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Arts & Entertainment

Silver Spring Resident Chases His Dream in Hollywood

It becomes less about the funny and more about who you knows you're funny.

For half a decade, Silver Spring resident, Michael Blaustein, has been in New York City living his dream as an actor and a stand-up comedian. While Blaustein has been working to get his name out there, he has been able to score an appearance as an extra on the CW Show “Gossip Girl” and has become a popular draw on the stand-up circuit. Patch caught up with Blaustein  for an exclusive interview about his memories of Silver Spring, how he got into acting and a philosophy that helps keep him focused.

Patch: First, thanks for spending time talking to us. Have you been keeping busy?

Michael Blaustein: It is a crazy time for me. From January to March it’s pilot season for all the major television networks so their casting heavily for their new upcoming projects. Because of this I have been running around the city auditioning. It’s been busy but a good kind of busy.   

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Patch: You grew up in Silver Spring, what did the town mean to you? 

M.B: I was born in Takoma Park, and I was raised in Silver Spring. Growing up outside of Washington, D.C. was amazing. You had the feel of suburbia infused with city life. I got both sides of the coin. I couldn't have asked for a better place to grow up.

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Patch: Any particular memories that stand out for you? 

M.B: I remember I used to play basketball at a park near Kensington Day Care. Basketball became such a huge part of my life. The court became a second home for me. Basketball taught me so many life lessons: Hardwork, motivation, focus just to name a few. 

Patch: How did you go from basketball to stand-up comedy?

M.B: Well, my entire life I have was always the class clown. I always loved making people laugh. There is something about the sound of laughter. It’s the best sound on the planet. When I attended Coastal Carolina University my friends  would  always tell me “You should do comedy, you should do Stand-up man.” So one day I started watching Comedy Central and I said "Hey, I could do that."  So I started writing jokes and performing them in the mirror. I didn't get on stage until I was about a year into being in New York City. When I finally got on that stage and got that first laugh, I was hooked. Stand-Up is like a drug. There is nothing better than a mic, a stage, and a laughing audience...I want to reiterate a laughing audience.  

Patch: Had you done anything else show business related?

M.B: During my Junior year in college, I went to work at the Dixie Stampede in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. A friend of mine was able to introduce me to an agent in Charleston and this ultimately led me to New York City. I moved to New York City in 2006 and I have been doing stand up for about three-and-a-half years and I have been acting for about four.

Patch: Did you receive any training?

M.B: I went to William Esper Studio and they completely changed me. If I may use the cliché, I went in as a boy and came out a man. The William Esper Studio taught me to respect acting as an art form. When I finished the conservatory, I was able to hold my head up high and consider myself an artist.

Patch: What have you learned about the business?

M.B: In any industry it is a business. While it is important to build genuine relationships, this business is based on money. Money runs the business. When there is no money being generated those "friendships" slowly fade.

Patch: What do you say the key to your career is?

M.B:  I would say networking is. In this business I would say talent is 30 percent and networking is 70 percent. You never know when you walk into an audition, and say you don’t fit the part, a casting director can remember me and recommend me for another position. The other reason networking is so important is because for example in Stand-Up, you are just one comic out of a thousand. Every comic once you reach a certain level is funny. It becomes less about the funny and more about who you knows your funny.  A professional acquaintance will get you the edge.

Patch: Is hard to take rejection personally?  

M.B: It is important to never, ever take anything personal. In comedy or acting, you get 77 “NO's," and then one “YES” followed by another 130 “NO’s” before you get another “YES.” You have to hold onto those "YES's" to make it through but not to tightly. You have to remember your accomplishments with out ever being content. Being content is death. If I get a “no,” I will allow myself a day to recover but then I have to get right back to work.

Patch: How is your career going?

M.B: Today, I am working as a stand-up comedian/Actor. I am working to create a fan base to begin to play bigger shows. I admire the careers of actors like Sam Rockwell, Ben Foster and David Morse. They are able to make these multi-million dollar films and play these amazing characters without, for the most part, people "knowing" who they are.

Patch: If fans of your work want to keep in touch with and find out what you are up to, where is the best place they can go? 

M.B: They can go on my web site  and I also am on Twitter  and I have a Facebook page. I hope to hear from them!

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