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Pilot Season: A Shift In Perspective

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Pilot Season: A Shift In Perspective

Yayyy! It’s pilot season…kind of…I mean technically yes but let’s be real. Pilot season can sometimes feel non-existent. I used to call pilot season “unicorn land” because for too long it was this mythical place that, despite my years in LA and whatever reps I had, I never found the secret magic key to. 

Looking back, there were a few things I wish I knew that would have made a huge difference in my expectations and experience of pilot season… whether I auditioned for a single pilot or not. 

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PREPARATION

MINDSETThe more we can measure our success by growth and not by results the more we can enjoy the journey. Measure your success during pilot season by how much you’re growing and learning and you’ll be on track to having a great time instead of becoming a ball of stress. 

BRANDINGGet super clear and specific on what you sell and create a marketing package that supports that niche branding message. Ideally, this process should be completed before pilot season. If you’re not there yet, consider enrolling in our Branding and Marketing Course to really hone in on the characters and qualities that make you irresistible to casting. Either way, keep reading…major revelations ahead. 

TRADESJust because pilot auditions aren’t rolling in doesn’t mean you’re off the hook.  As a professional, you need to know what’s happening in your industry. Read them! Deadline, Variety and Hollywood Reporter. I find Deadline to be the best at delivering information quickly and efficiently. Use the trades to track pilot orders and pick-ups.

WARNING!Pilots are all works in progress and therefore kept tightly under wraps.  If someone trusts you enough to share their access to a pilot with you, it is your job to protect that pilot. Never share a pilot that is given to you by a friend or contact and NEVER publicly post a pilot or a self-tape for a pilot online. Pilots are often watermarked with the original source’s name and can be traced back to them if the pilot gets out.

Now that we are prepped for pilot season let’s talk numbers 🙂

WHY YOU’RE NOT GOING OUT

THERE ARE NO ROLES FOR YOURead the pilots. Do everything you can to get a hold of pilot scripts and read them. How do I get a hold of scripts? Ask your actor friends who are going out on pilots to send you their scripts. Ask your writer friends if they can dig any up for you. Ask any friends that are assistants at agencies if they are open to sending you scripts available to the agency. Often actors are not going out for pilots because none of the pilots have a role they are right for. Availing yourself of this information can save you 3-months of anxiety about all the imaginary pilots that you aren’t going out on. 

EPISODIC SEASONPilot season is a reflection of your episodic season. These days casting directors have less and less time to cast a pilot. So they truly rely on relationships they have built with actors whose work they’ve seen time and time again. Even if you didn’t book during episodic season, if you went into the same casting offices multiple times and laid down solid work you can expect them to call you in. If you haven’t established a relationship with the casting office casting the role you are perfect for preceding pilot season it might be challenging to get an appointment. 

OFFERSThe timeline for pilot season has truly evolved with the increase in scripted series from streaming services and cable. Traditionally, pilot season doesn’t start until after Sundance. Mid February casting typically begins the process of putting out offers. As the process of the industry vying for the same celebrity actors gets underway and offers are accepted or passed. Casting begins a trickle-down process. The roles hit seasoned working actors with series under the belt already, solid guest star and recurring credits. Lastly, newer actors with mostly co-star and small guest credits are usually put in the mix, around early March. However, these days pilots begin casting as early as late October and offers can begin going out in December to get ahead of the busy season. Pilots typically shoot the third week of March. If the role or roles you are perfect for this season are cast before they hit your level credits you might not get an opportunity to read for them. However, more and more networks are breaking away from the traditional pilot season timeline and casting year-round. This is particularly true for streaming and cable networks.

Caveat:Oftentimes, casting will hold sessions even when an offer is out, so as to give themselves back-up options. It’s important actors go into every casting with their eyes open about the business so the focus is placed on the work. An actor’s career is bigger than any one job or booking. Emotional sustainability is key to staying in the game. Each opportunity is about creating a long-term relationship with the casting office and the actor can only do that if they are not setting themselves up for an emotional let down when the phone doesn’t ring. 

REPSIn-person sessions offer casting a limited number of slots so casting prioritizes seeing actors in-person from well-known top tier agencies and management companies. Actors repped at newer or lower-tiered agencies are typically given self-tapes. Self-tape actors may only be called into casting if they’re not finding the right fit for the role with in-person sessions.

