How To Use Improv To Skyrocket Your Acting Career
As an actor, if you are not constantly looking for ways to sharpen your skills, and stand out in the industry, you will likely find yourself being left behind quickly. Most actors start their journey with the use of improv.
It’s easy to do, it’s fun and it has a low barrier to entry so that’s naturally where most actors start.
Coincidentally, that’s what makes actors move away from practicing improv. They prefer to move on to other areas and techniques instead and many of them never revisit improv again.
However, professional actors don’t take it for granted. They know that improv is one of the fundamental building blocks of your acting career, so they never leave it behind.
Improv not only cultivates essential skills for professional actors but it also fosters personal growth and incredible networking opportunities.
Many professional actors start their careers through improv and if you want to build your career as a professional actor, this is something you might want to revisit too. Here’s where to start...
As an actor, if you are not constantly looking for ways to sharpen your skills, and stand out in the industry, you will likely find yourself being left behind quickly. Most actors start their journey with the use of improv.
It’s easy to do, it’s fun and it has a low barrier to entry so that’s naturally where most actors start.
Coincidentally, that’s what makes actors move away from practicing improv. They prefer to move on to other areas and techniques instead and many of them never revisit improv again.
However, professional actors don’t take it for granted. They know that improv is one of the fundamental building blocks of your acting career, so they never leave it behind.
Improv not only cultivates essential skills for professional actors but it also fosters personal growth and incredible networking opportunities.
Many professional actors start their careers through improv and if you want to build your career as a professional actor, this is something you might want to revisit too. Here’s where to start...
Whether you are a seasoned improvisationalist or not, it’s helpful to start at the beginning.
Something actors learn early on is the ability to take a scene and continue developing it naturally, introducing new events and new characters, while maintaining the story that was developing before they entered the scene.
This is done through the use of the "Yes, And..." principle.
This principle encourages actors to embrace and build upon the ideas already presented to them, fostering collaboration and creativity.
By always saying "yes" to a scene partner's suggestions and adding something of your own, you create an environment of limitless possibilities. You also avoid stifling their creativity, since they may be thinking of presenting an event that hasn’t yet materialized.
By using this principle, you allow the story to continue on its natural course. Even if the storyline does stray, it does so in a way where your scene partner can still organically find themselves another opportunity to present the event they were developing.
The "Yes, And..." principle also instills a sense of trust between scene partners, as they learn to rely on each other and work together to move the story forward.
In order to be able to fully utilize the “Yes, And...” principle you will also have to take part in active listening. That is another essential part of improv.
I know, it should go without saying but most actors have experienced the opposite from a scene partner many times.
Whenever you are in an improv environment, be present and responsive in each moment.
Don’t let anything happening around you pull your attention away. It only takes a brief moment for you to get lost in the scene’s development.
By genuinely listening and reacting to your scene partners, you can create authentic connections that resonate with audiences.
This is because active listening also helps you ensure that your reactions are in line with what is happening in the scene at every moment and that is what makes improv one of the building blocks of a professional acting career.
It helps actors improve skills that are essential.
For example, when it comes to spontaneity, there is nothing quite as effective as improv. Because it is unscripted, improv forces actors to react naturally in the moment.
That is also a crucial part of a scripted performance, but it is easy to get stuck in the repetitive nature of being on set.
A strong background in improv helps to counteract that and it helps to give you ideas that can keep your performances engaging, even if you are on take 32.
So how do you get started with this?
If you're eager to start incorporating improv into your acting career, there are several ways to get involved. The easiest thing to do would be to look for local classes and workshops, where you can learn from experienced instructors and practice with fellow actors.
Choose a class that suits your experience level, not as an actor, but specifically with improv.
If you feel like you are not ready to commit to a class, search for online workshops. Many instructors offer video lessons of their classes that you can work through on your own schedule.
You could also attend improv shows to get a better idea of what you are working towards and that may help you find out about classes in your area that might be suitable for you.
Incorporating improv into your acting career can yield a multitude of benefits. However, most of those benefits are only realized once you are on set.
They can also help during the audition process but it won’t do much to help you get those auditions.
If you are currently in a place where you are not getting enough opportunities to audition, then working on that simultaneously is likely a good idea.
