Actors are incredibly special people. Of course, I’m biased but that doesn’t mean I’m wrong...

Think about it, who in their “right mind” would choose a profession where, the longer you stick with it, the less likely you are to succeed?

Who would knowingly pursue a career where only the top few are able to book consistently, while everyone else fights for the leftovers?

Before we continue, I want to be very clear about something...

The industry was never designed to be a place where anyone and everyone could succeed, but that doesn’t mean it’s difficult.

I think most actors know that on some level but they never really start to think about why that is...

See, few things stick around in the human mind in the same way that your work can. Think about it, how many times have you sat quietly sipping a cup of coffee, mentally replaying scenes from your favorite movie?

How many times have you sat on the couch after a long day and spaced out to a few episodes of your favorite show?

That’s why the industry is such a small and exclusive circle, at the top levels.

When you really think about it, that’s a lot of responsibility, so it makes perfect sense that only the most dedicated actors make it to the top levels.

If what you want is to be a successful actor, what I’m about to share with you just might be the thing that sends your career skyrocketing...

This labor day, I want to honor you for what you do because as rewarding as it is for you to get on set and perform, have you ever stopped to think about what it means for your audience?

Your performances may last for a few minutes on screen, when everything is said and done, but they can live in your audience’s mind for decades.

A century later, Charlie Chaplin’s work still delights audiences all over the world. Most actors don’t really think of it that way.

Sure, being an actor comes with a ton of struggles. On the flip side, when you book something it is rewarding on so many levels.

I truly believe that everyone has their time in the spotlight, but not everyone is ready when that opportunity comes knocking.

Sometimes it comes in ways you would never expect.

For example, several cast members of The Office had so many things that fell into place for them to make it on the show. Manyl of them weren’t even supposed to be recurring characters and the show itself wasn't even supposed to make it past it’s initial 6 episode run.

Season 2 was a big surprise to just about everyone. Looking at it objectively, several of the actors from the show (one of the most iconic shows in modern television) will never be heard from again, on screen.

That’s true for many projects and I don’t mean that in a negative way, at all. In fact, most of the actors I’m speaking of have informally retired.

What I’m getting at is how they were ready to seize the opportunity to do something great, when it presented itself and how it shaped the way their acting career turned out.

I’ve been nursing a sprained ankle for the last week so I’ve been catching up on my watchlist. I was watching an episode of a show and before the credits rolled there was an "in memory of" dedication for one of the actors.

This was an actor that didn’t have much of a career before that show. In fact, she only decided to become an actor after retiring from corporate america.

If I named her, you wouldn’t recognize the name and you would probably struggle to place her face, even if you knew the show.

But if you were a fan of the series, chances are, some of your favorite scenes involve her.

She was born to play the role and she absolutely loved it. I watched a few interviews she did and you could feel the absolute joy and privilege she felt about playing the character.

She got to do what she loved and it just made me stop and think about all the actors that don’t have that opportunity and leave the industry before accomplishing their goals.

That’s usually a choice actors make when they find themselves stuck in their career, not progressing towards their goals.

Like I said earlier, I firmly believe that everyone has their turn in the spotlight but not everyone is ready when that time comes.

The ones that are ready aren’t always the most talented. They’re not always the ones with impeccable stage presence and charisma.

It’s typically the ones that lay a solid foundation and take other factors into account, when building their acting career. Here’s what I mean...

At the end of the day, the industry is still a business and decision makers will always look out for the bottom line.

That includes casting.

You probably know several actors that are incredibly talented but struggle to book anything at all, while Instagrammers and YouTubers move right to the front of the line and have their pick of jobs.

That’s the business side of the industry at work.

It’s all about being ready when it’s your time. Actors tend to get distracted by a lot of things that make them feel good about their work but that don’t ultimately move their career forward.

Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and Twitter all have their place and they should be part of your career strategy but the actors that are ready when their time comes are the ones that build a solid foundation.

So, take care of your industry reputation because it is timeless. The industry will always be built on this.

Industry contacts will come and go, social media platforms will change over time and even the way audience’s view your projects will change too.

Being easy to work with, marketable, and a person that fans are rooting for are all factors that will stand the test of time.

The actor I mentioned earlier had a short career before her passing, but she accomplished more than most actors accomplish in their lifetime.

What made the difference for her?

Off camera, she was someone you wanted to see succeed and she had an X factor that set her apart from other actors.

She also built relationships with key people that were able to move her career forward quickly.

It wasn’t because they were well connected, industry titans. They were just people that were also invested in her success. Just having the right team in place can make all the difference in your career.

If you want to learn how I can be a part of your team, check this out.

Most importantly, if the industry doesn’t know you, they can’t hire you, so make sure that you are putting yourself in front of CDs and industry decision makers, where they are already looking.

That’s something she did very well too. When you put yourself in front of the industry, and you have all the other pieces in place, they know that you are dedicated to your career and that you’re a professional, not a hobbyist.

It makes them want to go out of their way to find projects and help you make big career moves.

So, if you haven't been making the kind of progress you should be making, maybe it’s time to go back to the basics and chase your dreams, while embracing what it truly means to be an actor.

That kind of passion is electrifying and will help you do big things! I want to be a part of your success, so shoot me an email and let me know what’s going on in your career.

I’m always happy to help however I can because I truly want to...

See you at the top,
Scott