Communication, really is KEY

Hey Guys!!

So I am not sure if y'all remember, but I got hired by a salad company about three weeks ago. Let me tell you something! The manager left off that he was going to contact me to let me know my schedule. Two weeks fly by, and I have not heard a ring on my phone from him.  I called him a couple of times and left a message and got nothing.  What do you do when your anxious to work right? You want the job so bad for whatever reason you need the money for. My reason is to save and invest in my career. And I think thats pretty important! Well at least to me :)

Anyways, I call again and he answers, I say hello and say my name again incase he has forgotten my existence and he yells with surprise " OMG I forgot to call you back!" And from there we move forward and agree to meet up at one of the stores. But really inside I was saying, "What kind of manager are you?! I wonder how many other people have been put on hold just because he was on vacation...not professional at all!" 

I had the meeting with him, he makes me sign a paper saying I will get paid for the training hour I did, etc. So why does he wait until the end of the conversation to tell me that my schedule is too hard to work with.. PAUSE. What kind of sense does that make? First of all a JOB is suppose to work around you're schedule. I am sorry I am a full time student and committed to my main priority. A job comes after that. Second of all, I don't recall you saying that when I had my interview, because my schedule has been the same for months sir. So the fact that its the managers job to make it work out.... I am gonna say ya didn't pass. But I am still getting paid for training. I better be lol. But he left off, telling me he will continue to try to find a store that can work with my schedule that he has been doing that all the time we haven't spoken....WHY didn't he communicate this with me since the interview? I would have kept it moving and applied else where.

Life lesson- Even if you score an interview and make it to the next level, pretend you never had that interview and carry on with applying to other places if you are still looking for a job.

On higher positions part, please do communicate with any employee what you are doing or what is really going on because honestly, "AINT NOBODY GOT TIME FOR THAT". People just want to get hired and carry on with their lives.  By not communicating in general makes situations become problems that can't be solved until later on, which is worse. Just lay the cards out, be honest, real and let people know what you think or know. 

How wonderful would the world be if everyone communicated what they really felt? I can tell you, it would be a better place with less people being "offended".  It all starts with comminicating with people in you're life, people that you have relationships with, etc, if everyone puts in their part the outcome would be beautiful. Don't you think?

Peace&Love,

Alba

Actors first audition..BAM!

Hey guys!

Hope you have started you're week on a great start! Because I sure have, the sun is out and the wind is blowing me the direction that I want to be in.  So I promised I would let you guys know when I attended my first audition as a young actress.... and here goes! I had my first audition about two weeks ago, in Manhattan.  

It was such a cool vibe, the people that were hosting it were extremely nice and young artists! I was a bit nervous I am not gonna lie, but thanks to both of my friends joining me, I was a lot more relaxed and ready to go in and have a cold read. I went in and did my thang, then came out and had to go again with two other actors to do the scene.  A week later I got a call back saying I got the lead role!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was jumping up and down! We already filmed and have to do voice overs before being edited. But I will post it on the blog when we have the finished product! But one thing I have learned from this experience is to get enough sleep the day before, eat breakfast, and really dissect you're character!  Also do not be surprised when the director gives you a new copy of the script the night before, just know the lines from the back of you're hand!! 



Believe it or not filming is a draggggg. No, Seriously, because the director knows the shots he wants and wants them perfect, so you have to keep the character alive every time you hear "ACTION"! I did not believe my teachers when they told us that we are going to be exhausted by the end of the day. But now, I definitely know lol! 

So now what? Let the auditioning begin!




Peace&love,

Alba

Pageantry & Crazy Fashion Week!

Original Post date: Sunday February 17, 2013

Hey guys!

So this past weekend I had a great first experience at Couture Fashion week! Yes, a real fashion show in New York City.  Might not be mind blowing to you, but to me it had me on cloud nine.  May I first say, that never in my life have I attended a big Fashion show in my home town nor in any other state. So this was a big deal for two reasons: 1) One of my close friends was modeling in it & 2) IT WAS HOSTED IN NEW YORK! 

Maybe some of you guys don't know, but I have been a pageant gal since I was 14 years old.  Last year I had the opportunity to compete in the Ethnic World Internationals with the title of Miss Dominican Republic 2012.  I did not win but I was a finalist and met wonderful people that have inspired me in so many ways.  As a pageant queen, one must attend events to do appearances, promoting their title/ platform, and volunteering. So since I have been so busy with school I knew this was a perfect time to do an appearance! And thank God I did :)

I got two free seats to attend and went in with a friend.  We got their early and got to have some backstage action! I got to meet wonderful make up artists, assistants, and the PRESS. Since I was presented as a pageant queen, many people came up to me and asked to take pictures with me/ of me and handed me their business cards.  

My seating was on the second row, but two nice ladies invited me to sit up front! Then the couple next to me decided to leave early and gave me the seats for my friend to join me.In other words the view was amazing. 

