Thought About Acting? Make It A Sweet Reality.

"Pursue some path, however narrow and crooked, 

in which you can walk with love and reverence."

-Henry David Thoreau

 

I've dabbled in acting my entire life. There were occasions, stints, thoughts, but they were whimsical. In college I went to my first audition. I didn't get the part and so I moved on. Then in law school I landed a role. I got the part, booked it, filmed, and I still kept it moving. I didn't realize that all of the dabbling meant I wanted in. Mostly because I didn't know how to break in. And I put up a lot of blocks to achieving that dream because I thought it wasn't realistic. 

Once I learned that life doesn't have to follow a linear path, that it can be "narrow and crooked" then I embraced that part of me that yearned to express my creativity. I opened my eyes with a new perspective and looked at all the signs leading me to the doors that I needed opened. 

Sounds magical, huh? It's not. It takes talent, faith, and a lot of hard work. If you're up for the challenge, here's where to start:

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Step One: You Are Unique: What do you bring to the table? 

Who Are You? What kind of actor do you want to be? What are your strengths? What are your talents? Have you gotten some training?

Answer those questions. Then figure out what first steps you need by looking at this list right here: 

• Figure out your type and your age range.
• READ, Read read books on acting and the business of acting! 
• Take Classes and/ or Get an Acting Coach and/ or a Business Coach

Examine your favorite films, plays, musicals, your favorite actors, and determine what similar qualities you possess that make you stand out. Being aware of this will lead you to the right programs, the right coaches, and the right books. 

Do the homework on yourself, and in the acting biz, so you can get in there.

Step Two: It Takes Time and Money: How Much Can You Invest?

You must allow yourself to be obsessed with pursuing your passion, while maintaining a level head and realistically maintaining some form of income outside of acting. Create a budget. Set up a schedule for how often you will self-submit and what amount of time you can commit to classes. Because if you're doing more than dabbling, (and if you're reading this then I think you're crossing that bridge right now) your money and time should be spent wisely on:

• Classes, Coaching, Workshops, and Intensives
• Headshots, and resumes, and more headshots, and printing
• Creating and executing a marketing plan
• Creating and running a website, a facebook page, a twitter page and building your brand.
• Setting up accounts with casting websites so you can see what's out there to self submit.
• Accumulating your actors wardrobe for auditions

You've got to think strategically and somewhere in that life experience of yours you know you've got what it takes to make this work and to find the balance. Start with a monthly budget and a weekly schedule. See what you can handle so that you can make this dream a reality.

Step Three: Acting is a Business. Set Up Shop. 

You know your type. You're working with a good coach a working actor recommended and/or a respected school/program. You created a budget. You set up a schedule. Now its time to run your business. You've got to market yourself and build your brand - the brand of YOU. 

Once you know 1) what you are drawn to, whether that is film, tv, theater, then you can look at 2)  the genres within each arena (types of film, types of tv, types of theater), and then you will 3) get even more specific and target what you are well suited for. 

Once you are clear, you will know what you want to audition for and who you want to target with your marketing.  

Audition, Audition, Audition. Get work. Build your resume. Decide for how long a time or under what circumstance you will do unpaid work. Then decide when you will commit only to paid gigs. As you advance your criteria will as well.  

Do the research to figure out what casting directors, directors, producers, agents and managers delve in the stuff you want to do!  You will execute professional marketing plans to get a very important message out to those very people: "I Am Here! I Am Serious! I Am Working!"

When you're prepared, you will go to festivals, workshops, and intensives to meet with castings directors, agents and managers, directors, film makers and producers. But this is not to be done all nilly willy, No sir. Some intensives can be a dog and pony show, so don't go until you're ready to perform (ready equals you've honed your auditioning skills and you've got a strategy on how to market yourself). And remember, you are not meeting these people to grovel; You are meeting them to build relationships.

The more experience you get, the more you fill your actors toolbox,  the closer you will be to  turning acting into your day job. 

Step Four: Believe In The Process and Believe In Yourself.

This, I think, is the most important step. There will be naysayers. There will be a doubting Thomas or two. And these Debbie Downers cannot be YOU. You must build up your personal arsenal of how awesome you are and work on that every day, as you go through the roller coaster of pursuing your passion because you will only go as far as you believe you can go. 

Give it your best shot, and I guarantee you, no matter what happens, you had the guts to chase a dream and the smarts to do it the right way. And not many people can say that. 

 

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I never thought in a million years I would be giving actors advice on where to begin this process. And yet it's been happening more and more every day, which is what led to this post. It's not everything you will need, but it's just enough to get you thinking. The next step is up to you.

 

My reality over the past few years as a working actress would not be possible without the support of my devoted Partner, my supportive sister, my loving mother, and my closest friend. I could not be more blessed.  Thank you for believing in me! You make all the difference.

When I made up my mind to pursue my bliss, it's like the Universe aligned and led me to people who could help me along the way.  I am so very grateful and I wanted to pay it forward.

Thank you to HOLA and HB for the resources that led me to my awesome coach and teachers. Thank you Tom for my first college audition, your advice, and my first serious audition. Thank you Herman for helping me to hone my skills, build my tool box, and get my mental game straight.  Thank you  to Emily who gave me a strategy on buzz building. And thank you Elizabeth and Scott for writing books that have set me on a course that changed my life. 

Sending you lots of positive energy as you embark on your own personal journey, hitchhiking your way to your dreams. 

There's nothing sweeter than that.

Best, 

Posted in: Entertainment