- Stay in regular contact with your reps. I didn’t need to make a daily wake-up call, but if I was working on a project, or doing something noteworthy I let them know. I also made sure to keep an ear to the ground for audition opportunities I thought I’d be right for. I wanted them to know I was serious and proactive about my career.
- Be kind and prepared. As a former acting teacher one said to me, “Spread good contagion,” which means develop a good reputation by being kind, prepared, and grateful. I took her words to heart and made sure I was always courteous, off-book, and on time for appointments. It doesn’t sound like a big deal, but you’d be surprised how far a strong work ethic and a generosity of spirit can get you.
- Keep getting better. I continued taking workshops and classes to improve my technique.
Acting is like anything else; if you don’t continually polish your skill
set, in time they will atrophy.
- Invest in good headshots. I hired a great photographer who shared my vision for what I
wanted my headshots to ultimately look like. (We’ll talk more about this
later). I also made sure I had a variety of options or “looks” available
in my repertoire, i.e. a business look, a “hip” look, a young dad look,
etc. If you’re represented it may not be a bad idea to ask if there’s a
certain photographer whose work they admire.
- Take care of yourself. It may sound self-explanatory, but it is
absolutely imperative you look after your well-being and stay fine-tuned
physically, mentally, emotionally, and even spiritually. Each state can
positively or adversely effect the other. There is nothing wrong with
having a good time, but it must not come at the expense of eating right,
exercising regularly, protecting and nourishing your mind, and taking time
out for yourself. The challenges of the industry are abundant and tough
enough. You can’t work at a deficit so bring your “A game” each day.
- Take initiative. Finally, I didn’t wait for the phone to ring. It’s important to always be
on the lookout for your own opportunities. Agents and managers are often
inspired by clients they know are proactive. Sometimes it’ll even light a
little fire under them to push you harder to casting offices.
To download my free EBook, To the Prospective Actor please visit:
https://www.nickmaccarone.com/books/
No comments:
Post a Comment