After 2 years and nearly 200 articles, we’ve decided to focus our energies on our next endeavors and will no longer be publishing new content on the site. We’re committed, however, to keeping the site alive as an archive. We’ll also continue to post resources, articles, and offers on our Facebook Page and Twitter feed, so be sure to Like & Follow us.

We’ve learned so much about art and business, perseverance and intention, and caffeine and under-eye concealer on this Webadventure. But the biggest boon, by far, has been the intimacy and fun we’ve experienced with our readers, contributors and supporters in building something to serve the creative community that we love.

Both of us have exciting projects on the horizon – we hope you’ll follow us as we continue our evolutions. And we hope that you’ll  use the heart and wisdom of all of our contributors’ articles to continue yours.

Love,

Claire & Sarah

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Sarah on Twitter

Claire on Twitter

Brains of Minerva on Facebook

Sarah’s Mailing List

Claire’s Mailing List

Donate to fund the Brains of Minerva archive

We’re thrilled that journalist Christopher Vaughan chose to profile our site in Backstage! You can check out the article here. Like so many others, we started our careers through the auditions that would come out every Thursday in the actors’ “paper of record,” so it’s especially sweet to be on the receiving end of its attention. And thanks to our fab contributors Kai Soremekun and Cris D’Annunzio for their kind quotes.

Photo of Sarah & Claire by Amanda Rowan

We would also like to congratulate Jared Gertner!  Though he hasn’t contributed a piece to Minerva (ahem, ahem), he is the husband of Minerva’s music guru Jeffrey Marshek.  Read some of Jeffrey’s music columns and get inspired to update your playlists.

Rory O’Malley, Josh Gad, Andrew Rannells, Nikki M. James and Michael Potts

in The Book of Mormon

Photo by Joseph Marzullo/WENN

Post Image by Patrick Hoesly

Fast forward to the present – we have learned the hard way that, though loyal, our (thoughtful, creative & attractive) audience is quite specific, and, uh, this demographic doesn’t have the reputation for being too spend-y. These, unfortunately, are not qualities that excite advertisers. We are too niche.

Producing this content takes many (many!) hours each week, and each year we pay hosting/server fees, banking fees, and business taxes. We get a lot out of putting this site together, and we know you get a lot out of reading it: we see our audience growing, and you tell us how much the site means to you when we meet you out and about in LA and New York.

These are uncertain times at Minerva. We are attempting to figure out the viability of the site for the long-term and are exploring our next steps. In the meantime, will you make a donation in honor of the value you’ve received from the site and its fully searchable archive? $10 would be great, and if you can afford more, please consider a larger donation to compensate for those who can’t contribute.

Now is your chance to let us know how important this site is to you. If you’re a performer your donation is tax deductible as an education expense, and all donors can choose to be listed on our Donation Wall with the cute/inspirational/self-promoting tag line of your choice!

Thank you for helping make Brains of Minerva healthy & sustainable, the way it strives to make your life in acting.

Photo by Webtreats

What about you?  What have you guys been up to?  Tell us about it and share links if you’ve got ‘em in the comments section.

We’re going to focus on our other projects for a moment and take a brief hiatus.  We’ll be back with new content on March 1st at the latest. (We may pop in with something sooner if something arises that just can’t wait.  We’re unpredictable like that.  Subscribe for email notifications so you don’t miss anything.) In the meantime, come out and have a drink with us Sunday night at the Good Luck Bar!  Details here.

Thank you all so much for your interest in our February 13th panel discussion and cocktail party with the team behind NBC’s The Cape. On Wednesday we received word that NBC has canceled the series. Episodes that have already been shot will continue to air, but production has ceased – much to the surprise of the cast and crew. The panelists, understandably, do not desire to talk about their just-lost love and livelihoods, and have withdrawn their participation in the event. So, no panel & party, we’re afraid.

But we have a Plan B! It’s been a while since we saw all of you “IRL” and we’d like to invite you to join us at The Good Luck Bar (‘cuz we could use some…) in Los Feliz on Sunday Feb. 13th from 8-10pm. The crowd is cute, the drinks are strong, and the parking is not a nightmare.

If you’ve purchased a ticket, you should have received an email regarding the refund process. Please email us at info@brainsofminerva.com if you have any questions.

One of the many great things, however, that came from organizing this event was deepening our relationships with our peers in the blogosphere who helped to get the word out and with all the great artists and vendors who’d planned to pitch in. Our heartfelt thanks to them:

Ben Whitehair at Playbills vs. Paying Bills
Jenny Yerrick Martin at Your Industry Insider
Trevor & AJ at The Inside Acting Podcast
Risa Bramon Garcia
Ben Davis
Joy Donnell at Do It in Public
Alexandra Choi
Seth Michael May at Acting on Impulse
Bob Gillen at The Filmmaker Lifestyle
Ida Darvish – The Actor’s Lounge
Dallas Travers
Ryan Elliot Kravetz
Brian Vermeire at Holdon Log
Mike Winters
Andy Hayato Riddle
The Bootleg Theater
Fractured Atlas
Alex’s Info

Thanks again for all your enthusiasm and support. We can’t wait to see you at The Good Luck Bar!

xox,

Claire & Sarah

Photo by Andy Hayato Riddle

How do you decide?  Let us know in the comments.

We have a discount for you!  The code is BRAINY.  For tickets click here.

We can’t wait to see you at The Bootleg Theater on February 13th!  Event starts at 7pm, doors will open at 6:30pm.

We’re thrilled to be hosting a panel discussion at Echo Park’s Bootleg Theater with the creative team of NBC’s new series The Cape. On Sunday February 13at at 7pm The Brains will moderate a stimulating talk on what it takes to bring a show from idea to its first season. Our incredible guests include the series creator Thomas Wheeler, casting director Risa Bramon Garcia and stars James Frain and Keith David. The $30 ticket price*  includes complimentary wine and hors d’oeuvres at the after-party in the venue’s super-cool lounge.

Buy your tickets here!

Not only will the evening be fun, relaxed and educational, but it’s a great networking opportunity as well. For less than the price of a casting director workshop, you’ll get a stimulating talk that takes you behind the scenes of a much-anticipated new show, a chance to ask questions in the Q & A, and an opportunity to meet our guests and other enterprising pros like yourself at the after-party.

To learn more about our guests, you can read Sarah’s interview with Thomas Wheeler, check out Risa’s wonderful Brains post, and learn more about the incredible acting careers of James Frain here and Keith David here.

We”ll see you at The Bootleg!

For tickets and more info, click here.

*After January 20th tickets are $40 and $45 the day of the event.