How To Survive Pilot Season

Pilot season is underway and you can feel the tension across the city. Everyone is comparing the amount of auditions they've had so far, what parts they went out for and wondering why they didn't get the call for certain parts. While pilot season is an important part of the year for actors, they also need to learn how to stay sane and survive the next few months. Here are some tips to help actors remain calm during pilot season:

• Keep Your Focus - Pilot season is busy and you could be driving to multiple areas of town in one day or multiple times during the week. Stay focused on your work and don't stress about Los Angeles traffic. Stay in the moment with your acting and don't worry about your agents or managers of any other "business" aspects of the television industry. Your agent and manager help you get in the room but it is your talent that will get you a callback for a project.
• Find An Outlet - Pilot season is more than going to auditions. It is also keeping track of new projects, submitting yourself for parts besides the ones your agent and manager handle, making connections and getting your name out there even more than you normally do during the year. It's a nonstop process but you need to make time to relax and let your mind rest. Go to the gym. Meet friends for dinner. Go hiking once or twice per week. Give yourself time to take a deep breath and think about something other than acting.
• It's Not Always You - There are a dozen or more reasons why you might not book a part. Your acting ability might be the last reason you don't book a pilot. They might have been searching for a "certain look" and you didn't match what they had in mind. The part might have been rewritten to be an older person or the opposite gender or even written out of the show completely. It might have been budget reasons. It's certainly disappointing if you don't land the role you were after but keeping it all in perspective is vital to staying sane during the pilot season casting process.
• Be Prepared - The art of being prepared is more than just knowing your lines and being off book. You will often be given a copy of the entire pilot script. Read through it so you know what the show is about beyond the part you hope to land, Showing an interest in the entire script and knowing how the characters interact with each other will go a long way in making you stand out in the eyes of the casting director. Being in the room is your time to shine and show you have what it takes to play the part as well as be an important part of the acting ensemble. 
• Don't Let It Define The Rest Of Your Year - Don't let the success or failure you have in booking a pilot define the rest of your year. Pilot season is only a few months out of the year. If you don't book a pilot, it doesn't mean you will be unemployed for the rest of the year. Keep your eyes and ears open for new opportunities down the road. It might seem like the end of the world if you don't book a pilot but it can also mean there is something better waiting for you later in the year. Stay positive and keep your eyes on the goal of being a working actor.

This actor has had a couple of auditions in the last few weeks.

End Of The Year Means One More Meeting

Even though the entertainment industry is in holiday/vacation mode for the end of 2016, Zach had a meeting with his manager earlier this week to discuss plans for 2017.

I've always appreciated the fact that she insists her talent roster look back at the year that is ending in order to make plans for the coming year. It's a great way for Zach to see what he accomplished, what he needs to work on and to bounce around ideas for future projects.

The end of the year meeting (naturally) put me in a reflective mood. Some of my thoughts during the meeting included:

• We used to discuss "how to get on their radar" and now we discuss "we know the right people" and make plans based on those contacts
• Zach's confidence during the meeting was much greater than the kid that attended those meetings years ago
• The amazing amount of content options that have been created or seen incredible growth in the last 4 or 5 years (Netflix, Amazon, CBS All Access, Hulu, Seeso, Apple TV, Crackle, Snapchat, YouTube Red and many more that I am forgetting to mention)
• Zach's view expanding while also becoming more focused as he gains a better idea of where he wants to go with his career
• A grateful feeling for the personal and professional relationship we have with his manager as she has been a wonderful personal and professional mentor to Zach
• Being impressed by the way Zach was able to lead the meeting while I was only there to offer advice and be a support system 

There were some items on his action plan from last year that we didn't accomplish or didn't hit the desired goal. On the other hand, there were other opportunities in 2016 that weren't even on the list that Zach was able to run with and grow during the past year. Even though acting is a creative field, it is still very much a business and not something that should navigated without a game plan. After the meeting this week, Zach has a clear idea of what he hopes to accomplish in 2017. I'm looking forward to being part of the adventure and helping him achieve his goals from the meeting even as he keeps his eyes open for new creative opportunities along the way.

This actor is looking forward to a successful 2017.