Caveat:People are called in and booked from self-tapes all the time. So it’s important to treat them like a real opportunity and do your best work. Often casting will watch them just to get to know a new actors’ work.

OFF-SEASON PILOTSWith the onset of increased original programming from streaming and cable, pilots are casting more and more outside of the typical January-to-March pilot season. Cable pilots can begin casting as early as October and streaming pilots cast year-round. In my personal experience I’ve found that streaming pilots cast particularly in the summer. 

REGIONALISM & INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONIf you haven’t noticed, a lot of television production has moved out of the state of California. Georgia, Louisiana and New Mexico are few of the largest markets. On top of the long-time established alternate markets of Canada and New York. Plus, with the expansion of investment into scripted television by titans like Netflix and Amazon, television production often has the resources to create epic and expansive worlds and shoot on location overseas, so often American television is shot in the UK and Europe. It used to be that production would cast series regulars and major guest stars out of LA or New York and use local actors only for small guest stars and co-stars. Over the last 5 years, these markets have developed and production is often casting series regulars directly out of local markets. 

If you find a role that you are right for that is scheduled to shoot in a market outside of LA, depending on your credits, it may be more challenging to be seen for that role because production will have to pay to travel or move you. Production can typically find a right fit locally and save themselves the travel costs. 

GREAT NEWS!

Now that we’ve cleared up all the reasons that might limit an actor’s opportunities, we can approach pilot season informed, empowered and without unreasonable pressure or FOMO. AND if you do find a role that you are perfect for GO FOR IT with completely open eyes and the joy of the journey. 

Happy Pilot Season!

— Coach Alysia

Stuck in Your Career? Here Are 3 Things to Stop Doing

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Stuck in Your Career? Here Are 3 Things to Stop Doing

I don’t need to tell you that we just started a new year and a new decade. 

If you’re like most actors, you probably took some time over the holidays to reflect on your goals and design a plan of action to make 2020 your big year. 

But, One thing many actors don’t recognize is that, often, what you don’t do can play just as big a role when it comes to achieving your career goals. 

Here are a few traps I’ve seen actors fall into that could block you from accomplishing your goals. This industry is challenging by nature, and so much is out of our control. The last thing we need to do is fall into habits that cause us to stay stuck.. If any of these resonate with you, consider switching things up in the new year.

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You’ve thought about it, meditated on it, talked to trusted friends and advisors and even prayed. It’s clear. It’s time to part ways. The question is how? Here are a few simple tips to help make the breaking-up process professional and as painless as possible. 

​Stuck in an acting class cycle

What you’re doing: You’ve been taking classes at the same studio for a really long time.  Sure, you’re honing your craft, but you don’t actually get out and audition. I see this all the time. Hard-working, smart, talented actors who’ve been in the same acting class with the same teacher forever  but who haven’t added any new credits to their resume in just as long. . 

Why this is a problem:

  1. This is a business. You could be the most talented actor in the world. But if you’re not being seen by industry decision-makers, no one will know about your talent except for the peers in your class. And they likely won’t be the ones hiring you for your next network TV credit. 

  2. Acting and auditioning are completely different skill sets. Most actors starting out will spend more time interviewing for their next job (i.e. auditioning), than working acting jobs. Knowing this, shouldn’t it be important to hone those interview skills? 

  3. Acting classes cost time and money! Often, actors will pour so much into acting classes that they have no time and money left to make connections with people in the industry who can directly hire them. Marketing and networking are essential to create relationships that can take your career to the next level. Ignoring these two vital elements is a common cause of career stagnation.

  4. Remember the old adage, “if a tree falls in the forest but no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?”  If the only acting you do is in your class, can you really call yourself an actor?

Try this instead:

  1. There are acting studios in LA that emphasize both the craft of acting and the technique of auditioning. Again, acting and auditioning are very different skill sets. If on-camera acting is new to you, research and audit classes that focus on how to audition and book. Scene study and cold reading classes are great, but they often don’t provide the skills an actor needs to win the job in the room against a bunch of other experienced actors in their category. If you’re stuck in an acting class that hasn’t helped you reach the next level of your career, try out a class that teaches techniques which will make your audition stand out in a sea of auditions and ace your next job interview. 

  2. Work marketing and networking into your time and budget by prioritizing only the classes you need to stay on top of your acting game. If you’ve been in class for a while and have confidence in your on-camera and auditioning skills, consider switching things up by just getting coached for auditions instead of paying for an ongoing class.