Over the years I have seen so many talented actors get looked over simply because the industry did not know of them.
And, if the industry doesn’t know you, they can’t hire you.
That’s why, if you have been around Boost My Star for any length of time, you have heard me repeatedly talk about balancing classes and training with other things that can help you get on set.
For some actors the opposite is what they have trouble with. They may be known by the industry but they may not be seen in the most favorable way.
Typically, at some point throughout the audition process, Casting Directors will do some research on actors they are considering.
When they do, make sure that what they find about you shows them you are a true professional. Here’s how I can help with that.
So keep that in mind, as you work through what we talked about today. Feel free to get in touch if you need help with it, or even if you just want to bounce ideas.
I’m always happy to help however I can because I truly want to... See you at the top,
Scott
A Simple Way To Boost Your Acting Career
Acting relies on skillfully using a tool that many actors don’t pay enough attention to. They tend to spend most of their time working on things that are related but they don’t spend nearly enough time fully focusing on this.
The ones that do focus heavily on it, tend to be the actors that go on to build careers as professional actors.
See the difference is striking when you compare an actor that focuses on this, to an actor that does not.
The actor that does not, tends to be passed over by Casting Directors because they appear inexperienced during auditions and self tapes.
The actor that doesn’t focus on this may mumble their lines, mispronounce words, or speak too quickly, making it difficult for their character to seem genuine.
Professional actors don’t do that.
They speak clearly and confidently, and that takes their performance to another level. That makes it much easier for CDs to connect with the performance too.
Your diction and enunciation have a massive effect on your overall vocal performance. Actors tend to learn about this very early in their career so most of them think they have it mastered.
Professional actors are the ones that truly do.
So if you want to build your career as a professional actor, focusing on this is something you should master too. Here’s where to start...
Acting relies on skillfully using a tool that many actors don’t pay enough attention to. They tend to spend most of their time working on things that are related but they don’t spend nearly enough time fully focusing on this.
The ones that do focus heavily on it, tend to be the actors that go on to build careers as professional actors.
See the difference is striking when you compare an actor that focuses on this, to an actor that does not.
The actor that does not, tends to be passed over by Casting Directors because they appear inexperienced during auditions and self tapes.
The actor that doesn’t focus on this may mumble their lines, mispronounce words, or speak too quickly, making it difficult for their character to seem genuine.
Professional actors don’t do that.
They speak clearly and confidently, and that takes their performance to another level. That makes it much easier for CDs to connect with the performance too.
Your diction and enunciation have a massive effect on your overall vocal performance. Actors tend to learn about this very early in their career so most of them think they have it mastered.
Professional actors are the ones that truly do.
So if you want to build your career as a professional actor, focusing on this is something you should master too. Here’s where to start...
First you have to figure out what perfect diction and enunciation really is. Like I said a moment ago, most actors work on things that are related but they seldom focus fully on this.
In order to deliver a stellar performance on set or during an audition you will have to build a complete character and deliver your lines with perfect diction and enunciation, whatever that means for your character and their backstory.
The better you can do this, the better the emotional component of your performance will be.
This is because perfect diction and enunciation allows you to communicate the emotions of the scene to the audience, without things getting lost to a misunderstanding.
Clear communication is crucial for actors to effectively convey their character’s emotions, motivations, and intentions. An actor who mumbles or speaks too quickly will fail to communicate their intended message to the audience, and that leads to a lackluster performance.
Most actors focus more intently on things like inflection but inflection without proper enunciation and diction is often in vain.
So how can you be sure that your diction and enunciation are at the level they should be. This is where it can get a bit challenging.
Most actors don’t have a clearly discernible problem with this. It tends to be a factor that subconsciously causes audiences or Casting Directors to disconnect, knowing that something is not quite right about the performance, although they can’t quite figure out what it may have been.
Typically, the best thing to do is to complete a series of exercises and track your progress over time.
Here’s how...
There are several exercises that actors can do to improve their diction and enunciation.
Speech exercises are an effective way to train the muscles involved in speaking. Different muscle groups will help with different things so be sure to do a range of exercises.
For example, tongue twisters can help you practice pronunciation and articulation of words.
