Have You Taken Care Of Your "Pilot Season Essentials"?

Even though streaming services such as Netflix and Hulu provide new content throughout the year, pilot season is still a big deal in Hollywood. Actors flock to Los Angeles every January to try and book a role in a pilot on one of the major networks.

Even if you think you are completely prepared for pilot season, there is still a checklist of items to help you make the most of your pilot season experience:

Have Your "Essentials" In Place - Whether you already live in Los Angeles, or you are making the move here for pilot season, there are a number of "essentials" you need to have in place. They include:

1. A place to live - Rent prices increase during pilot season because of the number of people looking for housing. Don't think you'll arrive in Los Angeles and easily find an affordable place to live. Have your housing set-up in advance of your arrival.
2. Money - Los Angeles is not a cheap city when it comes to housing, gas and daily needs like food and clothing. Make sure you have some savings set aside in case of an emergency.
3. Face Time with your Agent and Manager - If you have an agent and/or manager in place, stop in and see them before pilot season casting calls begin. You want to be top of mind when they are submitting talent to casting directors. There are thousands of actors trying to land parts in pilots. Make sure your team knows you are ready to work by taking the first step to discuss your pilot season goals.
4. Online Presence - Social media is certainly an important part of your online presence but it is not the only way to showcase yourself, and your acting abilities, online. Is your current acting reel online? Is your IMDb page updated? Do you have your own website with clips, credits and a bio telling people more about you? If you answered "no" to any of these questions, what are you waiting for???

Have Reliable Transportation - Make sure your vehicle is in good shape because you'll be spending a lot of time on the 405, 101. 134 and other number filled roads. It is a good idea to have an extra set of audition clothes, headshots and resumes in your car. An emergency supply can save you a lot of stress if you don't have time to run home to prepare for a last minute audition.

Acting Lessons - Regular classes with an acting coach will keep your performing skills up to date. Even if you don't want to take a regular acting class, be prepared to do private coaching sessions before a big audition. A private session can help you get "off book" as quickly as possible. Knowing your lines, and not having to constantly look at the script, allows you to connect with the casting director and/or your scene partner during an audition. Would you rather showcase your acting ability or your reading skills?

Relax and Stop Worrying - Worrying too much about booking a role during pilot season can impact your acting performance thanks to the pressure you are feeling. Don't get in your own way and ruin your chances during an audition. The casting director will want to get a natural performance out of you and that won't happen if you are filled with worry.

Pilot season is here and you will want to make the most of your opportunities. Once you have the "pilot season essentials" covered, you can focus on acting and landing your dream role

This actor is looking forward to a busy pilot season.

Why Haven't I Been Posting Lately?

There has been a definite lack of new posts by me in the last few months. I have plenty to discuss and stories to share from Hollywood. The main problems are a lack of free time and (sometimes) a lack of motivation to compose a new blog.

It's not that I don't want to update my blog on a regular basis. There are just times when my brain is in "writer overload" mode.  In the past two weeks, I have written a combination of news stories, blogs, articles and white papers about these topics:

*The overseas cryptocurrency market

*Fishing season tips for residents of Texas

*Cosmetic surgery including Mommy Makeover, Rhinoplasty Revision, BBL and forms of Lipo

*Steps to take when talking to insurance companies after a hurricane

*Hot topics for parents in 2018

*How to track down company funding information

*A new cosmetics line based in Greece

*A film festival manual for aspiring filmmakers

*Duct cleaning scams

*Crowdfunding ideas and incentives for a number of companies

After spending about 10 hours a day writing, I sometimes don't have the mental energy to compose a thoughtful blog. 

While I might not be able to update you on Zach's adventures as often as I would like, I will give you a quick bullet point rundown of his recent activities:

• Contacted by "America's Got Talent" 
• Appearing on "Fresh off the Boat" 
• Stand up gigs in Burbank and Pasadena
• A show at iO West
• Auditions for series leads and recurring characters
• A part in a play running every weekend in North Hollywood

The kid stays busy while also going to college and working at Universal Studios.

Even if I don't get a chance to share everything with you on my blog, I do update his adventures in Hollywood on my social media pages. The links to my social media profiles can be found on the right side of this page.

Thanks for your patience. I will be back with more tales of Hollywood as soon as possible!

