Do You Know Your Tax Deductions As An Actor?

Tax season is here and everyone is trying to figure out last minute deductions to save money this year. If you are not sure what deductions you can claim as an actor, here are some tips to help you save money and (maybe) get a refund this year.

• Self-employed actors can deduct expenses directly related to acting activities that are not viewed as "extravagant" when it comes to properly doing their work. In other words, the deduction must be deemed to be "ordinary and necessary" in the eyes of the IRS.
• Some actors try to deduct everyday items like makeup and a gym membership on their taxes. However, the use of these items must be clearly defined by the actor. For example, makeup for a photo session or a stage play can be deducted but makeup bought for use during a normal day cannot be deducted. A gym membership is rarely deductible because it is considered exercise and not "research" or "training".
• Clothing is also an area to be handled with caution. An outfit bought for an audition can fall into the deduction category but clothes bought to wear to lunch or the beach are not considered tax deductible. 
• Items that might count for "research purchases" include magazine subscriptions and books for the purpose of staying up to date on your profession. Movie tickets can count as research for your job as well as some (or all) of your cable, Netflix, Amazon Prime and Hulu subscriptions.
• Fees paid to your reps or a PR firm can be marked as business expenses. However, you will need to provide statements showing your payments as well as examples of the services they provided. Also, fees paid for acting classes, private sessions and casting director workshops might be good deductions for you.
• Keep track of your mileage as you drive to auditions, agent and manager meetings, acting classes, rehearsals and acting jobs. They can be counted as business trips. In addition, out of town travel for work can include some deductions. 
• Did you mail anything related to your career last year? Fed Ex, UPS and USPS expenses that were a result of mailing resumes, headshots and other career items can fall into deduction territory.
• Resumes and headshots, along with postcards and fees charged by sites like LA Casting, can all be classified as "promotional expenses" when filling out your taxes.
• Finally, making business calls can be written off on your taxes. Plus, a new phone can be a tax deduction if you have the proper paperwork to show its business use.

I hope the examples listed above help you save some money. As always, consult with a tax professional when using the above deduction examples. To quote the JP Morgan website:

"This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for, tax, legal, or accounting advice. You should consult with your own tax, legal and accounting team before engaging in any transaction."

Take the money you save on your taxes and invest it in your career with new headshots or taking an acting class.

This actor is finishing his taxes this weekend.

Conversations About "The Business"

No matter where you go in Hollywood, it seems like people are always talking about "the business". While the movie and television industry are a big part of this town, listening to random conversations reveals there is a "show business superstar" in everyone.

Here are seven of my favorite show biz related conversations I've heard in the past few weeks:

1. "I just finished a treatment for a gritty reboot of Howard the Duck for Phase 4 of the Marvel movies. In my treatment, he becomes a contestant on a Big Brother type show and teaches everyone the best and worst mankind has to offer while also trying to win the competition."
2. "I told him I would love to sing backup at the Hollywood Bowl but then I found out if was for the Muppets. Everyone will be looking at the singing frog instead of me!"
3. "I had lunch on the Warner Brothers lot last week. I didn't have a meeting there. I decided to sneak onto the lot to take a selfie for my IMDb page."
4. "The entire role consisted of me not speaking and staying in one place on the ground for 7 hours covered in fake blood. I can't wait to tell my acting coach!!!"
5. "I don't get why Netflix didn't go with my TGIF revival idea. I can totally see Urkel, Balki and any random cast member they can get from Step by Step living together in a Real World type show. It would be a hit!"
6. "I hope he makes it to Hollywood on the next season of American Idol. I think all of the camera time I get rooting for him in  the audience will help raise my profile in the industry."
7. "I booked a commercial where I play second banana to a dog. I've been working in the industry much longer than that mutt so this is completely unfair."

As long as there are show business dreams, there will be plenty of conversations like the ones listed above. I'll be sure and keep a notebook on me so I can write down more odd conversations to share with you in the coming months.

This Actor Has Been Appearing On Stage For The Past Three Months.

