Acting News: Discover the Type of Actor you are in Hollywood

I spend a lot of time with actors. I live with an actor and there is always some sort of discussion about acting happening anywhere you go in Los Angeles.

After spending a lot of time around actors, I've come to the realization there are two types of actors:

1. The actors who work hard and prepare for auditions. They understand they can't book every part and they try to learn from each audition. 
2. The actors who always seem to be looking for a reason why they didn't book a part or get called in for a second, third or fourth audition.

Not sure what type of actor you are? Here are some reasons you might be your own worst enemy when it comes to your career:

• All actors are unique and bring a certain set of skills to the table. However, some actors don't remember this fact.  They get inside their own head and try to be a certain "type" that is currently hot with the public.  You need to remember the audition room is going to be filled with actors who resemble like a certain "type". The key is to stand out from the crowd.
• Always have a headshot and resume with you in a bag, vehicle or briefcase. In fact, have two or three in your car at all times. You need to be prepared in case you get an audition for that afternoon in Glendale but you are currently all the way out in Long Beach. Plus, you probably won't have time to stop by home and pick up a headshot and resume. ALWAYS have spare extra headshots (and extra audition clothes) in your car!
• There is no need to obsess about things that are beyond your control. You can't control how young or how old the production office is casting the project. You can't control if you were the first person picked for the part or the "backup choice" because the first person for the project wasn't available. Just focus on doing the best job possible.  Whether you are the first choice or the last choice for the part, count yourself fortunate to be a working actor.
• The casting director doesn't care if you "didn't have time to read the sides".  All the casting director wants to know is if you can play the part as envisioned by the director and producers. Show confidence instead of giving excuses.
• Don't complain about the acting business being unfair.  It is actually not unfair at all. It is a business with the same amount of uncertainty and lack of stability as any other business in the world. The only thing that makes it "unfair" is you trying to make excuses about it not being fair.
• Don't stress over any lines that you messed up during the audition.  Did you roll with the bungled lines and keep going without calling too much attention to it?  Don't obsess while you are in the audition room and don't obsess about it after the audition.  Congratulate yourself on being called in for the audition because there are many actors that did not get that opportunity.

The biggest obstacle to your success might be staying out of your own way. The definition of "success" is different for everyone. Determine your ultimate acting goal and focus on making that goal a reality. By focusing on the positive parts of your acting journey, there is less of a chance you will end up getting in your own way.

How To Deal With Different Comedy Crowds And Still Get Laughs

The Burbank Comedy Festival was earlier this month and Zach spent the week absorbing as much info as he could from the other comedians and festival organizers. Overall, I'd give him an "A" or "B+" for his week as each show presented some challenges.

The festival kicked off two Sundays ago and Zach's first show was that night. It was also one of those nights where the audience was not on his side at the start of the show. It's not that the crowd was hostile or not there to be entertained. The reason he had to win them over became apparent a few comics into the show. The host for the evening came out and did 5 minutes that were okay but was well received by the audience. The host brought out the next comic which turned out to be his wife. She did a stronger set and the crowd was with her. As the crowd was laughing, Dana and I looked at each other as we realized a good portion of the audience was made up of their family members. The next few comics were greeted with polite laughter but nothing major. The host then brought out his son to do a set. The crowd was alive and into the show again! Once the son finished his set, Zach came out to do his material. The response was lukewarm at first but he won them over by making fun of tourists on Hollywood Blvd. By the end of the set, I wouldn't  say he killed but he did get more genuine laughter than the other comics who simply scored polite laughter. (BTW...the only comic after Zach that was loved by the crowd was yet another host family member.)

Zach's second show of the festival was the next night and there were no family members involved in the show. The Monday night show was probably his best show of the week. The comic who received the least applause from the audience was the host of the show. His "killer bit" was introducing each comic as an old friend and randomly announcing their city of origin. It got to the point that the other comics would come on stage and let the audience know they had never met the host in their life and they were not from whatever city he announced to the crowd. Zach seemed to connect with the audience as he was the youngest performer on the bill. I think the audience was genuinely curious to see what the kid was going to talk about on stage.

