Everyone in the industry is in Pilot Season mode. Actors are making sure they have their headshots and everything else ready to go at a moment’s notice.
Casting Directors are gearing up to deal with jam packed schedules for the projects they are casting, and agents are busy submitting their clients to try and get them auditions for those projects.
It’s a busy season for everyone in the industry but that doesn’t mean that everyone will be able to make the most of it.
Most actors will simply go through the motions, expecting something to happen, but they won’t really make any meaningful career progress during pilot season.
Professional actors don’t leave huge opportunities, like pilot season, to chance. They always ensure that they make the most of everything they do.
They approach pilot season in a completely different way than most actors do.
If you want to build your career as a professional actor, that’s something you should do too. Here’s where to start...
First, you must understand that pilot season is different in many ways. Most actors see it as a time when they can book a ton of projects in a short amount of time.
While that is a possibility, that shouldn’t be your goal. I know that sounds crazy but here’s what I mean...
During pilot season It’s not just about the projects you book, it’s also about the connections you make.
That can be said of any audition but because of the sheer levels of activity going on during pilot season, casting directors are in a different mode.
They are more open to having you read again, for something else.
That’s how you can ensure that you are making the most of the opportunities available during pilot season.
A big part of that will also depend on being able to read for CDs that are casting projects you are actually a good fit for.
That’s why we recently talked about how to work with your agent to come up with a plan for the kinds of projects you want to be submitted to.
If you don’t have a plan for that, your agent will just submit you to whatever they come across.
On the contrary, when you do plan that out carefully you are much more likely to end up being submitted to and reading for projects for which you are a good fit.
That puts you in a much better position, in terms of getting in front of the right casting directors and others in the industry that can help move your career forward.
Remember, the level of activity in the industry during pilot season works in your favor in this case and it’s also a huge reason for why you should actively network and seek to make connections with Casting Directors and industry decision makers.
Every actor knows how crucial this is but few are able to do it effectively.
Many actors are afraid to do it because they don’t want to “bother” people. If you approach them correctly, they are open to making connections, because there is so much going on during this time of year.
Here’s how to make connections properly...
We’ll talk about doing it online because it’s simple and you can start on it right away.
First and foremost, don’t spam anyone. That should go without saying, but over the years I have seen actors resort to spamming inadvertently.
You should only reach out to someone if you have a purpose for doing so.
The easiest thing to do is to give them a compliment, because everyone appreciates a compliment.
Do not ask for anything in return, just get in touch and share the compliment.
If it is a CD you are reaching out to, complimenting them on building a cast that fits so well together might be a good first step.
Don’t expect them to respond with an invitation to read for them immediately.
The goal is to make an impression. When you do that, they are much more likely to get in touch when they have something you might be a fit for.
I know it may sound far fetched, but it happens all the time. When it does, those are some of the most valuable industry connections you can make.
You can also increase the likelihood of getting them to respond if you can show Casting Directors and industry decision makers that you are a professional actor and not a hobbyist. Here’s how I can help with that.
When you approach pilot season this way you can set yourself up to have a successful pilot season and continue making progress in your career, long after this pilot season is over.
What we went over today is a broad overview and over the next few weeks, we will continue to expand on the finer details of a successful pilot season strategy.
Even though it starts now, what we’re going over can be extremely helpful during any time of the year.
Increasing your visibility during this time can help, but that doesn’t mean that you should make yourself less visible during the rest of the year.
That’s why I created Boost My Star, so I could help you at any time because the industry never stops. In fact, things can get increasingly more involved the more success you experience.
As you build your career and start to pursue bigger roles with more screen time, you will find that Casting Directors are likely to do more research before deciding who to move forward with. Be sure that what they find about you is up to their standards.
How have you been approaching pilot season thus far, and are things turning out the way you expected?
Let me know in the comments below or feel free to shoot me an email. I’m happy to bounce ideas and help however I can because I truly want to...
See you at the top,
Scott