The Play's The Thing...So Is The Stand-Up Stage

I was able to watch Zach Louis do something this past Friday night that I haven't experienced since 2011. I watched him onstage in a play before a live audience for the first time since he was in middle school in St. Louis. I've seen him onstage doing stand-up comedy in Los Angeles as well as improv at Second City in Hollywood. It's just been a long time since he has performed in a play.

In fact, he is currently in two plays in North Hollywood. Friday night saw him take the stage in a production of "The Marriage Zone" at the Secret Rose Theatre. Zach plays the child of the couple in the play as well as the narrator who sets up the play at the start of the show. The plot revolves around a married couple who are both unhappy in the marriage for different reasons. They are visited in "The Marriage Zone" by younger and older versions of their characters so they can see where they started and where they might end up as a couple. There are certainly some heavy moments in the play but Zach helps to keep things light with a number of funny lines.

The cast features a combination of younger performers and veterans who have appeared in such TV shows and films as "CSI: Cyber", "Grimm", "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." and "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade". If you are near North Hollywood, and looking for a night of entertainment in an intimate theatre, you can find your tickets here. Zach's next performance is Labor Day Weekend and a code for discount tickets will be provided if you sign-up for emails from Plays 411.

Why is Zach not in the play this coming week? Because he is performing three shows this week during the Burbank Comedy Festival. The list of comedians is a mixture of established names and emerging comedians. Zach's three shows this week include:

1. Laugh Revolt Repeat
2. Emerging Comedians
3. Opening for Hal Sparks

All of the comedians hope to make a good impression on the crowd as well as the organizers of the festival so they will be invited to take part in the "Best of the Fest" shows on the last night of the festival. The festival also features panels, parties, podcasts and networking opportunities for all of the comedians taking part in the event.

I'm looking forward to a week of comedy with many people I've never seen before as well as watching Zach do his "thang" in front of industry veterans.  As always, I haven't heard his set in advance so I hope I haven't done anything stupid enough (lately) to be made fun of in his set. If I am made fun of by Zach, he is too old for me to ground so I guess it's all just part of the #funnybusiness of the festival.

This TV and movie actor is living onstage this week.

The Most "LA Thing" That Has Happened To Me (So Far)

I have been in Los Angeles for over 5 years and have certainly had some odd moments since moving here. However, a business meeting earlier this week might be the most "LA thing" I've ever experienced.

I had a meeting the other day with a new business connection. He contacted me out of the blue about working on 2 upcoming projects in the entertainment industry. We are both located in the Los Angeles area so it made sense to meet in person. I have ongoing freelance copywriting, marketing and publicity projects with clients located in New York, Florida, the Philippines and West Virginia so it was nice to make a business connection where I live.

We set a meeting time to get some coffee and discuss the projects. He has a European accent so each mention of coffee sounded like "We will get-uh da coffee and discuss-uh the project over da coffee."
I drove to his office and discovered that his office was his home. No big deal because I work at home as well. The surprise was that we were just doing coffee at his place and not at a coffee shop.

I rang the doorbell and was greeted by his assistant as well a dog that excelled in the art of crotch sniffing. Super sweet dog but extremely fascinated by the crotch region. After making some small talk with the assistant and bonding with the dog, I went into the backyard to meet with my contact and his partner. Before getting into the business at hand, we discussed our personal lives, They were tired from different social events and had meant to relax in the pool earlier in the day. However, they had run out of time before our meeting.

That's when they had a "great-uh idea"...What if we all got in the pool and did our business meeting relaxing in the water????

Without any hesitation, I politely declined by using the (very valid) excuse that I was not wearing appropriate pool gear and did not bring any with me. No problem (according to them) because the giant pink flamingo in the pool was big enough that I could just sit in it rather than having to get my body in the water.

I realize this is easy for me to say since I was experiencing the offer in person. The offer to get in the pool didn't strike me as straight up odd as it sounds. It was more European eccentric and probably something they do on a regular basis.