Repeating vowel and consonant sounds can also help to improve enunciation, and breathing exercises can help you control airflow. That is a big factor as well.
Vocal warm ups are not just for when you are on set or getting ready for an audition.
Doing them often can help you strengthen your voice. That is important because a fatigued voice will likely be lazy with diction and enunciation.
Humming, lip trills, and resonance exercises are vocal warm ups every actor knows. Pick a few of your favorites and schedule some time to work on them several times per week, along with other speech exercises.
Over the years I’ve seen actors with more complex enunciation and diction issues resort to some form of speech therapy. Sometimes, certain letter combinations are challenging for some reason, particularly for actors that are trying to overcome a regional accent.
A speech therapist can help you identify and correct speech problems you may not have been fully aware of, and they can teach you proper speech mechanics to help you overcome them.
Becoming aware of any problems with your enunciation and diction is the first step.
So, set aside some time to record yourself performing a scene. Watch it and pay close attention to your enunciation and diction.
When doing this exercise, many actors find that they feel something's not quite right about their performance but they are unsure of what it is exactly.
If that’s the case, watch the scene again a few times and pay close attention to the smallest details every time.
This can help you identify any subtle mistakes you are making with your diction and enunciation.
Once you master it, things can change very quickly in your career.
Having perfect diction and enunciation helps you show Casting Directors that you are serious about your craft. It is like having a stellar industry reputation that precedes you. Here’s a great way to get started on that.
That’s largely why I created Boost My Star.
Most actors don’t fully understand all that goes into a casting decision.
Delivering a stellar audition, with perfect diction and enunciation, will go a long way towards showing CDs that you will be able to handle the responsibility.
However, what we went over today is only going to be helpful if you have plenty of opportunities to get on set or to audition.
For some actors, not having enough auditions is merely a matter of not being visible to the industry. If they don’t know you, they can’t hire you so be sure that you are highly visible where casting directors and industry decision makers are looking for talent. Here’s how I can help with that.
Whether or not you have an audition coming up, work on what we went over today. If you’re unsure about how to approach something, feel free to get in touch.
Even if you just want to bounce ideas, I’m happy to help however I can because I truly want to...
See you at the top,
Scott
How Professional Actors Build Their Career
There’s something that most actors get lost in when they first start building their career. In fact, over the years, I’ve seen that most of them don’t evolve past a certain point, regardless of how much time they eventually spend in the industry.
They dedicate themselves almost entirely to perfecting their craft.
This is because acting is an art form that requires skill and talent, unlike almost anything else and it’s not an inherently subjective art form.
Whether you have been in the industry for some time or if you are in the early stages of building your acting career, it’s important to work on perfecting your craft.
However, it’s also important that you don’t get stuck in that process.
Professional actors learn how to balance the things necessary to build their acting career, with perfecting their craft.
If you want to build your career as a professional actor, you need to learn that balance as well. Here’s where to start...
There’s something that most actors get lost in when they first start building their career. In fact, over the years, I’ve seen that most of them don’t evolve past a certain point, regardless of how much time they eventually spend in the industry.
They dedicate themselves almost entirely to perfecting their craft.
This is because acting is an art form that requires skill and talent, unlike almost anything else and it’s not an inherently subjective art form.
Whether you have been in the industry for some time or if you are in the early stages of building your acting career, it’s important to work on perfecting your craft.
However, it’s also important that you don’t get stuck in that process.
Professional actors learn how to balance the things necessary to build their acting career, with perfecting their craft.
If you want to build your career as a professional actor, you need to learn that balance as well. Here’s where to start...
Every actor knows that there are several different techniques and everyone gravitates towards a philosophy they most resonate with.
In order to find what works best for you, it’s important to study a variety of different acting techniques.
Even if you are at a point where you think you have already found what works for you, it may be beneficial to continue to study other techniques.
It can help you expand your range and develop a deeper understanding of your characters, as you will have multiple ways to approach building them.
Once you have thoroughly studied multiple techniques, and settled on what you most resonate with, then it is time to attend acting classes.
If you have been around Boost My Star for any length of time, you know that I am a big proponent of acting classes, as long as they are relevant and targeted to what you need to work on or targeted to the techniques you are trying to develop.