He was supposed to do a show on Thursday night. However, the organizers moved him to a Saturday afternoon show along with the other teen performers of the festival. The Saturday afternoon show at the comedy club is specifically designed for a younger crowd so it only made sense to have the teen comics do the show. Plus, the show was in the main room which is always more fun for the audience and the comics. Dana and I arrived a little bit early so we were able to watch the crowd enter the room. We quickly realized that "a younger crowd" meant a really young crowd. The room filled with parents and their children who were anywhere from 7 to 12-years-old. Little kids are great because they will laugh when they find something funny and don't politely laugh like adults do on a regular basis. However, a good portion of Zach's set for the day involved college and girls. How would that play to the crowd? The show host got the kids in a great mood by doing silly tricks and jokes designed for their age group. The first two comics before Zach did okay but were not loved by the kids. It was finally Zach's turn and he came on stage and started talking directly to the kids. I could tell he was adjusting his set as he was going along to discuss school and superheroes (two big topics for young kids). He definitely held his own and was one of the best received younger comics during the show. The MC killed but Zach was able to read his audience quickly and adjust to fit the crowd. It's a skill that should serve him well in the future on stage and in the business side of acting and comedy.

Zach also took advantage of the fact that being part of the festival allowed him to attend panel discussions and other shows. He watched Andy Dick's set which he said was "strange and entertaining but not laugh out loud funny." Zach was also able to attend industry panels and seminars about getting booked on the college circuit and how to use social media to help get noticed by others in the comedy field.

I'm definitely proud of him for getting into the festival. There were over 800 comics that sent in a submission and Zach was one of the comics that made the cut. He was able to meet comedians from all over the country and get advice from industry professionals. The chance to witness so many different styles of comedy in one week made a big impact on him. He's working on new material right now and it will be interesting to see what he writes after this experience. Hopefully it will be funny and not "strange and entertaining" like his review of Andy Dick.

This comedian starts the new college school year tomorrow.

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.

7 Tips Every Actor Needs To Know About Being A Professional

I often discuss specific topics surrounding the world of acting such as auditions, agents and acting classes. While these are important topics, there are still many parts of the business of acting that are important for anyone interested in making acting their career. In no particular order, here are a few tips that can help you on a daily basis:

• Don't Be Late - While this might seem like obvious advice, many people don't take it to heart. There are thousands of actors in Hollywood trying to book jobs and be successful in this field. Even though traffic is horrible here, there is no reason not to plan ahead so you will be on time for a job or an audition. In fact, it's always better to be early than simply be on time.
• Learn Your Lines - Once again, this is amazingly obvious advice but it's not always followed by actors. Unless the job you booked specifically calls for improv, learn the lines that are sent to you. You need to know the lines by heart before you can begin to dive into the emotional aspects of the role. Also, don't attempt to make the lines "better" by tossing in your ideas and improv. Unless you want to insult the producers and writers of the project, don't simply change the lines to "fit your character" since you didn't create the character!
• The Business Isn't Fair - Most people know this fact but a few cling to the belief that they've done nothing wrong when they don't book a job. Also, you might book a role and then your part is cut for time. Your dream project might lose its financing. Don't dwell on why something didn't go your way with your acting career. Holding in the negative feelings and energy will only hold you back.
• Make A Choice - Will you conduct your career being prepared and ready to put in the work? Would you rather fly by the seat of your pants and hope that a big break lands in your lap? How you navigate your career is up to you but be prepared for the good and bad results of your approach.
• Don't Be Your Worst Enemy - When it comes to actors, they are their own worst enemy. From being unprepared for an audition to not rehearsing for a booked job to not arriving on time, you can do more damage to your credibility in the industry than anybody writing a review of your work.
• Get It Right The First Time At An Audition - You are not entering an audition to be coached by the casting directors. You are there to blow them away the first time. They might ask for different line readings because the production is not absolutely sure what they are looking for when it comes to character motivation. Be flexible and give other line readings if requested by them. When it comes to first impressions with your initial reading, be prepared to blow them away! 
• Don't Make Excuses - The production that hired you for a job doesn't care that traffic was bad this morning. The casting director at an audition doesn't want to hear how your power went out and you couldn't download the audition sides. Your agent doesn't care why you didn't show up for an audition they submitted you for that happened three hours ago. Acting is a business and these excuses don't matter because there is always an actor more than willing to take your audition slot or work the job you were late arriving to on the day of your shoot.

