A month back I went to see Louis C.K.—one of the funniest people alive—at DPAC with my friend Jonathan. Jonathan mentioned Louie’s appearance on a podcast called WTF with Marc Maron, and I’ve been downloading that program ever since. I haven’t yet heard the Louie episode because it’s in the Premium Content section and costs TWO WHOLE DOLLARS, but the most recent episode I listened to was Maron’s interview with Aubrey Plaza. She’s an actor/comedian currently on Parks and Rec, who also appeared in Judd Apatow’s movie Funny People, neither of which I’ve seen. Before the podcast, I had no idea who Aubrey Plaza was; in fact, I think I loaded hers on my iPod accidentally when trying to transfer a Mike Birbiglia episode.
Anyway, her story was sort of interesting, not riveting, but I was walking the dogs, and it was the only thing on my Shuffle I hadn’t listened to yet so I kept it running. At one point, Maron asked her who she’d like to work with in the future, and she admitted she had admired Rosie O’Donnell since middle school, had read her autobiography Rosie multiple times. She said she followed a lot of Rosie’s career advice from the book. For example, Rosie wrote, Never have a net. So Plaza had never gotten a “real job”, always counting on making her living through her art.
And that hit me in the gut. I realized I not only have a net, I’m in my net. I’m highly qualified in my net. I’m National Board-certified in my net. I’ve been lying in my net for going on ten years. Long enough to have indentations in a criss-cross pattern on my back.
hey ames,
from personal experience, i can tell you how much it ticks me off that she eschews having a “net”. while it can be motivating, it’s honestly not practical, and most artists have to have one. there are very few that do not. very, very few. and it annoys me that ones that haven’t had to talk as having one is for the unmotivated and weak, when in fact not having one is for the very lucky, and not necessarily for the most talented nor hardest working.
anyway, if it motivates you to jump start something that you’ve been putting off because of the “what ifs”, then it’s all good…but don’t let it make you think it makes you less of an artist nor less creative.
just sayin’.
Good point, other ames. I was beating the shit out of myself for it, but you’re right. About everything. Will you be my guru?
three things:
1) there is no one path for every artist to take. we must each must follow our own. for rosie, it worked to have no net. for others, it works to be able to step into an audition and not be freaking out inside because you do not NEED that JOB to PAY your BILLS or YOU WILL BE EVICTED. different things motivate different people at different times and in different ways. sometimes discomfort or need creates a new relationship with risk or drive. some artists are really, truly not good at anything else, and no other job is suited for them. look for what motivates you now to write, and write.
2) you get to choose how you define you. and comparison is a form of violence. you are not rosie. or aubrey plaza. you are amy scott. you also get to choose how you define/describe your job, accomplishments, choices, dreams. you are that powerful.
3) in life there is no net. for anyone. ever. the net is an illusion. anything can change at any time.
there are probably more things, but these are a good start.
i, too, never had a net. deliberately. that’s why i can’t type.
sorry. no help here.
I guess what’s bugging me is that I’ve spent so much time and energy honing my net and so little working at my creative pursuits.
you can call your life a net or you can call your life a life. it’s up to you. which context serves you? and then write about it.
Can I just take a moment to say that while this whole having a net thing is interesting and you know, important but from this entry what I got was you saw Louis C.K.!! I only wish I could see Louis C.K.!
As always, you rock!
He was so fucking funny, Mercer.
I have only one thing to add — don’t borrow any money to get a net.