​Acting has been your dream from the time you saw “Annie” when you were five years old. You know you would be great in a sitcom, if only someone would give you the chance! Now you get your big break. This morning, you spoke with a representative from the website of a casting agency who scheduled you for an audition this afternoon.

Wait just a minute, movie star. Scammers are waiting behind the cover of some very legitimate looking advertisements, web pages, business cards, and flyers. Don’t fall prey to these unscrupulous hucksters. Be suspicious when an advertisement, webpage, or person claiming to represent a casting agency uses one of these telltale strategies to lure you in and take your money.
1. I can make you a star. Legitimate agencies see promise and potential in their clients, but do not make grand promises of stardom, especially on the first or second meeting. Their websites also do not glamorize the life of an actor. Real agencies know that acting is a tough business. There are no guarantees, even when the actor is talented and has great looks.
2. Earn up to $1000 per day as an extra, no experience necessary. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Promises of high pay are another red flag. 
3. Don’t stop believing. Chase your dreams, follow your heart, and other inspirational messages are meant to lure in people who are desperate for success and have little experience in the acting industry. Legitimate agencies look for confident, successful, and poised talent. Sure, they want actors with big dreams, but they don’t specifically advertise for actors who are down and out.
4. Rush casting calls and immediate auditions. Representatives that are in a rush are often trying to close the deal. They know that people tend to make poor decisions under pressure and are more likely to make a payment for some legitimate sounding purpose. Legitimate agencies occasionally cast last minute; however, they generally require you to submit a headshot and resume well before they invite you to an interview or audition.
5. Casting call ads on Craigslist. A recent Craigslist advertisement in the New York City area displayed the NBC logo and claimed to be casting for extras on a new TV series. Don’t believe it! Established production companies in urban areas use established casting agencies to provide extras for their upcoming shows. Those agencies do not advertise on Craigslist, in classified ads, or through representatives stopping people in a shopping mall.
6. All types, ages, and ethnicities wanted. Specific roles generally require a specific look, age, ethnicity, or type. Be suspicious when almost anyone could fit into the advertised opportunity.
7. Major casting agency accepting calls until 10:00 PM. If that’s all you know, let it go! Major casting agencies never hide their identities. Neither do they have operators standing by to take your call late into the night. Sketchy and suspect contact information is a big tip-off to a scam. Do not call agencies that provide a telephone number with no other identifying information.
What’s a new actor to do and who should they trust? Before plunking down your hard-earned cash, follow the tips above and do a little research. Legitimate agencies have legitimate websites. Try entering the website address at whoishostingthis.com. You’ll be able to see when, where, and by whom the site was created. Search the individuals listed. If they are a successful casting agency, you will not have any trouble linking the people behind the website to real people in the industry. Don’t stop there. Search the company name for complaints with reputable reporting agencies such as the Better Business Bureau at bbb.org and your state’s division of consumer affairs. Be wary of comments on commercial websites, either positive or negative. Those comments, while sometimes helpful, are generally unverifiable and often misleading.
There are plenty of reputable agencies working with real directors on exciting projects. Reputable casting agencies accept new talent every day—often through websites—for a wide variety of projects. Continue to develop your acting skills and post your resume, headshot and audition reel with a legitimate agency, and you could soon find yourself in the movies.
Master your craft, empower yourself, and enjoy the journey.

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Finding our natural talents can be quite difficult to do. For me, it took me years to find out that I was good at Photography. I mean it was never a TALENT that I knew I had. I was always creative and studied sculpture in school, but never really thought about taking photos as a career. But here I am today, owning a photography business, meeting awesome actors in NYC, and enjoying what I do.

Much like many other people, discovering what your talents are can be extremely hard to figure out. Because of that, I researched some great advice on how to not only identify, but embrace and hone in on your natural talents.  So here are 3 key insights to discover what your natural talents are:

1.What Thrilled You As A Child?
Take two minutes and recall your most joyous memories from elementary school.
What made those moments so enjoyable? What were the common threads?
Were you highly competitive as a 9-year-old? Maybe you loved soccer and couldn't wait for recess every day. You lived for it. You cherished that moment you could run out to the practice field and start competing.

Or, maybe you enjoyed working on big, competitive, team-oriented projects? Your friends loved it when you were in their group. You had a knack for nudging the whole team's grade from B- to A . You relished these opportunities. It was thrilling.

