At 82, I’ve learned something curious. The calendar insists I’m getting older, but my desire to act apparently didn’t get the memo.

Every now and then someone will ask me...usually with a tone that suggests they’re about to recommend a rocking chair and a quiet porch... “Have you thought about retiring?”

Retire from what? From doing something I’ve loved most of my life?

Acting isn’t really something you retire from. It’s more like a condition. Once you catch it, you’ve got it for good.

Now the business itself has certainly changed over the years. When I started out, auditions were different, casting was different, and nobody had ever heard the phrase “self-tape.” Today, actors need lighting, sound, editing skills, and sometimes what feels like a minor degree in computer science just to submit an audition.

But one thing hasn’t changed: the need to stay ready. If you’re an actor today and you’re not getting as many auditions as you’d like, don’t let it discourage you. Every actor goes through those dry spells. Sometimes it’s the industry, sometimes it’s timing, and sometimes it’s just the mysterious alignment of the casting planets.

And here’s something else that experience has taught me. You never really know how an audition went.

I once attended an audition where I did an absolutely horrible job. I flubbed the lines, stumbled through the scene, and stuttered more than I care to admit. By the time it was over, I knew I had completely blown it. On the way out of the building, I tossed the script sides into the nearest trash can and drove home moaning the blues the whole way.

“Well,” I thought, “that’s one role I definitely won’t be getting.” The next day my agent called. “Ray, you’re pinned for the role.” What???Apparently the people in the room saw something I didn’t.

On the other hand, I’ve walked out of auditions feeling like I absolutely nailed the part... only to never hear another word about it.

That’s the acting business.

Which is why my advice to actors today is simple: don’t get discouraged. Instead, keep the instrument tuned. Take classes. Work scenes. Do student films. Help other actors rehearse. Read for friends when they have auditions coming up. Stay involved in the craft.

Every time you do that, you’re sharpening the most important tool you have...yourself. Because the truth is, this is a long game. The joy isn’t just in booking the job. It’s in the process, the learning, and the people you meet along the way.

So no, I’m not retiring. As long as I can remember a few lines and make it to my mark without tripping over the furniture, I’ll keep showing up.

Because after all these years in this business, I’ve learned one thing for certain: Actors may never know how an audition went...but casting directors usually do.