Just had my second day of roleplay work and found out a bit more about the client company which helped me build more recognizable stuff into the scenes. Very gratifying when the participants I was doing it with said the whole thing felt very real and that they got totally involved in the simulation. That’s kind of like getting a good review!
Week got off to a good start with a random voiceover job, doing the commentary for an online information film. Hardly glamorous but it’ll help pay for the boiler repairs I had to fork out for recently. Enjoyable too. Always fun to be back in the studio and only takes up a morning.
Have just finished my very first day of corporate roleplay work! I am officially ‘a professional roleplayer’ (in between showbiz of course). Think it went well. Was a bit nervous at first. Got there nearly 45 minutes early which was stupid because even the receptionists weren’t there for another half an hour. Better to be safe than sorry though.
FINALLY got my work briefs printed up (and no I’m not talking about branded underwear!) by digging out an old memory stick from the back of a drawer and taking the docs round to my neighbour. What a palaver. Still, at least I can do some studying on the train for the next few mornings now.
Aaaaarrgghh! Have just spent over an hour trying to get print-outs of these RoleplayUK briefs so I can study them for my first day of roleplay work and my printer has decided it’s the perfect moment for a breakdown! What it doesn’t realize is today is the only day I’m going to be NEAR a printer as I’m working at a conference in between now and the roleplay day.
I’m in! Got a phonecall this morning from Anna in the RoleplayUK office saying that they’d like to offer me five days of work starting next week. Really thrilled. Feel like a new door is opening at last.
Managed to get to the training venue with 20 minutes to spare, even though my dear pregnant wife was feeling a bit hormonally challenged this morning and needed a shoulder to cry on for a moment before I had to sprint off to catch the train! Bless Louise. It’s been 12 years since she last had a baby and she’s feeling a little nervous! As for me, I’m just trying to be the best breadwinner I can…which means turning up on time for roleplay gigs and getting on brilliantly with every client. There’s no scope for getting on anyone’s bad side when you’re a freelancer, that’s for sure!
Just on the way back from my recruitment day with RoleplayUK. Really enjoyed it. Found lots of it quite challenging as well! Wow, I really hope it works out now. Feel excited about the potential work and using my acting skills in a new way. And I’ve learned loads already in the space of a day. Marcus, the guy leading the session, really knew his stuff – took us through all the elements of the work and talked about personality types, communication styles and behaviours that we’d need to be able to demonstrate in the roleplays.
Right, the deed is done. I phoned my agent, Ruby McAllister, and told her I couldn’t make the TV commercial casting because it falls on the same day as my RoleplayUK recruitment day. Ruby was her usual abrupt self. Gave me the speech about ‘availability and commitment’ and ‘acting means a life of sacrifice’, but then grudgingly agreed to cancel.
Three months to go before baby number two arrives so I’m trying to cram in as much work as possible before then. Phoned the RoleplayUK office today and spoke to Anna asking if they could give me any more dates. She said she’d do her best and added that they were waiting for confirmation on a big contract with some Fire and Rescue Service assessment days, so fingers crossed.