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.

Using Social Media To Promote Your Career

There are a variety of social media outlets available to actors today to help them promote their careers. From Facebook to Instagram to YouTube, social media is a vital part of the daily lives of people around the world. Are you choosing the right social media platforms to promote your career?

I do social media for a variety of clients ranging from cosmetic surgery to spices to crowdfunding to insurance quotes. All of these industries need specialized content for each social media outlet. Actors are some of the most creative people on the planet yet they feel using the same content across the board is perfectly acceptable.

It's not.

The social media sites listed below are ones I use on a daily basis. How can you use them to help your career?

• Facebook - The obvious choice for any actor when it comes to promoting their work and career. Used by billions of people, Facebook is an excellent way to build a community of fans you can interact with on a daily basis on a fan page.  It's also an excellent way to control your image without anyone seeing your personal posts that would be bested saved for a private FB account.
• YouTube - Are you a singer, stand-up comedian, actor or acting coach? If so, do you have a YouTube channel? If the answer is "no" then my question to you is "why not???" You can talk about your skills and talents all you want on your other social media pages but a YouTube channel is one of the best ways to share your skills with the public and reach a mass audience. It's also a great showcase of your talents that you can direct agents and managers and casting people to check out online.
• Twitter - I love Twitter because it teaches you how to get your message across in 140 characters or less. Creating compelling copy while still making a complete statement in a limited amount of space is not an easy skill to master. Learning to get your message across on Twitter can also help you be more focused and in the moment during auditions and meetings.
• Quora - Even though Quora is basically a giant online Q&A session, it can still help you further your career. Search for the people you admire and/or want to work with in the future and follow them on Quora. Engaging with them on a regular basis can put you on their radar but you do need to exercise caution and not be a part of every discussion they are involved with on Quora. There's a difference between being helpful and friendly and coming across as a stalker. I use Quora a lot for a hair restoration specialist I work with in Beverly Hills. Anyone that looks at my interactions on Quora will get the impression that I am completely obsessed with my hairline as well as hair restoration techniques and news.
• Google Plus - It seems like even Google doesn't care about Google Plus anymore but it is still there for you to share some links to your work or IMDb page. It will take some effort on your part to find the best G+ communities to place your links and videos in so don't expect to just make a post and see instant interaction I mainly use G+ as exposure for this blog. 
• Instagram - Even with their new (and awful) logo, Instagram is a great tool when it comes to marketing your carer. Since IG is a visual platform, it's vital to post a photo or video that is visually appealing to others. Post a photo from the set of your latest project or the costume from a play you're working on or even the script you're currently writing. Reaching eyeballs beyond your followers is pretty easy on Instagram by following a few simple tips:

1. You get one link on IG (in your profile) so make sure it points to the site you want others to view
2. Use hashtags to help others find you. Just remember that too many hashtags makes you look desperate to connect. Simply using your name as a hashtag might not gain you much attention. Using general hashtags such as #acting or #actorslife will connect you to others since they are phrases that are searched for on a regular basis.
3. When you gain new followers, share their photos when appropriate. Casting directors and other industry people appreciate having their content shared. However, don't share everything they post or you'll come off as desperate to be noticed.
4. Respond to all comments on your photos. The 30-seconds you take to respond helps build relationships.
5. Be creative with your photos and videos while sharing some of them exclusively on IG There's no reason for people to follow you on multiple sites if they can simply find the same content on FB and Twitter as they do on IG.

• Reddit - Exercise caution if you want to promote yourself on Reddit. Many people that post pitches about their work or links to their own videos get ripped apart in the comments section or simply have their link booted from a subreddit as being inappropriate or not fitting the rules of the subreddit. Make sure that your post is unique and out of the ordinary in order to make it through the crowd on Reddit.
• Vine - This social media platform used to be one of the main outlets to find new talent on the Internet. The looping video platform showcases creativity and the ability to show your talent to the world in easy to digest six-second bites. However, a good number of ad buyers have turned away from the app which has caused many "Viners" to follow the ad money and marketing sponsorship dollars to Snapchat, FB and IG. This has also led to a decreased amount of content that is "Vine exclusive" as more Vine users are now sharing their content on other platforms. Many platforms realized the viability of updating their video content and were able to catch up to Vine when it failed to make any changes and stayed with its 6-second format. I rarely use Vine for business just because of the decreased amount of eyeballs that see the content.  New talent can certainly be found on Vine but there is less marketing money and individual deals being pumped into the app so there are less breakout Vine stars than in the recent past.
• Snapchat - The platform that I am finding great success with when it comes to posting videos. Even though the maximum length of a Snapchat video is only 10-seconds, a series of 10-second videos can run one after the other to create a story. You can have people follow your story on Snapchat to create a narrative that connects the 10-second videos. Share your music, make a short film or do stand-up comedy as your story. I normally keep my client video stories to 3-minutes or less in order to keep fatigue from setting in from too many 10-second videos in a row.
• Periscope - The good news is that the live streaming video aspect of Periscope allows you to show your talents in a live broadcast setting. However, Periscope  requires people to add you on the app so it takes a performer with good worth of mouth or an amazingly dedicated fanbase to make a dent in terms of getting attention from others in the industry.

Now that you know the tools you have at your disposal, make use of them and promote yourself and your career in creative ways. Nobody is more invested in your career than you so be your own biggest fan and make social media work for you.

This actor is getting ready to start his own YouTube channel.