They are an excellent way to study and perfect your craft, but don’t allow yourself to get in a cycle of attending them.
Many actors attend acting classes because it helps them feel as if they are being productive.
However, focusing solely on attending acting classes can only do so much to help you build your career. If you find that you are booking another class just because you don’t know what else to do to feel productive, it’s time to change things up.
That is another reason why it’s important to vary the ways in which you try to perfect your craft.
If the only thing you ever do in that regard is attend acting class, that is likely to be what you resort to.
So, try other things as well because they may be just as effective. Doing this will also help you keep from making acting classes your default routine...
Studying and learning from other actors can be key to your development.
Whenever you watch anything of entertainment value, watch it with the goal of learning from the actors on screen.
Try to discern why they made certain character choices over others. Observe how they use body language, facial expressions, and tone of voice to bring their characters to life.
This will give you a list of things you can incorporate into your own characters.
When you have a good grasp of why professional actors make certain character choices, you can then read scripts from a much different perspective.
You can analyze a script and discern the character’s motivations from an entirely different level, long before you ever get on set.
Practice doing that...
Read a script and practice building your character as you read. I know that this seems like something actors do everyday, but when you do it after you have spent time studying other actors, the process is completely different.
Doing this and everything else we talked about today is an excellent way to help you develop your acting skills, but you still have to work on the other parts of building your career.
Here’s what I mean...
If you are currently going on a lot of auditions but you are having trouble booking, then training and studying may be the right thing for you to focus on.
But there may also be other factors involved.
However, if you are struggling to get enough opportunities to audition, focusing on something else first is likely to be more beneficial.
Over the years, I have seen that many actors simply are not very visible to the industry. That’s why I created Boost My Star, to help actors be more visible where Casting Directors and industry decision makers are looking for talent.
If the industry doesn’t know you, they can’t hire you so it’s important to make sure you are highly visible to the industry.
If you are already highly visible but you are still struggling to get enough opportunities to audition, then you may be in a situation where something else is incongruent.
Remember that the industry is driven by reputation.
Those are a few other factors that may affect how you are building your acting career. We will continue talking about the others over the coming weeks.
For now, get started on what we talked about today and feel free to get in touch, if you are unsure about any of it. I am always happy to help however I can because I’m truly happy to...
See you at the top,
Scott
How The Academy Awards Can Help You Succeed As An Actor
Virtually every actor I have met over the years, dreamed of the day when they would finally get to hear the words “and the nominees are” followed by their name.
The Academy Awards are the preeminent industry event and simply being in attendance can be absolutely career changing. Of course being nominated and winning an Oscar is often a pivotal moment for actors.
Not only do the nominees and winners benefit from their increased industry visibility, they also provide a blueprint for other actors to follow.
Most actors don’t really seize the opportunity though. They watch the awards show just like everyone else and gossip about the winners afterwards.
However, professional actors do something completely different. They know that being in attendance is critical so they do everything possible to get to attend.
At the very least, they watch the show to study the winners and nominees. If you want to build your career as a professional actor, that’s something you should do too. Here’s where to start...
Virtually every actor I have met over the years, dreamed of the day when they would finally get to hear the words “and the nominees are” followed by their name.
The Academy Awards are the preeminent industry event and simply being in attendance can be absolutely career changing. Of course being nominated and winning an Oscar is often a pivotal moment for actors.
Not only do the nominees and winners benefit from their increased industry visibility, they also provide a blueprint for other actors to follow.
Most actors don’t really seize the opportunity though. They watch the awards show just like everyone else and gossip about the winners afterwards.
However, professional actors do something completely different. They know that being in attendance is critical so they do everything possible to get to attend.
At the very least, they watch the show to study the winners and nominees. If you want to build your career as a professional actor, that’s something you should do too. Here’s where to start...
The best case scenario would be for you to take part in the ceremony somehow. I know that seems daunting and impossible but it may not be.
There are a lot of moving parts that make the show possible and even an actor that is new to the industry may be able to take part.
It helps if you align yourself with a seasoned public relations specialist so that you can be among the first to know when there is a space available.
We’ll talk about how you can take care of the PR yourself in just a bit...