After thinking about it for about 20-seconds, I agreed to get in the pool. I removed my shoes, rolled up my jeans and climbed aboard the giant pink flamingo. I have never seen the show "Entourage" but this experience was exactly how I imagine the Hollywood in the show was portrayed all the time.

We floated in the pool for a good 30-minutes drinking "da coffee" and discussing the different ways to promote their projects. We even worked on a PowerPoint while my flamingo drifted next to their panda and martini glass floats in the pool. The dog even joined us in the pool at one point.

There was only one or two times that I was floating in the pool and thinking, "How the hell did my life get to the point that I'm drinking coffee in swimming pools and taking meetings on flamingo floats???"

I'm not complaining at all. It is just not a thing I ever imagined happening in my professional life.

It was a very productive meeting and I think great things (creatively and financially) will come from our partnership. I even made it out of the meeting without falling in the pool! If nothing else comes from this meeting, it will make a great story if (and when) I do an Open Mic comedy night around town.

This actor has a stand up comedy date in Burbank this month.

The Changing Landscape Of Headshots

Zach got new headshots earlier this year and I finally had a chance to visit a photo lab and get them printed. I went there Friday night and arrived about 15-minutes before they closed. I was the only customer so I was able to chat a bit with the guy working the front desk. I noticed that the photo lab seemed to have more video recording equipment than in years past. He said video production is one of the ways they pay the bills these days because "headshots aren't as big as they used to be."

I never thought about that fact before but he is right. Headshots are still important but they are not as important as they were in the past.

Let me explain.

When someone mentions an audition, one of the first things you probably think of is the image of an actor with his or her headshot in hand waiting to see the casting director. While this still happens, it doesn't occur as often as it did in the past. Many auditions are now recorded and instantly emailed to the casting director. There is no need for a printed headshot because the agent or manager used a jpeg of the photo to send to the casting office.

Even if the audition is in person, there will be times when the casting team have the headshot pulled up on their computer so there is no need to hand them a printed headshot.

Zach did two auditions last week and none of the casting directors asked him for his headshot.

If this is becoming more of a trend, why did I get new headshots printed? Because there are some casting directors who still want the actual headshot (with the resume on the back) even though they already have the photo and resume information on their computer. It might be a habit for them to ask for the headshot or they might want it because "that's the way it has always been done".

Plus, you still need a good headshot to showcase your personality. It doesn't matter whether it is a printed copy or an emailed version of the photo. You need to invest the time and money to find an experienced photographer who can convey what you bring to the table as an actor with your photo that (hopefully) serves as a good first impression.

A headshot is much like a business card in Hollywood. You present it to casting directors as a form of introduction as well as something for them to keep so they will remember you in the future.

This is another reason you need to use an experienced photographer for your headshots. A good photographer takes into account how the photo will look on the printed page as well as digitally. He (or she) will make sure the lighting and touch-ups on the photo work well in any format.

Plus, a good headshot is something to give family members who like to show off “their actor” to friends and other relatives. It's worth the money to make mom and dad happy!

This actor has new headshots on IMDb.

Screening Screeners On My Home Screen

One of the great things about having a kid "in the biz" is screeners.

If you don't know, a screener is a copy of a movie or television show made for the purpose of reviews, trying to get distributors interested in a project or (in Zach's case) allowing industry members to see the movies nominated for awards in Hollywood. (Zach is eligible to vote for the SAG Awards)

It also means that I get to watch movies with him in the comfort of our own home. Don't get me wrong. There is something great about going to a movie theater and seeing a film on the big screen. Plus, it is a good excuse to enjoy food I never eat otherwise such as nachos with the "tastes good but can't be good for you" nacho cheese, caramel popcorn (the only kind of popcorn I will eat) and chocolate covered raisins

Screeners have evolved over the years from VHS tapes to DVDs to digital downloads. Zach gets a mixture of DVDs and digital downloads. It was really nice over the weekend to be able to watch a current movie without having to go out in the California rain to see a film. We watched "La La Land" (still in theaters and up for many Oscars this weekend) in the comfort of our own warm and dry home. It is a beautifully shot movie that I'm sure looks amazing on the big screen. It also looked really nice on my television while watching it from my couch.

