An Actor Without An Audience: Poetry For Artists, Lovers And Everymen

"an actor without an audience" is a collection of poems & pictures by Austin Basis- a working actor who questions his very existence. Through both poetry & prose, his constant search for answers about life, love & self find their way onto the page with a healthy mixture of honesty, edginess, self-reflection, heart, and humor... It takes you on the emotional journey of an artist, a lover, and an everyman. Austin finds poetry the freest of all the written forms & writes with an intentional disregard for established poetic structures. He doesn't write because he wants to- he writes because he needs to.

He has overcome many obstacles to get where he is today, so Austin writes poems for the "everyman" because that's what he is & that's how he perceives the world. He believes that- like him- most people navigate the world as an underdog, but that shouldn't dictate the success or failure of their efforts in life, love, career, or artistic expression. And it certainly shouldn't discourage anyone from taking on a challenge.

Austin has always written poetry as the expression of an inner turmoil. Whether it be feelings of angst, anxiety, absurdity, love, loss, or betrayal- he finds catharsis through crafting language into a rhythm that satisfies his emotional state at the time. It becomes an organic release of thought & emotion into the world of words. It is an extremely positive experience for him- and truly gratifying at that.

He has also used poetry as a way to connect with the characters he portrays. Often writing in that particular character's voice, Austin finds that sharing in this creative process allows for an easier transition into the fictitious worlds he inhabits... It becomes another layer to present as part of his performance.

Chapters include:

Love-
The positive side of Austin's encounters with friendship & love.

Life-
The philosopher in Austin questions & observes the world around him.

Lust-
The purest expression of Austin's hormones.

Pain-
The downside of love & loneliness that Austin has far too often had to embrace.

Poetry-
An outside look at the inside of poetry.

Process-
Examples of Austin's use of poetry as an acting tool.

Written & Illustrated by Austin Basis