  3. Lastly, no matter how great your acting class is, it’s always good to mix things up. So think about trying a brand new class that propels you outside of your comfort zone this year.

Stuck in a survival job with little flexibility

What you’re doing: Paying the bills! Of course this is important. But, as we all know, auditions come last second and can be tough to schedule. 

Why this is a problem:

  1. You’re passing up opportunities for career advancement by prioritizing a survival job you don’t ultimately want to be doing.

  2. Agents may be more reluctant to pitch you if you’re frequently unavailable. 

  3. Auditions, either on tape or in person, may be of lower quality because you have less time to prepare.

Try this instead: While at your survival job, find and slowly move into a job that provides greater flexibility. Figure out what you’re good at and what works with your ideal schedule, and, in the era of gig economies, start building up a client base for your side hustle before quitting your survival job. Wean off unnecessary expenses. Ask actor friends for job recommendations. From catering, to acting jobs at theme parks, to dog-walking, online tutoring, and daytrading, there are plenty of options that can be very flexible and pay the bills for actors who may have to leave for an audition in the middle of the day. Some may just require a little training and a strong referral.

Stuck in the mindset of a struggling actor

What you’re doing: You keep telling yourself that art is struggle and you wouldn’t be an actor without grinding it out for years. You compare yourself to people who are more successful, tell yourself you’re not good enough, and question why you ever thought you could make this a career.

Why this is a problem: You’re the CEO of this company, the lead marketer, and head of the sales team. You are also the product. How can you convincingly sell a product to your buyers if you don’t believe in its inherent worth and value? How can a business succeed when the CEO makes decisions by assuming likely failure?

Try this instead: Instead of wasting your time with fruitless comparisons, learn from people who are more successful than you are. Often we see the same people at auditions. If there are a few actors in your category who frequently book the roles you audition for, where do they train? What skills or qualities do they have that make them uniquely appealing to casting and producers? 

Work harder, not smarter. Invest in your education and learn business strategies that can help you connect with industry decision-makers. Not sure how?  Check out our free Book TV/Film On Your Own class to help you leverage relationships to book the work you really want. 

And most importantly, remember that you are more than your acting pursuits. Prioritize the things that make you happy in life, whether you feel they have a direct impact on your career or not. As actors, our personal and career lives are frequently intertwined. This is the most evident in our mindset. The stories we tell ourselves are derived from our everyday experiences, acting-related or not. Build in a community that is supportive, positive, and loving, and don’t be afraid to cut out relationships that trigger self-doubt. It’s not selfish to take care of your mental health and prioritize your own need for a positive atmosphere!

What other things do you resolve to stop doing in the new year? Share your ideas and resolutions in the comments below! I know you can do it. Here’s to a fresh new decade of career adventures, challenges, and wins!!

–Coach Melody 

How To Make A GREAT First Impression

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How To Make A GREAT First Impression

We are lucky to be a part of the entertainment industry where, even if you live in a smaller market, there are so many amazing artists and collaborators and content creators here in LA and other markets, and there’s a lot of amazing opportunities to be had if you put yourself out there and meet people. 

Now, I’m sure you have good ideas about where to meet people, but I wanted to focus this blog specifically on how to make a good first impression. 

After all, you only get one chance to make a good first impression.  ;)So, here are some tips and tricks that my clients and I have learned while meeting people in the entertainment industry!

Easy Ways To Initiate Conversation

Smile! Say hi! It’s amazing how many people want to chat with others but a lot of people are equally unsure of how to strike up a conversation. I know it seems obvious, but really think about smiling and saying hello to people when you’re at your next party or festival or event. 

Not only does a conversation eventually happen, but sometimes you can make lifelong friends through a casual word in the lobby of a screening. I’ll often comment about the weather or about a film I just saw.  I’ll also say hi or compliment someone on their shirt or their shoes – a genuine compliment, of course – just to break that initial awkward first moment. 

In fact, I’ve had great success commenting on food… Often festivals have a tea or breakfast or dinner as part of one of their parties, and usually, it’s a buffet set up. 

I will ALWAYS say something about the food to the person standing next to me… I’ve said stuff like “oh that looks good doesn’t it?” or I’ll see someone holding a plate and ask, “how is that, good?” Another option is to ask about specialty cocktails/beverages that are being served at events, I’ll say, “oh is that a margarita? How is it?”

