Big things afoot...

Hellooooo!
Yes, yes, I know I've been hardcore slacking with regard to my promise of one post a day. But my life might be changing big time in the coming months, and I'm super excited to share with you when I know more. Unfortunately, I need to put my posts on hold for a bit until everything gets sorted, but once it does, I'm back at it full force!

How a job interview is like an audition (and vice versa)

Like a few other industries, summer is considered the "off" season for actors.

Granted, I've booked some awesome stuff in the dead of June, but typically things go quiet during the awkward time between pilot season and the commercial high holidays. If you don't believe me, here is a great article about it from Backstage.

This inevitably leads to panic and dumpster diving. Well, maybe not the dumpster diving, but I can't say I haven't considered it to score a free meal.

It also leads to resignation that a survival job is in order.

Now, I have a "survival" job of sorts: babysitting. However, my core families seem to have left on vacation for most of the summer, and no, they didn't have the good sense to take me with them.

That leaves me...broke. What's a girl to do? Hit those job boards, of course.

Of course, after meeting with a few difference hiring managers, I've concluded that interviews are just glorified auditions. Sure, you might be overqualified, under qualified, not qualified at all, but at the end of the day, it's a performance, plain and simple. You rehearse (research the company, possible interview questions), you dress up (designer suit, check!), you struggle with nerves (shaky hands, sweaty palms), etc.

So what can the best actors teach the best job candidates, and vice versa? Here are a few crossover tidbits:

Look the part

You wouldn't show up to an audition for a face wash dressed in a gorilla suit, so why would you look like you're going on a Sunday stroll when you roll into a job interview? Research the company's culture. If they're traditional, stick to darker colors. However, I would still avoid black as a) it doesn't stand out b) appears too somber and c) it's a cat hair/lint/deodorant magnet. If it's a young, edgy design firm, you might be able to express your fashion sense a bit more.

Know your "lines"

Practice common interview questions and know how you're going to respond to some curveballs. Also, research job-specific questions you might get asked. For example, I was just asked about analytics and API for a digital marketing position, and it threw me because that's not my wheelhouse. However, API is fundamental in today's digital marketing.

Also, research the company/position and know the position enough to have a set of questions. Same goes for auditions - if a casting director opens the floor for questions, at the very least have one thoughtful question.

Of course, it's important to always convey sincerity and truth. You don't want to come across as fake or rehearsed.

Improv is your friend

Being able to think on your feet and read others is crucial during a job interview. It's also crucial in an improv scene. Really listen to what the interviewer has to say. Take notes if necessary. Have thoughtful responses in your mental grab bag. It's okay to play into the situation a bit, i.e. if the interviewer is jokey and laid back, mimic a more laid back demeanor. Have anecdotes ready. Always stick to your "character."

Stay positive

Also like in improv, it's important to always stay positive during an interview. Always phrase things in a positive manner. Never leave a question of a comment just hanging. Always have something to bring to the "scene."

You'll probably get the dreaded, "what's your biggest weakness?" or "what did you hate about your last job." They're trying to trick you into a negative answer. Don't be fooled! Get creative and come up with clever responses before you're caught off guard, mouth open, drool dripping down your chin...

Just breathe

Every actor knows the importance of breath. I've found it helps calm my nerves and makes me appear more confident in my actions. Same goes for a job interview. Make sure you have enough air to complete a sentence clearly, audibly, and without pause. Every answer, or question, should reveal a little bit about you as a person, your "character" if you will.

Do you have any interview/audition crossover stories? What about the annoying "interview audition?" Share your experience in the comments below!

My day as a casting director

Sometimes, I get the chance to wear a different hat and play casting director. I recently had the opportunity to request submissions for the male lead in a short, comedic film.

"Do you know anyone?"

"Sure! I can find someone." (Not really, but I'll just put out a casting call. How hard can it be?)

Ha! So, you want to hear about some of the pitfalls I encountered? Sure you do.