Screeners do come with the standard warning to not share them on the Internet or give them to others to watch or attempt to sell or profit from their existence. I don't want Zach to be on the receiving end of any anger over screeners so we definitely keep them "in house".

I'm looking forward to the Oscars because we've been able to watch many of the films up for best picture thanks to screeners. It's a great way to save money and enjoy the best of Hollywood at the same time.

I'm looking forward to watching screeners starring this actor in the future.

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.

It's Almost Like A Billy Joel Song!

Billy Joel has a famous song called "Say Goodbye to Hollywood" (which has much less rage and angst than "Say Goodbye Hollywood" by Eminem) that first came out in 1976. Forty years after that song was released, our family is staying in Hollywood and officially saying goodbye to Missouri.

I can hear you asking, "Haven't you been away from Missouri for four years already? Why are you just getting around to saying goodbye?"

The answer is....We finally sold our home in St. Louis.

I've mentioned before that Zach and I moved to Los Angeles in January 2012. We put our house on the market but we were in no great hurry to sell it because the two of us would go back to Missouri if he didn't like trying to be an actor. It quickly became apparent that Zach had a future out here so we decided to seriously try and sell the house. While the "serious selling" was just starting to kick into gear, Dana landed a job with the American Cancer Society and had to be in California in two weeks. This left us no time to handle the necessary landscaping, painting and repairs that normally need to be done to any home to make it "seller friendly". Instead, we decided to use the home as a rental property so we could get the monthly mortgage covered and not have to pay both California rent and a Missouri house payment.

We were pretty lucky with our renters most of the time. We had one family rent it while they were repairing storm damage to their home that turned into eight months worth of rent as their repairs went on longer than expected. We also had a series of families that were temporary Missouri residents while their husbands were doing their medical residencies at Washington University. All of the families took care of the property and seemed to care about keeping it in good shape.

However, there were a few bumps along the way.

Here's a fun fact for you: If your home in the state of Missouri sustains water damage while the house is being used as a rental property, your homeowners insurance will not cover any of the damage. Let me repeat that for you: NONE OF THE DAMAGE!!!! After our last rental family failed to check the sump pump in the basement (to the tune of $6000 worth of out of pocket water damage repair expenses), we decided it was time to finally sell the house.

The ease of owning a rental property is often related to how easy it is to reach the property in times of need. When we first moved to St. Louis, we still owned a home in Memphis. In the 4-5 months it took us to sell that home, I would go check on it and take care of the yard and any small repairs. I also worked at a country radio station so my trips to Memphis would often go like this:

• Get off the air at Midnight in St. Louis
• Drive 4 hours to Memphis
• Take a sleeping bag and crash on the floor of the empty house for 3-4 hours
• Get up at 8am and take care of any pressing issues
• Leave by 1pm to drive back to St. Louis to be on the air at 7pm

Does that sound like a pain to you? Yes, it was a pain but at least I was close enough to drive there and take care of any issues that needed to be handled at the house. Using the water damage example again, I couldn't exactly jump in the truck and go take care of it because it would have taken me two days to get to Missouri. We were lucky enough to have a great rental property company watching after our home. Greg Rybacki, and the entire team at Rybo Properties, found the people to get the water out of the basement and fix the entire mess for the lowest price possible. Greg also watched over the whole project and made sure it was taken care of correctly and on time. I can't praise the guy enough for taking care of us over the past four years. 

When we made the final decision to sell the house, we turned to an old friend who would have our best interests at heart. Joanne Balis put up with way too many questions from me as well as a couple that flaked out on the first contract we had on the house this year. After that disappointment, she found the perfect couple to buy the property from us.  

