Because I get to work with so many actors, at different career stages, I have a unique perspective on what’s going on in the industry.
I get to see what’s working and what’s helping actors make huge career moves...
I also get to see what is keeping them stuck and what is causing actors with so much potential and incredible talent to leave the industry once and for all.
Needless to say, I hate to see that happen and I do my best to spread the word and reach as many actors as possible, and share with them what professional actors are doing right now to build their acting careers.
See, over the years I’ve realized that there are really only two ways to build an acting career. There’s the right way and the way everyone else does it.
If you’re not sure whether you are building your career the way professional actors do...
Ask yourself if you are doing anything that sets you apart from your industry friends. Think about that for a second.
When I ask actors to do this, they typically come up with things like “I take more classes, I have better discipline, I have XYZ credits...”
While that may be good, it doesn’t set you apart from them, and it’s not what professional actors have relied on to build a successful career.
One of the most powerful things you can do right now to take your career to the next level is to narrow your focus. Decide what category you want to specialize in.
Most actors are happy to simply take anything and everything that they might even be a remote fit for. That typically ends up being the long and difficult way to try to build your acting career.
Instead, what professional actors do is focus on going deep into a single category. When you do this, a few things happen.
Highly focusing your energy, instead of taking a scattershot approach, allows you to actually build some familiarity in the industry.
It means that industry decision makers and fans of that category will actually be able to get to know you and that’s a very important thing!
Being visible to industry decision makers, instead of getting lost in the shuffle, is a complete game changer for your career.
It’s simpler than it seems, especially when you focus your effort. See, everyone in the industry wants to be the one to discover the next big thing and put them on the map.
Seeing you everywhere starts to create that perception in the minds of your audience, casting directors and decision makers.
At Least the ones that matter...
See, anyone operating at the top levels of anything focuses their efforts and the industry is no exception.
Do you remember what happened when Michael Jordan tried to play baseball? Let’s just say one of the greatest basketball players of all time, was less than stellar on the baseball field,
That’s what happens when you split your focus.
Casting Directors, screenwriters, agents, directors, producers, cinematographers, actors and just about everyone in the industry that has built a successful career has specialized in a particular category.
To do this as an actor, the first step is to look for an agent that has a track record of working well in whatever category you chose. They should also have a client roster that is actively working in that category as well.
You’ll see why that’s so important in a moment...
Most actors don’t think about what happens “behind the scenes.” When agents actively try to book their actors, they often end up packaging multiple actors on their roster and booking them onto the same project.
Why?
When a particular actor doesn’t work out for one reason or another, or if CDs are having a hard time finding the right actor for a certain part, they don’t want to start from scratch.
They reach out to agents that have that type of talent on their roster.
So, if your agent has talent that is focused in your same category you may end up on a project just because another actor on their roster was booked for it.
It isn’t always that easy, and until you build relationships with Casting Directors you would still have to audition, but it would be a completely different environment.
It would be one where you are likely the only one reading and the part is yours to lose...
This is only one reason why it’s so important that you specialize in a particular category. Even actors that already know they should do this, aren’t really sure how to go about doing it.
Today, it’s simpler than it has ever been.
You can reach out to decision makers on social media.
You can pick up the phone and give them a call. Nobody wants to do this anymore, so you just might be surprised at who you can actually reach.
You can even “casually” bump into them and anonymously buy their coffee, and slip the barista a few bucks to place a miniature sized headshot into a Casting Director’s cup sleeve.
That’s a story for another time...
The possibilities are endless, so spend a few minutes thinking of some ways that you can get in touch with decision makers that are working in your chosen category.
Once you start to gain some traction in that category you can then build an audience simply by being everywhere.
Think of it like this...
If someone is a fan of action comedies are they more likely to tune in to watch another action comedy or are they more likely to switch gears and tune into a heavy, tear jerking drama?
So when you become synonymous with that category, that group of fans and the decision makers involved with those projects will start to see you as an integral part of it.
In many cases. it would be a better move to take a smaller role in a project that is in your chosen category, rather than taking a bigger role in a completely different one.
Why?
Taking on the bigger role in an unrelated category would mean that you are starting over from scratch with that audience.
If you are staying within your category, you are putting yourself back in front of an audience that already wants to see more of you.
If you want to become a professional actor you have to create demand for your work. Demand comes from people wanting to see more of your work.
Then it turns into industry decision makers wanting to book you and involve you in their projects over and over again.
That means you not only have to deliver a world class performance on set (for the fans), you also have to build a world class industry reputation. Here’s a great place to start.
Most actors are really good at working on their talent, but they tend to ignore the other things it takes to make it in the industry.
That’s why it was so important for me to put this report together for you. Building your acting career is a huge undertaking and we’ll be going into more detail on creating demand for your talent, over the coming weeks.
I’ve seen way too many actors leave the industry, before reaching their full potential. Many of them were really close to getting on the right track.
Becoming a professional actor is not as complicated as most people think...
That’s not to say it’s easy! The simplicity kind of makes actors feel like they need to do more and they get sidetracked with so many unnecessary things that ultimately don’t make much of a difference.
This is a logical next step towards getting your career to the next level.
Start there and remember that I’m always only a comment or an email away and happy to help however I can, because I truly want to...
See you at the top,
Scott