Acting is fun. Acting is an art form. Acting is also a business with many rules and expectations that should be obvious to all actors. Keep the above tips in mind as you navigate the world of Hollywood and you'll be viewed as a professional ready to get the job done at all times.

This teen actor has been taught to always be professional when working or auditioning.

What Should You Know Before Moving To Los Angeles?

I'm often asked how people should prepare for moving to Los Angeles. It's a big city and can be overwhelming if you don't have a plan of attack when you get to town. I've discussed acting classes and how to find an agent and manager in the past. Even though those are important parts of the process of being an actor in Los Angeles, there are other bits of information you need to know when you relocate to Los Angeles.

The first thing you need to do before you relocate is decide if you really want to be an actor. Los Angeles is filled with good-looking people and you (more than likely) look like many of the other actors you'll see at an audition. Do you really want to spend your time auditioning for the same parts as hundreds of other actors? Can you accept the fact that you (more than likely) won't walk right into a steady role on a TV show or a leading part in a movie? If you can't see yourself doing anything else with your life then you are (more than likely) mentally ready to join the ranks of struggling actors in Los Angeles.

The next step in the process is making sure you have enough money to survive when you first get to Los Angeles. It should come as no surprise that L.A. is an expensive city. You should have anywhere from $5000-$10,000 in the bank when you make the move. Why? You have to find a place to live and also provide the first and last months rent as well as a security deposit when you get a place. You probably won't have a job when you first get here so you need money to survive. You'll need food and furniture for your new place. Plus, moving here doesn't mean your other bills such as student loans and car notes disappear. It's not that hard to go through all of your money just getting set-up to live in Los Angeles much less continue to live here on a daily basis.

Do you want to move to L.A. to study with a certain acting coach? That's a great idea but you don't really need to be here to study with the coach. Acting coaches often do lessons via Skype so you can do scene studies from the comfort of your own home. Do you feel like your acting skills are at the level to compete in Los Angeles? If you can't answer that question with a definitive "YES", you're better off studying via Skype and saving your money.

How attached are you to the city where you currently live? Is it where your entire family and your best friends live? Relocating and leaving your support system behind is not an easy thing to do. Phone calls and social media are great but they don't always make you feel better when you car breaks down or you have a bad audition. Be ready for some lonely days and decide if you can handle being away from the people you love the most on a daily basis.

Finally, do you enjoy sitting in traffic? I'm talking about daily mind-numbing traffic that stretches on as far as the eye can see on a 24/7 basis. There is never really a time that traffic is light in L.A. The drive that took you an hour one day can be a two-and-a-half-hour epic event the next day. Your 4PM audition might require you to leave home anywhere from 90-minutes to two hours early depending on the part of town you have to drive to for the audition. If you hate being stuck in a car, this is not the town for you. If you can't handle the stress of never knowing how long your daily drive is going to last, this is not the town for you. If you can go with the flow and listen to podcasts, practice your lines, warm up your singing voice, get into character or get a friend to ride with you so you can use the carpool lane, you will be able to deal with the 405 on a daily basis.

In the end, the final choice about whether or not to move to Los Angeles has to be your decision. The advantage of being in the center of the movie making business has to be worth all of the sacrifices you'll need to make to move here. Think long and hard and make the decision that is best for your life. If you do move to Los Angeles, I hope you love it here and find much success!

This actor made the decision to move to Los Angeles in 2012.

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.

Why Do You Need An Acting Coach?