When we made the decision to sell the house, I emailed some friends in St. Louis asking their advice and recommendations about painting and landscaping. I sent the email asking this question at 1am California time. At 8am California time, I woke up to a message from Mark Seibel asking me to call him. Mark runs a stone, paving and concrete company and instantly went over to my house when he got the email. He had already taken photos of the property and had a plan of what to do around the house. Zach and his son have remained friends over the years and I am glad to say that Mark and I are still friends. He went far beyond what my simple advice email asked and I can't thank him enough. Plus, I love the fact that he made his son mow our yard for free the entire time it was on the market.

I haven't set foot in the house since 2012. I drove past it a few times when I was in town but that was just to check on the outside of the home and to make sure the property was being cared for by the renters. It long ago stopped being a home to me and was just a piece of property that I owned. It's only been in the last week that I've actually started to feel some nostalgia for the place. The sale closed yesterday so I'd like to say goodbye to:

• Ken - The neighbor we never saw and only knew was alive when the pizza delivery guy would show up at his door.
• Miss Norma - The widowed neighbor who was always nice to Zach and snippy with me.
• The homeowner next door - Thanks for showing me the kind of people I would never let rent my house.
• The neighbor on the other side of the house - I don't remember her name but I do remember her dislike for everyone else in the neighborhood. I think I sealed her hatred for me when I was playing with my dog and she came out to complain that the dog was barking too much. I replied with "Would you like me to teach her how to moo or meow? It would be a great trick and might not hurt your delicate ears so much." She had no use for me after that moment.
• The neighbors with the live chickens in their backyard - I'm pretty sure they were running drugs out of their home but they were low key about it.

Unlike Billy Joel, we will keep saying "Hello to Hollywood". I may not live in a big house in Los Angeles but at least I don't have a home in St. Louis anymore to give me constant worries about flooding and tornadoes and whether or not the renters are taking care of the place.

Having said all of that, I certainly wouldn't mind an order of toasted ravioli from St. Louis!

This actor is in Hollywood for the long run.

Three Tips For Actors Starting Their Hollywood Journey

The act of moving to Los Angeles to chase your dreams is just the first step in the process of being a professional actor in Hollywood. There are dozens of tips and tricks to make your life easier but here are three important lessons every actor should know as they begin their career:

1. You will feel alone - Child actors and teen actors always have a support system in place because they have some form of their family with them in Los Angeles since they are underage. However, it seems that the majority of actors who move here in their 20's or older are almost always alone when they arrive in town. It takes a lot of inner strength to pack up and leave your family and friends behind and move to a place where there are thousands of other people also trying to make it in the same field. This business is not for those who can't take rejection easily. It takes hard work as well as an almost ridiculous amount of belief in your acting ability to survive. Be patient and give yourself time to get settled and, before you know it, you will discover where you belong in the acting community.
2. The people you think are "your enemies" are not against you - It might appear that some casting directors and producers never seem to like your work during an audition. You need to remember that they choose the actors they call in for auditions. Your agent or manager might submit you but the casting directors and producers pick the people they want to see during the audition process. They must like something about your acting style if you keep getting asked to audition for parts in front of them. Don't enter the room with a "me against them" attitude. Enter the room knowing that you are there for a reason. They keep calling you back so they must see something in you. Know that you've already won part of the battle because you were selected to audition over hundreds of other actors submitted for the part. They are not your enemy. They want to give you a job but they just haven't found the right part for you (yet).
3. You need to be more than a good actor - One of the unspoken factors that goes into landing a part is who you are as a person. There are hundreds of actors who would love to book the part. However, they might be missing the one quality that sometimes makes a difference in who books the job. Being a good person is just as important as being a good actor. The amount of time actors spend each day on the set can be anywhere from 8 to 12 to 16 hours. That is a lot of time spent with the same people 5 or 6 days a week for months at a time. The odds are that you are not a big enough name in the acting world to get away with being a jerk to everyone on the set. Being a pain. as well as having the reputation of being a pain, is one of the easiest ways to not get a part. I am convinced that Zach's acting skills got him the recurring role on "Bella and the Bulldogs". I'm also convinced that being professional as an extra in many episodes also got him the part. He was never late, worked hard, took direction and was kind and respectful to the entire cast and crew, Zach had earned the trust of the cast and crew. His reputation of being a professional who was also easy to work with served him well during his audition for the part of "Quiet Chris".