In the event that you find yourself unable to be a part of the awards show in any capacity, the next best thing is to study the nominees and winners.
That is probably one of the most effective things you can do to build your acting career.
When you do that, you get incredible insights into what the industry sees as a good performance and a good project.
When projects are successful, they draw attention from the industry and that often leads to more projects that are similar. By studying the nominees and winners, you will get insight into where
the industry is headed and you will be able to customize your headshots and your reel to fit the coming trends.
You can also start to train in particular areas that you may not have recently participated in.
That can go a long way towards being prepared when similar projects move through the different stages of production.
I have seen actors make incredible career progress by doing just that.
See, when a Casting Director picks up your headshot they are looking to see whether you will potentially be a good fit for the roles they are casting.
If your headshots are generic and don’t really show the types of projects you are specializing in, CDs are much more likely to pass you over, preferring to spend time with actors that are more closely aligned.
Simply aligning your materials with the kinds of projects that are currently in the casting process can be a complete game changer for your acting career, and you can spot that by studying the nominees and winners of The Academy Awards.
Having your materials aligned can also go a long way towards increasing your chances of being called in to read.
If you have been around Boost My Star for any length of time, you know that if the industry doesn’t know you, they can’t hire you. That’s why it’s important for you to increase your visibility where Casting Directors and industry decision makers are looking for talent.
That’s the first step...
Once they know who you are, you have to give them a reason to call you in to read, and as I mentioned a moment ago, having your headshots and resume clearly aligned with the kinds of projects that are moving through production can be that reason.
When you have the opportunity to read for a Casting Director, they are trying to determine how well you will be able to portray the character on set.
So, if you have studied the nominees and winners, you can adjust your audition and make character choices similar to theirs.
That way, you can deliver a performance that resonates with CDs and industry decision makers. That can be incredibly effective for multiple reasons.
In terms of building trust with CDs, there’s nothing quite like winning an Academy Award.
However, what they most want to see from actors when they are in the building stages of their career is complete dedication.
They want to know that if they move forward with you, nothing will stop you from delivering your best on set.
That’s why you have to show CDs that you are a true professional and not a hobbyist. Here’s how I can help with that.
Can you see how the Academy Awards can help you succeed as an actor, even if you don’t get the opportunity to attend?
Even though the show has passed for this year, there is still plenty of time for you to use it to build your acting career by studying the nominees and winners.
If you want to bounce ideas about that, feel free to get in touch! I am happy to help however I can because I truly want to...
See you at the top,
Scott
How To Dominate Your Next Audition
Auditioning is always a high stakes, nerve wracking situation that is impossible to avoid as an actor.
Over the years I have met actors that loved the audition process. They thrived under the pressure.
However, that was a small group of them. Most actors auditioned only because they had to. After all, how else would you show casting directors and industry decision makers that you're the perfect fit for the role?
Those actors had the tendency of burning out rather quickly and leaving the industry. The other actors, the ones that accepted the pressure and the challenges that are inherent to the auditioning process, were typically the ones that were able to build careers as professional actors.
If you want to build your own career as a professional actor, you have to know how to overcome the challenges and dominate the audition process.
Regardless of where you are in your acting career there are several things you can do to dominate your next audition. Here’s where to start...
Auditioning is always a high stakes, nerve wracking situation that is impossible to avoid as an actor.
Over the years I have met actors that loved the audition process. They thrived under the pressure.
However, that was a small group of them. Most actors auditioned only because they had to. After all, how else would you show casting directors and industry decision makers that you're the perfect fit for the role?
Those actors had the tendency of burning out rather quickly and leaving the industry. The other actors, the ones that accepted the pressure and the challenges that are inherent to the auditioning process, were typically the ones that were able to build careers as professional actors.
If you want to build your own career as a professional actor, you have to know how to overcome the challenges and dominate the audition process.
Regardless of where you are in your acting career there are several things you can do to dominate your next audition. Here’s where to start...
Virtually every actor I’ve ever met likes to focus on what happens in the room, because that’s “the fun part.”
It’s where you get to display your creativity so it’s why most actors are so naturally inclined to focus on that almost exclusively.
However, things start long before you ever get in the room.
