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6 Tips To Deliver A Self-Tape (1920 x 1152 px)

6 Tips To Deliver A Self-Tape (Even When You’re on Vacation)

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6 Tips To Deliver A Self-Tape (Even When You’re on Vacation)

This past summer, two exciting moments coincided on the same weekend: I organized my best friend’s bachelorette weekend in Miami and I booked the coolest job ever (recurring guest star on the NBC hit show QUANTUM LEAP)! 

Fun times, indeed, and a lot of potential stress that I’m proud to say I was able to deftly avoid. 

Here are some of my takeaways:

TIP 1: HAVE A SUPPORT TEAM AT THE READY

I asked a friend to help me for the first audition, who’s on a campy detective type show with a vibe similar to what I thought the show I was taping for would be. She’s a smart actor and has a solid sense of tone, two valuable assists in a reader. It was the first season of the show I was taping for, so there was no reference material, save the sides and breakdown. Nevertheless, my friend and I were able to make some wise deductions based on what was on the page. Ultimately, my reader choice was clearly a wise decision, as she’s now helped me book two jobs!

TIP 2: DO GREAT WORK, THEN LET IT GO

As much as I appreciate every audition that comes my way, I’m even more appreciative for any precious time off with my friends. So, after I sent the tape, I packed my bags and went to Miami for a weekend of fun in the sun. Most importantly, I blocked out the dates with my team and purposely left my taping equipment at home. I was on a weekend getaway!

TIP 3: BELIEVE IN MURPHY’S LAW (or don’t, but know the Universe works in mysterious ways)

On day two of the bachelorette, my agent calls to tell me that we’ve just received notes from casting and they want me to re-tape. And, of course, I didn’t have any of my equipment to do so. Time to get creative!

TIP 4: NOTES ARE ALWAYS A BLESSING BUT DON’T ALWAYS HAPPEN

Notes are helpful ways of demonstrating a clearer sense of what you’re capable of. Casting liked something you did and wants to give you some direction. Win! They’re already fans, so don’t use this as an opportunity to change everything. Now is your chance to adjust and deepen your performance in ways that make sense to you, not to do more of what you think ‘they want.’

TIP 5: DO WHAT YOU CAN WITH WHAT YOU HAVE

Because I didn’t have any of my equipment with me, my actor brain immediately panicked. Rather than stressing out and trying to find a reader, learn the new sides, and cobble together a new tape, I got resourceful: I sent my agent two other auditions that reflected the kind of character they were guiding me toward. This was an empowering boost and reminder that I didn’t need to bend over backwards to get them a new tape.

TIP 6: BE HONEST WITH YOUR REPS AND, MOST IMPORTANTLY, BE HONEST WITH YOURSELF

Tell them if you’re able to do the work or not. There’s no shame in turning something down if you don’t feel like you can do your best. Ask yourself the honest question and listen to your gut.

It can be a really scary thing to take time out for yourself. One of my favourite sayings is: The most interesting humans make the most interesting actors.

So, go live your life and do those things when the impulse guides you. Take that holiday. Go visit that friend. Spend time with your family. And trust that the industry will be there when you get back. Chances are, you’ll be wanted when you’re unavailable, like in my case. And if you’re wondering about the bachelorette weekend, Miami was amazing, South Beach is the best, and I’m so glad I got to celebrate my friend!

 

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Feel The Fear & Do It Anyway: Navigating Fear As An Actor

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Does Fear get in your way? Do you procrastinate, resist or delay taking the “scary” actions towards your career? I get it. I’ve done it. It’s soooooo much easier to busy yourself with other things.

Fear is central to Susan Jeffers’s Feel The Fear and Do It Anyway. My biggest take-away from her book was the distinction that fear is actually not the fear of doing something and failing, but the fear of doing something, failing and not being able to handle it.” 

For me, and many of my Clients, this was freeing. There are several things in my life I can use (most recently shattering my shoulder while horse riding, having two surgeries, and a lengthy painful rehab process) as proof that if I can handle that, I literally can handle anything! Suddenly that scary phone call doesn’t seem so scary!

What have you handled in your life? What can you use as proof of your ability to handle things?

I love the title of the book too, FEEL The Fear and Do It Anyway. So much of the time, we resist fear, we try to push it away.

Fear (your amygdala) is like an army scout. The scout’s sole job is to warn the troops of danger. Imagine a scout goes into the forest and finds a threat. They run back to warn everyone. If the troops tell them, don’t be silly, we’re gonna be fine. What does the scout do? It gets louder. The scout starts yelling!! “No you have to listen, there’s danger, you have to be careful!”

