Mike Fass

Although, for me, 2008 shows all the signs of becoming one of the most exciting years yet (and let's plan rather than just hope that it applies to all of us), it sure is, just like all of the best years I've ever known, getting off to a bumpy start.

The writers' strike is crippling many of us and so, like the troopers all seasoned entertainers are expected to be, many of us are seeking work outside of TV and movies. Of course, the only TV and movie work available, generally, is to found in TV commercials plus shows and movies that were written (and will just have to do without the usual rewrites)  before the strike  initiated.  That means EVERYBODY'S goin' for 'em! It also means hitting the road and working live.

It's funny because, as my music career began to cool off and I found myself returning more frequently to acting assignments, I began to realize a saving grace in the transition. When I was a young and in-demand drummer for rock and pop acts, I could clear most of my competition simply because I was a specialist in my field; one of the hardest hitting power drummers in the industry and there were a lot of performers who wanted that.

Then came a lot of changes in the music industry, far too numerous to detail here in this blog post, that dovetailed with the fact that, the older I got, the younger (and cheaper) my competitors for jobs became. By the end, my average rival for a concert tour or a recording session was about 19 years old and still living with mom and dad and, therefore, had the advantage of being able to underbid my camp for just about any assignment. Compounding this was the fact that, although I hit harder than guys thirty years younger, there just isn't a pressing demand for drummers over the age of 28. That makes me the carton of milk that remained on the shelf for some twenty years past his freshness date. No wonder I'm sour about the whole thing!

Consequently, my return to acting on a more full time basis gave me an unforseen (at least by me) advantage. At 48 (I'll be 49 next month) I never have to compete with a 19 year old for the same roles. Nor can a younger person undercut my established base rates. Even a man my own age won't do that because, as older men, we no longer have stars in our eyes and we don't give it away for free anymore like we did back in the days when the prospect of "exposure" seemed worth the financial sacrifice. Castings with "credit, copy and meal" as compensation are routinely dismissed when offered to guys my age. We've got bills to pay, man!

That said, and with the pickin's as slim as they are until the strike is over, I now expect to see a lot of dubious looking older men at the few casting calls currently available with some of the gray in their hair coming off on their jackets and lines around the eyes that look expertly penciled in.

Oh, sure, call me paranoid. That's how I know that YOU'RE part of the conspiracy (insert sting music here)!

I will, however, be doing more music assignments this year both in the recording studio and in concert.

My favorite gigs, however, will be the personal appearances I'll be making both as Zangief and on behalf of the character and our series at many Street Fighter 20th Anniversary celebrations going on around the world all year in the form of conventions, expos, product premieres at shopping malls, movie theaters and video game establishment openings as well as other events.

This is really cool because it means I'll get to see so many of you in person throughout most of this busy year!

So, as I salute the Writers' Guild of America in their quest and stand in solidarity with them, I most definitely look forward to meeting and hanging out with you!

Much love!

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