One of the first steps to success as an actor is finding the right acting coach for you. Finding an acting coach that you trust and feel comfortable with can lead to a lifelong relationship. I've met many acting coaches who still do sessions with well-known actors because those actors who have achieved success still count on the direction and feedback of their coaches to help them with auditions and scenes in jobs they've already booked.

An acting coach does much more than simply recite lines and say "good" or "bad" to their acting clients. Here are some of the reasons every actor can benefit from having an acting coach:

• An acting coach who spends any amount of time with their clients will begin to learn their strengths and weaknesses. Once the coach is tuned into the skills of the actor, he or she can help the actor fine-tune their skills by working on areas that are lacking while making sure their strengths are kept in fine shape.
• Acting coaches help actors absorb the material to the point that it becomes second nature and natural. Strong character choices come from the actor feeling confident about the material they are performing.
• One of the best skills an acting coach can possess is making the actor feel at ease. Actors that trust their coach are more comfortable being open and vulnerable in front of an audience as small as one person and as large as the crowd for a Broadway play. Inspiring confidence and getting rid of any nerves before an audition or show are some of the best skills possessed by an acting coach.
• Acting coaches will go over every aspect of a scene. There is more to a scene that the lines spoken by the actors. What's the motivation of the character? What kind of clothing does the character wear? Is there specific body language that the character would project? What is the relationship of the character to others in the scene? What is the location of the scene and does that have an impact on the way the scene should be played?
• A good acting coach focuses on the individual actor and does not simply lump them in with a larger group. Even if there are actors working together in a scene, the coach is paying attention to each person and assessing their performance. There is rarely a "you guys did this or that" summary after a scene is over. The coach addresses each actor personally and gives detailed notes about the individual performances. 
• Are you feeling like you need some new audition material? Have you outgrown your "go to scene" or feel like it needs some freshening? Your acting coach can help determine if your standard audition scene can be revived with a few tweaks or if you need some new material that plays to your acting strengths. Once you have the correct material, the coach will help find "spaces in the scene" that showcase your skills.

The best acting coaches are the folks that used to be actors or are still working actors. They know the daily challenges and anxieties faced by those trying to make a living as a working actor. Isn't it better to have someone on your side who understands what you are trying to accomplish with your life? They also understand that acting is about individual choices and don't try and impose their idea of line readings on you. They might suggest a certain character outlook but they leave the final decision up to the actor. The coach is there to encourage and aid the journey of finding the essence of the character. Sometimes the best choices are the natural choices made by the actor. A good acting coach helps the scene play as "real" and not come across as forced and unnatural.

Unfortunately, you often get what you pay for when it comes to acting coaches. Be sure and do proper research before spending the money on acting classes and a specific coach. Choosing the wrong coach not only hurts your growth as an actor but it can also damage your bank account since you won't be getting a good return on your investment.

This actor has been blessed with some very good acting coaches during his career.

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.

Where Were You Four Years Ago?

I can still remember the feeling of change in the air in January of 2012. I was spending my time taking care of business and school related odds and ends as Zach and I prepared to head to California. 

My time was also filled with Internet research trying to find an apartment while not knowing anything about the various cities in the Los Angeles area, touching base with friends before departing, making sure my truck was ready for the drive and trying to determine how many of our belongings could fit in my truck and still be a comfortable drive to California. We had to take a good amount of Zach’s clothes since he would have auditions and other acting events. I took some jeans, about ten shirts, some sneakers, socks and underwear. I figured I could buy anything else I needed once we got to California. We also packed a TV, Zach’s Xbox 360, pots, pans and our computer.

The afternoon of January 19^th, 2012 was a bittersweet one for us.  It was Zach’s last day at school and I went to pick him up as usual. I didn't say much to any of the parents that I visited with each afternoon because I didn't feel like having a long conversation about our plans. Zach came outside about ten minutes after school ended with a look that was a combination of sadness and excitement. The idea that we were going to California the next day hit him at that moment. We were excited but nervous at the same time. His friends were coming over to our house that afternoon but Zach still had one more task before leaving school. We went back inside so he could (as a joke) put a “Do Not Disturb” sign on his locker until he returned to school.