You get what you pay for

Since this was an unpaid project, I had to go through Facebook to find suitable candidates. Unfortunately, those just starting out are the ones who can afford to take unpaid work, while the more serious actors have either left for greener pastures, can't take non-union work, or just won't take anything unpaid.

Open ethnicity, but...

Being in Florida, I got a ton of submissions from hispanics. That might sound racist, but demographically speaking, it makes sense. I didn't want to limit myself on any talent, so I left ethnicity open in the casting.

Unfortunately, the director really was looking for a more plain-jane/everyman type and the majority of submissions I received, well, they read very, very exotic.

Again, it sucks because I know what it's like to be judged by your appearance, but it further proves my point that not every role is meant for every actor. As they say in the car business, "There's an ass for every seat." Can't take casting personally.

I'm really 35, but I look 22

So, while I actually have the opposite problem (and it's not just in my head because I get told this constantly), some people only think they can play younger.

I received a submission from a gentleman, allegedly in his 30s, who said he could play a twenty-something. Unfortunately, while he had a great character face, it reads much older than thirty. In fact, I would have placed him at forty. He also had a much older-sounding, albeit marvelous, deep voice with a hint of a southern drawl. I watched his reel, and he had some really nice moments on camera. Still, he was paired with women in their mid-late thirties, early forties.

There's no reason why I shouldn't cast him at some point in something - he's fabulous! It just won't be for this project because the character will be playing opposite me as my husband, and well, I look like I'm eighteen apparently.

Saying "no"

Some people don't take rejection very well at all. Some people, including yours truly, don't do well doling out bad news. There's a ton of great talent out there, and I love diverse, nuanced roles. The best I can offer is that I'll keep you in mind for future work. And I will, I promise you that.

Are you a casting director? Have you ever had to cast for your own film projects? Tell me about your experience in the comments below!

But you said...or five things to include in your actor's website

So, I made a goal for a post a day and I already missed my deadline. I feel rotten about it, I really do, but here's the thing: there's no excuse.

So, I'm sorry and I promise to do better. Now, back to business.

Here are five things to include in your website, should you choose to create one.

#1 Headshots

This should be obvious. I recommend incorporating your headshots into your title page in some manner.

#2 Resume

Ideally, this should be dynamic so you can update easily. I also recommend including a link to download a PDF because agents like this sort of thing.

#3 Reel

If you don't have a reel, try to include some sort of visual material to show agents and casting directors what you look like on camera.

#4 Clips

See number three. This is also excellent to provide BTS (behind-the-scenes) clips from production before a finished product lands in your lap.

#5 Social 

This is critical. If you could incorporate a stream of social media posts to your page, even better. I also recommend creating designated Instagram, Twitter and Facebook accounts just for your acting endeavors.

So, that's about it. Short and sweet. Have a subject you want some insight into? Let me know in the comments below.

Reasons NOT to pursue acting

So many young hopefuls leap into this industry each year for any number of reasons. Some approach the biz very pragmatically, some have delusions of grandeur. Here are five of the wrong reasons:

#1 Money

Did you read my last post where I included a link about how much a true "working" theater actor makes annually? It's less than $8,000 a year. That's more than some people's bills in a month. If you're looking for some extra cash, try picking up an actual part time job with benefits.

#2 Fame

Seeking fame is the ultimate worst reason to pursue a career in acting. Those who do achieve moderate success (i.e. enough to pay their bills and then some), are character actors or a what's-his-face/what's-her-face. Chances are, you'll go to your grave without ever winning any major award or achieving any name recognition. If you are willing to work hard in another field, your odds of success and recognition are much, much higher.

#3 Talent

I hear a lot of people who get into acting because they "love" acting, or they're a "great actor." Introspective fallacy. Talent plays a very minor role in any casting decision, so even if you fancy yourself the next Marlon Brando or Meryl Streep, actual talent will only get you so far. Oh, so many actresses are so "talented" and talk themselves up ad nauseum, but humility goes a long way in the entertainment business.

#4 No other options

So, you've reached a point in your life where you have tried everything else and you happened to land on acting, because "how hard can it be?" Maybe you don't have any professional experience or technical know-how to pursue something else. Maybe you jumped into acting straight out of high school, or maybe you never even finished high school. 