Enough blabbing about what happened, lets get to the fashion side.  Couture Fashion Week was presenting Fall 2013 trends (I know we are barely in Spring!). There was tons of designers like Lourdes Atencio, Kristen Costa, and Ariel Cedno, but the trend that I fell in love with would definitely have to be the creamy lace and and the different shades of brown.  The way it was put together was very beautiful.  These were mostly all dresses, more or so evening gowns or special occasion dresses. Below is a few pictures that I snapped in motion.

What are your thoughts on these pieces?  Are they Fall enough for the runway or they should be darker?  I am really interested in your opinions please do comment! Even though I am new to this runway world would love to hear ideas!  



Peace&love,

Alba

Look into my eyes..not the Ground

Hey Guys!



So sorry I haven't written to you guys in a week, to me it feels like years! lol.. still trying to make this fit into my schedule since I have no wi-fi at home :(  ! Anyways hope you guys ended the month of January very well, and have started February on a great start! 


Todays topic is going to be one that has came to mind almost everyday while I ride the subway here in New York. Lets be honest here, when you get on the train or bus what do you automatically do?  Look for a seat, find one, sit down, and take out you're phone, book, or magazine? I mean we all do it, or just go to sleep because you woke up either too early or its late from coming out of work. For me, riding the subway is time for me to get an inspirational or spiritual awakening to start off my day in a positive mood. (Most of the times or read). But as an actress and as a normal human being I love to observe people.  I mean we all are so different.  Not just shape, size, and color.  But in the way that we all behave of course.  


People rarely look at each other on the subway. Why?  My personal opinion is the feeling when you make eye contact with someone.  The possibilities of what they might think just because you were looking at them.  Do they think I think they are cute? Or do they think I want to fight them, or if they are being annoying and they need to stop talking so much, or walking up and down the train cart like they own the place?  

See what I mean? the possibilities are so very endless. When we feel some type of discomfort we automatically look down and try to go into our own worlds so that no one can bother us.  It's just natural instinct. 

But what most of us are forgetting and cutting off is the exciting world that surrounds us.  Everyday you can discover something new just by watching someones reaction. I don't mean on the creeper status either guys! I mean nowadays technology takes away from our daily interacting physically, and our moment to just be in the moment and not in our "busy social life".  That can only be fun to a certain extent.  For me after a while, I get headaches from looking down on my iPhone for so  long and my neck starts hurting. And lets face it the train seats are not very comfortable!  I get so aggravated myself because even if I dont have service underground I'm still looking for something to do or find because I think I am bored.  But boredom is simply a choice of wanting to do something interesting. And if you guys don't believe me here is the definition I pulled out from google: 

bored  

/bôrd/

Adjective Feeling weary because one is unoccupied or lacks interest in one's current activity

I mean who am I to tell you what to do on your spare time traveling from place to place right?  I just want to suggest to you all, that technology is not the only thing that is fun.  Remember when you were a kid?  You actually rode a bike? or went to the park, colored in a coloring book, went sledding, played board games, actually cared about carrying cool conversations with friends. I mean sheesh there is so much more to humanity than just going on Facebook or Twitter all the time when you are "bored"  All you gotta do is look up and discover. Try it some time!

Peace& love,

Alba

The Real Deal with A Twist

Hey Guys! Happy Thursday!

People think that an actor wakes up one day and decides, "I am going to be an actor for the rest of my life."...This is where its wrong my friends. Honestly everyone is different, but one does NOT BECOME an actor over night haha, I WISH!  But the truth is, becoming an artist in general is a decision you really have to think about.  Going into this industry means you are entering without knowing that you will have a job, just like any other career. Except this one is ten times harder because, there is so many other people and talent that WANT to make it.  But what makes one stand out is their perspective of their attitude, motivation, and talent.  The reality of being successful in this industry as wrong as it sounds; you really need to know people, connections, networking, chatting it up, what ever you want to call it, IT IS THE TRUTH.

Casting directors do not just hand you roles (unfortunately :(  ), Auditions is where it's at.  But the casting directors are also trying to find a job by finding the actor they want! I personally have not done auditions outside of schools yet, (I'm so nervous too ehhh!) but the outside world auditions is the real deal! Auditions are not meant to scare actors, but the reality is that auditions are always nerve racking. They are the door to the next job, to pay your rent, FOOD and don't forget your cell phone bill! But don't all actors do waitressing or some type of bar tending? *typical stereotype* .. WRONG! 

This is the area where I have been trying to understand.  If you are an aspiring actor and you are working on your techniques and preparing for auditions, how do you even make time for a thing called a JOB?  If you have auditions in the morning or in the evening, what the heck can you do that will be consistent and will keep food on our table?  Honestly, it all depends on what your schedule is like, and what kind of work you want to do.  But we can't be picky forever. Sometimes we have to just go with the flow and take what we were handed, just like some roles that we will get.  

