Shortcut to Succeeding As An Actor?
There’s a problem that nearly every actor I’ve ever met has suffered from.
It’s a problem that nearly every professional actor has been able to solve quickly and it’s one of the main reasons for why they are able to go on and build successful careers.
Most actors have a very limited view of what it takes to build their career.
When asked directly about it, most of them respond by listing off all of the auditions they had recently and the ones they have coming up.
However, professional actors know that building their career requires a lot more than simply paying your dues on the audition hamster wheel.
They also realize that it will require more than just their effort alone.
One of their strengths is surrounding themselves with a group of people that are all working together synergistically to build their careers in the industry.
Building a group like this is something actors think will happen someday down the road, after they’ve already made it.
The truth is, that group can help take your career to the next level, regardless of what career stage you are in right now and it can be more effective to get started early.
In fact, if you want to build your career as a professional actor, this just might be a shortcut...
Something I want to be very clear about from the start is that you don’t have to already be on the brink of becoming an A lister to do this.
I’ve seen too many actors wait for the right moment that predictably never comes around.
See, there’s a lot more that goes into building an acting career than most actors realize and trying to do everything on your own usually means that somethings don’t get the attention necessary.
As an actor you have to be really good at the creative side of things, because that’s what will get you booked and what will have audiences wanting to see more of you.
Along with that, you want to surround yourself with people that can help with everything else. That way you can spend the majority of your time focusing on the things that have the most impact.
So, let’s talk about who you want in this group and the roles they’ll play to help with your career.
The most obvious one is your agent. Without an agent your access to the industry will be limited, so it’s no wonder that most actors see this as one of their first priorities.
While that’s great, too many actors are simply with the wrong agents. That’s why I bring this up now.
You need to have an agent that believes in your ability to succeed in the industry. If they don’t, they simply won’t go to work for you in the way necessary to get you the opportunities you need.
Most agents have dozens of clients and they continuously submit their talent and hope that a few of them get called in and book something every now and then.
Needless to say, you want your agent working harder for you than that. You want them actively generating auditions and opportunities for you.
You want them to get in touch with CDs when auditions don’t go your way to help you with your career development. You also want them to do it when things do go your way, so that you stay top of mind with the CD.
This is a dual task that your agent will also perform with another member of your group, your manager.
The most successful actors have agents and managers that work very well together.
Bringing a manager on board early on in your career can be very beneficial, provided that they work hand in hand with your agent.
You will have the benefit of a manager that can take care of the big picture, overall strategy and direction for your career, and also have an agent that can work on the details day to day.
You can really take things to the next level when you bring in someone to help with your PR strategy.
It doesn’t have to be a high profile agency.
All you need is an effective strategy to help build relationships with directors, producers, Casting Directors, and other industry decision makers.
They should also help to make sure that everything you do is as visible as possible.
That’s where so many actors go wrong in their careers. They believe that if they just get “good enough” then the industry will notice them, they’ll be discovered, and thrust into the limelight.
In reality, it rarely happens like that and that’s why it’s important to make yourself visible where CDs and industry decision makers are looking for talent.
That’s the idea behind building your group.
What we went over today is the core. They will be the ones to help establish your career, and others will help you take it to the next level beyond that.
With this core group in place you can focus on the more creative side of the industry, while they take care of everything else. That’s also why I created Boost My Star. It’s how I can help you with the building blocks of your career.
When I talk about this with other actors, this is usually the point when things click and they’re excited about the idea but they’re not really sure how to go about getting started.
Don’t overthink it.
Consider where you are in your career and whether you have the proper people in place for any of these roles already.
Then, start thinking about who might be a good fit for the other roles. You don’t have to reach out to them right away about joining you, but you should start sowing the seeds of the idea.
If they decline to work with you, when you do ask, don’t be discouraged. Remember, you want to work synergistically with this group.
A manager’s career benefits from having a successful actor on their roster just like an actor's career benefits from having a competent manager.
Those you approach about working with you will want to make sure that you are a true professional, so make sure your industry reputation is always in top shape. Here’s how I can help.
I know this may be a brand new concept, and you probably haven’t really thought about it much before.
As you think about how you will start to put it to use, remember I’m always only a comment or an email away.
Feel free to get in touch, even if you just want to bounce ideas about this back and forth. I’m happy to help however I can because I truly want to...
See you at the top,
Scott