As you ponder these childhood memories, consider what similar activities thrill you as an adult.
You may still be highly competitive, but now you're competing to win new business for your start-up. You may still love complex, strategic projects, but now you do it for an international consulting firm. Why do we make certain choices and enjoy certain activities? Why are we better at some things than others?

If you've ever taken the StrengthsFinder 2.0 assessment, you know that a “talent theme” (to use Gallup's terminology) is a naturally recurring pattern of thought, feeling or behavior that can be productively applied. Understanding your unique talents gives you answers to these questions. Your unique talents show you why you make certain choices, enjoy certain activities and are better at some things than others. In fact, there's only a 1-in-33 million chance you have the same top 5 talent themes as another person!

So, understand that what thrilled you as a grade school student and what thrills you as an adult are actually very similar. You're just using those same talent themes--Competition and Strategic--in different environments. What work tasks today most closely resemble that joy you felt 20, 30 years ago? Find ways to tilt your work today toward those moments that thrilled you from yesterday.  Those grade school memories are powerful stories that reveal what your talents are and how to use them.

2. You Lose Track of Time
Imagine this: It's 9:00 AM Saturday morning. Your time is your own. No soccer games, no carpool, no TPS report cover sheets. Somehow, you have a free calendar for a few hours.
You begin a favorite activity. Maybe it's playing guitar or gardening or writing that novel. Maybe it's coding Python for that personal pet project you started months ago.

This activity, whenever you do it, pulls you in like a tractor beam. Your mind, body and intuition begin working in perfect symmetry. You lose track of time. Before you know it, it's 12:30 and you haven't even thought about lunch yet. What if work was just as fulfilling as your Saturday morning side project? Is it even possible to capture and harness that magic?

Yes-take very close note of moments like this. If you're so captivated in an activity that you lose track of time, you're experiencing one of the key symptoms of flow.  And, if you're experiencing any amount of flow on a project, you're most likely also using one or more of your natural talents.

3. What do you yearn to do?
What fire is burning inside of you at this very moment?
There's never been an easier time in the course of human history to begin fulfilling your life's mission than right now.

Do you love writing? Cool. Start a blog. Can you crochet better than anyone in the tri-state area? Great. Make a few extra scarves and sell them on Etsy.  Does even thinking about meeting and connecting with new people send you into happiness overdrive? Perfect. Launch a meet-up for local executives in your city.

Enjoy all three? Even better. Start a monthly meet-up for expert crochet bloggers.
In a perfect world, everyone would get to use their strengths at work every day.
Unfortunately, that's not the case for most people. In fact, 63% of workers worldwide are not engaged in their work. This doesn't even include the 24% who are actively disengaged.

While there are multiple reasons for this, one of the key factors is most workers don't get to use their natural talents at work on a daily basis.  Think about it. In nature, eagles can fly between 75 and 125 miles a day. Wild elephants can roam up to 50 miles a day. If that eagle or elephant is locked-up in a cage, they're not living the way they were made to live. They've been stifled, suffocated, trapped.

Similarly, millions of workers aren't able to do what they were made to do on a daily basis.
What do you yearn to do?  If you find yourself in a place where you're not using your gifts, that realization can be painful and uncomfortable. Thankfully, life is a journey, not one isolated day.
Find at least one small way to begin recapturing some of that joy you felt back in grade school. Get lost in a favorite activity and lose track of time on a Saturday morning. Hone in on what you yearn to do, and start doing it.

How have you been able to hone in on your natural talents and use them in the work force?

Comment Below.

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​

We’ve all been there: Standing on a stage, in front of a camera, or at a microphone. We’re alone up there, but we know that outside the single light that burns our eyes and gives us nowhere to hide, there’s an audience of countless souls, all watching, all listening. And our biggest fear, silence—which is closely related to failure, which in turn mimics absolute meltdown—seems to fill the room with a whole lot of nothing.

Performing isn’t easy. Stage actors know it, as do film and television performers and voice professionals. All it takes is one forgotten line or one inadvertent break in character and, for some of us, it’s game over. The fear doesn’t creep in as much as it blasts into our reality and wipes out any hope of a successful outcome.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. My own experiences range from radio and television to stage and public speaking, and in every case I’ve had meltdown moments that continue to haunt me to this day. But learning from the experience can make future performances in those very frightening places every bit as triumphant as they were destined to be. Here’s a quick rundown of some of the techniques I’ve evolved over the years to stave off stage fright and allow my inner performer to shine through for all to see:

1. Remember who the performer is. The audience is there to see or hear you. And only you. It’s your gift, your expertise, your unique ability to make the role yours that got them out of the house on a rainy night. Of all the people in the room at that moment, you’re the one who knows more about this character, this performance, this work, than anyone else. Let your mastery of the moment be your guide.

