Today we’d like to introduce you to Tracey Bonner.
Tracey, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I never imagined pursuing acting as a career. It was so foreign to me and growing up in the south there was no real access to the entertainment industry. In undergrad, I studied Theatre and Education at Tennessee State University but was on a full Softball scholarship so my focus was more on my athletics. But after tearing my ACL, my theatre mentor advised me to audition for Grad School.
I had never even heard of auditioning for grad school and what that entailed. I was a traditionalist in the sense that I was going to teach middle school drama and coach softball. I was in the mindset that I had to do what was safe and would give me more stability. But when I moved to Chicago my life completely changed. I completed the MFA Acting program at The Theatre School at DePaul University, in 2005, and the world became my oyster. I have been afforded the opportunity to study at the Second City Chicago improv conservatory where I learned the skill of improv. I have also had the opportunity to work at some of the country’s most notable theatre’s like The Alliance Theatre, Kenny Leon’s True Colors Theatre, Victory Gardens Theatre, Court Theatre, Signature Theatre, Indiana Repertory Theatre, Virginia Stage Company, just to name a few. I am so blessed to be an Ensemble Member of Congo Square Theatre Company (Chicago) where I can be a part of a group of artists who strive to make good quality art seen through the lens of the African American Diasporic experience.
After relocating to Atlanta, in 2013, I have been able to successfully transition from being just a theatre artist to a TV/Film artist, as well. It’s been a dream come true to work with industry vets that I have looked up to for many many years. But, I have evolved as an artist and have started my own Audition Taping service. I believe this is the natural progression, as an actor, to branch out and do something outside of just acting. My skills an actor help me give my clients the kind of feedback that helps make their auditions stronger. I also get to use my background in teaching to instruct them, to direct them. I like crafting the scenes with my clients and helping them find the nuances in their acting. I like helping them become more grounded in their character. This business started out as a means to bring in another source of income but it turned out to become a life’s work, as I’m not just recording my clients and then it’s on to the next, I’m mentoring them and encouraging them and helping them to develop into stronger artists.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The road to success is never smooth. There will be stumbling blocks and obstacles that occur along the way. I remember booking my first national commercial, in 2005, thinking that was going to be my big break. I had just graduated grad school and thought my degree and training was all I’d need to continue climbing the ladder of success. Boy was I wrong. Due to not taking heed to sound advice, mismanagement of money, and a decline in bookings, there was a point where I’d financially hit rock bottom. Around 2007 I made some investments in properties that, due to the housing crisis, went into foreclosure. I also invested in a friend’s boutique that unfortunately shut down in 2008 so I was drowning in debt all while still pursuing my acting career. After a couple of years of trying to climb out of the financial hole, I had to give up my independence and ask for the aid of my friends. I spent a good part of 2010 and 2011 sleeping in basements, on couches, and floors, I was too ashamed to ask my parents for help for fear of looking like a failure so my only option was to scratch and survive. So I thought.
When I moved to Atlanta, I thought things would be easier. I was in a smaller market and with my experience, I thought I’d be a shoe-in for certain opportunities but when that didn’t happen, I’d have to pursue other gigs that took me out of town for months at a time. Finally, in 2015 I decided to give up acting and become a full-time educator. I was tired of the hustle and struggle life and needed more stability. I needed the financial security and the reassurance that every day I woke up with a consistent job. But I was unhappy and extremely depressed. I woke up dreading my job and resenting the world for having to endure a job that wasn’t my passion. So there is a struggle in that aspect too. You want stability but don’t want to sacrifice your passion at the same time. It gets tough mentally.
I also think there’s a misconception of the obstacles actors face when people see you doing well and “living your best life. People are oblivious to the hardships you face and how long it took for you to get where you are now. There’s a saying, “Thank God I don’t look like what I’ve been through.” and I’m a testament to that. See, before social media was a thing we didn’t have a way of highlighting our successes to the world, it was done by word of mouth. But we live in a society where seeing is believing and if they don’t see it, it never happened. Now, with Instagram, Facebook, Snap Chat, and other social media outlets, people can see that I’m on a TV show or Feature Film. It gives them a false sense of my reality. They don’t get to see the countless times I’ve flown to New York or LA, for an audition, and had to spend hundreds of dollars for travel, hotel fare, and food just to NOT get the gig. People look at actors and think our lives are glamorous but they don’t realize there’s a very small percentage of us that get the glitz and glamour that appears to come with this lifestyle. The majority of us are working odds and end jobs to make sure our bills are paid and our needs are met. We are forced to find nontraditional ways to be more flexible just so that we can be available for auditions and bookings. So that may mean we have to drive Uber or Lyft at night and work at Starbucks in the early mornings just to be available during the audition hours of 10am and 5pm. That may mean we have to Airbnb our spaces just so we can make a little extra income. That may mean that we work in the food industry so we can get nontaxable tips. And sometimes it doesn’t matter how far we’ve come in this industry we are still only as good as our last gig.
That’s why my taping service brings me so much joy because I’m still involved in the business of acting while helping others continue to pursue their dreams. It’s a win-win situation.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Get Booked Audition Taping – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
My company is an audition taping service that provides simultaneous acting coaching. I specialize in providing detailed acting coaching, acting mentorship, editing, and audition submissions. I am a one stop shop when it comes to audition taping. What separates me from other taping services is that I am a working actor so I treat each client’s audition like it’s my own. Their audition is a reflection of my coaching so each time they submit their tape, it’s like I’m auditioning too. I also provide a warm space where people can come and be free to create.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
I’m looking to build my taping service. Right now I have a boutique list of clients and would love to open a space where more actors can be serviced. It would be ideal for the space to have several rooms where the actors can come in and reserve their own personal room and use it for however long they need. The point is to book the job so I don’t want the talent to feel rushed.
Pricing:
- On Location Taping: $30/hr; Monday-Friday 9am-9pm
- Mobile Taping: $45/hr; Monday-Friday 9am-9pm
- Before 9am & After 9pm is an additional $15 Fee
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @thetraceybonner
Image Credit:
Tracey Bonner
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