WARNING! What you are about to read is incredibly powerful yet so deceptively simple. There are more than one “head slappers” contained in this special report, so you might want to ready the aspirin.
In all seriousness, I admire you. Chances are we’ve never shaken hands but I know a thing or two about you already.
I know that you are an actor that is interested in becoming a full time actor that touches the lives of many through your performances.
When you really think about it, we don’t get a fair shake much of the time. Those outside of the industry often look at us as going after fame and fortune out of sheer selfishness. While there are a few bad apples in every bunch, I have found actors to be quite the opposite.
At least the most successful ones are.
They work hard not just to buy a beach house or summer in the Hamptons, they are driven by much deeper things than that. See, when you establish yourself in the entertainment industry, the entire world opens up to you.
You have the ear of politicians and lawmakers, access to the best medical care, you can get the inside scoop on the latest medical research to help those who can’t get access otherwise, and you can even help yourself and causes you care about financially simply by having access.
When was the last time you think Warren Buffet passed on a chance to lunch with Leo?
Because there is so much good to be done in the world, specifically by actors and entertainment industry professionals, I think it’s extremely important to help as many of you succeed as possible.
Personally, it’s what keeps me going some days.
Before I get to the nuts and bolts of how you are going to leave your mark on the industry, I have to ask you a question…
Why?
Why is it that you chose to become an actor? Regardless of what you are trying to achieve, there must always be a bigger reason driving you, other than just the achievement of the goal.
Otherwise, when things inevitably get tough, you risk burning out. The most successful actors have a bigger reason behind their actions and I challenge you to find your reason and use it as the launchpad to achieving your goals.
Once you get clear on what drives you, you then have to take the right actions towards achieving your goals. It starts by clearly defining what that goal is. This will help you to define your career map.
Are you going after becoming an Oscar winner? That’s a very different career course than becoming a scream queen or off beat comedy star (Seth Rogan-Judd Apatow style). Think carefully about what you truly want to go after.
If you want multiple things, start with one. Don’t chase 2 rabbits, because you won’t catch either one. For example, go for the statue or conquer comedy first, then branch out and go after another goal.
No matter what you choose to go after, you must have mechanisms in place through which you can create opportunities for yourself. Here’s a simple one.
See whether you are early in your career and self representing or if you have an agent you trust, your success is ultimately in your hands. The most successful actors, that get booked consistently, know that they must market themselves to the industry because “if they don’t know you, they can’t hire you.”
There’s a lot of talk about social media and how it can make or break your career.
The reason for that is because it’s true. More and more social media stars and YouTubers are making the cross over to the main stream industry every day. You probably notice that it’s becoming rare to not be asked about the size of your following in an audition.
Building a social media presence is simply not optional anymore. It’s a must!
Here’s a simple and quick way to get the ball rolling on this, add credibility to your social channels, and get started towards building your platform.
This is something else that successful actors have in common. I see so many actors get caught up in trying to impress others through social media, that what could be a great following gets bored and eventually puts their attention elsewhere.
When you post, be genuine. Document your struggles and let the audience into your life. Don’t simply post selfies with cocktails. Let them take the journey with you and your following will grow like wildfire.
Combine this with a solid industry reputation and the opportunities will start to seek you out. We’ve all heard that success in the industry is all about “who you know.”
In reality it’s about who knows you. When you climb to the top of what the industry uses as a way to measure and source new talent, a world of opportunity opens up to you that you never knew existed.
Elite agents won’t represent actors that are not near the top of the rankings and casting directors use your standing as part of determining your castability. So if you haven’t put attention on where you stand in IMDb.
Take a look and make sure that your rankings there match your goals. Give some attention because, both in your career and in life itself, I want to…
See you at the top,
Scott