Five Tasks To Perform Daily As An Actor

The image most people have of the daily life of an actor is one of glitz and glamour. Lunch at The Palm, shopping in Beverly Hills and parties with A-list actors in the industry. Isn't that what the daily life of an actor is all about?

Not really.

There is a lot of work put into the daily career path of a person living the acting life. An actor has to work on their craft more than once a week at an acting class in order to get ahead in the industry. There are many lifestyle choices that go into helping an actor find success. Here are five tips to help you be more successful in your daily journey as an actor:

1. Networking - Even if you don't have a job currently booked, there are still plenty of ways to work on getting ahead in your career. Join a writing group. Sign up for a casting director workshop. Do an open mic night. Workshop a play. Write a screenplay. Get feedback from fellow actors and people whose opinions you trust. The important thing is to not stay in bed all day. Take at least one step forward per day in your acting career by networking and showcasing your talents to others. The extra effort will pay off in the future. 
2. Look your best at all times - Los Angeles is a town where you never know who you'll be talking to at any given time. I've had conversations with studio executives, directors, talent coordinators and writers of major motion pictures without knowing (at the time) what they did for a living. There are industry people all over the place. They might be dining next to you, getting gas at the same time or shopping at the same store. It's vital to look your best at all times. Being presentable in your everyday life shows that you care about your appearance and not looking like you got out of bed an hour ago, Acting is a business as well as an art form and you wouldn't go to a job interview looking less than professional. The professional and "put together" impression you make on the stranger next to you can pay off in a career break further down the road.
3. Be prepared to be on call 24/7 - Even though you might not have a set schedule where you have to be somewhere from 9 to 5 on a daily basis, you will essentially be on call 24/7 on a daily basis. Planning trips at any point of the year other than the Christmas holidays is almost impossible since booking an audition can happen seven days a week. Auditions don't take the weekend off so going out of town for the weekend is sometimes difficult. I'm not saying that you can't take a vacation but be warned that you might miss out on an opportunity for a paid acting job. You are probably friends with fellow actors which is a good thing because they will understand when you have to cancel plans in order to make a last-minute audition in Santa Monica that happens an hour after the call for the audition. Plus, you need to learn multiple pages of dialogue in the hour that you'll be stuck on the 405 trying to get to the audition, There's also a good chance that you'll be asked to prepare multiple scenes for the audition only to discover that the casting people only want you to read the first scene. Being an actor means having to be prepared to sacrifice quality time with family and friends and significant others in the pursuit of your craft.
4. Maintain your look - Casting directors, agents and mangers often think of actors as "types" as opposed to actual people. The casting people make a breakdown for a part and decide if they want you to audition based on how they perceive you. Agents and managers scan casting notices and breakdowns and submit the clients they feel have "the look" for the part, They might think of you as a wonderful person with many redeeming qualities. However, if you don't register top of mind as having the right look for a part then they won't submit you for the audition. Your look is your calling card. Keeping yourself in shape and playing to how the industry perceives you is a daily exercise in keeping yourself relevant and prepared to kill at an audition.
5. Take care of your number one fan - The person most invested in your career is the person who looks at you in the mirror every morning. You are your biggest cheerleader and your biggest resource. It's up to you to determine how hard you want to work and how much motivation you have on a daily basis. The more often you put yourself in front of others, the more often you'll be top of mind when it comes to parts and auditions. Your time is valuable so don't waste it obsessing on the parts and opportunities that others have in front of them. Be a self-starter and make your acting future your number one priority.

This actor likes to write and create his own material.

My Favorite Casting Notices That Shouldn't Exist

There are hundreds of casting notices sent out every week in Hollywood. While most of them seem normal, there are others that make me do a double take after I read them.  Here are my five favorite odd casting notices from the past week:

1. Dirty Disney Burlesque Show - What more needs to be said besides that great title?
2. Male 18-35 needed to play the part of penguin wings that are able to fly after the owner of the wings takes mushrooms in an Arctic trailer park. You will not be playing a penguin. You will be playing the wings.
3. Soft bodied Korean senior citizen needed to perform hardcore rap song about the dangers of too much Viagra on a consistent basis. Must be willing to be nude except for a prosthetic FOV (Friend of Viagra). 
4. Do you like trains? Do you like having coal on your face? Do you enjoy wearing a train conductor hat? If so, join our new theater troupe that performs guerrilla plays in front of unsuspecting Amtrak passengers. Must be willing to keep performing no matter how much the passengers might complain.
5. Looking for a female 49-65 to play the part of a sexy grandmother to three llamas. Must not be afraid of llamas. Must be willing to feed llamas. The llamas are the stars of the production so you must be willing to accept second billing to the llamas.

The above casting notices are the ones that made me laugh the hardest this week. They are also the notices that made me curious why they even exist.

I guess the only answer is..."That's Show Business!"

I'm not sure how this actor feels about llamas. He does enjoy trains.

Are You Treating Acting Like A Business Or A Hobby?

The majority of actors say they are actors first and foremost. While this might be the case in their minds, it's not always the case in their actions. While acting is certainly an art, it's also a business that needs to have a plan in place to grow and succeed.