The scout means well. It’s trying to keep you safe; it’s just not the sharpest knife in the drawer. It often can’t tell the difference between a real threat (a tiger chasing you) and a perceived threat (a big audition.)

When fear comes up, the only way to get that scout to stop yelling, is to say, “Got it, thank you, I hear you.” Then the scout can relax. It’s done its job.

I invite you to practice observing those fear thoughts; listening to that scout from a neutral place. How do you get that distance? Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT or Tapping) a mix of modern western psychology and the ancient art of acupressure is one way. While you voice the fear, tapping on the EFT points sends calming signals to the brain and allows you to calm your nervous system and process any unwanted emotion.

Writing or journaling is another way. Putting pen to page allows you to express your emotions and gain some distance. By shining a light on them they often lose some of their power. Then…

Feel the fear and do it anyway. You can handle it!

Remember, courage isn’t the absence of fear; it’s feeling the fear and doing it anyway. And you don’t need confidence beforehand, confidence comes in the doing!

You can handle it!

I could list a whole lot of platitudes here…

  • Collect Failures
  • Fail Faster
  • There is no such thing as failure, only information
  • A No is one step closer to a Yes

…. all of which are valid. One of my personal favorites and a theme of my 2022 is Leap Before You’re Ready.

A trap, I – and my clients – can fall into, is spending too much time getting ready. Now yes of course some preparation is needed, but I’m Type A, typically over-prepared, my B- work is most people’s A+. I can afford to leap before I feel 100% ready.

This can be more of a problem for women who actually have more brain matter in their prefrontal cortex than men, so we do tend to overthink. Also as this well known study shows, men apply for jobs when they meet only 60% of the qualifications, but women apply only if they meet 100% of them.

So, I encourage you to leap earlier, especially when it comes to building industry relationships. Don’t wait ‘til your reel is done, your website is perfect, you’ve booked your first co-star or are “worthy” of reaching out, start creating those industry relationships now.

You can handle it!

I also invite you to have compassion for yourself. The Negative Bias is real. Dating back to our cave-people days, it was a matter of survival. It was much more useful to remember where you ran into the predator than how much you enjoyed your berries. 10 “good” things happen and 1 “bad” thing happens. But, what do we obsess over?

We also automatically default to projecting bad, horrible outcomes. What if we imagined it went really well instead? Either way, we can’t predict the future, we’re literally making it up. Why not make up a scenario that makes us feel good and actually empowers us?

“Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage.” ~ Anais Nin

I encourage you to practice. Practice makes peace! Practice makes progress! How can you support yourself in feeling the fear and doing it anyway? Community and Accountability are everything. Surround yourself with like-minded people who can support you and cheer you on.

I have a check-in every week with my friend Rachel. We both chose Bad Ass as our word of the year and every Monday we leave each other voice memos and rate our badassery from the previous week 0-10. Where did we feel the fear and do it anyway? Where did we say Yes, before we felt ready? Where did we befriend our fear?

** Looking for an actor community? Join our Career ACTivate Success Network!**

Let me know how it goes. I’m cheering you on!

Coach Sarah
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3 Instagram Engagement Strategies to Boost Your Career

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If you ever hear about other actors creating opportunities thanks to Instagram and think “ The only people who like my posts are my mom and my bestie,” you’ll love the below tips.. Here’s three concrete strategies to boost your IG engagement without feeling like a stalker that have helped me and my Clients:

CASTING
Figure out the shows/films you’re right for, and then follow those CDs to start organically and authentically engaging with their content. If they post something that genuinely makes you laugh, you could comment saying so, you could even share it to your story. And I think using the Stories section of Instagram is great for sharing your new reels or clips, ESPECIALLY if the tone matches the types of projects that they work on.

For example, a client of mine had created a new comedic demo reel, and she posted it to her story and then tagged a comedic CD in that story. That CD ended up watching the reel and then messaging my client, complimenting her work! What a great way to get your work seen by someone you’re targeting!

FILMMAKERS
There are two routes for this, one is to search for filmmakers that you know you already love and want to collaborate with (maybe they directed an incredible episode of TV or the film they’ve written is out in theaters) and the other is to discover new filmmakers through the search function. Let’s discuss option 1…

1) Filmmakers You Already Are Excited To Connect With:

Follow these filmmakers and begin to authentically and organically engage with them. You could even support their current projects by sharing their posts to your story. Most people are happy when more eyeballs end up watching their work, so offering some free publicity for things you really enjoyed is a great way to help them. And since it’s something you actually liked, it’s really easy to be genuine in your posting.

