What is this Blog about?
First, let me start with an introduction. My name is Kevin E. West and I want to welcome here. If you clicked on my name, you will see a list of my iMDB TV/movie credits. I’m not trying to impress you — since some of you reading this might have a lot more — I simply want you to know that I’m a working actor here in Los Angeles and most recently guest-starred on HBO’s “The Righteous Gemstones.”
One bit of housekeeping. Please realize there is another Kevin West in Hollywood and if you look him up on an IMDb you’ll see my point. I’m @theKevinE (Twitter), Kevin West with an “E” and it’s also how you can find me on YouTube and Instagram. As for my website, although it has been around for a while, its focus until now has been more of my life as an actor and philanthropist.
My focus now in this blog is to establish some very basic actor career guidance we made available at the Actors Network. It’s more important than ever, that actors really understand the “business of show business” and presently, I’m working on a self-paced, online self-study for performers that will provide them with solid acting career coaching.
How to use this Blog?
From rural bumpkin Tennesee roads to the Comedy Store stand-up stage to over fifty episodic television shows , I came from a single-parent household, rose up and carried my own torch!
My career has the feel of the famous Hollywood Lucky Strike bowling alley — eight lanes of chaos ‘n strikes. Helping actors and simultaneously being an actor was my “Road Less Traveled.”
Really anyone helping actors get (paid) acting work here in Hollywood or anywhere else is as difficult today as it was back then. My aim is to help you along in this process by sharing idea and concepts that I started thirty (30) years ago.
I’m here, not just to provide fundamental actor career guidance, but also to color it with my experience as a working actor and SAG/AFTRA union member. I want you to see the real truth — if you want it — behind the Hollywood lens and what it really takes to pursue a paid acting career.
Believe me, I am NOT the only person in the actor career coaching space.
There are a lot of people offering their services and each has a little something different for what you might be looking for. I encourage you to do your due diligence and consider everyone. I share this because frankly, I know I’m not for everybody. But for those I am, I hope to provide insights and ideas others might not.
I didn’t write a book entitled: 7 Deadly Sins – The Actor Overcomes to sound cool at parties. I wrote it to save you time, money and heartache so if you do attend one of those high-profile actor parties, you’ll turn it into a golden opportunity!
What’s Missing:
On this site, I will aim to NOT spend too much time on the same old list of actor career aspects you might find in the “Business” of Show Business. Yes, I’ll have a couple posts with information you might already know, but I want to dive a little deeper into areas like the Psychology or Philosophy of the Acting Process.
You’re not going to get guarantees from me or promises and other such nonsensical marketing language. I’m direct, sincere, and psychologically sound about what you REALLY need to know and understand in this business.
Provide:
My blog is going to either shape, or re-shape your mind, in a way that protects and fuels your pursuit. Most folks who talk about or profess to ‘teach show business’ love to talk about what you need to go do or what you have to avoid. I’m going to talk to you about what to know or understand and really learn about yourself, along with some tried and true practicality and pro-activity that simply works!
Activate:
I have many things planned here and on YouTube. 1-2x weekly there will be a blog posting from me and my team about a relevant show business topic. In addition, I will have an ongoing YouTube chat with my actor and industry friends where we’ll tackle some showbiz questions and share our experiences over the years. And finally, I will be hosting a livestream to answer YOUR QUESTIONS as a way for you to get know me and feel the vibe. Those details can be found on my Instagram.
I wish all of you great success on your creative journey and I would love to help you if I can.