We are officially in mid March, as of the time of this writing. That means there is no longer an excuse to wait for things to pick up in the industry.
If you are still struggling to get things going in your career, it’s time to start changing things up. Most actors get that part, but the question is...how?
When things aren’t going your way, what do you do?
Do you reshoot your headshots?
Do you recut your reel?
Do you enroll in an acting class? Maybe the answer is all of the above...
Well, if you look at what successful actors do, you probably wouldn’t end up doing any of it, at least not immediately.
There will come a time when you realize that you are not making the kind of progress you should be making, and you will start looking for answers on what to do next.
If you’re reading this, chances are, you already have realized it and you’re probably wondering what needs to change to get your acting career to the next level.
The short answer is to do what professional actors do. Here’s where to start...
If it has been a long time since your last booking, you are probably ready to do just about anything to get back on set.
That’s a great way to approach the industry but it can actually lead you down the wrong path. Being eager and willing to do whatever it takes to get on set makes you susceptible to spinning your wheels.
Here’s what I mean...
When they hit a roadblock, most actors will simply start changing everything up at once without putting much thought into what or why.
Professional actors figure out the problem first. Then, they start working on how to fix it.
For example, if you are not getting enough auditions that’s not typically a problem that taking another acting class would solve.
So, if you realize that your career has stalled and you enroll in an acting class just because it’s something to do, you won’t be fixing the problem that actually caused your career to stall.
The first thing you have to do is figure out what the problem is. Let’s continue with the example of not getting enough auditions, since it’s a problem that a lot of actors are familiar with.
Ask yourself and work with your agent to figure out why you are not getting enough auditions.
Determine how often your agent is submitting you and what the results are. Being submitted often but not being asked to read is a different problem than reading often but not getting callbacks and bookings.
We’ll come back to that in a bit...
If you’re not being asked to read, the problem could be that your headshots don’t match the roles you are being submitted for.
When that’s the case, it’s either time to reshoot your headshots or it’s time to work with your agent on making sure that what you are being submitted for aligns with your current headshots.
However, if your agent isn't submitting you very often but you are being asked to audition consistently, then you just need to talk with your agent about submitting you more often.
Maybe your focus is too narrow and there simply aren’t enough projects that fit your criteria. Sit down with them and take a look at your career and what else you might be a fit for.
What if you are going on a lot of auditions but you’re just not getting very many callbacks and you're not booking enough?
If that’s the case, your headshots are doing their job but you might not be delivering in the room. Redoing your headshots at this point could actually be a horrible decision that sets you back.
Instead, work on your auditioning skills. Enroll in a class if you can or at the very least do some self training.
Record yourself doing an audition. It helps if you have a friend present to read with.
Act as if you are auditioning for the role of a lifetime and do it as if you are in the room with the people that can make or break your acting career.
After you finish reading, watch the recording and take notes of what you would change to make your performance more impactful.
Then, record yourself performing the piece again, taking into account the notes you took previously.
Watch it again and see if your performance has improved.
You may have to do this a few times before you are fully satisfied. Do this exercise often. Over time, you will see that you will have fewer and fewer notes for your first take.
So, on your next audition, you will be in the habit of performing your best from the start.
What we just went over can make a huge difference in your acting career, but there are several other factors that most actors never consider.
Before casting decides to move forward they will look into you. If what they find isn’t up to their expectations your chances of booking fall dramatically so make sure that your industry reputation is always in top shape.
It’s not always about what happens in the room.
Getting in the room is where you get to show casting directors your talent, but getting there is really difficult if they don’t know who you are. That’s why it’s so important that you make yourself visible where casting directors are already looking for talent.
Everything we went over today can make a huge difference in your acting career. Whether or not you have an audition coming up, put the exercise to use.
Sit down with your agent and talk about your career. Come up with a plan to get it to the next level.
Regardless of what your next career move is, this can help open doors for you.
So what is your next step going to be? Let me know in the comments below or shoot me an email. I’ll always read and respond and I’m happy to help however I can because I truly want to...
See you at the top,
Scott