What we’re talking about today has the potential to move your career forward like nothing else.

There are several reasons for it and I’m honestly not quite sure which reasons are more powerful than the others...

And that’s a good thing!

However, most actors never understand just how powerful it is and they often treat it just like any other role. Sometimes, they even look down on it.

In fact, I’ve come to know two actors over the years that are about as polar opposite as you can get.

One of them looked down on what we’re talking about today. They went on to have a career that didn’t quite live up to the goals they set for themselves.

The other actor really embraced this and understood just how powerful it could be.

They went on to build an incredibly successful career, with this as the launching point that changed everything.

Most actors would think that the latter simply got lucky. That wasn’t the case at all. They realized just how impactful this could be and they built a career that pursued it fully.

See, if you want to be a professional actor, this just might be a shortcut...

Enough of the suspense, what we’re talking about today is being a part of an ensemble cast. I know “every cast is an ensemble...”

You’ve probably heard that dozens of times but it’s that dismissive kind of thinking that keeps so many actors from realizing the full potential of an ensemble opportunity.

In fact, I would go as far as saying that many actors that have been lucky enough to stumble into a career changing ensemble opportunity have squandered it by trying to break away from the ensemble.

You know I’m not one to name names but you can probably think of more than a few, just off the top of your head.

Being a part of an ensemble cast can be incredibly powerful for so many reasons.

One of them is that you get to benefit from the collective efforts of your costars. That amplifies things exponentially and it happens very quickly.

Also, a rising tide will lift all boats and when you’re a part of an ensemble cast that can happen two ways.

The “tide” can rise if there’s a breakout star in the cast. They will bring a disproportionate amount of attention to the project and that will lift up the rest of the cast.

It can also happen through the entire cast. Even if there is not a single breakout star in the group, the collective can all rise together.

I can think of a particular series from very recently that had a run of over 100 episodes, because the focus groups showed that people were tuning in to see the actors “act” together.

They weren’t really invested in what were ultimately mediocre storylines and characters. They just loved seeing the energy that the actors had around each other.

Again, you can probably think of some iconic characters that were played by actors who were such a great fit with everyone that they just came back over and over again.

As powerful and exciting as being a part of an ensemble cast can be, most actors drop the ball on this.

They try to be the breakout star and they want to be “the best actor” in the ensemble when they should be focusing on being a natural fit with everyone else.

It also happens during the audition process and this kind of energy repels Casting Directors! Thus, the ensemble audition is very different.

CDs have a different goal in mind. They aren’t specifically looking at what you’re bringing to the character.

Instead, they are trying to determine how you will fit with everyone else they are considering.

Ultimately, you can have a bad read on a character and CDs may still overlook it, if you seem to be a good fit with the rest of the cast.

You’ve probably met a few people that you got along with just fine but that you didn’t exactly click with. Those types of working relationships can be tolerable and they may produce projects that are ok.

However, they don’t lead to a decade-long series or blockbuster films.

When it comes to building an ensemble cast, it’s often more like playing matchmaker because of what casting directors are looking for when they bring you in to read with an ensemble.

Of course, that only matters if they even bring in to read.

If you are currently in a place in your acting career where you don’t have many opportunities to audition, you should increase your visibility in places where CDs and industry decision makers are already looking for talent.

If they don’t know you they can’t hire you.

That’s true whether they are building an ensemble cast or whether they are booking roles that stand on their own.

Either way, Casting Directors tend to do some research and look into you before deciding to move forward with you. Be sure that what they find about you is up to their standards.

Particularly when you are auditioning for an ensemble, they want to be sure that you will be a fit within the ensemble cast and not be the odd one out.

That’s why, if you want to be a professional actor, your industry reputation must always match your goals. Here’s how I can help with that...

It is a factor that can make you stand out from the rest of your potential cast mates, but not in the way you want it to.

I know we went over a lot today, some of which may seem contradictory to what you’ve been told by acting teachers, industry friends, and maybe even your agent.

The truth is that building your acting career is arguably one of the hardest things you will ever do, so 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. I’ll always help however I can because I truly want to...

See you at the top,
Scott