2. Forget the stakes. You could be in front of 20 people in a repertory theater or thousands in the most prestigious of performing arts facilities. In the end, they’re all the same. Too many performers allow the supposed importance of the performance, of the night, of the people in attendance, to affect their mindset. Don’t. See above: You and you alone are the key performer. Whether they’re wearing tuxes and gowns or overalls and sundresses is irrelevant. The audience doesn’t matter. You do.

3. Performance over audience. In a related vein, what you’re delivering matters far more than who you’re delivering it to. Maintain focus on your performance, to the exclusion of all and everyone else, and you’ll be well-insulated from any audience-related fears. That said, if you find it helpful to make eye contact with a few friendly members of the audience, follow your heart and make that connection early on. Some performers find it helpful to get that little bit of extra visual feedback and support.

4. Be a temporary broadcaster. Television and radio are excellent proving grounds for actors and other stage and performance professionals, because they allow you to practice your craft without the physical distraction of a visible audience. I know it sounds overly simplistic, but getting some studio time with a camera or a microphone can help you develop the mindset that can teach you to naturally ignore whoever’s in the room so you can focus on your performance. Spend enough time staring into an unblinking red light, the theory goes, and you’ll never even know who’s sitting behind the bright lights after you transition to a real stage.

5. Practice like you mean it. The deadliest mistake performers can make involves never feeling the weight of a performance before they have to deliver it for real. If you don’t perform at full volume, at full cadence, and in the venue where you’ll be delivering it, your body and mind will never have the chance to feel what it’s like, or to adapt to the very different reality of a live, in-person performance. Reading your lines at half-volume into your bedroom mirror doesn’t count. Replicate the intended space as closely as possible, and get used to the unique cues associated with practicing as if you’re actually performing.

6. Visualize your mistakes. It may seem ridiculous to pre-plan your errors, but expecting the worst is good practice for managing yourself when the inevitable occurs. Because, let’s face it, you will make mistakes. My recommendation: Don’t even call them mistakes or errors. Accept the fact that they’ll happen, and instead focus on how you’ll instantly respond to ensure you can continue with a smooth and consistent performance. Set up specific speed bumps within your practice sessions to help you learn, innately, how to roll with the punches. By the time you get to a live performance, none of this will seem like much of a big deal at all.

7. Slow down. We tend to speed things up when we’re nervous, which can increase the likelihood of tripping over our own tongues. Or worse. To counter this, use clocks, timers, or even metronomes during rehearsals to control your speed and force your brain to keep to a workable pace.
8. Buffer the performance. Try to put as much time and psychological space as possible between the real world and any given performance. Arrive at the venue early—and preferably either alone or accompanied by supporters who understand why you need your space. Settle in slowly and disconnect from those around you. Turn your smartphone and related electronics off. Use the time to review your lines or notes, have your favorite non-alcoholic, non-caffeinated beverage and get into your performance mindset. Over time, build personal rituals that make sense to you and help you achieve comfort and balance before you’re scheduled to perform.

There is no one all-encompassing solution for stage fright. Every performer has unique needs and approaches to the craft, and you’ll need to keep an open mind to what works and does not work for your particular needs. But with some focused attention to this very real issue, you can raise the level of your performance game—and probably have a little more fun in the process, as well.

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Sometimes an acting career can be frustrating, right?
You want to work as an actor so badly, and you make some progress… but then something falls through. If you’re like most, you might even ask yourself, “Is it worth all the frustration?”
Maybe you sometimes wonder if you’re missing out on the beauty in life like this beautiful bridge in this peaceful park. But, of course, somewhere inside your heart, you also know that you’re not ready to throw in the towel on your acting career. You’re not ready to give it up…. Any of that sound familiar?

Well, if you’re still reading, I want to discuss what might be an issue that you need to address.
Having a strong agent is super important. But you have to get someone at the right level for where you are. When you’re looking for representation with a strong talent agency in New York, it can be easy to pick the wrong one and then stay with them too long. If you’re like most aspiring actors, sometimes you feel so happy to have an agent that you hate to think about leaving them even though they aren’t getting you auditions.

