I was seventeen. On my way to class at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Pasadena. I was wearing a light blue plaid blazer suit coat it's a complimentary, but not exact match with a pair of somewhat dress slacks I purchased from Penneys for a Bar Mitzvah. It came in handy. I was playing a businessman that day for class.

“Thank you sir,” the guy the counter said to me. At 17, “sir” took me by surprise. It was the suit.

That was the first time I became aware that often times, appearance and costume affects how the world sees, treats and respects you, on and off stage.