The first step to dominating your auditions is to research and prepare thoroughly. I know that sounds simplistic and that is precisely why most actors don’t do it to the degree they should.
You have to know your character thoroughly, in order to convincingly portray them on set. This will help you understand why they are doing the things they do.
It’s also crucial to understand their deeper motivations and their subsurface emotions.
While all of that is important, it’s not to say that is where your preparation should stop. You also have to do some research on the people you are going to be reading for.
That includes the casting director and their staff as well as anyone else that will be involved in the casting decisions.
There may be times when the project’s director, or another decision maker, prefers an actor with certain tendencies that go against the CD’s preferences, so you have to take both into account.
If you don’t do some research on the other people attached to the project, you may deliver a stellar audition in the room, only to be passed over because you were only reading for the CD and did not take into consideration everyone else involved in the production.
Casting Directors are highly aware of everyone else’s preferences and work to find actors that will be a good fit all around.
As you are reading the script, analyze your character, and consider different choices you can make in your performance, based on everyone involved in the project.
In addition to doing your research and preparing for the audition to the best of your ability, there is another factor that many actors ignore.
Going into an audition with the right mindset and unshakable confidence are also crucial elements of dominating an audition.
Like I said earlier, auditioning can be nerve wracking so it's natural to feel anxious before an audition.
However, while some actors use that pressure to their advantage, many of them let it negatively impact their performance.
So, next time you are in the room, remember that casting directors want you to do well and be the one.
As you are waiting for your turn during a traditional audition, tune out distractions and stay focused and in the moment.
Do the same when you are getting ready for a self taped audition. There will always be things pulling at your attention and tuning out the distractions is a skill that every actor should cultivate.
Something that helps is practicing your audition with a friend. Do it as if the casting decision rests in their hands and perform your scene that way.
Do it several times before your audition day. I know it sounds basic but that kind of repetition can help you feel much more comfortable and confident in the room.
On the other hand, if what you are struggling with is getting enough auditions, then there may be something else that is holding you back.
Sometimes it’s a simple visibility problem and showing up where CDs and industry decision makers are looking for talent can be a positive first step.
Other times, it’s not quite that simple...
This is especially true, as you start to go after roles with more screen time and more responsibility.
Those two concepts of visibility and a CD’s standards rely on each other. You have to be visible to the industry, while also making sure that what they find about you shows that you are a true professional.
Dominating your auditions as an actor requires a combination of preparation, mindset, and good audition strategies. By doing your research and preparing thoroughly, you can give yourself a strong foundation to work from and increase your chances of booking.
Over the next few weeks we will continue to go further into the details of how to properly research your characters.
For now, if you have an audition to prepare for, remember to plan time to practice your audition with someone else. I can’t emphasize just how helpful that can be, as long as the person you are working on this with is someone you can trust to give you honest feedback.
I know that can sometimes be difficult to find and while I can’t help with this in particular, feel free to get in touch if you want to bounce ideas.
I’m always happy to help however I can because I truly want to...
See you at the top,
Scott
What Casting Directors Look For During Pilot Season
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...
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...
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.
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
Making The Most Of Pilot Season
Everyone in the industry is in Pilot Season mode. Actors are making sure they have their headshots and everything else ready to go at a moment’s notice.
Casting Directors are gearing up to deal with jam packed schedules for the projects they are casting, and agents are busy submitting their clients to try and get them auditions for those projects.
It’s a busy season for everyone in the industry but that doesn’t mean that everyone will be able to make the most of it.
Most actors will simply go through the motions, expecting something to happen, but they won’t really make any meaningful career progress during pilot season.
Professional actors don’t leave huge opportunities, like pilot season, to chance. They always ensure that they make the most of everything they do.
They approach pilot season in a completely different way than most actors do.
If you want to build your career as a professional actor, that’s something you should do too. Here’s where to start...
Everyone in the industry is in Pilot Season mode. Actors are making sure they have their headshots and everything else ready to go at a moment’s notice.
Casting Directors are gearing up to deal with jam packed schedules for the projects they are casting, and agents are busy submitting their clients to try and get them auditions for those projects.
It’s a busy season for everyone in the industry but that doesn’t mean that everyone will be able to make the most of it.
