So, it’s that time of year again. We're starting March which means most of us have given up on those New Year's resolutions.
This includes actors
At the same time every year, I am completely inundated with questions from actors who create a resolution, to get really serious about their career, on January 1st. it was going to be their time!
They were finally going to make the move to LA or New York and were going to pursue their acting career fully, but things didn't exactly go their way...
Unfortunately this isn't limited to only new actors.
I also receive tons and tons of emails from actors who’ve been in the industry for some time and set a similar new year's resolution that this pilot season was going to be it! It was going to be the pilot season that finally takes them to the next level.
For most of them things haven't gone as planned either and they are looking for answers about what to do next.
I want better for you!
Acting can be one of the most unpredictable, unreliable and most heartbreaking professions anyone can undertake...
Unless you know how to avoid the pitfalls that trap most actors...
So, whether you find that your career has stalled recently or your new to the industry and looking to get your first few credits, the roadblocks are the same. What's stopping someone from reaching the next level in their career, whatever that next level might be, typically boils down to just a couple of things.
If 2020 is when you want to finally make the progress in your acting career that you deserve these are the pitfalls that you need to avoid.
Especially when you're new in town it's very tempting to want to meet and everyone.
While that's not necessarily a bad thing, don’t mistake socializing with networking. As you meet more and more people in the industry, and you’re around them longer, you will notice that many actors in the industry are hobbyists rather than professional actors.
There's a big difference!
Hobbyists go on one, two, maybe three auditions a year book and use acting as a crutch that helps them feel like they're reaching for something better in life. I know that sounds harsh but after all we're talking about you becoming a professional actor so this is important.
While getting out and meeting people is important,not just for your sanity but also for your career progress, you want to make sure that you're getting out and shaking hands with people in the industry that matter.
If you're going to devote your precious time and effort to networking, don't just go out to happy hours for actors that you see posted on meetup.com. Instead, make a concentrated effort to network with actors that have achieved a level of success that you aspire to achieve and focus on meeting industry decision makers.
Otherwise you just might end up with a bunch of friends hoping you will be the one to make it big, so that you can lift everyone else up with you.
It's also easy to get into a cycle of overtraining. While it is incredibly important that you put time and effort into improving your acting skills don't become one-track minded about it. In the industry being an incredibly talented actor will only get you so far.
It should not be that way, but what actors ignore is that the industry is a business.
Not only is it a business, it is an international multibillion-dollar business. This means that office politics, popularity, focus groups and a host of other things besides just having talent come into play during casting decisions.
That’s where using tools like the one I created for you can help you stand out during the casting process.
So if you truly want to become a professional actor understand that your talent is a product.
Honestly most actors are doomed from the start, because they don't understand their place in the industry and how they fit into it.
Frankly, almost no one in the industry gets it. It's why you see so many agents, managers, directors, writers, etc. leave the industry in droves, without having accomplished what they set out to do.
For example your agent's job is to sell your talent. At its very core the job of an agent is to be a salesperson but hardly any of them see it this way.
By and large, they will simply submit their talent roster to whatever comes across their desk and hope that things work out in the end.
Is that really the agent client relationship be involved in?
Of course not!
This is why one of the most important things you have to do is sign with the right agent.
That doesn't mean you have to sign with WME or any of the majors. Just like there are many undiscovered yet incredibly talented actors, there are also plenty undiscovered or underestimated yet incredibly talented agents who understand the industry.
Make it a priority to find and sign with one of them. They will have a screening process of course, so make sure you are prepared to meet their expectations. Here’s how I can help.
Whether you are searching for your first agent or your next agent, remember that the client-agent relationship is a partnership. Help them, help you and don't expect that they can magically open doors for you and land you big opportunities out of nowhere.
This is why networking and meeting the right people and Industry decision-makers is so important. When your agent submits you to a project and you have already met the casting director elsewhere, things tend to go much better for you.
You are then a familiar face rather than just another headshot.
Every action in the industry has a counteraction. Skipping your third improv class for the week and instead going on a CD meeting mission could mean that you miss out on an hour of training.
It could also mean that you find yourself face to face with the person casting Scorcese’s next project.
I’ve seen it happen!
I’m not saying that things will always go your way. They won’t!
However, the actors who persevere when things don’t go their way are the ones that advance in the industry.
The industry is largely about reputation and most actors have a good idea of just how important it is when building an acting career. However, they don’t always understand what goes into it.
Your reputation is much more than your resume and reel, and it needs to always be at its best.
Just like you polish your acting skills, you should always polish your reputation too.
So what do you feel has been stalling your career progress more than anything else? Let me in the comments below or shoot me an email anytime. I’m always happy to help, because my goal is to...
See you at the top,
Scott