You can also send these people a DM letting them know how much their work means to you, and start a genuine connection that way. I mean, most everybody feels good when their work is seen and praised! Wouldn’t you love it if someone hopped into your DMs to talk about how much your work made them feel? Of course!! And who knows what could happen with that relationship!

For example, a client of mine connected with a writer through Instagram and after getting to know each other a bit over several months via posts and messages, she ended up asking them via direct message if they would consider donating to her films crowdfunding campaign, and this person did! I mean what a compliment and what a beautiful friendship that formed from authentic engagement.

2) Finding NEW Filmmakers To Connect With:

What if you want to discover some new people to collaborate with? I will use the hashtag search option and search for things like #director, #filmmaker, #indiefilmmaker, etc. to see who’s posting content with these hashtags and then checking out their page, their demo reels, their current or previous work. If they are creating content that really resonates with me, then I’ll give them a follow and start authentically and genuinely engaging with their content. This can lead to wonderful lasting friendships and potential bookings, I’ve booked two films through Instagram, one of which came about because a filmmaker and I started following each other and supporting each other’s content.

A couple of tips for this whole thing…

I don’t like tagging people in grid posts because they then get notifications when people comment, etc. I prefer tagging in stories because it goes into their DM folder in their message requests section, so they can choose to look at the tag. Also please remember that AUTHENTIC and GENUINE is key (do I sound like a broken record?) because that is how long lasting relationships are fostered, IMO, and it is legitimately so easy to comment that something was great when you actually thought it was great!

PLEASE NOTE: Please only follow/engage with people that are open about their work on their social media platforms… Some people have private profiles or only post about their family, so I wouldn’t attempt to engage with them from a “work” perspective. Focus on those who are open about their work on Instagram, and then you’ll be 100% sure you’re not crossing any boundaries.

3) Discover Your Community:

While instagram is a great place to network and find potential collaborators, it is also a great place to connect with your community of artists. There are so many actors and storytellers on there, and you can find them through the search function or hashtags. So many schools and actor podcasts are also on there, posting inspiring content and reinforcing that YOU ARE NOT ALONE on this journey. Being an actor can at times be an isolating process, so I do enjoy getting a chance to see what my peers are doing, how they are marketing themselves, how they seek guidance and support. I celebrate their wins because I know mine are just around the corner.

 Social media is a place you can find your artistic community, especially if you are in a smaller market or you aren’t in class right now. I have a few friends that I never met in person, yet I still celebrate their auditions, their bookings, their projects because it makes me feel good to see others succeed!

** Looking for an actor community? Join our Career ACTivate Success Network!**

Now get out there and start posting and engaging! Authentically and organically, of course! Haha!

Coach Rachel
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New Ways To Nail Your Headshots

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Oh, headshots!

If you’re reading this blog, you know you need ‘em. And you probably know how difficult it can be to finally land the right ones. And yet, they’re one of the most important tools for us as actors and are unlikely to be out of favor anytime soon. So what’s an actor to do when the prospect of headshot photos fills you with dread and feels as daunting as ever?

First, take a breath. Then, trust that with a little planning and some creativity, you can still make it a fun and playful experience!

A couple of months ago, a Client and I were talking through her headshot plan. She had the basics covered: 3 strong looks, a great photographer booked, and a stellar makeup artist. But still, she felt like something wasn’t clicking. So, because we both like to write, I shared with her a little activity I had recently given myself in preparation for my own shoot.

Here’s what I did and also got her to try:

  • Write a character breakdown for each look you’re planning to shoot. And give them a name! A short description of the character traits that can speak to the specific piece of you that connects to them. You can make it fun and playful, touching upon the tone of the show this imaginary character could be in.
  • Create a color palette for each of the characters. Being specific with color choices can speak quite effectively to the character and look of the pictures. Color psychology is a deeply fascinating deep dive! But be careful not to pick a color that doesn’t compliment your complexion. 
  • Put together a playlist for each character. So, when it comes time for you to shoot, you can play their tunes and really get into their unique headspaces and physicalities.
  • Make a Pinterest board for each look, so you can collect all of your ideas and inspirations in one place that’s also easily shareable.