Unfortunately, you’re just losing time if you stay with them because of that. It might stroke your ego a bit to know you have an agent, but truly, you need to step up your game.
Before you run off to search for a new agent, think it through to see if you’ve done your part.
You need to give your agent their best shot by having a Great #Headshot, the most professional-looking resume you can muster up, keep taking classes so you’re ready when the time comes, and continue to promote yourself. If you’re not doing these things, a new agent won’t make much difference. Let’s assume that you’re doing your part, and you’re still not getting auditions. Or the only action you’re seeing is from the submissions you’re doing to Actors Access and such sites on your own. If that’s the case, then it’s time to evaluate your agent!  So now, my friend, spin the wheel, let’s play the Evaluate My Agent Game:

Here are Five Qualifying questions to find out if a given talent agency is the right one for you.

1.  IS THE TALENT AGENCY LICENSED BY THE STATE AND FRANCHISED BY SAG-AFTRA?
I realize this is a basic question, but a lot of things have changed over the past 15 years.  Many agents have become managers. Lots more people have become agents. Some agents want you to do only non-union work so you have a better chance of booking against less qualified competition. Being franchised by SAG-AFTRA is not always a make or break deal, but being licensed by the state is. A talent agent (not manager) must be licensed.  It’s a state law. If they’re not, it’s a huge red flag. To legally negotiate your acting contracts, an agency must be licensed by the State, if they’re not…NO PASS! If you’re a member of SAG-AFTRA, the agency should be franchised by SAG-AFTRA or have a special exemption (some of the bigger agencies have this for reasons too complex to get into here).

2.  WHAT TYPE OF TALENT AND PROJECTS IS YOUR AGENCY EFFECTIVE FOR?
      AND WHERE DO YOU FIT IN THEIR PLAN?
Each established talent agency is known by the casting directors for the types of actors they take on.  The question is, what does the agency you’re with specialize in or what are they known for?

Talent Agencies are known for being stronger for either commercials or for film and television (aka “theatrical”).  Although many of them rep both areas, they are typically more known for one or the other.  Are they known for the type of work they’re representing you for? Some agencies specialize in different age groups, usually either children or adults, but some are known for young adults.  Are you in their age group sweet spot? Other agencies represent certain types.  Some agencies are know for providing great Co-Star actors, such as cops and waitresses. Others specialize in bombshell women, and so on.

The big question for this is: What does your agency specialize in?  Are the casting directors coming to them for that type? And most importantly, do you fit in with their branding?
Next we look at the way your agent sees you.

3.  DOES YOUR AGENT SEE YOUR CASTING AS YOU DO:  AGE, PERSONA, ETHNICITY?
Do THEY SEE YOU for the types of roles that YOU SEE YOURSELF being right for? This can be another area where actors and their agents don’t see eye-to-eye. You know this to be the case when you’re being sent out on auditions where everyone is 20 years older than you.  Or when you’re a Marilyn Monroe type, and they are sending you out for Ugly Betty type roles.  If that’s happening, it’s very likely that you and your agent are not a good match.
Another common divergence here is the case where you have an ethnic look, such as Hispanic or East Indian, and you want to also be submitted for non-enthnic-specified roles, but your agent only submits you for roles of your actual ethnicity.  If your goals don’t match — No pass. Agent fail.

4.  ARE THEY AT THE RIGHT LEVEL FOR YOU IN YOUR CAREER?
As you move up the ladder in building your acting resume, you might discover that you need to upgrade your agency to be able to get in for auditions at the next level.  Agencies have “rank” the same way actors do.   This is so critical that at Smart Girls, we even give them an A, B, C, or D rating based on their career appropriateness level — and we use that grading to pick the right ones for you. The truth is, casting directors are more likely to look at submissions and take calls from some talent agencies in L.A. than others.  In their eyes, that agency either has “better actors” or does a better job of submitting the right actors for given roles. If you are trying to move up from Co-Star to Guest Star Roles and even Series Regular auditions, then you need an agency who is at a level such that they can get you in to read for those roles. Evaluate the level of the other talent on your agent’s roster if this is the case for you. And finally, the Ultimate Test of whether you are with the right agency for you:

5.  ULTIMATE TEST:  ARE THEY GETTING YOU AUDITIONS FOR THE RIGHT ROLES,
​      AT THE RIGHT LEVEL IN YOUR CAREER?
This is the bottom-line.  You have to get auditions.  Auditions and casting calls are oxygen for the actor’s career.  If you’re not getting auditions, your career is dying of oxygen. You need auditions. You have to go out for the right roles.  And the roles have to be at the right level for where you are in your career. If your agent isn’t getting that right:  FAIL — You need a new agent!

