subject: The 7 Deadly Traps Actors can fall into... and how to ESCAPE them! [print this page] The 7 Deadly Traps Actors can fall into..The 7 Deadly Traps Actors can fall into... and how to ESCAPE them!
1. ACCEPTING THE WRONG "DAY" JOB
If your job limits you from auditioning or won't pay you enough so you can handle "career expenses"- headshots, resumes, demo reels, websites, cab fare, audition clothes-grooming-expensive for girls-hair, make-up- you're in the wrong place. Move on. Find something better. You need to set up your life so that you can "develop" your career. If you're always struggling to pay bills and get to work-it's NOT GOING TO WORK. Make sure your "employer" understands your situation and is willing to let you off for time you'll need to audition. Otherwise you're stressed, they're annoyed and eventually you're fired. Not the way to go.
2. FORGETTING YOUR PRIORITIES!
You must get to every major audition if you want a career. Make sure you're available and go for it!!! Your social life, daytime job, family events (unless it's a crisis) come second. Remember your priority and it ain't working in a bar, at a desk or going to Aunt Nancy's birthday party! If you can't get out of your "day job"-call in sick or quit. Being cautious and fearful of leaving your job will lose you the only reason you're here in the first place-your career and your life - as an actor!
3. HAVING 2ND RATE MARKETING TOOLS
You can't show up for a major interview or audition and have to apologize for your presentation. Headshots should be updated yearly-people change, the business changes. Stay up to date! Ditto for your resume-trimmed 8x10, stapled or glued with a 2nd photo of you. Get a personal website not just Actor's Access or iactor and put recent film/video acting work on it. Avoid student films or indies UNLESS...the 1% exception that might be decent, i.e. PROFESSIONAL. Make sure your email says your name not something goofy (hotshott@yahoo.com or frizzygirl902_wha?@aol.com) that will be hard to type correctly or relate to YOU. Don't be considered an actor who is still living in 1990, sloppy or just immature. Present yourself professionally. Allow those top agents and casting directors to find you and offer work!
4. YOUR AUDITION MATERIAL IS NOT UP-TO-SPEED. Maybe, your monologue is one that your acting teacher gave you from a play produced in 1956. It went over really well in your "acting class". BAD CHOICE. What works in class isn't necessarily a good idea for the real industry so don't torture agents with such choices-THEY'VE HEARD THEM a thousand times-Groan! Find a new monologue from a play in the last 3-5 years or a TV series and PREP,PREP, PREP preferably with a top monologue coach. Work it first. If you're still stumbling on the words and you're not at the "brilliant" level, don't go. You'll be perceived as an amateur.
5. DRESSING FOR A CASUAL DATE AT A PIZZA STAND. Hey! If it's for a serious job in TV, Film or B'way it's worth dressing up for and especially if it's to meet an agent or personal manager. Dirty jeans and wrinkled t-shirt? Perfect! if you're 14 years old but it's NOT the ensemble for a college educated or highly trained professional. When you become a movie star you can pay designers thousands to dress like that. Meanwhile, go Upscale.
6. NOT FOLLOWING UP ANY MEETING WITH A THANK YOU NOTE.
It's a polite gesture but more importantly a wise career move to clarify your goals and positively affirm your desire to work with an agent or manager. Most industry Professionals would be impressed if not touched by your consideration and focus. Besides they might have been busy for a week or so after meeting you and your note will remind them of your existence-a reason to call you!
7. FORGETTING TO CONTINUALLY MARKET YOURSELF and promote your projects, auditions, bookings, and all activities relating to your career. When you get a booking- you're in rehearsal for a play or shooting a film on location it's easy to forget to stay in touch with agents with whom you are free-lancing or casting directors who hired you. BUT NOW is the most important time to communicate to your network of industry pro's...so you can announce that you are working, progressing...that someone hired you and that you are in demand. So get those postcards out, those emails, a flyer for your show, an invitation to a premiere or a sample on your website. Work begets work.