Think about how you feel on Sunday night once you realize you have to go to bed because of work the next morning. There is always a feeling of dread about the next day. I didn't feel a sense of dread because I didn't want to go to California. I was dreading the road trip that I was about to undertake in the morning. 

Dana, Zach and I hit the road at 5am on January 20th as a light dusting of snow fell over St. Louis. I took the snow as a sign to get the heck out of town! Dana took a week of vacation to drive with us and help us get settled. She needed to make sure her family was safe in California.

We made good time the first day as we went from Missouri to Oklahoma to Texas to New Mexico. We spent the night somewhere in New Mexico because the combination of high winds, winding roads and UFO talk made us ready to rest for the night. We hit the road again on Sunday around 8am and went from New Mexico to Arizona to California as we finally arrived in Los Angeles. 

We left at 5am on the 20^th and got to our hotel in Universal City at 10pm on the 21^st. Our drive across the country included stops in Tulsa, Amarillo, the car museum at Russell’s Truck & Travel Center in New Mexico (3 miles from the Texas/New Mexico state line), a hotel stay somewhere in New Mexico, fast food in Albuquerque and our arrival in California. 

After a week, Dana went back home and we settled into our new routine of being apart for what we thought would be about six months before heading back to Missouri. Dana and I were pretty sure that the lure of football season and his friends would make Zach want to go back to Missouri.

That's what we get for thinking we had any idea what the future held for our family! 

Here's to four years of Hollywood, child actors, stage parents, porn king neighbors, a cross country family relationship, a TIA stroke, agents, managers, making new (and good) friends, a near death hospital experience, family visiting us in California, blogs, casting directors, Disney, Nickelodeon, improv, making a life in California, Russian cell phone kings, high school graduation, sky poison (rain) sending the California natives into a panic, filming television shows and movies in Los Angeles as well as Missouri and Oregon, a series of freelance gigs that have found me working with people in the entertainment/physical fitness/life insurance/crowdfunding/spices/public relations/social media management/plastic surgery industries, theme parks, college, baseball, traffic, learning our way around Los Angeles and the three of us living in the same city again.

There hasn't been a dull moment since we arrived in California. I can't wait to see what the next year brings for all of us.

This Actor Explored Los Angeles With Me After We Moved Here.

Pilot Season Is Almost Here

It's officially 2016 and the Hollywood machine is gearing up for the coming year. It's also one of the busiest times of the year in town because pilot season is close to kicking off.

All of the casting directors and production people return to work this week. In fact, Zach had his first audition of the year today. Not only is this the time of year everyone is returning to work, it's also the time that a large number of actors are relocating to Los Angeles for pilot season.  

The time that pilot season happens used to be defined as January through April. With more cable networks and streaming services producing shows all through the year, there is some pilot casting that happens throughout the year. However, the majority of pilots are cast during the traditional time period.  

In order to get the most attention for their potential series, producers will try and cast a big name in one of the lead roles. The big name could be a former TV star returning to the medium or a movie star who is not considered a marquee name anymore. Once the main choices/big names are locked into the project, the casting folks will start to work on filling the secondary and smaller roles.

If the pilot does not have any big names attached to it, agents will submit their roster of actors for any and all available roles in a pilot. The casting directors then call in the actors they are interested in seeing for an audition. They continue to call actors in for callbacks until the available roles are filled. Once the cast is in place, the pilot episode is filmed and shown to the network for approval and audience testing. Even if the series is picked up by the network, not all of the actors will make it to the screen in the fall. Some of the roles will be recast due to network notes and audience testing.

Are you an actor that already has an agent and lives in Hollywood? Great! Make an appointment with your agent and get a game plan ready for pilot season. Make sure the agent has your current headshot, resume, demo reel and social media links ready to use when they submit you for a role. It never hurts to attend some workshops to get your name and face in front of casting directors you already know or have not had a chance to meet in person.