My advice? Find something else. Find anything else. I don't care if it's dolphin training. Pick something else, and research the steps to achieving your goals. I guarantee it will be much more feasible and rewarding than trying to be a working actor.

#5 Desire

This wishy-washy, post modern "you can do anything you set your mind to" is a load of hogwash. 

You know what has always been a dream of mine? To be a cartoon character. No, not to be the voice of a cartoon character, but an actual cartoon character. Yeah, not gonna happen. 

Every little boy or girl dreams of being a princess, a movie star, a firefighter or an astronaut. Unfortunately, the harsh reality is the world can't survive solely on movie stars, astronauts, firefighters and princesses. We need all sorts. 

At some point you need to really look at yourself and your skills and evaluate, is acting really the best path for me? 

So, why should you choose to pursue acting? 

Well, it comes down to whether or not you have evaluated the risks. If so, are you willing to make the sacrifice? If yes, who am I to stop you? 

But, you've been warned. 

Break a leg out there!

Happy Fourth!

So, it appears that post scheduling is a bit out of whack and yesterday's post did not publish.

Grrrr.

Anyways, until that gets resolved, enjoy the holiday and this very insightful article on how much it costs (and how much money you can expect to make) as an actor.http://www.businessinsider.com/cost-of-earning-a-living-as-an-actor-2014-9

I'm also trying out the blogger mobile app for the first time. We'll see how that goes. So far, options are very limited and I'm not too happy about it.

How to get an agent

Okay, so I tricked you.
In reality, this post is why you don't need an agent.

However, actors are so caught up in finding and signing with an agent they often forget that agents, realistically, don't do much.

Yeah, I said it.

Don't expect to secure representation and magically receive an influx of high profile castings. 'Ain't gonna happen, folks.

Why your agent isn't your guardian angel

Think about it this way: a talent agency is in the investment business. They are investing in human capital (actors) in the hopes they will make a return on that investment.

If you're just starting out, you're a risky investment. The actors they do send to auditions/castings have proven track record of booking. They are a low-risk investment. So, if you just signed with an agent, and you aren't hearing from them, now you know why.

"But," you say, "this seems like a catch 22! How am I supposed to book a gig if I'm not getting sent out to castings?"

Welp, what would any entrepreneur do? You have to show your worth. Here's are a few suggestions to get started:

#1 Find your own auditions

If you are just starting out, you might be unaware of all the free casting sites floating around out there. Casting Networks, Actors Access, Project Casting, and others allow actors to take control of their career trajectory by submitting to castings independently.

Some sites, like Backstage and IMDb, also offer casting notices and breakdowns, but charge an annual fee. Now, if you have disposable income, paying for a site like Backstage might prove helpful, depending on your area.

I'll delve into navigating the casting website minefield in another post, but at least you have a few sites to check out and get started. I definitely recommend Backstage as a resource, regardless.

#2 Create your own content

I recently read an article about how ABC casting execs scout social media sites like Vine, Vimeo, and YouTube to find new talent.

This is excellent news for actors just starting out!

If you can't afford professional-grade film equipment, just brainstorm a few Vine or YouTube videos that can be shot with your phone.

If you aren't already watching YouTube and Vine, I highly suggest it for getting ideas and seeing what type of content viewers will like.

Again, I'll elaborate more on content creation in a later post, but this is a great way to start building collateral to present to an agent. Plus, work begets work. Don't believe me? Check out Melissa Hunter, aka Adult Wednesday Adams.

#3 Be prepared at all times

Okay, so I know this one is a bit vague, but here's an anecdote that might help.

A friend of mine once texted me: "Hey, they're shooting something at a park near my house. Get your butt over here!" Thankfully, I was in the area, and I happen to keep extra headshots and resumes in my car (I highly recommend doing this).

I immediately went to the location. I was just coming back from the gym, so not exactly ideal wardrobe conditions, but timing is everything. I quietly waited, headshot and resume in hand, until the crew took a break, then walked up and politely introduced myself.

