Lately, we have been talking about Pilot Season. Specifically, we have been going over the reasons why many actors are unable to make any meaningful progress, while a small group of actors are able to take their careers to the next level during Pilot Season.

Over the years, I’ve seen incredibly talented actors struggle to build their careers and much of it is due to their inability to capitalize on big opportunities.

On the other hand, the actors that are able to seize opportunities are the ones that go on to build their careers as professional actors.

Also, the relationships they build with Casting Directors are key to their success.

See, Casting Directors are looking for something in particular from actors and they are especially alert during pilot season.

Professional actors are aware of that and know how to seize it. If you want to build your career as a professional actor here’s how you can do it too...

First you have to understand what CDs are actually looking for.

Everyone knows that they are looking for talented actors that are committed to doing their best.

What most actors don’t quite understand is what that actually means.

When going through the casting process CDs are not just looking for the “best” actor.

They are looking for someone who can bring new life to the projects they are casting.

That can mean a number of different and not all of them are dictated by what happens on screen.

Here’s what I mean...
A big part of what dictates a show’s success is the chemistry between cast mates.

Casting Directors know this and pilot season is the only time when they are able to cast a show from scratch.

Sure, there may be a marquee actor or two attached to the project but for the most part CDs are building an entirely new cast.

That means they are able to build a cast that is as cohesive off screen as they are on set. The reason they want to do that is because everyone loves to see their favorite stars getting along off set.

That makes the audience much more likely to tune in week after week.

So, when they are going through auditions, CDs are examining the potential chemistry between actors.

Here’s what they look for...

They want to find actors that are true professionals on screen, and that do not carry a ton of controversy off screen.

No one wants to have to recast an actor because of an ill thought out tweet.

Think of the actors you most look up to and you will realize that they tend to be well liked and admired by their castmates.

It’s not just because they are able to deliver good performance on set, it’s also because they are easy to get along with off screen too.

What professional actors are able to do is communicate that to Casting Directors during the audition process.

There are a number of ways to do this but the opportunities to do it are limited.

Focus on your first impression.

What a CD thinks about you when they first see you or meet you is what will stay in their mind.

So, be open, personable, and eager to connect regardless of whether you are doing a traditional in person audition or a self taped audition.

Many actors come across very nervous and that doesn’t instill confidence in CDs.

You want them to imagine how well the rest of the cast will get along with you, so relax and let your guard down.

I know that’s easier said than done and over the next few weeks we’ll go deeper into the particular audition strategies that make it happen automatically.

For now, there is something else you can get started on...

Remember, CDs tend to do some research when deciding who to move forward with during the casting process so be sure that what they find about you is up to their standards.

I have seen actors deliver a phenomenal audition, only to be passed over for other reasons.

Sometimes, it was because other actors had better chemistry together on or off set.

Other times it was a completely different issue.

It always helps if your industry reputation matches your goals. Here’s a great place to start with that.

Having a stellar industry reputation helps CDs see that you are a true professional and that goes a long way towards making them feel confident about moving forward with you.

When Casting Directors decide to move forward with a particular actor there is a lot of thought that goes into that decision.

After all, if things do not work out, it reflects poorly on the CD.

That’s why they are increasingly cautious about the actors they move forward with and why they dig deeper to find more about them, beyond what’s included on their reel and resume.

Something I’ve seen happen over the years is that many actors are very good about maintaining their industry reputation but they don’t give much thought to their visibility.

The problem with that is if the industry doesn’t know you, they can’t hire you, so it's important to increase your visibility where Casting Directors and industry decision makers are already looking for talent. Here’s how I can help with that...

What we went over today is what Casting Directors are really looking for during pilot season. With this in mind, we can continue going over the strategies that will take your auditions to an entirely new level.

As you start thinking about what we talked about today, feel free to get in touch. Shoot me an email or leave a comment below. I’m always happy to help however I can because I truly want to...

See you at the top,
Scott