MANILA, Philippines?Oh, it feels so good to write the word Manila. Now on to business.

Over the many years that I?ve been performing, I?ve received many pieces of advice from a lot of different people?actors, musicians, critics, directors, teachers, producers, family members, and friends. Many of these have been digested and incorporated into my work, while others that I either hated or couldn?t use have been thrown by the wayside.

Sparkling gems

I can?t remember exactly how, when, or from whom I got these gems of wisdom, so unfortunately I am unable to give credit where credit is due, but the gems are still with me, still shining. Hopefully, these will be of use to someone else out there. If they don?t work for you, throw them aside.

1) A chain is only as strong as its weakest link. (Translation: if you, second chorus girl from the left, suck, so does the show.)

2) Make sure your lifestyle compliments your work. In other words, no unnecessary partying during the run.

3) Self-indulgence has no place here. This is a musical, not a concert.

4) Never ever give less than your best. Even if there are only seven people in the audience, those seven made the effort to watch you. The least you can do is demonstrate your appreciation by giving them a good show.

5) You?re not here to make friends; you?re here to work. (Having said that, I?ve made some really wonderful friends at work.)

6) Live your life as fully as you can. How and where else will you get what you need as an actor?

7) Bring your day into your work, and let it run through you. It doesn?t matter if you had a good or bad day.

8) Warm up thoroughly before the show. But not too much that you have nothing left to give.

9) Listen. If you listen, you won?t be out of tune.

10) You are never funny. The material is.

11) Your job in a musical is to service the show, not the other way around. The whole is much greater than the sum of its parts.

12) Leave your ego at the door. There is no place for it here.

13) Professionalism is more than just being on time. It?s about being prepared, consistent, focused and hardworking.

14) Live each moment as it comes. Don?t anticipate what?s going to happen next.

15) Surrender yourself completely to the experience of being on tour. Take it all in.

16) You signed up for this ? don?t complain.

17) Be easy to work with. It?ll make for a happy workplace.

18) Be obsessive in your research for the role you?ll be playing. Your interpretation of that character?s songs will never ever be the same.

19) Learn to not take things personally. Be it a newspaper critic or casting director, you will be judged based on your work, not on the person you are.

20) Don?t behave in a way that will attract disrespect. It?s so easy to make a company hate you ? and hate you with a passion. (I?ve heard my share of stories about nightmarish actors who hoard costumes from peers and plant negative thoughts into fellow actors? minds. Not cool.)

21) Make sure you eat something before rehearsals. You?re going to be on your feet all day.

22) When finding a voice/acting teacher, let it be someone you really get along with and respect.

23) There can be so much power and strength in stillness.

24) Be present in what you?re doing, and invest your heart and soul into it. Everyone will be able to tell if you?re phoning it in.

25) After all is said and done, HAVE FUN! This, after all, is the best job in the world.