This article is not meant to be hard on agents because they work hard and they’re busy.
If anything, I mean to direct the responsibility back to you! I’ve heard stories from actors who after being with an agent for two years or more , only got one or two auditions in that whole time.  One or two auditions in more than a year — and they stay with them!  You cannot build a career that way. It's ridiculous! 

If your agent FAILED on the above test, then it’s time to Get a New Talent Agent.  
If you hate the thought of leaving your agency, even though they Failed the test, they it’s likely one of two things holding you back:

1. Either you think your talent agent is really nice, and you don’t want to hurt their feelings by leaving them.
2. Or you’re worried you won’t get another agent and you think it’s better to have an agent and no auditions than to have no agent at all.

If that’s the case, then it’s time to rethink and regroup. If you’re serious about working as an actor — you need to be represented by a talent agent who is strong for YOU! So let’s do it.

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By Ajarae Coleman ​
Happy Tuesday! Last week we began season four of #GuruTips with a discussion on a crucial part of every actors’ career: Coaching.
(Just in case you missed last week, click here to watch.)
This week we’re switching gears and are diving into a different aspect I find incredibly helpful: Mentorship.
I see the words “coach” and “mentor” used interchangeably, and I just have to tell you – there IS a difference. Today I’m sharing what the are, a personal story on how a mentor impacted my own career (a relationship that still continues today!), and a special tool to help you prepare yourself for your first meeting with a mentor, so you know if it’s a right fit.
This week is a good one, so be sure to watch below!

Coaches VS Mentors… is there a difference? Do you REALLY need both? (Hint: the answer is yes.) Learn the distinction and how to prep for your 1st mentor meeting with these tips from @ActResourceGuru! #ActorsLife #ShareHere at ARG, we’re all actors, so we understand the impact mentors have on our careers. And to help stress that importance, ARG Pro-level members get access to a free guest expert interview each month, so that you can get valuable bits of information you would get from a mentor relationship. I’m so excited about the experts we have lined up, so I hope you’ll join me in Pro!
PLUS be sure to get the free download, which explains exactly how you should walk into your first mentor meeting with confidence and assurance of what you want to get out of the relationship.
And remember, you can join Acting Resource Guru for FREE! Get access to the latest acting school, acting coach, and workshop studio reviews for LA, NY, and online, plus get the scoop on some of my favorite resources. Join your fellow community of actors and let’s take back the power we have in this industry. Get more info and sign up for free at ActingResourceGuru.com/join!

xo,
Ajarae

The best actors are the ones who dedicate themselves to the craft of acting. This means taking, classes, going on auditions, working on scripts, filming yourself, and never stop learning about yourself. To help you hone your craft, here are some tips.

1. Research human behavior through conversations and books. To play a diverse array of people, you need to know a diverse array of people. When you meet people, do your best to be quiet and listen. Ask them about their lives and stories, note how they talk and any slang they use, and let yourself be a sponge. Reading helps you see these concepts at work. Moreover, reading actually activates the same part of your brain as acting does.

• You should also do specific research for your part. If it is based on a specific person or time period, find out as much as you can. These little facts will work their way into your performance, even if only unconsciously.[

​2. Watch and rewatch actors you admire. When you're watching someone act, let the scene simply wash over you the first time, watching like you would watch any other movie. Then replay the scene, paying specific attention to each actor separately. What do they do when they aren't talking? How do they deliver their lines? What is their body positioning and posture like? What movements do they use to sell their lines?

• Would you read the same lines differently? If so, how?
• Classic plays, like Shakespeare, are a great way to see the artistry of acting. YouTube, for example, 5 different actors delivering the same monologue from Hamlet. How do they all differ? What artistic choices is each actor making to make the character unique?

3. Go to acting classes. These classes often end in a production or performance, and are a great way to practice acting in a low-pressure environment. Take note not only of the teacher, but the other students. What can you learn from them? How would you improve their line readings, and would you make any different character choices? Make friends with your fellow actors, and talk to them from time to ask them for advice or tips on your performance.

• You never know when a fellow actor will make it bi, and could potentially help you get a role. Be kind and friendly to everyone in class-- it will pay dividends later.

4. Take improv classes. Improvisation is the art of acting in the present, letting your character take over the action and react accordingly. Improv skills will help your characters seem natural, like they are reacting to the events on the screen in real time and not reading off a page. There are many improvisation classes in urban and semi-urban areas, and many acting classes feature a small amount of improv training.