Keep The Conversation Going With Questions

Yay! You’re talking to someone about the food at an event! Oh no, you’ve said all you can say about the salsa… They’ve commented extensively about their favorite cheese… What do you talk about now??? Ok, take a deep breath, you’ve got this. I LOVE to ask questions about how people heard about the event as a gateway into what they do for a living. I generally make it a point to talk a little about work at the start, “Oh you’re a writer! Cool, do you have something in this festival?” and then after a minute talk about that, I LOVE to steer away from industry talk and learn more about the person. This usually leads to a deeper connection because the two of you end up talking about life stuff. Ask genuine questions, things you’d actually like to chat about, from asking if they have any pets or kids or if they loved the most recent Star Wars. Focus less on the fact that they’re “in the industry” and more on the fact that they are a person looking to have a connection at an event.

Focus On The Positive During Your Conversation

This is an industry full of long weeks and long days… and we all want to work with people that we can hang out with for hours on end, with no drama, who are fun and professional and have a good sense of humor. Well, at least I do! Ha! So, I look for that when I chat with people. If someone is rude towards a bartender, or complains incessantly about a film, I tend to not want to chat much longer with that person. Maybe they even make fun of someone nearby… 

Regardless, it’s negative and it’s not someone I want to spend a lot of time with. Remember to just be nice to people, to focus on things that you loved about a particular block, to not talk badly about other people in the room, to ask questions and be authentic when chatting with others. I love to ask people what project they have coming up, to see them get excited as they talk about it. 

I also love to offer some way to support them, like offering to give the project a follow on Facebook or by asking them if there’s an upcoming screening for their film. Each of us has special skills that we can offer to others in our industry that can support them, and when we offer support, we are seen as a great asset for future projects.

Follow Up With Gratitude

Let’s say you have a great conversation with someone at an event, and you guys exchange info. I love sending follow up emails within 3-5 days recounting our conversation and offering GRATITUDE for something during our interaction. For me, it’s been everything from  saving a seat in a theater to recommending a great cocktail to offering up a book I should read. There’s ALWAYS something that we can be grateful for, and when we offer gratitude to others, it only deepens the relationship with them. It could even be as simple as saying thanks for telling a particular story or writing a specific scene or a beautiful camera movement that made me smile.

You’ve got a lot to offer, including Great Conversation!

Ok ok, I know what you might be thinking, “RACHEL!! I don’t have anything to offer others! People don’t want to get to know me! What do I do?” Well, first of all, I’d say that you, OF COURSE, have amazing things to offer, and like myself, you’re just temporarily forgetting them at this moment. 

See, I used to be a really shy kid… I was super scared of strangers, I never wanted to answer the phone, and I had it in my head that anyone that wasn’t related to me or went to school with me was actually going to harm me. So I chose to stay very introverted and not go out and meet people. Once I moved to LA and started pursuing this career more aggressively, I realized that I had to put myself out there in order to succeed in any way. 

So, little by little, I forced myself to strike up conversations with strangers at events, to remind myself that I am a great actress and that people want to see my work as part of their projects. I started to gain some confidence and started to meet people that I would eventually work with again and again. This was tough and had a lot of growing pains for me… Honestly, I have a lot of beautiful growth left in this department, but I wanted to let you guys know of one way that’s really helped me grow in this way.

Make A List of Why Your Friends & Family Love You

Think about it, talk to you family about it, talk to your friends about it, and really consider reasons why people love you. Then jot it down. It’s important for you to tangibly see this information, so that every time you want to NOT go out and meet new people or NOT take a new class or NOT go to a networking event or NOT put yourself out there, remind yourself of why people love you. Because this could help encourage you to get your butt out the door and to strike up a conversation with someone. 

If you never strike up a conversation with someone, then THEY are being robbed of the reasons that you’re such a great person. IF you never meet anyone, and never let them know that you’ve got such a great handle on developing character, then potential collaborators will never know the amazing nuances you could bring to their production. Or maybe they never see the awesomely collaborative sense of humor you have, that could liven up even a 15-hour workday. 

There will be so many opportunities this year to meet wonderful new collaborators and friends, and I am excited for you to make it a priority in your life to network even better! Remember to focus on being kind, asking questions and to simply get yourself out there.

Happy Networking!