Don't be discouraged and don't give up easily. Whenever you are feeling down, just remember you are not the only person in this town feeling the same way. If you approach your acting career with the knowledge that your big break will not happen overnight, you will be prepared to face the challenges coming your way in Hollywood.

This actor is in it for the long haul.

Missed Interviews and Unexpected Opportunities

I've received a few emails out of the blue recently regarding my "dadager" duties with The Artist. These emails prove that you never know what will strike a chord with people.

I do a lot of social media for a living and try to tailor each post to the needs of the client. However, there are times I create a post simply because I find something amusing or because I want to share a joke with the fans of the client. While many of the posts I spend a good amount of time on do very well in terms of views and interactions, the posts I create on the spur of the moment sometimes gather more attention than the planned posts. I worked at a plastic surgery conference last weekend in downtown Los Angeles and I kept thinking of silly jokes while walking around the conference. I posted a few of them on my Instagram page and they caught the attention of the plastic surgery community around the world. 

When Zach and I moved to California in 2012, I started this blog as a way of documenting our adventures in Hollywood. I called myself a dadager because I thought it was a funny name to use in the title of the blog. Little did I know that the word would come to define me in the eyes of many people in the film and television industry. The fact that people refer to me by that title is not a bad thing. I'm just amazed by that fact since I started using the name simply as a joke. In fact, it is the name many people use when they are searching for me on the Internet.

The first email I received was around Memorial Day. A well-known author (the kind of author that it seemed like it should have been a prank email) contacted me through this blog wanting to know if he could interview me for a very mainstream magazine. His editor ran across my blog and became interested in my stories about learning my way around the entertainment industry in Los Angeles and what it's like being a father at auditions when the majority of stage parents are females. We set-up a weekend where he could see Zach do improv at Second City and interview our whole family. The weekend neared and the author had to cancel our interview because he was assigned another story. It was like auditioning, getting a callback and then going to test for producers. I was close to landing the part (being interviewed) but the part went to someone else (he was assigned another story).

The second email came in early August and it was from a television production company in New York City looking for parents active in the careers of their children in Hollywood. I did a phone call to get more information and seemed to hit all the right notes. According to the production executive:

• I had great/funny/moving stories
• I was knowledgeable without being boring
• I was an easy interview
• I was the kind of person they wanted to cast for their project

I wasn't sold on the idea of being part of a TV project about Hollywood parents but I wasn't going to completely dismiss the idea. I did the phone call on a Wednesday and she asked me to leave the following Wednesday or Thursday open for a Skype interview. The executive needed to do her weekly production meeting before our Skype interview so she could get more details together for me. We set-up a time to Skype and then she dropped out of sight. I made a few calls and emails but got no answer. When I finally heard from her, I was told the project was on hold because they were having trouble finding other parents (besides me) who weren't jerks or looking to boost their own careers by being on a realty TV show. In acting terms, I did the audition and had the part in hand but troubles assembling the rest of the cast put the project on hold.

If those two emails count as strike one and strike two, is there a strike three in this story?

Yes.

The well-known author emailed me again in the middle of August to ask if I was still interested in doing the interview. His editor asked him why I hadn't been interviewed yet and wanted it done in September. We set-up another weekend for him to visit us and see Zach perform around town. His last email to me said he would be in touch soon to finalize the details for the September interview.

Welcome to October. Still no interview. Still no word from him. I'm not surprised but I am amazed at all of the trouble he has gone through only to miss the interview twice. I'm especially amazed since I didn't initiate the interview process either time. 

Both of these experiences have given me a better understanding of what Zach goes through at auditions. It's tough being told you're the perfect choice for a project and then never hearing back from the person who praised you. While being stood up for an interview isn't the same as not booking a part, it still helps me when I'm talking to Zach after he doesn't hear anything after reading for a role. 