Turns out. they were filming a commercial. I briefly explained my commercial experience and asked if they were in need of any additional talent. "Actually, yeah, we are looking for someone tomorrow. Are you free?" Bam.

They ultimately picked someone older for the part, BUT I made a valuable contact and proved to myself that it's important to be ready for anything. Never underestimate being at the right place at the right time.

#4 Develop your brand

Think of any A-list actor or celebrity. Now, what comes to mind?

Just for kicks, I'll play along, too. So, I pick Taylor Swift. She's an ideal case study for branding. Everything about her, from her look to her sound, from her quirkiness to her cat obsession, plays into her personal brand.

Maybe I've spent too much time in marketing, but branding is critical when presenting yourself to potential agents and casting directors. What makes you stand apart? What makes you memorable?

I would start by pulling and saving certain images that you feel illustrate what you're all about. What types of activities do you enjoy? Are you daring? Or are you shy? It doesn't much matter what choice you make, so long as it's clear to others around you.

"But," you might say, "I don't want to pigeonhole myself too early. Why should I focus on branding now?"

Look at any company's history, from Apple to Nike. Did they have strong sense of brand at the beginning? Yes. Did it evolve over time? Yes.

It's okay to evolve. What's not okay? Blending in. If you look around at a casting, and couldn't pick yourself out of a lineup of all the other candidates, you need to differentiate yourself somehow. Otherwise, they'll forget you. And that's deadly.

#5 Connect with the right people

I'm a big fan of remembering people's names. I'm terrible at names, so I see this as a sort of challenge, and I'm a sucker for a challenge.

If you struggle with names, find a way to fix it. If you can walk away from a set, and know everyone by name, from the P.A. to the gaffer, well done.

Nothing says you care more about a person than by being able to remember something as simple as their name. Plus, this will come in handy when interviewing with agents and they ask, "Who have you worked with recently?" Very important.

Don't overlook anyone. I like to befriend the post production folks, because, at the end of the day, they have the power over the final product. The directors get bombarded with attention, so instead of focusing entirely on the top dogs, try to cultivate connections with everyone else.

Of course, this is why set etiquette is CRUCIAL. But, that's another post for another day.

Above all, stay true to yourself and be kind to others. You never know who you might meet, and who will remember you.  

See what I did there?

So, remember how I said agents don't do much?

Well, I actually meant that agents help actors who help themselves. It's a give-and-take dynamic. If an agent doesn't see you as having any value, well...(insert shrug).

It's your job to show your worth. You are the one in control of your acting career, not some agent. Sure, representation can help, but it won't save you.

Got it? Good. Now, go get 'em tiger.

Why you need to get over rejection

I used to think acting was, oh, maybe 30 percent rejection.

Wrong.

The more auditions you go to, the more auditions that actually matter, the higher the rejection rate. I would say it's closer to 90 percent.

But I try not to dwell on rejection rate, and here's why:

Always be closing

Good salesmen close deals because they're tenacious. They're also strategic, but we'll get to that later. 

They hear a "no" and they do one of two things: let it roll off their back and focus on the next deal -OR- find the reason behind the "no" and try to offer a solution.

What good salesmen DON'T do is let rejection affect them. 

Granted, I haven't had any official sales training, so I could be totally off the mark here, but, as actors, we're in sales. 

Either we have the solution to the casting directors'/clients'/producers' problems, or we don't. The end.

You can't dwell on rejection because it's part of the territory.

No matter what, it's a learning experience. 

Sometimes, I walk away from an audition, and I think, "What was the point of that?" Instead of staying positive, I get angry. Bad idea.

Anecdote time

I recently submitted a self-taped audition for an unpaid, indie project. 

That same self-tape led to a callback. I realized immediately that these filmmakers did not know what they wanted because a) the call-back lasted more than two hours and b) they called in practically every female who submitted an audition tape. 