— Coach Rachel

What’s A Realistic Booking Ratio? Veteran Actor Publishes His 2019 Audition Stats

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What’s A Realistic Booking Ratio? Veteran Actor Publishes His 2019 Audition Stats

It’s time to check in on 2019’s audition statistics. You may be asking yourself: Did I have a good callback ratio? What about my booking ratio?If you’re not keeping track, you may never know. We recommend tracking your auditions, callbacks, avails, bookings, etc. because “what gets measured gets improved.”Actor Edward Hong (60+ TV/Film credits) openly shared all his stats (auditions, callbacks, bookings, etc.) and some great takeaways from his 2019 year in our Career ACTivate Elite Coaching & Mastermind Program FB group and he’s been generous enough to allow us to share it here on this blog.

The first section highlights his stats. In the second part, he doles out his major takeaways as well as highlights/lowlights for 2019.

Edward’s 2019 Audition Report

THEATRICAL (multiple reps, theatrical, management, voice-over, and stage)

— My Reps sending me out —Auditions received through DDO (started on 8/3/19): 7Auditions received through Sovereign (ended on 8/2/19): 4Auditions received through Authentic Talent: 16Auditions received through Atlas Talent Agency: 175Direct Requests: 2

TOTAL Theatrical Auditions via Reps: 204

Callbacks: 0Avails: 0Bookings: 2

** Agency/Manager Theatrical Success: 1.14% **

— Self Submissions —Direct Requests: 2

TOTAL Theatrical auditions via self-submission/pitching: 46

Callbacks: 4Avails: 2Bookings: 10

** Self-Submission Theatrical Success: 21.7% **

COMMERCIAL

Auditions through AKA Talent Agency: 31 (turned down 3)

Callbacks: 6Straight To Callbacks: 2Avails: 1Bookings: 1

** Commercial Success: 3.22% **

2019 Takeaways & Highlights/Lowlights 

  1. I left my talent agency Sovereign Talent Group after my 6+ years with them as the last two years yielded barely any auditions (4 this year, 8 in 2018). Via my manager at Authentic who I now have been with for over a year, I switched out to be signed with Anthony Boyer at DDO who turned out to be a wonderful match since he is passionate about theatre in addition to the standard TV + film fare.
  2. That being said, despite these new changes, this year was not exactly a SPECTACULAR year in terms of numbers for theatrical auditions (23, 27 if I count the 4 auditions Sovereign got me before I dropped them in August) but certainly MUCH better than last year where I barely cracked double digits from both my previous manager and agent combined. I’m truthfully not terribly bothered as detailed in my next point below:
  3. Most of my bookings this year came from self submissions which tells me I will never, ever give up submitting on ActorsAccess and other realms (Facebook actually has been a good source for a few of them). Many of these projects, especially the SAG-AFTRA Radio Plays and the Allegiance North Korean short film, were some of the most fun and challenging I ever had in my career.
  4. I was fortunate to audition for more theatre companies than I ever had in my previous years combined, which included the Fountain Theatre, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, American Stage, Antaeus Theatre Company, South Coast Repertory, La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, East West Players, Sacred Fools Theater Company, Boston Court Pasadena, and finally Echo Theater Company (for the new year). I got quite close to a few of them but in the end, it was a privilege auditioning for these companies.
  5. This was the first year I ever had to turn down a good-paying acting gig and that was doing the play Vietgone for the second time at the American Stage Repertory. It would have been a fantastic opportunity to revisit the play I did in Arkansas last year for a different character, but with the play being in Florida and rehearsals & performances smack in the middle of episodic season, I made the hard choice of declining the offer. However, I don’t regret it to this day as during this time, I was able to book an HBO co-star and thus ending my 2-year drought of booking TV shows.
  6. The co-star role did not have a breakdown released so it was through my relations with that casting office over the years that I got the audition. It was a tiny role but it felt good to be working on a TV show again.
  7. This was a year of delving hardcore into musical theatre and Shakespeare, both of which yielded results in the form of being hired for a South Coast Repertory musical workshop and being on avail for an Antaeus Shakespeare production. Although I was not fully hired for either of the productions (recast for the full-on SCR musical and released from the Antaeus production), it was nevertheless an honor ESPECIALLY since this is the first time I ever been hired to sing and get close to spewing Shakespearean dialogue.
  8. It really is fantastic being hired by your friends and this year had four, with the EDGE OF INTERNMENT short film, the Waves and UCLA Law School industrial & an IAMA THEATRE COMPANY staged reading, all made possible by producer Ally Iseman, producer Leslie Wong, director Faye Viviana, and director Alana Dietze respectively.
  9. I’ve been with Atlas Talent for over a year now and VO auditions were bountiful. While I certainly received a ton of them this year (175 to be exact) from my agent, I booked only one job.
  10. But considering that job was to dub a few characters for my childhood anime Neon Genesis Evangelion, I really can’t complain. I’ll definitely say that VO auditions are hard and for a newbie like me, I still have a lot to learn but the opportunities were extraordinarily fun.
  11. Through my own self submissions, I booked 3 other VO jobs, one for a Netflix documentary, one for a local radio spot, and the other for an incredibly silly USC short film.
  12. In the commercial realm, I had the lucky privilege of having my leftover 2018 UPS Store commercial have another full-on run this year and pretty much paid for a hefty chunk of my life in that time period. If I didn’t book another commercial, I would have been fine as I qualified for my actor health insurance for 2020.
  13. Buuuuuuut right before this year ended, I was fortunate to book a rather awesome one to cap off 2019 that will start off 2020 with a glorious job as it shoots in the new year.