It's the kind of insight that would be great to share on TV or in a print interview. All I need is someone to actually do an interview with me!!!!

This actor has been interviewed many times

Comedy Is Funny But It's Also A Competition

I recently discussed having to make a run to Santa Monica late on a Friday because Zach had to get ready for a stand-up gig at Flappers that night. The one thing I left out of the post was the fact that his entry for the Burbank Comedy Festival had to be uploaded that day or he would be out of luck.

Thankfully, the video was submitted in time because we found out earlier this week that Zach was picked to be one of the Showcasing Comedians in the 2016 Festival. The event received hundreds of entries and the comedians chosen to take part include some familiar names from TV, movies and the comedy circuit of the United States. Comedians enter from all over the country for the chance to compete in the event. Zach's entry gives him three 5-minute spots during the week (Times and Dates TBD) with the hope of being picked to perform during the "Best of the Fest" event the last night of the festival.

Plus, he has the opportunity to attend panels and seminars that focus on club owners, talent bookers, working the college market and other industry related topics. It gives him the chance to trade notes with comedians who have experience working clubs in other cities. He's very excited to perform in front of his comedy peers but it also means he needs to write some new material before the event. Three 5-minute spots might not sound like much but that's three different sets to fill during the week.

Once I get more info about the dates and times he is performing, I will share it with you. If you're interested in seeing his entry video, it can be found in the video section of the link below:

Scroll down the page to see Zach's entry video.

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.

Tax Deductions For Actors

It's that time of year! Tax season is here and everyone is trying to take deductions off their taxes in an effort to save money.  Not sure what deductions you can claim if you're an actor? Here's some tips to help you save money and perhaps even get a refund this year.

The first thing to remember is that actors are often considered "independent contractors" and not employees. For the purpose of your taxes, acting is your line of work/your business. As such, a self-employed actor can deduct expenses that are directly related to acting activities and are not extravagant when it comes to properly doing their work. In other words, the deduction must be deemed to be ordinary and necessary in the eyes of the IRS.

Some actors try to deduct everyday items like clothing, hair, makeup and gym memberships on their taxes. This is a very fine line to walk for many people because the use of the above items must be clearly defined by the actor. For instance, makeup for a photo session or a stage play can be deducted but not makeup bought for use during a normal day. Clothing is always an area that needs to be handled with caution. Even if an outfit was bought for an audition, clothes that can be worn to lunch or to the beach are not considered tax deductible. A gym membership is rarely deductible because it is considered exercise and not "research" or "training".

There are some items that count as "research". Some examples include movies, magazine subscriptions and books that keep you up-to-date on your profession. Movie tickets can count as research for your profession as well as some (or all) of your cable, Netflix and Hulu subscriptions.

How much money did you pay to your agent and manager last year? Any fees paid to your representatives or a PR firm are marked as business expenses. However, you do need to provide statements showing your payments as well as examples of the services they provided. Also, any fees you paid for acting classes, private sessions and casting director workshops can be deducted.

Be sure and keep a mileage book in your car as driving to auditions, agent and manager meetings, classes, rehearsals and paid acting jobs can all be counted as business trips. Also, traveling out of town for work can include some deductions. The expenses that only happen due to being away from home for the night can be deducted.

Did you mail anything career related last year? Expenses from Fed Ex, UPS and the Post Office that were a result of mailing resumes and headshots can all be deducted.

Speaking of resumes and headshots...Those two items along with postcards and fees charged by sites like LA Casting can all be classified as "promotional expenses" and can be deducted from your taxes.

Any acting union dues you pay are tax deductible.

Finally, doing business on your phone can be written off on your taxes. Making business calls as well as buying a new phone can be tax deductions if you have the proper paperwork to show how you used them for business.

I hope the examples listed above help you save some money. Take the money you saved and put it towards new headshots or a publicist and make this the best year of your career!

This actor just finished his taxes.

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.