• Improv games, like acting out suggestions from friends, acting with weird props, or acting short scenes with a friend, are great ways to practice acting anywhere.

5. Practice "cold readings" to ace your auditions. A cold read is when you're handed a script and asked to act it out on the spot. Sometimes you get 1-2 minutes to look it over, and sometimes you need to just launch into it. While this is scary, it is also very easy to practice. Buy a book of monologues, grab passages from a book, or even pick up a dramatic newspaper story and read it out loud. You can also read it once, silently, then take 20-30 seconds to choose a direction for the piece before beginning.

• This is also a good warm-up exercise, helping you prepare your mind and body for acting.

Remember stay steady and focused on what you want. Take the time to develop your skills and practice, practice, practice. Believe in your craft and believe in yourself.

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When was the last time you paid to interview for a job? What about paying for the possibility of interviewing for a job? Never, I’m guessing. But for actors, paying for the possibility of auditions is common, though the perpetrators of such schemes would never use such frank language to describe it. Instead, they call them “workshops” or “casting workshops.” And while some of these “workshops” do provide valuable professional insight, others are simply pay-to-audition schemes. Often marketed and advertised as educational opportunities, even the most legitimate workshops typically list an instructor’s current work and projects. The implication is that by participating in a workshop, actors may increase their chances of landing representation or booking roles.

Many companies, including One on One and Actors Connection, offer workshops for actors, and, to be sure, they do create courses legitimately focused on the craft of acting and the particulars of auditioning. The issue is when actors are required to pay for an audition in order to participate in a workshop. The issue becomes still more complicated when an actor, once accepted, must pay additional “member dues.” Members may then be asked to pay yet a third time to participate, for example, in a casting workshop. These companies, then, really function as forums for middlemen that actors must pay to gain access to yet other middlemen — like agents, casting directors and their assistants.

How does this system — actors paying middlemen simply to audition for roles — continue to operate? Is their passion for acting so deep, and their outlook so bleak, that they will do anything to gain an advantage? The dynamic in so much art, especially for performers, has long been “work for free.” But for years now the dynamic has shifted to “pay to work.” Or more accurately, “pay for the possibility of work.”
​
In some cases, the industry itself has pushed to ban pay-to-audition workshops. Due to an epidemic of them in Los Angeles, in 2009, the Screen Actors Guild successfully pressured the California legislature to pass The Krekorian Talent Scam Prevention Act. The law requires casting workshops in that state to use specific language in marketing and advertising, to have clear educational content, and to avoid the implication that actors are auditioning for projects or representation.

A fine line between what is legit and scam. Something NY State should also investigate. Bottom line, be careful and never sign contracts without having an understanding what is being said.

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The thought of giving up an acting career crosses every actors mind, especially when work and auditions have dried up. Read any famous actor biography and there will be chapters of their career when even they struggled to survive and didn’t know where their next meal or acting job was coming from. There are quite a few reasons why you may want to give it all up, but before you do here are some things to ponder about:

• The work has dried up
  No one said that an acting career was going to be easy. Around 90% of actors are out of work at any one time. If work and auditions have dried up then you need to discuss this issue with your agent, if you have one, and then you both work together as a team to sort it out. Sometimes a change of headshot may do the trick. Casting directors may get used to seeing your same headshot time and time again, just changing it can sometimes make them think that they haven’t come across you before. And you need to change your headshot every three years or so.
• My agent doesn’t seem to work for me
  There are good agents and bad ones. What ever agent you have, make the best of them while you have them. You need to work with your agent and do your fair share of the job hunting. Getting an agent doesn’t mean you then sit back and wait for the phone to ring. Most agents have dozens and dozens of clients to work with, so they can’t give you 100% of their time. 
  
  Don’t forget that your agent can drop you anytime, especially if you are not making them money. It’s their business after all. So do your fair share of the work, that way, they know that you are keen and being productive and will be less likely to replace you.
  