And there you have it. 2019 in a nutshell. Here’s hoping that 2020 is just as kickass!—For more info on Edward, check out his blog and website.PS. Looking to generate more TV/film auditions for yourself?  Then make sure to join us at Jona’s free workshop: Book TV/Film On Your OWN.  

How to Break-Up… Gracefully

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How to Break-Up… Gracefully

We all know that feeling. It’s the feeling that it’s probably time to break-up with your agent or manager. The circumstances and reasons can vary. 

They haven’t returned your emails or calls. The number of casting appointments has dropped. There’s been a change at their office and the new team just isn’t clicking for you. It’s become clear your current team cannot generate the level of opportunities you are now seeking or get you in the rooms you would most excel in. 

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You’ve thought about it, meditated on it, talked to trusted friends and advisors and even prayed. It’s clear. It’s time to part ways. The question is how? Here are a few simple tips to help make the breaking-up process professional and as painless as possible. 

STEP 1: Write a list of all the reasons why it’s time to part ways

Once the list is complete identify the strongest reason for the break-up. Only put forth this singular reason for the break-up when you tell the rep your decision. The rep may attempt to dig further and get more information. Don’t go for it. This can make a pleasant professional break-up turn nasty.

It’s natural for a person to present counter-arguments to any reasons for the break. It’s a sensitive conversation and it’s easy for people to become defensive. No matter how many times they ask for other reasons, keep going back to the singular strongest reason for the break-up and you’ll curb unnecessary tension. 

STEP 2: Call the Rep

I know it’s so tempting to just send an email. Remember our goal here is to break-up gracefully. Although a call may feel much harder it’s the respectful way to end your relationship with a rep. Most actor, -rep relationships start with a meeting. Reps then work for free to curate opportunities for clients.

A phone call after that level of investment on the rep’s part is reasonable. Be sure to maintain a calm and non-judgmental tone on the phone. As an actor you know how it feels to take a no personal, even if it’s a business decision. 

CAVEAT: If you happen to be breaking-up with your agent and you have a manager. You can ask the manager to call on your behalf. But, when you can do it, the personal touch might be best. 

STEP 3: Send an Email

The last thing every  actor should say on the call to their rep is to expect an email formalizing your departure. It’s important to put everything in writing. The provides a reference point in the future should there be any dispute about commission. 

If you’re concerned at all, consider tracking your email using readnotify.com or other tracking source you you know your email was received and opened. 

BONUS: Expressions of gratitude during the call before you deliver the news you are leaving or in the follow-up email is a nice touch. 

Here are a few examples

·     “I just want to say how much I appreciate you believing in me and working so hard on my behalf” 

·     “I’d like to start by thanking you so much for the opportunity” 

·     “I will be forever grateful for what we have built together”

CAVEAT: They might respond to the compliment saying, “Well, if I’m so great. Why are you leaving. It doesn’t make sense.” At this point, I don’t recommend falling into a back-and-forth email chain trying to prove your point.  You’ve said your piece and it’s time to move on. 

 That’s it! These steps don’t guarantee a smooth breaking-up process but they certainly make it more likely. 