My favorite part of doing this, aside from the writing process, was sharing the breakdowns and details with the photographer and makeup artist. Having us all on the same page because of something so simple was a game changer.

Not only did this client enjoy the process so much more and get some great shots out of it, but she also got a special bonus in coming up with a new idea for a series that I have no doubt she’s working on right now!

So, what story do you want to tell with your pictures? Dig up those old breakdowns and let your imagination run wild. You never know what can come from a little creative writing!

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Should You Loop In Your Reps When You Book A Job On Your Own?

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I know you work hard. So, every booking is a cause for celebration! Especially, when you get the gig on your own, without the help of your rep.

In cases like this, you’ve probably wondered…”Should I even bother telling my reps? I worked hard and booked this on my own. So, why should I give them a commission?”

In today’s vlog, Coach Eric dives into why you should consider looping your reps in, even if you booked the job without their involvement.

Yes, you’ll have to pay out commissions. But wouldn’t it be worth it if it meant thousand more dollars in YOUR pocket?

So, check out our vlog below and find out how to get more $$$ into the pockets of your entire team!

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Moving Markets: 5 Questions To Ask Yourself

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Have you ever considered moving to a different market? Maybe you’re ready for a change of scenery. Or perhaps you’ve heard that more opportunities await in other markets. 

It’s true that the days when LA was the only ‘movie town’ in the country, let alone the continent, are gone. Virtually every corner of North America is ripe with productions and every city has its own draw and appeal. 

But before you take the plunge, pack up, and load out, here are a few things to consider:

1. Where do you want to go and why?

Do you live in a remote small town that feels isolated and disconnected from the industry? Are you in a big city and feeling lost or overwhelmed by the constant buzzing energy? Does the appeal of a change of scenery excite you? Is the FOMO real? Asking yourself some real tough questions and getting down to the brass tacks of it is vital to understanding what is inspiring your itchy feet. Setting yourself up with a clear intention will change the way you approach the process entirely! 

After spending almost a decade in London, I found myself reluctantly back in Toronto, my home turf. Within the first few months of being back, I struggled to feel settled. Work was landing but something still didn’t feel quite right. It was on a blustery winter day that I realized I needed to head south and explore LA. Toronto just wasn’t the right place for me anymore and I wanted to be in the place where the decisions were being made. Truthfully, though, I‘d hit my threshold for the cold. So, I decided to do a little recon mission and check out the city for pilot season. If nothing else, I could escape the dreary winters! 

For three years, while my Green Card was being processed, I came down with dozens of other Canadians and every year, I learned to love LA even more. Every year, I took classes, met new people, and got to know the city better, eventually making it official and moving down. If it wasn’t for the first recon mission and the network I started building then, my formal move would have proven to be a lot more difficult, I’m sure of it. Most importantly, I knew LA was where I wanted to be.

2. What do you know about the place you’re interested in going to?

Have you ever paid the city a visit? If you’ve never spent any time in the city of interest, do yourself a favor and go check it out. A week or two is all it takes. Sometimes the idea is better than the reality and you won’t know til you spend some time there.

3. Immigration

Do you have the right to work in the place you want to move? Or do you need to apply for a visa, work permit, or residency? Without the right to work, well, you can’t work. If you’re dreaming of moving countries, this is definitely something you’ll want to consult a lawyer on. The moment I knew I wanted to be in LA, I consulted an immigration lawyer to discuss my options and see what would be the right course for me.

4.  Do you know anyone who lives there?

Is there a community you can connect with? Your experience moving to a new city will be informed by the people you surround yourself with. By taking classes and going to events, I was able to meet so many new people and then basically choose who I wanted to be in my inner circle. In a new place, friends really do become the family we choose.

5. Research the industry of the place!

What shoots in town? Are there local Film Festivals or events you can tap into? Get to know the players and decision-makers so when you make your entrance, you’re well equipped.

Taking the time to reflect on these points and asking yourself some specific questions can offer you some great insights into how best to make a life-changing decision. One that you’ll be proud you made and feel good about!

 

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Get Paid Like A Boss

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You don’t have to tell me that tax time can be dramatic.

Collecting paystubs, statements, 1099s and W2s takes a ton of coordination and time which, as you know, is always in short supply. It can be downright stressful. But sometimes tax time can be…surprising.