You can always check this page for updates on The Artist.

What Should An Actor Do After Pilot Season?

The TV upfronts are over and the fall television schedules are set for the main networks (ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC and The CW).  While the upfronts represent a beginning for the actors who landed pilots that got picked up, this time of year also represents an ending for some actors.

The months of January-May are a busy time in Hollywood. A great number of actors move to Los Angeles during this time of the year for pilot season. Since the number of actors is much larger than the amount of available roles in pilots, the end of pilot season sees many of the temporary residents of Los Angeles head back to their hometowns.

Will they eventually return to take another shot at their acting career in Los Angeles? A good majority of them will say "Yes" when asked this question. However, some will go back home and never find a reason to try again in California.

What about the actors who didn't book a pilot but decide to stay in Los Angeles? What opportunities remain for them in the time between the end of pilot season and the start of episodic season in late summer/early fall?

There is plenty to keep you busy if you know where to look or if you want to create your own opportunities:

• Casting directors continue their work in the summer months because movies and commercials don't stop filming during this time period 
• There have been multiple auditions in the last few weeks for plays in Los Angeles so think about trying the stage this summer
• The time between pilot season and episodic season is a chance to update your resume, get new headshots and make sure your social media is an accurate representation of your brand as an actor
• Schedule meetings with your agent and manager to review how pilot season went and what you can do to prepare for episodic season
• Pull out that script you've wanted to complete and create a project that plays to your strengths
• Take an acting class or attend workshops in order to keep your acting skills sharp

Acting opportunities in Hollywood don't stop just because pilot season has ended for the year. It might take some extra effort on your part to find a project or a role that fits your skills. Just remember that it's worth the effort because you might find the part that kickstarts your career and helps you become a working actor.

This actor has booked a few roles since pilot season ended.

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.

Are You Prepared For Pilot Season?

Are you ready for pilot season?

Even if you think you're ready for pilot season, and answered "yes" to the above question, here is a checklist of the items to take care of before pilot season begins.

• Don't Be Unprepared - Know your lines and be off book as quickly as possible. Being able to perform your lines without having to constantly look at the script allows you to connect with the casting director or your scene partner, Would you rather showcase your acting ability or your skills at reading off the printed page?
• Stop Worrying - Worrying too much about booking a role during pilot season can put too much pressure on you and have a negative impact on your performance. It is an important time of the year in the acting world but not important enough to psych yourself out and ruin your chances during an audition. Relax and be yourself so the casting director is able to get a natural performance out of you.
• Have Your "Essentials" In Place - The competition during pilot season is fierce so you need to have some essential items in place before you get to Los Angeles, Even if you already live here, it's still important to have your "acting essentials" in place. These essential items include:

1. A place to live - Rent prices greatly increase during pilot season because so many people are looking for housing. Landlords know they can charge the higher rates because of the number of people in town for 4-5 months. Don't think you'll get to Hollywood and be able to easily find an affordable place to live. Have your housing set-up in advance of your arrival.
2. Money - Los Angeles is not a cheap city and it is expensive to live here for months on end as well as on a daily basis. Make sure you have some savings set aside just in case.
3. Agent and/or Manager - There are hundreds of actors submitted for parts in TV shows. If you don't have an agent or a manager, it will be tough to get your headshot or demo reel to the right people in the casting department. I'm not saying it can't be done but it will be harder for you to make it in the door to read for a role. If you do have an agent and/or a manager, stop in and see them because you want to be top of mind when they are submitting talent to casting directors,
4. Headshots - Please have headshots that match your current look. Don't be "that person" who is at least 10 years older than their last set of headshots.
5. Online Presence - I'm not simply talking about social media even though that is important, I'm talking about ways to showcase yourself and your acting abilities online. Is your current acting reel on the Internet? Is your IMDb page updated? Do you have your own website with clips, credits and a bio telling people more about you? If you answered "no" to any of these questions, what are you waiting for???

• Acting Lessons - Regular classes with an acting coach will keep your skills in good shape. Even if you don't want to take a regular acting class, be prepared to do private coaching sessions before a big audition.
• Have Reliable Transportation - Make sure your vehicle is in good shape because you'll be spending a lot of time on the 405, 101. 134, etc. Be sure and leave a set of audition clothes and extra headshots and resumes in your car. It's always best to have an emergency supply on hand in case you don't have time to run home before a last minute audition.

