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"Where Are Your Priorities"
July, 2013

I often ask students how much they practice. Some are pretty honest and say they don't practice all that much. I know, I can tell when they don't practice.

I get it. We're all busy in this daily hustle of life, spreading ourselves too thin and just trying to keep up with demands. But can you be a good host and barely practice? I don't think so.

If you want something badly enough, you will do what it takes to make it happen. You'll stay home a couple nights a week. You'll spend a few less hours wasting time on Facebook, or watching mindless TV shows. I know... I do these things too, but if we focus on how much time we actually waste, I'm sure we'd all be surprised. If you just spent some of this time practicing, you'd be impressed with the progress you make.

I've read blogs where people say they don't have the money for classes, a reel, etc. Again it's all about your priorities. If you have money to go to the latest hotspots, you're buying head-to-toe designer and you tell me you can't afford to take a class, I'm not buying it. If the handbag you've had your eye on is on sale, you'll find a way to buy that, won't you? So why not invest in your future?

If you have friends who want to host, get together and practice. Ask them for honest feedback. Your friends are "viewers" so they have an idea of what works and what doesn't. I have cast people off the grittiest videotape because something popped about them, so it's not always about the footage, but if you have good footage then we know you take your hosting aspirations seriously. So many people have good cameras today so be resourceful and find a way to shoot professional footage if that's what you need.

The most important thing is to always maintain your skills. I get calls from panicked students at night that they have an audition the next morning and need my help. If they had kept their skills up and consistently practiced, then they'd be confident when they walked in the door. So don't wait until you get the audition to practice, ALWAYS be practicing. Study the hosts you like, whether it be Ryan Seacrest, Kevin Frazier, Giuliana Rancic, Jeannie Mai, Louise Roe... whomever you like, just make sure YOU come out in your delivery and not your "imitation" of them.

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