Most actors will simply go through the motions, expecting something to happen, but they won’t really make any meaningful career progress during pilot season.
Professional actors don’t leave huge opportunities, like pilot season, to chance. They always ensure that they make the most of everything they do.
They approach pilot season in a completely different way than most actors do.
If you want to build your career as a professional actor, that’s something you should do too. Here’s where to start...
First, you must understand that pilot season is different in many ways. Most actors see it as a time when they can book a ton of projects in a short amount of time.
While that is a possibility, that shouldn’t be your goal. I know that sounds crazy but here’s what I mean...
During pilot season It’s not just about the projects you book, it’s also about the connections you make.
That can be said of any audition but because of the sheer levels of activity going on during pilot season, casting directors are in a different mode.
They are more open to having you read again, for something else.
That’s how you can ensure that you are making the most of the opportunities available during pilot season.
A big part of that will also depend on being able to read for CDs that are casting projects you are actually a good fit for.
That’s why we recently talked about how to work with your agent to come up with a plan for the kinds of projects you want to be submitted to.
If you don’t have a plan for that, your agent will just submit you to whatever they come across.
On the contrary, when you do plan that out carefully you are much more likely to end up being submitted to and reading for projects for which you are a good fit.
That puts you in a much better position, in terms of getting in front of the right casting directors and others in the industry that can help move your career forward.
Remember, the level of activity in the industry during pilot season works in your favor in this case and it’s also a huge reason for why you should actively network and seek to make connections with Casting Directors and industry decision makers.
Every actor knows how crucial this is but few are able to do it effectively.
Many actors are afraid to do it because they don’t want to “bother” people. If you approach them correctly, they are open to making connections, because there is so much going on during this time of year.
Here’s how to make connections properly...
We’ll talk about doing it online because it’s simple and you can start on it right away.
First and foremost, don’t spam anyone. That should go without saying, but over the years I have seen actors resort to spamming inadvertently.
You should only reach out to someone if you have a purpose for doing so.
The easiest thing to do is to give them a compliment, because everyone appreciates a compliment.
Do not ask for anything in return, just get in touch and share the compliment.
If it is a CD you are reaching out to, complimenting them on building a cast that fits so well together might be a good first step.
Don’t expect them to respond with an invitation to read for them immediately.
The goal is to make an impression. When you do that, they are much more likely to get in touch when they have something you might be a fit for.
I know it may sound far fetched, but it happens all the time. When it does, those are some of the most valuable industry connections you can make.
You can also increase the likelihood of getting them to respond if you can show Casting Directors and industry decision makers that you are a professional actor and not a hobbyist. Here’s how I can help with that.
When you approach pilot season this way you can set yourself up to have a successful pilot season and continue making progress in your career, long after this pilot season is over.
What we went over today is a broad overview and over the next few weeks, we will continue to expand on the finer details of a successful pilot season strategy.
Even though it starts now, what we’re going over can be extremely helpful during any time of the year.
Increasing your visibility during this time can help, but that doesn’t mean that you should make yourself less visible during the rest of the year.
That’s why I created Boost My Star, so I could help you at any time because the industry never stops. In fact, things can get increasingly more involved the more success you experience.
As you build your career and start to pursue bigger roles with more screen time, you will find that Casting Directors are likely to do more research before deciding who to move forward with. Be sure that what they find about you is up to their standards.
How have you been approaching pilot season thus far, and are things turning out the way you expected?
Let me know in the comments below or feel free to shoot me an email. I’m happy to bounce ideas and help however I can because I truly want to...
See you at the top,
Scott
Avoiding Pilot Season Pitfalls
For most actors, pilot season never really turns out the way they hoped.
Even though they start with a ton of excitement and enthusiasm around the idea of this year being different from all the others, something happens.
Somewhere along the line, they realize things are not working out any better than they did before, and they start to get incredibly frustrated long before pilot season is over.
Does that sound a little bit familiar?
Whether you are in the early stages of your acting career, or if you have been in the industry for a long time, pilot season is an opportunity like none other when it comes to building your acting career.
That’s why professional actors put a lot of effort into making sure they get the most out of every pilot season.