Be brave and be gracefully;)

–Coach Alysia 

How to Handle a Booking Slump Part 2: Re-inspiring Your Reps

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How to Handle a Booking Slump Part 2: Re-inspiring Your Reps

Every actor goes through a period in their career where, no matter what you do, no matter how right the role, the booking seems to go the other way. It happens to all of us! Once that audition’s done, it’s completely out of our hands as actors. 

So, rather than stress about it, focus on what you can control because It’s how we handle the things we can control that determine the longevity and success of our careers. It can be hard to keep going in the midst of a booking slump- you relive the glory days of bookings past, you question what needs to change about your career, and wonder what your reps think of you now. Are you at risk of getting dropped from their roster?Another example of something you can’t totally control. But you can re-inspire your reps. Here’s how: Talented actors who are also smart business people are few and far between. Establishing yourself as both and demonstrating your resilience in times of adversity will help you stand out on their roster as a future success story that’s worth putting in the work for now.

Express Gratitude

Being an agent or manager can be a thankless job (unless their clients are booking like crazy and they’re finally reaping the commission dollars for their hard work). Sending a heartfelt thank you for the time and effort they put in for your career on a daily basis even when you don’t book will make you stand out as a client they want to keep working with.

Even if you haven’t gotten an audition in a while, that doesn’t mean your reps aren’t pushing hard to get you that appointment. Smart business people make sure their team feels seen and recognized for their hard work, especially if it’s been an uphill battle.

Improve Your Product

Yes, it’s been a little while since your last booking. But think of this as time to level-up so you come back bigger and better than ever before. What new, exciting improvements has your product developed during this off-period? What have you done to make sure your craft, art, and business stay sharp and relevant in the marketplace?

Did you get great new headshots that capture your essence in a different-but-still-on-brand way? Did you get into a new acting class? Write or produce a project of your own? Start working with a new coach? Share these updates with your reps so they know you’re constantly improving, regardless of recent audition outcomes.

Give Your Team New Sales Tactics

Your reps are your sales team. When one tactic isn’t working, it’s important to supply them with new selling points. Think of your career from their standpoint- what could you do or give your team to make it easier for them to sell you to casting directors? Reaching out and posing this question to your reps demonstrates initiative, drive, and leadership – all qualities of a strong business partner.

In terms of sales materials, besides updated headshots and acting clips on my casting profiles, I have all my past self-tapes in a hidden tab on my website that only my reps have the link to. There is a brief description under each video about the show, role, and any other distinctive, pitch-worthy notes, like if I’m speaking another language or with an accent, or if this tape got me a callback or booking. This gives my team easy access to past materials that may not be available on my casting profiles, but can be useful when pitching for a similar role. (**It’s important to upload these as unlisted or private links, especially if it’s new material that hasn’t aired.)

My reps were excited about these materials because they’d never even seen some of the older tapes, but now have access to a wider scope of my acting ability and can easily use these tapes when a pitch calls for it. 

Networking is another huge way to boost your career. Have you made a new industry connection with someone who could potentially give you job opportunities? Make sure to let your reps know – it’s incredibly useful as a pitch point when an appropriate role for you on their show pops up! Not sure how to engage industry players? 

In Career ACTivate’s networking class, we talk about creative, out of the box ideas to make strong industry connections. 

It can be hard to stay enthusiastic when you haven’t booked in a while. But as CEO of your business, it’s your job to keep your team motivated and excited about all the bookings yet to come! Take the time to give thanks to the hard workers who keep pushing for opportunities for you, then communicate all the exciting updates you’re making to the product they’re pushing.

Demonstrate resilience and adaptability to business challenges and inspire your team to keep believing in you. They wouldn’t be working with you if they didn’t!

–Melody 

Getting Over a Booking Slump

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Getting Over a Booking Slump

It’s Been a While Since You’ve Booked…Now What? 

This industry we love so much is an inevitable mix of high highs and low lows. All it takes is one booking to change your whole week, month, maybe even year. But what do you do if you haven’t booked in a while, have lost some traction in your career, and can’t seem to get yourself out of that booking rut?Here are a few things to keep yourself going when that elusive next booking seems perpetually just out of reach.

Mindset

Every successful person has had to ride both ends of the wave – success and glory, gained from accomplishing whatever task they set out to accomplish, followed by withdrawal or failure as they seek to follow that achievement with another. The truth is that booking slumps happen to every actor.