Are you an actor moving to Los Angeles for pilot season and looking for representation? Good luck. It will be more of an uphill battle for you since most agents and managers are focused on their current pool of talent and are (normally) not looking to take on anyone new at this time of year. Also, the short term rent prices are crazy since rental property landlords and apartment building management companies know they can get premium rates due to the competition for available rentals. I'm not telling you not to chase your dreams but you might want to wait until the amount of actors competing for available parts is smaller. Many actors only move here for pilot season and then they return to their homes.

It's too early to tell what types of shows will be big this pilot season. It's always interesting to see what parts The Artist is submitted for by his agent.  The next few months should make for some entertaining stories from Hollywood before pilot season 2016 is over.

This Actor Felt Confident About His Audition Today.

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My 200th Anniversary Blogpost Blowout Extravaganza

It's hard to believe this is my 200th update from Hollywood. To mark the milestone, I'd like to share some things I've learned about the acting business and Hollywood since I've started this blog:

• Every actor I've met since moving here is a "working actor". Everyone is not an actor that gets paid to act but they all claim to be working actors.
• Almost every restaurant is a museum of headshots collected over the lifetime of the restaurant. Depending on the age of the establishment, there can be headshots dating back to the 70s and earlier.
• While the city of Los Angeles doesn't solely revolve around the entertainment industry, it is the main topic of conversation on a daily basis.
• Did you miss the awesome car chase that happened last night? Don't worry. There will be another one later this week. Los Angeles has more police chases that go on for hours than any other city I know.
• You can't go more than 2 days without stumbling across a production crew filming in a neighborhood. It's very commonplace to see a group of production assistants running up and down the street keeping everything running smoothly for the rest of the crew.
• Spending Friday nights at Nick on Sunset watching my kid film a Nickelodeon television show is not how I imagined my Friday nights on the Sunset Strip when I was in my 20s.
• Traffic is hardly ever in your favor and never easy to predict. I've been in my truck for 3 hours attempting to drive 6 miles to an audition while also making it from my home to LAX (17 miles) in 20 minutes (which should never happen!).
• The best celebrity sightings are at the grocery store. Zach bumped into Kanye West once at a Ralphs (and I mean he really bumped into him) but didn't get yelled at by Kanye since Zach was only around 13-years-old at the time. I like to think that Kanye wouldn't yell at kids.
• You never know when you will run across a celebrity or a "celebrity" in town. The most random celebrity sightings I've had include Charles Fleischer (voice of Roger Rabbit), Jack Box (mascot of Jack In The Box), Toby Keith greeting my dog at a 7-Eleven and Sandra Bullock at a farmers market.
• People in Beverly Hills tend to give you an odd look when you want to valet park a large red pickup at a restaurant.
• Almost everyone who moves to Los Angeles never accepts the fact that they are Los Angeles residents. They could live here one year or 20 years and they will still tell you that they are from (insert name of their hometown). I understand having pride in where you come from but they never seem to accept the fact that they live in California.
• People that you don't even realize are actors will randomly appear on your television screen. Places that you dine at will suddenly be the setting for an important scene on a TV show. We once spotted our apartment building manager as a bartender at one of our favorite restaurants (that doesn't have a bar) on a FOX sitcom and then he was on TV the next night being questioned in a murder investigation on ABC.

Thanks for following Zach's adventures as well as my blog for the last 200 posts. Pilot season starts in early 2016 so a new round of actors moving to Hollywood is about to begin. I'll be bringing you behind the scenes stories as well as plenty of other Hollywood tales and adventures in the coming year.

Check out the new photos of this actor on IMDb.

The Path To Acting Success

I've discussed ways to become a better actor many times on this blog. From acting classes to workshops to networking, there are a variety of ways to find success as an actor. Sometimes the path to acting success has less to do with acting and more to do with your attitude and the environment around you.

• Have a positive attitude - Being in the mindset that you're going to succeed doesn't mean you don't need to be realistic about your chances of success. Casting directors, producers, directors and other actors like to surround themselves with people that have a good attitude towards the project and the other members of the cast and crew. You'll be remembered just as much for your good attitude and positive outlook as your frown and bad attitude.

