Before and After Each Project: Plan, Act and Reflect

All too often, when you land a role, you’re swept up in the excitement, the newness and the challenges of not only your part but the project as a whole. In the blink of an eye, or so it seems, the play has opened or your moment on set has arrived and there is no time left to pause and ponder over the work you’ve done or the work left to do.

Some actors will write down their thoughts or impressions in a journal or dairy, but without some kind of structured method, their observations will lack focus. Without focus there will be no clarity of analysis and then no way to truly learn from the experience. But you can overcome this with the “Plan, Act, Reflect” method.

Plan

Before the project begins you must do three things: set very clear goals; create a yardstick to measure you’re success and growth; fashion a detailed plan of action. Let’s use the example of you playing a lead role in an upcoming musical-comedy production. Among the several issues you might have during the course of this project, let’s pick just one to focus on – the vocal challenges of playing this role. Here’s what you might be thinking about.  Read more

The 7 Steps To Think Like A Producer So You Can Act For A Living

by Emily Grace

I’ll let you in a secret…when it comes to your acting success, thinking like an actor is probably stalling your career.

How can this be, you may be wondering.  I’m an ACTOR.  That is my job.  How can thinking like an actor be stopping me from BEING an actor?

Well, my friend, I’ve got some news for ya that you may not want to hear.  But, just like a bandaid, we might as well just rip this thing off quick and get it over with.

If you don’t have the auditions, bookings, clout, opportunities or financial security you want from your acting career, than being an actor is not your job.

Your job is to be a producer.

Now – you may literally be a producer of your own content, but you don’t have to be.  What I’m talking about is being a producer of results.  Results like more auditions, more bookings, great connections, and ultimately getting the industry to come to you.

If that ain’t happening, but you’re spending tons of cash on acting class, improv, scene study, on-camera technique or any other class that only focuses on craft, it’s time to put on your producer hat and get serious about treating your career like a bidness.  

Because none of that technique can land you a job if you can’t get in the room to show ‘em what you got.

I’m going to share my trusty 7 steps to think like a producer so you can act for a living.  Read more

John Lithgow on Acting: “It’s a career full of rejection, disappointment and failure. It’s murderously hard on the ego”

John Lithgow, star of stage, television, and movies, has just released his memoir Drama: An Actor’s Education.  One would imagine that the veteran Lithgow, who made his on-stage debut at the age of two, would have pages upon pages of advice for aspiring actors.  In fact, in an interview with NPR Lithgow reveals that he’s given a key piece of advice about acting to his own children.

“I tell young people, including my own kids, don’t do this, it’s too difficult. It’s a career full of rejection, disappointment and failure. It’s murderously hard on the ego. Don’t become an actor,” says Lithgow, perhaps crushing the dreams of many would-be thespians.  However, he adds, “[But] I always add at the end, if you’re going to become an actor, you ignore everything I say anyway, as I did. I mean, the choice to become an actor is very courageous, but like all courageous acts, it’s very foolhardy too, you know.”

But beyond that Lithgow does have more advice for actors who brave on in an attempt to become a successful actor.  Read more

Don’t play the waiting game in your acting career!

Written by Dallas Travers

Every actor plays the waiting game.  Regardless of if you’re waiting to hear about a student film auditions, an agent offer, or whether or not your pilot was picked up, waiting is part of your job.  I know, I know, you’ve been told this a million times, but it’s true.  You must be patient while you pursue your dream.  Patience is indeed a virtue and it’s one that ironically becomes more challenging to master the closer you get to the finish line.

Develop the Habit
It has been said that it takes 21 days to form a habit.  In order to increase your chances of success and avoid show business burnout, you must commit to habits rather than attach to any specific result.  You must practice patience.

You cannot control when your agent will call, when you’ll get your big break, or how often those residual checks come in, but you can control your own daily activity.  Commit to developing the habits of a successful and balanced lifestyle.  This goes back to The Rule of Seven.  No one thing you do will make or break you, but you can create success by consistently doing one thing each day.

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Are You On The Periphery Of The Industry?

Are you on the periphery?
by Amy Lyndon

Do you constantly complain that your representatives don’t do spit? Do you look at some of your friends and are envious of their good fortune? Are you on the sidelines looking in?

Not a day goes by where I don’t hear how frustrated someone is with their career. I always seem to be giving the same response, “Do you have everything in order? Are your pictures updated? Do you have a demo reel up on breakdowns? Is your resume properly formatted? Do you have a comprehensive package? Are you an “A” talent with a “C” package? Are you actively submitting to all the websites? Are you in touch with your representatives? Is your “day job” taking up all your time? Are you working at least 5 hours a day on your career?”  If you said “No” to any of these questions, then you have to reevaluate whether or not you’re actually in the game. Your job is to be in the game.

A student came to me frustrated because he didn’t sign with anyone. I said, “How many photos did you send out?” He said, “Uh… I don’t know… about 25.” I said, “You need to send out 300!” Guys, you need to RUN A BUSINESS! Are you attending the appropriate CD workshops for your type? Are you getting all 5′s? Do you know how to book? You can be the greatest actor in the world, but if you don’t know how to book, then you’re not going to work.

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