The start of pilot season is just around the corner. I hope your acting wishes all come true and, even if you don't land your dream role, you have a good time chasing your dream of being a working actor. 

This actor is hoping to have a busy and successful pilot season.

What Are Actors Thankful For All Through The Year?

It's the time of year when everyone has a chance to relax and reflect on the good things in life. Actors are no different and they certainly have a long list of items to be thankful for on a daily basis. Here are seven things actors are thankful for as they chase their Hollywood dreams.

1. Other Actors - A fellow actor can be a writing partner, someone to share a scene with, a sounding board or a collaborator on a future project. It's nice to have someone who understands the challenges fellow actors go through at auditions as well as on set and in acting classes.
2. Social Media - In the past, time spent interacting with other actors was mostly limited to time spent on set or in acting classes. Social media allows actors to stay connected with each other frequently and in real time. Social media helps actors maintain connections and exchange tips and casting notices that can lead to paid roles in the future. Actors can also connect and interact with their fans on a much more intimate level leading to a more passionate fanbase. 
3. Community - This is certainly connected to the two points listed above. I see many of the same kids, and their parents, at auditions. While everybody certainly wants to book the role, it is sometimes nice to see the same faces and touch base with them for a few minutes even in a competitive setting. 
4. Good Headshots - What do I mean by good headshots? I mean the kind of headshot that makes actors feel confident they are presenting a photo that accurately represents them. I've seen many headshots that people feel the need to apologize for as well as headshots that have to be at least 10 years old. There are many great headshot photographers in Los Angeles but, if the photo subject is not comfortable or confident in front of the camera, there is not a lot the photographer can do to make an actor come alive at the photo shoot. 
5. Callbacks - While a callback doesn't guarantee booking a part, it is a great feeling to be asked to read for the casting director again. A callback occurs after the first round of auditions and it means the actor has been selected for another shot at the part over hundreds of people who initially read for the casting director. It is certainly an ego boost and helps an actor enter the room with renewed confidence. 
6. Agents and Managers - It is hard to get noticed in Hollywood. There are thousands of actors trying to book parts and get the attention of casting directors, producers and other creative types in the industry. Having an agent and a manger helps an actor focus on the art of acting while they focus on pitching their clients for parts in upcoming movies and television shows. It is true they take a cut of the paycheck when a part is booked but the actor probably wouldn't have been seen for the part without a great team pitching him or her on a daily basis.
7. The Amazing Life Experience - Actors do not have it easy because they are often examined, criticized and turned down for parts. This happens on a daily basis and the final results are often out of their control. However, each moment is a learning experience. I know many actors who are very confident because of the experiences of dealing with the expectations of those in the entertainment industry. Actors who have the drive to keep going no matter the odds against them learn many lessons that will serve them well later in life.

I'm thankful that I get to share the daily journey of my favorite actor.

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

I Always Get Interesting Feedback About My Blog

It's always a pleasant surprise when someone mentions this blog to me . I enjoy writing it but I never give who actually reads it much thought. I do hashtags when I post a link to a new entry. I also do search descriptions so search engines can easily find me. Having said that, I still don't often think about who reads the blog and where they are located. It surprises me where people are located that read it and who contacts me about the topics I discuss.

Taking a look at the current stats, the countries where people have viewed entries today include the United States, United Arab Emirates, France, Bulgaria, China, United Kingdom, Moldova, Macedonia, Portugal and Turkmenistan. 

The majority of those viewers found me through Google. Some of the other ways people found me include Instagram, Facebook and going directly to the blog itself. I won't bore you with too many details about the most viewed pages but most of them have to do with casting tips and acting advice.

I've had many people reach out to me after reading the blog. Some just want to say they enjoy reading it, others want advice and a few people are a bit crazy with their requests.

