Newsletter #18: Done is Better Than Perfect
My posture while writing this was terrible
I have started and restarted this GODDAM newsletter 3 times in the past month.
Definitely some perfectionism getting in my way. Definitely feeling the pressure from no one but myself to make sure I have only the most powerful and truthful and moving things to say before I post…
Because yes, I’ll admit it, I freaking thrive off the positive feedback you guys give me when I write one of my long in depth vulnerability posts. Maybe I got myself a little addicted to making you guys feel feelings. Maybe I’m fueled by your tears. I’m not too proud to admit that.
But it’s not exactly a process I can repeat every single month
AND perfectionism is not shit that I preach. That’s not how I encourage folks to engage with their art.
I’ve been seeing my favorite adage,
“Done is better than perfect,”
in practice all over the place recently.
You know me, I love social media and I’m very interested in how social media stars, specifically long form content creators on Youtube, got their start.
Y’all, if you look at the first videos made by any of your favorite Youtubers, I GUARANTEE you that those videos are garbaaaaage. Garbagio.
But they all kept going.
They made videos with horrible lighting, poor as fuck sound quality, no editing, all for the viewership of maybe 5 strangers and their mom. And they kept GOING.
Fast forward, I dunno, for some maybe 2-5 years, and I get to see the GORGEOUS, hilarious, high quality videos that I know and love.
And of course if I were to make a video right now with what I have at my disposal at this moment (no money, mediocre lighting, no time to edit myself…) and compare it to my favorite Youtubers who do this gig full time with hundreds of Patreon subscribers and five years of practice under their belt, yeah I am likely to feel very disappointed with myself and my quality.
But what a useless and unfair comparison that would be.
You have to have to have to start somewhere.
And then you HAVE TO hit publish.
And maybe 1 person will read it.
But then maybe when you write your second post, 2 people read it.
I keep feeling like I’m trying to gear up and prepare for a race that a bunch of people are already at the finish line of. But that’s because while I was busy making sure I researched all the best running shoes, those folks had already started running.
You can’t edit what doesn’t exist.
So here’s my very not at all perfect Substack post with a bunch of ideas you’ve probably heard a million times already because I am incredibly behind schedule but I value you guys and I value writing more than I value whatever my made up-ideal-most-perfect-ever post would say.
I’m in an Oreo commercial!
Look ma, I’m on TV!
I promise I audition for other things besides Oreo commercials lol but honestly if I could be the Flo from Progressive of Oreos, I would be so incredibly happy.
This was such a freaking fun day of shooting.
A reading of a new play!
I got to flex my skills as the MEAN GIRL 😈 in a reading of i can fix him by Sarah Jae Leiber, directed by Alex Church Gonzales.
I did not know before that playing the don of a Jewish high school’s fan fiction mafia was a dream of mine but that dream has now been fulfilled and I am all the better because of it.
Oh, I love this play so much you guys. As most of you know, I have been known to dabble in the fan fiction sphere 💅 so the content felt VERY close to home.
What a beautiful way to remind myself how much I love live theatre.
I love new plays that are written with such grounded and real dialogue. And I know I won’t be able to do it forever, but getting to play characters that are younger than me is so healing every time I do it.
Also, getting to play the mean girl allowed me to get out a lot of needed frustration 😁
High recommend checking out Sarah’s work and ACG’s as well!
Solo Show Coaching
Two of my clients did a joint solo show event! They worked separately on solo show material they already had and then we worked together on combining the pieces to become a cohesive show. They were so brilliant and hilarious and moving and I’m so proud of both of them.
I also translated what I do to work with a Twitch streamer for the first time ever. We worked on taking what her audience already loved about her streams and the community she’s fostered to create new regular segments that she could use to more easily create social media content.
Everyone go check out AGreenQueen on Twitch for a warm and wonderful community!
If you’re interested in finally creating the solo show of your dreams, (even if you have no idea where to start) email me at maggiemetnick1@gmail.com for a ✨free✨ 20 minute consultation where I will give you actionable next steps specific to your ideas and goals. 😊
Stuff to Check Out
Short Film
Sick Enough - My very talented friend Olivia Benedict wrote and stars in a short film (coming soon) about Stella who undergoes treatment for an eating disorder and faces an abrupt insurance cut off, compelling her to delve deeper into the genuine roots of her illness. The story is such a new angle on eating disorder recovery that I personally have never heard talked about before.
Shows
Verse Aloud: Metered Poetry of the Past - A poetry night where everyone who attends gets to read poems from a curated selection of a different poets’ works. Jan 21, 9pm at The RAT NYC.
Abolish Everything LIVE TAPING - I’ve mentioned how great this show is where comedians attempt to abolish their pet peeves and improvisers lobby against them and now it’ll be on Nebula! Come support the show and be a part of comedy history. Jan 31st, 7pm & 9:30pm at Caveat.
Comedians Earnestly Singing Musical Theatre - Exactly what it sounds like and you’re gonna like how these comedians SOUND!! Feb 7th, 9:30PM at Joe’s Pub.
Visual Art
Dionysus is Dead - Under Minerva Art Gallery presents a month long visual arts and performance event celebrating sobriety and the radical transformative power of clean living. All January at Under Minerva.
Classes
Improv Drop In - Hone your improv skills and get your reps in at an improv drop in with some of my favorite teachers and improvisers! Tons of times at The PIT.
What I’m Loving
Jay Cote on Youtube
This nerdy white boy’s videos make me laugh harder than the piss queen penguin video, and that’s saying a lot.
Contrapoints discusses Twilight
I beseech you to watch this video Contrapoints made about Twilight.
Oh you have a “life” and you “can’t” set aside 3 whole hours to learn about the female gaze in literature and how we treat our own sexuality through one of the, like it or not, MOST influential franchises of our time? You’re being so weird right now…
As always, you are wonderful and very smart and creative and I hope to swallow my own perfectionistic demons so that I can write to you again very soon 💜