Wash, Rinse, Repeat

by ASC Student, Darryn Glass

Growing up, these 3 words were found on the back of every bottle of shampoo I ever used. The funny thing about these words was their origin.  They were a marketing scheme.  I say scheme because the shampoo industry was looking for a way to increase sales so they created  these simple instructions: Wash, Rinse, Repeat.  Three little words that led to a boom in the shampoo industry. Now this may be an urban legend, but it made me think about the repetitious behaviors that we sometimes play out in our lives. I’ve found that it’s the pattern of any creative lifestyle.

We submit for auditions and wait to hear back.  If we hear back we go to the audition.  Then we wait to see if we are called back (sometimes multiple times).  Then the wait for booking, and finally performance.  Then we do it all again.  Wash, Rinse, Repeat.  Each time we walk through the process, we learn and grow, gain skills and wisdom, and come out on the other side a better actor and person. This includes acting class.

I do not have a BFA or MFA in theater.  In fact, my BS is in Computer Science, a field in which I have worked for over 20 years.  I am a trained singer and after several years of successfully booking community theater musicals (in the ensemble), I wanted to grow my skills.  Enter Acting Studio Chicago.

My first class was with Jack Bronis.  Jack came into the class so casually I thought he was a student (and it made me feel better that I was not the only older person in the class).  For the next 8 weeks he gently led our group through the beginning stages of acting, using oddly enough, a lot of improvised scenes.  My favorite was a scene where the daughter I had given up for adoption 16 years prior was coming to meet me.  There was a moment in the scene where I was speechless from the emotions that I felt.  It was magical.  Each class I’ve taken has included times like these, times when a single moment grabs me and for a few moments I am in the moment.

Jack Bronis

Each class, each teacher, and each student brings something different to the table.  Case in point, Jennie Moreau recommended that I re-take Level 2 (for that matter Adrianne Cury said the same about Level 3).  She felt there was more I could learn.  That may sound like a negative thing, but in reality it was just the opposite.  Wash, Rinse, Repeat.  I came out of this experience more skilled, and with a greater understanding of myself as a person and a performer.

Jennie Moreau

It is a lesson that I am glad I’ve learned.  Wash, Rinse, Repeat.  Take each lesson, even repeating ones (especially repeating ones) and look at what you can learn from each. Whether it’s an audition that you feel you blew, a class that you need to retake, or even the daily grind of pursuing this crazy creative lifestyle.  Unlike wasting shampoo on already clean hair, each moment will enrich you, your soul and others around you.

Darryn Glass is an overall nice guy who is a musician and actor, works in the computer science field and takes classes at ASC. Check out Darryn’s website, here!

Interested in beginning your acting journey? Sign up for classes at Acting Studio Chicago,  here!