At first I thought retail would be good for me because it is consistent and kind of cool.  But boy was I really wrong, retail had me a bit stressed because of closing hours.  I had to stay two hours after my real shift, the reaction to that was lack of sleep to get ready for the next day at school, less time to memorize lines, and actually work on my technique.  I am quesioning myself, if I am usually a multi-tasker and can not do it with retail, than what is the real problem?  Is it me, or is it the job?  I had to come to conclusions and pointed my fingers to the job.  If my job was not wiling to work with my schedule and understand that I am a full time student than they had the issue.  And I was stuck with joggling something that I never had to deal with.  But I found a new job thanks to one of my close friends! (I am telling you it is all about the HOOK UP!) This time it is not at a retail store, its at a salad restaurant.  And the manager is so far understanding my priority which is school, so hopefully scheduling won't be the issue.  Now what I have to do, is make sure the free time I have is being useful for the sake of my classes, my own technique, and don't forget some relaxing time! 

I will get back to y'all about how that s going :) 

But what I am trying to say, is that in any career/job that you choose in life, you will get new challenges thrown at you with out a warning.  Don't stress it, SOLVE IT. 


xoxo,
Albs

Being Healthy is Hard?

"In fitness and in life, self-starting is difficult.  Master it and you'll give yourself a head start to your dreams.  DO IT NOW." 

                                    -LL Cool J


I have been trying to change my eating ways for about 5 months. (Key word: trying!)  Just 5 months, thats it... It feels like a life time to me, seriously.  But how did I change it? Little by little I have been running away from my daily Dominican rice and beans ;) but I do spoil myself with it once in a while.

But if I don't eat rice, what do I eat then? What I substitute rice with is: quinoa, butternut squash, brown jasmine rice, whole grain pasta, lentils and LOTS of veggies. But does it even taste good? You can make it taste how ever you want, the key is to have your foods best friends next to you.  Which is seasoning and I use pure sea salt.  Once you have that, you will bring out the life in any type of grain that you choose to eat. And trust me you do get full, you can never eat enough veggies!

I am a huge meat lover, from ribs to chicken.  But what helps me in this department, is less frying and more baking.  The oven is always there and waiting to get hot.  I'll season the meat a couple days before and then pop it in the oven with foil covering it to keep the moisture and in 20 minutes its finished! Side it off with steamed seasoned vegetables and dinner is served.

Another way to really watch what you eat, is to have a food journal.  Constantly writing every snack and meal you have eaten daily.  The one tip that works for me is to leave my debit or credit card at home or in the back of my wallet. So you can try to forget about it and not be tempted by any fast food on the streets!! MY CHALLENGE, IS SWEETS.  It is a must to control your sweet tooth no matter how hard it is to ignore your craving angel.  Trust me, it takes time.  For example, I am a chocolate lover.  I eat chocolate at least once a day. I am going to cut it down for 3 times a week, than once a week, than once a month! Patience and consitency.

Thats my task, what is yours?

Less worrying, more with the FLOW

Hey Dolls!

So today in my Improvisation class, we were talking about our over all goal to reach by the end of the term.  And when my professor asked me if I remembered mine, I totally blanked out. I couldn't recall what I really wanted to work on in her class. (So not like me!) Something in me, told me that I did have a clue but the words didn't come out of my mouth. So of course she told me, "you said you wanted to work on having less control over things." It was a smack in the face because lately I have been wanting to plan my every move in my acting career, trying to make things perfect. 


Some of us do this all the time without even noticing.  It's a type of comfort that we have because we are so used to the daily routine.  Now if you are like me, you like to have a planner or some sort of organization to really jot down your ideas, things to do lists, inspirational quotes, etc. But I quickly tend to forget that LIFE occurs outside of my planner and my planner is just a reminder.

No matter what career you chose for your life, you can get there with baby steps. This is one of the most important lessons that have been brought to my attention. What you have to do is forget your long term goal, put it in a suitcase in the back of your brain; and instead, have short term goals that will work up to your long term goal.

How to fix this? There is no exact "one way" to put a bandage over it.  This issue can only be cured, with a daily effort of something simple. So simple that you will be mind blown when you read the next line: Enjoy what you do everyday, with the same passion you had when you started it.  No matter what career or what class you are taking, something within you brought you there.

We tend to lose interest or stop working hard, once we get what we have been wanting for so long.  But how do you expect change and growth of success when you have been doing the same daily routine? Everyday you must do something new to see long term results.  Of course results will not be shown in a couple hours, BUT if you keep loving what you do, put in all your effort, seek for new ways to improve, have a positive attitude, I guarantee you will have as much success as you dreamed of when you were younger.

Its all about enjoying the journey, that lives unknown.



xoxo,
Albs

My journey only begins..