Still, I did everything asked of me, and left (to be honest) feeling rather smug. I had more experience and actual credits than any of the other ladies in the room. I'm excellent at cold-reads. Plus, my appearance matched the age description (20-25), whereas a lot of the other women read older (25-35).  I was also listening to the other performances, and most came across as overtly loud, and (most damning of all) insincere.

Psh. I had it in the bag.

Wrong.

After taking two more days to make a final casting decision (further proof they didn't know what they wanted), I was politely informed that the role had been cast and that my "age" was a factor in the casting decision. Not that I was too old, no. They thought I was too young. 

Now, keep in mind, I'm almost thirty. The role was for someone in their early twenties. It was also a very complex role, requiring an actress with range who could accurately portray the character growing (and aging) over the course of the film. 

The whole thing pissed me off. They had my headshot ahead of time. They had my reel. They saw my self-tape. They KNEW what I looked like. Again, instead of asking myself, "what can I learn from this?" I was itching to punch someone in the face. Instead, I needed to focus on the takeaways.

So, what can we learn?

Every audition experience is unique, and usually offers a very specific set of lessons. For instance, always double-check the audition location before you leave, and always leave extra early, are both obvious lessons everyone learns at least once. But this audition really left me in a doozy. After some contemplation, here's what I came up with:

#1 Know your market

I was auditioning for a production in Florida. Yeah, Florida. I don't know if you're aware, but Florida is the Wild West of anything film-related. There are no rules. It's a fluffing free-for-all. So, expect the unexpected. If they want to have you do two hours of untaped improv, that's normal. Just do it, and do your best. If the casting is taking place at the back of a restaurant (and you're not auditioning for their weekend talent line-up), just go with it.

New York, Los Angeles and other markets have their own rules and protocols. Familiarize yourself with what's expected, and what you can expect. Overall, this leads to fewer mistakes and disappointments.

If you don't like your market's way of operating, then either move to a new one, or consider a new occupation. If anything, this audition made me realize that Florida's "fly by the seat of your pants" mentality just doesn't jive with me. I'm now making serious efforts to move to a new market.

#2 Know your type

I look young. I have been told this countless times. Some people can see past that, others can't. I once was cast as a 40-something mother because the director thought I had the acting chops to pull it off. That was rare, and I was flattered, but you can't count on acting ability. 

The majority of casting decisions come down to type. Do you look like the character? 

Now, this is very tricky and subjective. My best advice is to ask around. Ask your agent, other actors, other people in the industry: "Based on this breakdown, would I be a good match?" If they're unsure, or give you a flat out "no," the role simply isn't meant for you and you need to move on. 

You need to trust what they tell you, not what you think of yourself because our introspection is often flawed. If someone thinks you can pull it off, then go shine! You have everything to gain and nothing to lose.

#3 Research the company

I learned this one early on. Whenever I see a casting breakdown, I immediately seek out the company's website to view past work. 

Even student filmmakers have a portfolio of work. If they can't show you anything, don't expect anything from the production.

How is the quality (sound, lighting, script, acting)? If anything is sub-par, I would seriously reconsider submitting for an audition. You don't want to be anyone's training wheels. 

If it's not aligned with how you want to brand yourself, stay away. Remember, acting is sales and good salesmen know their brand. What is your niche? What is your wheelhouse? Again, it goes back to knowing your type, but if the production goes against your "type," well...it might not be worth it. 

This company hadn't put out any work in the past few years. What they had put out contained shoddy content, inconsistent film quality and mediocre sound. Immediately, this should have been a red flag. But I overlooked it, rationalizing, "Surely, this was a few years ago, and they have improved by now."  Never settle! 

#4 Realize some people are idiots

Now, this might sound like a juvenile cop-out, but it's not. A lot of casting decisions are made for totally asinine reasons and, as actors, there's nothing we can do about it. 

Instead of thinking like clear-headed businessmen, a lot of creative professionals get big-headed and make decisions based on a whim. 

If you remember anything, remember this: the entertainment industry is a subjective business, not a fair one. If you want things to be fair, get out now. 

