Expectations and Follow Through

I believe if you say you're going to do something by a certain time, you should do it. Or at the very least, communicate about why you can't meet the deadline and reschedule.

Cases in point:

1) Many man meetings (I won't even call them 'dates'. IMO a date is something you look forward to vs. an attempt to see if there could be something to look forward to) these days start off with only a day and vague time period. I'm a planner, and find this lack of specificity a bit frustrating.
I was supposed to meet a guy for coffee last Wednesday morning. He'd said he'd call to finalize. Never heard a word.
Am supposed to have lunch with another guy today, who also said he'd call to set a time. Will he? Less than two hours until noon...

2) I was told (in writing) that I'd hear back on something important by the beginning of last week. So, expectations raised, I waited. Monday went by. Tuesday. Wednesday...nothing. I called Thursday afternoon. And learned it would be two more weeks.
Am I getting the runaround or is this a legitimate mixup/miscommunication?
Is it that difficult to send a quick e-mail if plans, schedules or intent change?

The morals of the story:
Don't make promises you can't keep. Conversely, don't expect others to actually do what they say.

Some good news: the beginning of my time travel manuscript finaled in a contest and goes to an editor or agent for final round judging...

Misrepresentations

Everyone has a different honesty meter. I'm the kind of person who'd return an extra penny a store clerk might hand me. I'm just not comfortable with any kind of dishonesty. But many people feel differently.

An example:

Had lunch with a guy I'd met at an event where the upper age limit was 48. So attendees could logically conclude everyone there was 48 or younger. The guy told me his age...not 48. Not 49. Not 50. 54! Is that fair? Is an untruth a good way to start...if he/she can lie about that, even if they fess up, what else will he/she lie about?
I know 1) dating over 40 is tricky 2) people on sites like Match list themselves at a younger age so as not to be excluded from searches...but still.

Another example: I was told something specific and exciting about an acting job that was later partially recanted and at the actual shoot didn't appear to be true at all. Maybe the situation had changed. But, if so, no one explained what had happened. Or things could be at work behind the scenes that I'm not aware of so it could still prove to be somewhat true in the future. Or possibly it was all a well-intentioned mistake (as happened with another recent shoot). But to me, at this moment, it seems like a misrepresentation. A miscommunication at the least.

How far are you willing to go?

Waiting for the call/e-mail....

ASAP. How long do you think that is? Soon...how long is that? Later...does that mean the same day or later in the week?

When you're waiting for other people to get back to you, and their response is necessary before you can take the next step, move in a different direction or make other plans, even ASAP can seem like a long time. Any of these qualifiers can vary depending on the information under consideration. ASAP, when someone is reading a 375 page novel, will be much longer than if she'd simply promised to get back with a date for lunch.

When is follow up appropriate? Is 'no news' really 'good news,' like they say?

It's not like I'm sitting by the phone (well, except when I'm at my desk because the phone is on it), doing nothing but waiting with bated breath. But let's say I have an audition, and know the shoot date is a week from Wednesday. I know they won't call unless I get the part, but I never know when they WILL call if I do. So booking another commitment for that day might not be a good idea. Just in case.

What if a friend asks for several good dates for lunch, then she doesn't choose one? If another opportunity comes up, do I schedule that, or keep those dates open? Should the answer be different if the opportunity is a paying acting job or lunch with a different friend?

Maybe instead of telling someone ASAP, soon, or later, we should consider being more specific in the first place.

Ya gotta spend $ to make $

Being a working actress is expensive. I need:
Current headshots.
Postcards of said headshots to send as reminders and audition follow ups.
Regular haircuts, because I have to look like my headshots.
Classes, because agents/casting directors like to see actors honing their craft. And, the classes are often good networking opportunities when the teachers are industry professionals.
Voiceover demos, a Web site and subscriptions to audition sites.
Business cards.
And now: the video slate. Most actors are supposed to be on Actors Access, an audition and casting clearinghouse. More auditions are requesting an Actor Slate, which is a one minute video showcasing your personality. I had a half hour on camera interview, where the questions ranged from 'What's your favorite movie and why?' to 'Share a favorite childhood memory.' It went so fast, I can't remember half of what I said...I'm waiting to receive the edited version.

In other news, some days I wonder if I exist in the real world with the general populace or only in the solitary Twilight Zone of my imagination. Case in point:
The phone doesn't ring. Meaning no incoming auditions.
The only emails I get are from Yahoo! groups. Meaning that no one is responding to any of the auditions I submitted.