• Be an industry expert - This doesn't mean that you need to be a know-it-all who annoys everyone with your quick answers and cocky demeanor. It means you've taken the time to read books, articles and blogs on the entertainment industry. It means you've attended mixers and workshops to meet fellow actors and industry insiders. You've listened to them and thanked them for their valuable time, insights and advice. The more knowledge you gain as you enter the industry, the less surprises you'll run into down the road.

• Master the three "R's" - Reliable. Responsible. Ready. Three words that seem easy to master but many people have trouble handling one of them much less all three at the same time:

1. Being reliable means you are on time for auditions and rehearsals and don't hold up the rest of the cast. 
2. Being responsible means you are prepared when you get to the audition or rehearsal. You know your lines as well as the motivation of your character. 
3. Being ready means you are prepared to be on set and work hard. There are hundreds (and sometimes thousands) of people who dream of being on set as a working actor. Be worthy of the opportunity you have been given and be ready to perform.

• Pay attention - It's amazing what you can learn if you pay attention to the world around you. Acting classes, workshops, the people at your gym, coffee shop customers, movies and television shows are all learning opportunities. Don't sit passively and let the world float by you. Pay attention and watch other performers and regular people living their daily lives. The world is full of characters that you can watch and learn from 24/7.

• Be realistic - The odds of you becoming a star known the world over is not very big. You might make a living as a working actor but you could be an actor who is always asked, "Where have I seen you before?" Just know that being a working actor and entertaining crowds big and small is sometimes enough to count as success in the entertainment industry. While you might not be a big star, you'll be part of a community that supports you and helps you grow as an actor and a person with each project.

This actor is realistic with his goals but still dreams big.

The Biggest Enemy For An Actor Is ???

After spending a lot of time with actors, I've come to the conclusion that there are two types of actors. There are the actors who work hard, audition for parts, understand they can't get every part and try to learn from each audition. There are also some actors who always seem to be looking for a reason why they didn't land a part.

If you're an actor, here are some reasons why you might turn out to be your own worst enemy:

• Each actor is unique and brings their own set of skills to the table. Unfortunately, some actors don't remember this fact.  They get hung up on trying to be a certain "type" who is currently hot.  There is always going to be an audition room filled with actors who look like that certain "type". The key is to stand out from the crowd.

• Stop obsessing on things that are beyond your control. You can't control how young, how old or how ethnic the production office is casting the project. You can't control if you were the first person cast for the part or the "Plan B" choice because the first choice for the project wasn't available.  All you can focus on is doing the job you've booked.  Whether you are the first choice or the 50th choice, count yourself fortunate to be a working actor.

• It doesn't matter one bit to the casting director if you "just got the sides".  All the casting director wants to know is if you can play the part as envisioned by the director, producers, etc. Showing confidence is more important than giving excuses.

• Don't complain about how the profession of acting is unfair.  It is not unfair. It has the same amount of uncertainty and lack of stability as almost every other profession currently being practiced. The only thing that makes it "unfair" to you is no one is buying your excuses.

• What do you mean you don't have a headshot and resume?  Have two or three in your car at all times. If you get an audition for that afternoon in Hollywood but you are currently in Long Beach and live in Woodland Hills, you won't have time to swing by your home to pick up a headshot. ALWAYS have spare extra headshots (and audition clothes) in your car!

• Don't beat yourself up over lines you messed up in the audition.  Did you inhabit the character? Did you roll with the bungled lines and keep going?  Don't obsess while you're in the moment and don't obsess after the audition.  Congratulate yourself on getting the audition and look towards the future.

• There will always be other actors more successful than you at any given point in time.  I'm sure even Tom Hanks or The Rock watch other actors and wish they could land some of the parts they see on screen. Obsessing about the good fortune of others leads nowhere.

In the end, your biggest obstacle to success might be your inability to stay out of your own head. Success means different things to different people. Decide what your ultimate acting goal is and focus on achieving that goal. By focusing your energy on the positive parts of the journey, the less likely the chance you'll end up getting in your own way.

This actor is focused and realizes the acting journey is a long one.