NO to give advice in this business. People can be sensitive, but you can't blame them. Especially after they get off stage, or are preparing to get on stage. That is a lot of pressure, and it is pretty insulting to just jump on and give someone unwanted advice. I suppose the difference between advice, and criticism, is how you present it. I always listen when being talked to. There might be a tidbit of informative factors being thrown at me. So why not enjoy the ride?

It is truth though, besides being an entertainer, I consult people on life. The major difference in this situation is these people come to me for advice and pay me for my time. I have helped a great deal of people over the 17 years of my life. From basic advice, to guidance in their finances. Mostly, I help people find success in life. What is it they want to do, or where do they want to be... Those are the biggest questions I end up answering for people. A few of my favorite people I have recently helped have been comedians and actors. They have such passion in them but with little to no guidance they became lost in something very common. Their ideas of how success will come.

As I have traveled around the scene of entertainment my five senses have noticed a reoccurring theme. The same advice: Perform and get on stage as much as possible, get on stage and perform as much as possible, meet the right person by performing and getting on stage as much as possible, make sure you have something to sell before doing anything, but make sure you are performing and getting on stage as much as possible. This advice has always made me shutter. Next time you hear this advice, ask them what their day job is. If they work a job to pay the bills, their advice might be slightly off. Getting there begins with a plan to secure a fearless ability to say yes, then what to do when you get there... that's the fun part.

• The world of Links to find Thomas J. Bellezza •

• Make A Right Left Here (My official page website)
• BBR Productions Inc. (Direct company link)
• Top Of The Bottom Pile (Comedy Tour)
• Twitter (My personal twitter)
• Youtube (I make stupid videos)

Facebook:

• Thomas J. Bellezza (My entertainer page)
• BBR Productions Inc. (My production company)
• Top Of The Bottom Pile (Comedy Tour)
• Make A Right Left Here TV (My web based TV show)
• Lord Telmorn Altayon (A character I write about, the first God)
• Altayon (My Theatrical Progressive Metal Band)
• StupidAssQuestions.com (I am a contributor)
• The Rose Theater (My Theater)

What did I forget?

• What did I forget?

A lot of the time when I am working on my craft I forget there are other things going on. My favorite part of being a consultant at BBR Productions Inc. is listening to people's lives. Everyone has a grand dream they wish to accomplish and that actually inspires me. With all this dreaming going on, maybe I should dream a little more too. I some times forget that I have other passions that might have fallen behind the couch. Which is kind of sad. I do not believe I will ever get back into drawing. I am not as excited about it, but I do miss it.

Getting to the point of my life began with retraining my thought process. At one point or another I was that person who always looked at others and said “I am better than them, why are they up there, I should be up there performing”... or even better, “If only the right people saw me!”. Well the truth is, no matter how great you are it doesn't matter. Your strengths must be in Networking and Marketing yourself. Of course you should be good at what you do, but it is not the only thing that leads to success. 

So I got a nice email from a friend in the movie business asking me if I would like to audition for a lead role. I was extremely excited to do anything for this person, since I truly do appreciate their friendship. She was wonderful in the audition process and made me feel completely comfortable. I kept remembering if I got it or not that my being there was already a victory. I got to work on auditioning (Practicing), see a friend and others I didn't know (Networking), and also handout my personal business card (Marketing). I'd call that a win!

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Work out your life, work out in your life!

• The world of Links to find Thomas J. Bellezza •

• Make A Right Left Here (My official page website)

• BBR Productions Inc. (Direct company link)

• Top Of The Bottom Pile (Comedy Tour)

• Twitter (My personal twitter)

• Youtube (I make stupid videos)

Facebook:

• Thomas J. Bellezza (My entertainer page)

• BBR Productions Inc. (My production company)

• Top Of The Bottom Pile (Comedy Tour)

• Make A Right Left Here TV (My web based TV show)

• Lord Telmorn Altayon (A character I write about, the first God)

• Altayon (My Theatrical Progressive Metal Band)

• StupidAssQuestions.com (I am a contributor)