  There are instances when an agent and actor relationship just doesn’t work and one needs to change representation. If you are thinking of leaving your agent make sure that you have another one to go to. It may be a lot easier to find one if you are already represented. And be honest with the new agent. Your relationship with your agent has always got to be an honest one.
• I want a more hands on approach with my castings
  If you are getting frustrated about being not represented correctly, perhaps a ‘co-op agency’ is what would work for you. A co-operative agency is made up of a group of actors who manage and run the agency office themselves. The work is split up on a rota basis and you each do your day in the office, contacting the casting directors and getting each other work. This way you will have a more hands on approach to your career and you also get a good insight into how castings and agents work.
• I don’t have an agent
  You can still work as an actor if you are not managed or don’t have an agent. It just means that you have to do all the work yourself. Get yourself involved in local drama shows or student films and get your CV and experience built up. You can even get yourself noticed by getting yourself a personal actor website. This ‘in depth’ actor calling card can then be easily forwarded to hundreds of casting directors and agents. Just make sure it looks professional and even if your acting experience is limited they will at least know that you are taking your acting career seriously. Theatre professionals really appreciate hard work and commitment.
• This acting business isn’t very fair
  Most actors will agree that the acting industry just isn’t fair, but which ever way you look at it, we have to learn to accept this. You don’t get the call back after your most perfect audition. The talentless people seem to get all the work. And nowadays even the small TV parts are going to celebrities or stand up comedians. It’s a part of being an actor, take it on the chin and move on! Keep working hard and you will get your turn in the limelight.
• The acting business is too hard
  As an actor you are sometimes your worst enemy. It’s easy to blame your agent, the bad casting director, even the other actors who were auditioning with you. Sometimes we become lazy, we don’t prepare ourselves or our auditions properly. Start to get honest with yourself. Own up to your mistakes and work on them. Sometimes you ‘have to get out of your own way’.
• I can’t deal with rejection
  If there is one thing that an acting career is littered with – it’s rejection. The more you get rejected, the more you get used to it. Just do the audition and try to move forward. Let it go. With so many actors going for the same job, rejection is going to happen to us all. Just don’t take it personally. You just wern’t right for the part on this occasion. A casting director recently said, “If the role is yours, there is nothing you can do that will keep you from getting it. If the role is not yours, there is nothing you can do that will help you get it.”
• My training wasn’t good enough
  Some say that 90% of actor training is a waste of time. Some even say that actor training creates ‘fake work’ which is something that you have learnt but won’t actually help you out when you enter professional acting. There is an element of truth in this. Training doesn’t prepare you for an acting career. It just confirms that you can act. You need to concentrate on the 10% of actor training that you did find useful. Experience and hard work from that day forward will get you through the rest of your acting career.
• A lot of actors seem so much better than me
  It is true unfortunately. There is always an actor better than you. Even at the height of fame and stardom there will always be a better actor than you. Put yourself in the shoes of some great actors who lose out on an Oscar or Emmy Award. They lost out to a better actor. In this business you will meet actors that are more talented than you, better looking and luckier in their careers. There is nothing you can do about it! You will also meet actors who are more hard working and proactive, even better trained than you. That was a choice that they made alone, and you can make that choice too.
• I don’t feel very productive anymore
  We can get pretty fed up of working towards something that doesn’t seem to reap any rewards. Life is like that. One tip would be to try and create some kind of acting connection every day, whether it may be contacting a casting director or getting in touch with a past director you worked with. Get the latest copy of The Stage or contact Spotlight and apply for an audition or acting job. By just doing one or two productive things per day they can certainly add up over time. Imagine that after a year you have done at least seven hundred attempts to further your career. Surely something must happen from doing all that.
• The frustration of not working is getting me down
  It can be so frustrating when your actor friends are all working and you aren’t. What you need to do is turn all your negative and frustrated energy into doing something positive. Try and do something relaxing like yoga or meditation so you can begin to revive all your acting aspirations. Attend a drama workshop or pursue a new sport or hobby. Try an additional show business related sideline like writing plays, articles, reviews or even have a stab at stand up comedy. Join or even start your own support group with other actors, you will soon see you are not alone.
• I want to earn more money
  Being an actor can be a pretty rough ride when it comes to earning money. Being skint all the time can certainly make you think about tossing it all in. First of all, if you expected to be rich and famous by being an actor, you are barking up the wrong tree. Fame and fortune only comes to the lucky few, but even they were probably poor for a long time before they made it big. 
  
  Believe it or not, but you can earn good money by using your acting skills. You can work part time in addition to your acting and still cover the cost of your living. Role play work pays pretty well as does teaching drama to private students. Write and perform murder mystery evenings or create experiences for corporate events. There are so many part time jobs you can do to help pay the bills while still working as an actor. Our acting training has equipped us with so many good communication skills, it’s a shame to let them go to waste. 
  