The successful ones understand that slumps are a part of the game.  They don’t fall into a dramatic story. Instead, they take this time to reevaluate their goals and methods, and inevitably decide to keep putting in the work.

Think about what you want for your career and your life. .What’s changed over time? Does this career path still make you happy? Is it still worth the work and occasional emotional anguish? If so, congrats. You’ve reconfirmed your dedication to the work. Keep going.

Actions

For those of us still in it, here are steps we can take to move us through this often-frustrating period.

Reconnect with your team 

This could be your reps, PR team, career coach, or even acting coach. Get their thoughts and feedback on what’s working and what’s not. Do you need to update your materials? Explore a new class? These are all things within your control.

Your team has skin in the game. You booking makes everyone look good. Take this time to get another opinion on your career while reconnecting with the people who work with you and for you.

Surround yourself with people who support you emotionally 

Hopefully, these are relationships you nurture regularly – not just in your career or emotional low points. Don’t skimp on showing your friends and loved ones how much their support means to you and make sure to return that support! It’ll come in handy when you need it.

Hands down, the best way to get the right kind of support is to hire a coach; someone who can provide an expert, objective opinion to point out your blind spots and highlight your goals.  Coaches are the perfect GPS system to help you navigate what to do to get out of your booking slump and back on track. 

If you don’t have a coach and want a great one, click here.

Learn from successful people 

Google actors of the same ‘type’ as you who are working, who have booked the roles you’ve gone out for, maybe even consistently. Where are they training? Who do they coach with? Who do they surround themselves with? What events do they attend? Who took their headshots?

Put some time and energy into researching (via Google, IMDb, social media) what people slightly further along than you in their careers consistently do to see if there is anything worth emulating. You might pick up some useful tips!

Shake things up. 

Try a new class. 

The quickest way out of a slump is to change things up.  Maybe it’s time to try a new class or an improv class. This will get you out of your training comfort zone and bring new energy into your auditions. Tip: Some acting teachers also work in casting.

Volunteer 

Not only is it good for the soul and good karma points, but it’s a great way to meet industry people in a fun environment where you’re there to give to a common cause.

If there’s one thing many successful people  have in common, it’s giving back. Look for upcoming industry charity events and reach out to see how you can help. It’s free labor for them and free admission to a probably otherwise pricey event for you. Google industry events or follow producers/directors/writers/casting professionals on social media to learn about upcoming events.

Reach out to congratulate or thank your contacts 

–       Part of our work as actors is just to remind people that we’re here and we’re available to work! Maintain regular contact with people who have the power to bring you in for roles.   Sometimes breaking your booking slump can be as easy as getting in more rooms.

–  Contacts can be anyone you’ve actually had contact with, or just someone you aspire to connect with.

–       Don’t have their contact info? Try researching on IMDbPro, reaching out through contact forms on their website, or, perhaps easiest of all tag them on social media.

Congratulations

–       No one ever gets sick of being congratulated for an exciting accomplishment. Mark your calendar for when award nominations come out. Congratulate casting/producers/showrunners/other actors for nominations, wins, anniversaries, show renewals, pilot pickups.

–       An easy way is to view Instagram stories, where people tend to announce exciting wins and provide timely updates.

Thank You

–       For class, for an insightful blog/vlog, for this movie/show you created that impacted my life or helped me see issues in a new light, for making me laugh when my life sucks, etc. No one gets tired of being thanked. Just make it genuine. And maybe even make them laugh.

Refrain from negativity and excuses 

Sure, dark thoughts come up in dark times. Acknowledge them, know that they don’t define you, and as soon as you feel ready, release them.

Excuses tend to come up when you feel  stuck and helpless. They free you from a sense of responsibility to take charge of our careers. After all, if you can’t help or change your circumstances, why take any action at all?

That’s a quick way to turn this temporary slump into a permanent one. Excuses, fear, and lack of self-trust are the enemies of career traction. Think, “What are the steps I can take today, even if I may not see immediate returns?” and move forward from there.

You’ve chosen a very unpredictable journey. But the good and bad news is that it’s cyclical. The high points don’t last forever , and neither do the lows. Keep your friends close, keep building your contacts, acknowledge that the wins are absolutely worth the challenges, and use that knowledge to just keep going.

You got this!

–Melody