Just like every year, when my W-2s come in, I open each one and check it out. I’m pretty organized (spoiler alert: I love a good spreadsheet), so I’m pretty much up-to-date with my theatrical earnings. Commercial residuals can be trickier to know off the top of my head because of the different pay structures associated with each contract type. But I digress…

This year, as I was getting all my tax paperwork in, there were no surprises until I got to the paperwork for a commercial for which I’d been paid approximately $1,200. Shockingly, the W-2 was for just under $10,000. That meant that I was missing $8,700 in commercial residual payments!

Sadly, this is not an uncommon occurrence. In a 2018 story, The Hollywood Reporter estimated that as much as $315 Million in residuals could be going unpaid annually. Yikes!

It’s super important that you approach this situation from a CEO’s point of view. Stay professional, don’t jump to conclusions, be patient and diligent.

I immediately called the payroll company listed on my W-2 and was told by the very helpful accounting rep that commercial residual checks get lost in the mail all the time. Because they’re still using paper checks…in 2022!

So, how can you make sure all your hard-earned $$$ makes it into your pocket?

Keep scans/photos of all your contracts – all you need is your phone’s camera! 

  • You can create albums in your phone’s camera app or offload them onto your computer. Just make sure you know where to find them at the end of the year.

Check your end-of-year tax paperwork

  • Match all your tax forms up to your paystubs/direct deposits – this doesn’t even require any math! All you have to do is match up the fields labeled “Gross.”

What if they don’t match up?

  • Request a Talent Earnings Report from the payroll company listed on your W-2 along with copies of the cashed checks. You can do this by email or by phone. I called and had the info emailed to me in less than 5 minutes. Easy-peasy!
  • Reach out to your reps and ask for a Client Summary Report. This will include the Gross, Net, Tax Deductions & Commissions paid.

Now what?

From here, you’ll be able to see if your agency received all of your checks.

If checks are missing or unaccounted for, reach out to the payroll company and ask them to cancel any missing checks and reissue them. You can also ask your agency to reach out to payroll on your behalf.

You may still be getting your footing feeling like the badass boss that you are. Fear may sneak in because you don’t want to make waves with your agency or feel accusatory. But remember: this is business. The CEO of any other small business would feel empowered to take care of their finances and you can, too.

It’s up to you to make sure you get every cent of your badass boss paycheck. And you will be a more well-respected business person when you do!

So, what would you do with $8,700 unexpected dollars? Tell me in the comments below.

 

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Are you giving away your power?

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Sometimes it just feels most comfortable to go with the flow and not rock the boat. But, let’s be honest for a hot sec: giving up your power is uncomfortable, too, and can have negative consequences. By power, we’re not talking brute strength , we mean holding to your boundaries and doing what’s right for you, especially on-set.

In our newest vlog, Coach Eric explores several ways that he sees actors give up their power when they fear being seen as a “difficult” actor. After booking 14 TV shows and commercials last year alone, he’s seen a lot. You may have even done one or more of the things Eric talks about.

So, whether you already feel powerful, or you’re looking for a boost, Coach Eric has some great advice to help you keep hold of your power in our vlog.

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What Tom Hanks Taught Me About Baseball and Acting

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What Tom Hanks Taught Me About Baseball and Acting

Tom Hanks famously said in A League of Their Own, “It’s supposed to be hard. If it wasn’t hard, everyone would do it. The hard… is what makes it great.”

Even though Coach Jimmy Dugan from the movie was talking about baseball, Career ACTivate‘s Coach Eric applies this philosophy to his acting career. And you can, too.

Coach Eric hits a grand slam with his great advice on how to create the right mindset when you get thrown an audition curveball.

He shared tips about:

  • The pros and cons of memorization
  • How to position ad-libs, improvisation & buttons to be memorable
  • A simple process to fin the right audition coach (and when you may not even need one)

When you’re ready to get off the bench, click below to watch Coach Eric’s vlog so you can book a commercial home run of your own.

Below is the finished commercial that Eric booked using his vlog tips

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Are You Interested OR Interesting?

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Producer Jimmy Nguyen dropped in for a Q&A with our Elite Clients to talk about the difference between being interested and interesting. 

His insight just might be a big wake up call. 

You’ll also learn: 

  • What one thing actors do that drives casting crazy (and not in the good way)
  • The best way to ask for what you want
  • Who you should be “networking” with

Watch below to see some of Jimmy’s suggestions on how you can be the kind of business-person who finds success in your career.

PS. if you’d like to get guided step-by-step through how to best build relationships, deepen those relationships, and collaborate with people whose work you really respect, check out our Relationship Roadmap Live Virtual Program. 

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