  It’s a good idea to get yourself a part time trade which will help you through the hard times. Choose something that you are good at and like doing, because chances are, you’ll be doing it a lot more than acting.
• I want to start a family
  Acting sometimes has to be put on hold when an actor settles down to start a family. Some actors then return to the limelight once the children are older. The good thing about acting is that you can never lose your acting skills, it’s just like riding a bike, the talent will always stay with you. Also actors come in all ages so coming back to acting is no problem when you’ve had some time out. Being a parent is also a new set of life skills which can help you secure certain parts.
• How can I inspire myself again?
  If you are ever feeling a bit down about your acting career, go and see a good professional play. The buzz of the theatre, the play itself and the audiences laughter, reactions and applause will certainly help you to get proactive again. And if money is short read some plays from the local library or get a group of actor buddies around for a play reading night, it’ll be fun.
• How can I refresh my acting skills?
  When you’ve not acted for a while you can feel a bit removed and alienated from the industry. Go and take some acting classes or workshops. Not only will it get you refocused again, you will also meet like minded performers who are more than likely ‘resting’ and in the same situation as you. You will be reminded that you are not the only actor who is out of work or struggling.
• Why did I train in the first place?
  Have a think about what made you want to be an actor in the first place. What was that spark that led you to become an actor? What goals did you have back then? Chances are you will still have that dream inside of you, it’s just that you’ve hit a bump in the road and need to get back on track. Have a think about what is holding you back. Is it your agent? Is it your CV? Is it your loved ones? Is it you?
• What would YOU tell another actor who is in your shoes?
  Would you tell your actor friend to throw in the towel because they are thinking about giving it all up? Or would you give them your best motivational speech and help them see their own acting potential?
• Those that Give Up Never Make It
  Many give up acting as a career because they found it too hard. These are the people that ‘never make it’. They may talk and boast of having more money and stability and even all the stuff they later come to loathe, because they wanted to act in the first place. It’s simple. DON’T give up, and you’ll become the actor that you WANT to be – give up, and you never will. 
  
  Lucille Ball once said, “I’d rather regret the things I’ve done than regret the things I haven’t done.”
  
  And finally…. whatever you do, don’t give yourself a reason to one day utter the words, “I quit because I was scared.”

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Almost every actor who wants to be in commercials wants an agent. Landing legitimate representation for commercials can be easy sometimes, but it can also be challenging. Here are some suggestions that might help in the process.

1. Do your research. 
Start by getting a list of franchised agents from SAG/AFTRA or check out Backstage’s online directory of agents and managers. There are some agents who are not SAG-franchised. That does not mean they are not reputable. SAG members are just easier to check out and are accountable to a supervising entity.

2. Buy resources. 
Then, buy updated books, such as Backstage’s Call Sheet, that list and describe agents and managers. (In New York, they are sold at the Drama Book Shop or they can be ordered online.) Study how many agents are in the agency, where the agency is located, how long the agency has been in business, etc.

3. Ask people you know. 
If you know industry professionals, acting classmates, teachers, or relatives who are involved in the business, ask them the following questions about agents.

-Who would you recommend and who should be avoided?
-How do I contact them?
-Do you know anyone who could refer me?

4. Go online. 
Visit the websites of the agents you are considering and read about the agency, company history, and the people who work there. Once you have a short list, check your choices with the Better Business Bureau and find out if they have had claims filed against them.

5. Decide where to submit. 
The size and status of the office you should realistically approach is determined by where you are in your career. When starting out, you will find that the small- and medium-sized offices are often more receptive to meeting new talent, but if you do have an “in” at a major agency or just want to try to get with one, you should pursue it. If your timing, talent, and type are right, you could get lucky.

6. Submit your materials. 
Now that you know the reputable agents you wish to pursue, submit your headshot, resume, and a cover letter. Don’t mail to one at a time and wait for them to reply. Also, don’t waste money mailing to every agent in town. Mail to a select fifteen or twenty. Actors bombard agents with submissions all the time. You might hear from some agents within a few days or weeks. If you don’t get responses, submit to your second round of choices. Agents and managers will call you for a meeting if they are interested in what they see in your submission.

If you have industry contacts, teachers, or friends who can recommend you to your desired agent(s) ask your contact, if appropriate, if they would advise the agent to expect your submission. If you get minimal or no response after the second round of submissions, get new headshots, redo your resume and cover letter, and then submit again to your first then second choices. Client rosters often change, making room for an actor who was of no interest just a few weeks earlier.

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