Just to show you how idiotic this business is, here are some very real reasons why actors were not cast:

• Reminded me of my ex.
• She looked too much like the girls before and after her.
• Had brown eyes.
• Too beautiful.
• Not beautiful enough.
• Too thin.
• Not thin enough.
• Gave off a weird vibe (WTF?)
• Too booby. (Whatever that means)
• Too flat-chested.
• Wore a purple shirt. 
• Too ethnic
• Too white (The actor was half black, half Puerto Rican)

Feel better?

#5 Realize it's arbitrary

So, I know this relates to number four, but I wanted an (un)even five. I also wanted to tell another story (yay!). I remember when I was in high school, I would compete in Florida State Thespians. Our ensemble made runner-up for Best Ensemble, which gets to showcase at the end of the competition along with others who placed first in their category. 

We watched the showcase for Best Ensemble. It was a scene from a theatrical rendition of Alice in Wonderland. The blocking seemed haphazard, none of the actors knew their lines, and my group was in shock. We had rehearsed every day after school for months. Our performance was so beautifully nuanced and choreographed that it appeared as if we were experiencing the events for the first time. 

Yet, this living disaster had beat us. Why? There is no reason why. Maybe one of the judges had a ham and cheese sandwich for lunch and all he remembers was his acid reflux, not our impeccable line delivery. 

We can try to rationalize, analyze, and justify rejection all day long, but (if you're doing everything else right) I've found 99 percent of rejection is arbitrary. 

So don't sweat it, don't dwell on it, stay humble and just keep swimming. 

On to the next one!

Willkommen

I started this blog more than six years ago as part of a school project. Yet, my love of performing and theater has not diminished, and this platform has been on my mind quite a bit lately.

So...I've decided to start it back up.

Granted, my goals are modest: 1 blog post per day on a subject related to acting. I feel that's doable.

Previously...

Since I've been gone, I cannot say I've jumped headfirst into pursuing an acting career as I had hoped. I graduated and opted to return home to Florida after accepting the first internship offered to me: a copywriting position at a boutique ad agency.

After that, a friend offered me an entry level position at her start-up PR firm, which ultimately did not pan out. I then jumped from part time jobs, working at a restaurant, an e-tutoring company, and nannying.

Then, I decided it was time to put on my big girl panties and accept a full-time office position.

Blarg.

The pay was horrendous, but hours were consistent (sometimes too consistent). The office manager treated me like sub-human waste matter, but I met one of my best friends at that job, so I can't complain too much.

If anything, that working environment made me apply to other, "better" jobs. I looked out of state, even traveling to Texas to interview. Ultimately, I landed on a shiny marketing position at a promising manufacturing company.

The good, the bad, the ugly

Everything was perfect, now that I was reporting to the CMO and had a real, big girl, salaried position. I could afford to move into my own apartment (whoo hoo) and establish my independence. The woman who hired me was the ideal mentor: a cocktail of wisdom, leadership, tough love and compassion.

It's too bad they fired her five months later.

That's when things got ugly. I lifted up the log in the woods and did not like what I discovered underneath.

I won't go into details, but lawsuits were filed.

Employees were dropping like candy from a piñata at a five-year-old's birthday party.

I was worried. How would I escape? When would I escape? I had been interviewing with a restaurant, but had not been formally offered a position, but I knew the work would be easy and relatively safe. Of course, it wasn't ideal, but it was something.

Adieu, adieu, to you and you and you

A colleague informed me that the two week notice is not an employer's right, it is earned by treating their employees right. I struggled with that, but he had a point. If I was okay burning a bridge, I didn't owe them anything. So, I did something I'll probably never do again, but had to do under given circumstances.

I quit.

I quit, and I decided I was going to tackle this acting thing.

It was a risk. It was scary. But here I am almost two years later, and I'm alive. Maybe I have less money in the bank than I would like. Maybe I have had to lean on people instead of relying on myself, but I'm still standing.

So, here's to the adventure of pursuing our dreams at the expense of so-called normality. Here's to sharing our struggles and successes. Here's to the journey. Cheers!