Here are my favorite crazy interactions I've had thanks to my Dadager blog:

• The person who emailed me asking if I could set-up a meeting for him to pitch his idea for a "Star Trek" reboot to Paramount. His version had Spock as a woman, McCoy as a little person and Kirk as a blind person. The idea behind the reboot was to "spotlight struggles faced by all people that are not white and male and perfectly made." 
• A random lady wanted to open an acting studio with me. She has no acting experience, lives in Iowa and wants me to run it because I "have the connections and also live here." She wanted to be partners but still live in Iowa. She would promote it on her FB page and tell all her friends about it.
• I often write about Zach's agent and manager. However, there was one gentleman who wanted to know if Zach was interested in leaving his current team and coming over to his management firm. Zach had no intention of joining him but I was curious what type of agent/manager tries to get clients through random emails. When I asked him about his company,I found out he had been in business three days. He was also his only client but was hoping I could let him "sponsor" my blog for free if Zach joined up with him. "The more mentions you give me, the more we can try and build relationships with casting directors." (No thank you.)
• There have been people that want to buy the rights to my life story. Unfortunately, most of these people want the movie/TV show to change for their vision which includes:

1. Replacing me with a female Dadager (I'm serious about that)
2. Me as a widower who tries not to mix casting business with pleasure 
3. Zach as a spunky child orphan hiding that fact from adults in Hollywood

• The guy who was convinced that I was stealing his life for my blog and threatened to bring legal action if I didn't stop using his stories for my blog. He lives in Senoia, Georgia so I'm not sure how I'm living his life.
• I heard from a woman who asked me to read her script and give her feedback. I politely declined by saying I didn't really have time to give her notes. She replied with "If you don't want to know my solution for how to avoid being enslaved when the animals rise up and overthrow mankind, it's your loss of freedom."
• The guy who wanted me to turn my blog into a book. He wasn't a publisher or an literary agent. He just thought it was a good idea and wanted me to give him a cut of the profits for suggesting it to me.

While I have received other emails, notes, videos and odd photos from readers of my blog, there are some that are better left in the "don't respond and the crazy people will go away" file. If I ever disappear for an extended length of time, check the email from my blog because the likely suspect is probably somewhere in my inbox.

I always welcome email from this actor.

Are You Ready For Episodic Season?

Zach has been busy the last few weeks getting ready for his shows during the Burbank Comedy Festival which begins tonight. Even with writing new material for three stand-up sets, he has also been busy with auditions. He had an audition last week for a meaty part in a popular TV show. More auditions are coming in for TV shows as episodic season is underway in Hollywood.

Not sure what episodic season is all about? No worries!

Here's the rundown on one of the busiest times in the TV production cycle:

Episodic season begins when the majority of TV series go into production for the upcoming season. The major roles in shows were cast earlier in the year during pilot season.  This is the time of year when casting directors look for actors to fill large guest star roles as well as smaller roles in upcoming episodes.

One of the best things about casting for episodes of TV is that the process for casting and filming moves at a quicker pace than movies. TV shows work on a tighter schedule and the work has to be accomplished within a certain amount of time before the next episode gets underway.

Even though a good amount of work is available during episodic season, there are not as many actors that relocate here for an extended period of time. My theory is that actors come here for pilot season because they hope to land a role that has the possibility of being a long-term acting job. While there are good roles available during this time of year, the roles are rarely long-term which might be one of the reasons less actors relocate here for episodic season.

As an actor, you need to make a checklist so you have everything in order for episodic season. Here are 6 key items for your checklist:

1. Make sure your latest headshot, acting reel and resume are easily available via your social media profiles.
2. Have plenty of headshots ready. Keep a few extra with you in your car!
3. Touch base with any contacts you have in casting offices as well as any producers, directors or production people you know on shows. It never hurts to reconnect with your network of contacts.
4. Take an acting class to keep your skills up to date. (I previously discussed how to find the right acting class.) Let your acting coach know what you consider to be your strengths and weaknesses and work on refining your skills.
5. Have a flexible work schedule, You never know when a last minute audition or callback will come your way. You don't want to be stuck at work and miss your opportunity.
6. Answer the phone! There are few things that frustrate your agent or manager more than not being able to get in touch with you. If you're in a location where you can't answer the phone, send them a text or an email. Make sure they know you got their message and will be at the audition on time.

The above list might seem simple but you would be surprised how many actors don't take care of the basics. Being professional and taking care of the basics can make the difference in your success in Hollywood.

This Actor Has Three Shows This Week During The Burbank Comedy Festival.

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.