Handling Rejection Like A Pro

The audition process is one of the hardest parts of life for an actor. The amount of times you don't land a role far outweigh the number of times you book a part. Learning to handle rejection and not let it eat away at you is something that each actor has to deal with in their own way. I understand this feeling because I do a lot of freelance work and trying to land a freelance gig is very much like an audition.

Here are some tips to help you deal with not booking a part as well as how to use the experience in the future:

• Accept The Odds - If you stop and think about how many times you will audition for parts, you will be looking for work more than you actually work. This means you will spend a good amount of time auditioning for parts and never hearing back from the casting director. Unfortunately, this is a fact of life in the acting world. You can either learn to move forward and realize you're not the top choice for every part or you can obsess to the point that it distracts you from focusing on your next audition.
• Be Excited About Auditions - As mentioned above, a good portion of your life as an actor will be auditioning for parts. If you want to be a working actor, this makes the audition process a very important part of your working life. Like any other job, there will be parts of your chosen profession that get you down on a daily basis. However, you should be thrilled if you get to audition on a regular basis. There are thousands of actors in Los Angeles who get submitted for a part but don't get called in for an audition. Be happy that you made the cut and have the chance to showcase your acting in front of a casting director.
• Don't Worry - Any tension you bring into the audition room will be felt by everyone around you. Be excited that you have the chance to audition for a part (no matter how big or small the role). Stay focused on the audition at hand and don't worry about booking the job. Doing your best in front of the casting director might not land you the part you auditioned for today but it might lead to new opportunities and jobs in the future.
• Breathe Deep - One of the big jokes about Los Angeles is that everybody is into meditation and yoga. While not everybody is looking into their souls to find peace, there is something to be said about taking the time to unwind. A regular routine of exercise, meditation, yoga and relaxing with friends can help you stop worrying about the little things and focus on the big picture AKA your career! 
• Patience - The majority of actors who move to Hollywood will not be an overnight success story. It takes time to make a name for yourself in Hollywood as well as develop your craft. The more you network with fellow actors and attend workshops, the more opportunities will come your way in the future.
• Don't Take It Personally - How many times have you read a character breakdown for an audition and been convinced that the part was written with you in mind? While you might see the character as being perfect for you, the director and producers might have another "type" in mind. You might even look like an actor they've already cast for another role. There is only so much you can do, and only so much that is in your control, when it comes to landing a role. There is no reason to take it personally if you don't match the type of actor they have in mind. 
• The Opinion Of One Person Is Not The Opinion Of Everyone - The fact that one person didn't like your audition is not how everyone feels about your talent. You have an acting range filled with skills that you don't always get to showcase in auditions. Don't dismiss any criticism you get in an audition but don't take it as a slight against your acting skills.
• Manage Your Expectations - It helps to enter any audition with realistic expectations. If you don't have much experience in drama or Shakespeare plays, don't be crushed if you don't book the part. Entering an audition with realistic expectations helps you keep everything in perspective as well as avoid feeling disappointed.
• Keep In Mind That Acting Is A Business - There is a good amount of art involved in acting but it's important to remember that acting is also a business. The producers of a movie or television show have to hire the actors they feel are the best fit as well as marketable when it comes to promoting the finished product. You can be a great actor but not fit the vision of the final product.

It's up to you to figure out how you deal with rejection as an actor. If you want to make a living as an actor, keep in mind that success is not overnight and you should be prepared for many auditions during your acting journey.

This actor has booked some roles and also been rejected for some parts.

How I Spend My Time When I'm Not Writing About Acting And Hollywood

Besides spending my time writing about Hollywood, I do copywriting and PR for a living. My worlds intersect sometimes but there are many subjects I promote that have nothing to do with acting. I'd like to give you a glimpse into my world with some of my favorite business related conversations from the past 2 or 3 weeks. All of the quotes below are from people who sought me out for my PR or writing services:

• "I'd like you to represent me and help me get some speaking engagements. I've written a 5-volume book series about being abandoned as a teenager as well as my life in foster homes and drug dens. I'm thinking my presentation can conclude with a medley of my favorite Broadway songs performed by my line of copyrighted sock puppets."
• "The copy needs to speak to a 50+ female who might be a mother but could also be a cougar while still retaining her dignity after a night in the arms of her mid-20s co-worker. Do you think you can find the written voice for our line of weight loss snacks?" 
• "The event will be in June. If you don't raise enough money to reach your projected sponsorship goal, would you be okay with covering the rest on your credit card?"
• "I'd love to hire you but I'll need to take credit for everything you write so my wife won't know I didn't do any work on the project."
• "I was looking at your sample copy. It was really good but you wrote "practice" when it should be "praktice". (I'm not making that up!)
• "I'm thinking of holding the world's largest hamster race in DTLA on a Sunday morning. How much press can you get and can you ask the reporters if they would stand inside giant hamster balls?"
• "My book should be done soon and I need a press agent to help me promote it. I think there's an audience for a book on how standing on one leg can activate your psychic abilities."
• "I don't understand what public relations does for a client. Can you run a 3-month campaign for me for free so I can observe what you do to see if I like it?"

As odd as Hollywood can be at times, it's nothing compared to some of the weird questions and requests I see on a daily basis while working.  

Don't get me wrong...I welcome your business ideas and the chance to work together. There are just a few business proposals that amaze me every week!

This actor is always ready to work on his career.

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.

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.