Think about the amount of time and money actors spend on headshots, classes, workshops and trying to get the attention of agents and managers. All of that effort makes being an actor much more than a simple hobby. Being an actor means that you are a person involved in the business of acting as well as an artist. In fact, you are really a salesperson because you're trying to sell yourself and your skills to agents, managers, casting directors and producers. You are trying to convince them to buy the services you are offering over the services of other actors. The product you are selling is yourself and your audition is the equivalent of your "elevator pitch". Your headshot, wardrobe and style of acting are all part of the brand you are building and promoting to the industry decision makers.

With the knowledge that you are an actor and a product, have you taken the time to make an overall business plan? Brick and mortar businesses make long-range plans that cover multiple years. Making a plan for 1 or 3 years doesn't lock you into only following that path. It does provide you with a map to follow with enough freedom to take unexpected detours when new creative business opportunities appear that need your attention.

You also need to take time and make sure that your brand is focused and is the same across all platforms. Casting directors and producers look beyond your headshot and audition. They will take the time to find you on social media. Don't appear professional on one platform while having dirty jokes and risque photos on another social media site. It's fine to have that content if that is your brand but make sure that the product you present is consistent and on target.

Also, don't be afraid to change your approach and your brand. Businesses don't stay open by refusing to adapt and change to the demands of the marketplace. Not booking any jobs? Not moving forward with your career? Maybe it's time to assess your brand and make the necessary adjustments to have a more marketable product.

Recognizing the fact that acting is a business and not just an artistic expression might be the first step you need to take on the path to success in your chosen field. If nothing else, looking at how you market yourself to the industry can help you decide if acting is going to be your career or simply a fun hobby in your life.

This actor tries to keep his brand family friendly.

How To Dress The "Acting Part" On A Budget

Wardrobe is a big part of the daily existence of an actor. While big budget movies and television shows have their own wardrobe departments that supply the main actors and major guest stars with their outfits, many actors don't have the opportunity to work on larger productions. They work on commercials, do background work and book smaller guest star roles that require them to supply their own clothes. Some smaller shoots do have clothes on hand to help fill-in various wardrobe needs with standard size generic looking clothes. More often than not, the actor booking the role will get a call from wardrobe asking them to bring specific types of clothes to the shoot. The clothing request is made so the production will have outfit options for various scenes.

What's an actor with a limited budget supposed to do when they book a job for the next day with wardrobe requests? What are the best choices in Los Angeles for camera ready clothes on a budget?

The following is not a comprehensive list of places to shop for clothes on a budget. It is more of a "starter kit" to help find stores to shop at for auditions or booked jobs:

1. The Council Thrift Shops (NCJWLA/National Council of Jewish Women) - Worth checking out for the occasional name brand clothing. Multiple locations around Los Angeles.
2. Berda Paradise Thrift Store - A play on words as well as the first name (Berda) of the founder of the store. A thrift store with a good heart as it benefits the Hollywood Sunset Free Clinic. Vintage clothing, name brands, purses and other goodies can be found at this store on Sunset Boulevard in Silver Lake.
3. American Cancer Society Discovery Shop - A set of stores across Los Angeles near and dear to my heart as my wife works for the American Cancer Society. There is sometimes more of a focus on furniture and home decorating items but still worth checking out for a few clothing items.
4. Wasteland - With three locations in the Los Angeles area, Wasteland is a definite resource for clothing on a budget. The actor searching for clothes will find anything from designer suits and jeans to shirts perfect for auditions and hanging out with friends. There is also a good selection of casual clothes. Wasteland is a place where almost any style of clothes can be found on the right day at a good price.
5. It's A Wrap - This is kind of an odd place because the clothes in the store are actual wardrobe pieces from TV shows and movies. If nothing else, it gives an actor a good idea of the wardrobe style of various productions. Plus, where else can you buy a random outfit from "Dancing With The Stars"? There's one location in Burbank and one on Robertson Blvd on the Westside.
6. Squaresville - A 2-story vintage store on Vermont with a little bit of everything in terms of clothing. Casual and designer clothes, shoes and accessories can all be found at this store.
7. Out Of The Closet - There are three or four locations of Out Of The Closet around town. Their selection of clothes shares space with housewares and books with part of the proceeds benefiting the AIDS Healthcare Foundation. 
8. Jet Rag - A vintage clothing store on La Brea that sometimes leans towards more eclectic selections but still worth checking out on a regular basis. It can be a little crazy on Sundays when they hold their $1 sales.
9. Crossroads - The number of Crossroads locations across Los Angeles makes it easy to find a location. Although they are not big on dress clothes or designer wear, they are a great option when searching for more casual outfits.
10. Buffalo Exchange - Their tagline says they specialize in new and recycled fashion. This is true as new/gently worn clothes hang next to vintage concert t-shirts and faded jeans. A good place to shop for stage clothes as well as clothes for filming.

In a city the size of Los Angeles, there are dozens of options when it comes to shopping for acting clothes. There are many recycled and vintage clothing stores that sell outfits that still look brand new. It's always nice to wear an outfit that cost very little but still looks like a million bucks.

The parents of this actor have had good luck at thrift stores.