If you want to build your career as a professional actor, pilot season can give you some of the best opportunities you will ever be presented with.
Here’s how you can make sure that you are ready to seize them...
For most actors, pilot season never really turns out the way they hoped.
Even though they start with a ton of excitement and enthusiasm around the idea of this year being different from all the others, something happens.
Somewhere along the line, they realize things are not working out any better than they did before, and they start to get incredibly frustrated long before pilot season is over.
Does that sound a little bit familiar?
Whether you are in the early stages of your acting career, or if you have been in the industry for a long time, pilot season is an opportunity like none other when it comes to building your acting career.
That’s why professional actors put a lot of effort into making sure they get the most out of every pilot season.
If you want to build your career as a professional actor, pilot season can give you some of the best opportunities you will ever be presented with.
Here’s how you can make sure that you are ready to seize them...
Without realizing it, most actors make things more difficult for themselves from the beginning.
There are so many things that can negatively impact your progress during pilot season, and without a solid plan in place, what most actors end up doing is simply falling back into their old ways of winging it.
That’s one of the most common mistakes I see actors make during pilot season.
It’s not just about having a ton of auditions lined up. You can have a schedule that is full with more auditions than you can handle, and if you don’t have a solid plan in place, all those auditions might be in vain.
Here’s what I mean...
It’s a busy time for both actors and casting directors. For some projects, they are going to call in anybody who remotely fits what they are looking for, simply because it takes a long time for CDs to closely scrutinize every submission.
What that means is that there are a lot of actors that are just spinning their wheels and going through the process, without any real chance of booking.
To keep that from happening, it’s important that you work with your agent to make sure that you are being submitted for projects that make sense.
You don’t want to be overwhelmed with auditions for projects that don’t really make send,, to a point where the ones that really matter end up suffering.
Remember, things change constantly in the industry and they are now changing faster than ever before.
Thinking that this year’s pilot season will be just like all the others, and approaching it the same way is also a big mistake.
For example, we recently talked about how this year is expected to be record breaking, in terms of the number of self taped auditions.
That can be a big adjustment if you have not prepared for it.
That’s why we talked about having your self tape space set up and ready to go at a moment’s notice.
These are simple things but actors succumb to pitfalls like this, without even realizing it and before they know it, pilot season is over and they didn’t make any kind of meaningful progress.
Because these are simple things, they don’t require elaborate plans to avoid them.
The industry is already in full pilot season mode but it’s not too late to turn things around. When I say that to actors, I usually get a look of confusion as they think “of course it’s not too late, pilot season just started.”
What I mean is that, ideally, you would have put the pieces in place long before now and you would now be working your strategy. That’s why we talked about pilot season extensively at the end of last year.
If you haven’t done so, then it’s not too late to do it now but time is running. Like I said, pilot season will be over before you know it.
When you reflect on it, you don’t want to realize that you tried to make the changes too late. No one likes having to wait for the next pilot season to come around, so think about what we went over today.
Work with your agent to put your plan in place and start being strategic about the way you approach pilot season this year.
Something helpful that you can start working on right now is making yourself more visible to Casting Directors and industry decision makers because it can help you open more doors this pilot season. That’s why I created this to help...
That’s always a positive thing to do, at any time of the year.
Over the coming weeks, we will be focusing on pilot season and how you can make the most of it.
However, everything will build on what we went over today so take some time over the next few days to put your strategy in place.
We will start building from there, and if you don’t have that building block in place, everything else is likely to be much less effective.
Without having the proper plan in place, you are much less likely to be in front of the right CDs and you are more likely to be spinning your wheels on auditions that don’t make much sense for you.
Can you see how those two concepts work together?
Your industry reputation is also an important factor that could help you make more progress this pilot season. Here’s how I can help you be sure that it’s always in top shape..
I can’t stress this enough...
We went over some deceptively simple concepts today. That doesn’t mean they are unnecessary.
In fact, most actors fail to implement them, because they are deceptively simple.
As you may recall, doing the opposite of what everyone else does is usually the right thing to do.
So, as you are working on putting your plan in place, feel free to get in touch even if you just want to bounce some ideas about your plan for pilot season.
I’m happy to respond and help however I can because I truly want to...
See you at the top,
Scott