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 […] Read More
When is the right time to join SAG-AFTRA? This is a golden question for all actors! Before I moved to LA I was given all sorts of mixed opinions on when I should join the union. The nuanced titles were also a bit confusing from being Non-Union vs SAG-Eligible vs SAG-AFTRA member. This blog will explore each category and explain the pros and cons so you can feel confident about your union status. Non-Union In other words you have no affiliation or association with SAG-AFTRA. You can seamlessly be hired for any projects that are not associated with SAG-AFTRA and technically union projects as well but not as easily. The PROS PRO: There are a lot more non-union opportunities, projects casting at any given time. PRO: Most commercial reps are very pro working with non-union actors as there are a ton of opportunities and they receive a large commission check […] Read More
How is your pre-audition mindset? You get an email from your agent with a “big” audition. What is the first thing you feel? BE HONEST! Recently I got an audition for a recurring role on my favorite show! Truthfully, the first thing I felt was fear and a massive lurch in my stomach. I’ve blogged about How to Avoid Waiting Room Mind Games, but what about your mindset before you even get to the waiting room? How do you feel? What thoughts run through your head. As Thomas Jefferson said, “Nothing can stop a man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal; nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude.” Here are three tools to help you increase your confidence and improve your audition mindset! Back to that massive stomach lurch… As I wrote in How to Avoid Waiting Room Mind Games, that rush […] Read More
How to Build + Maintain a Strong Relationship with Your Reps Strong relationships are the key to getting to the next level No matter where you are in your career, strong relationships are the key to getting to the next level. Yet, many actors don’t invest energy into cultivating a deeper connection with their reps. Here are a few tips to help you build build and maintain strong relationships with your team so you can feel confident and trust they’re working hard on your behalf. Whether you’re currently signed with agents and a manager or are looking to create new contacts, here are a few ways to foster a positive collaborative experience! Assistants Are Your Best Friend Trying to get through to a rep for a phone call or to set up a meeting? Their assistant, if they have one, is likely your first point of contact who happens to […] Read More
Conquering the “I’ll never be good enough” thoughts A recovering perfectionist’s words on Imposter Syndrome A lot of us run around thinking that we’re talented and hardworking. Strike that: we know it! We pound the pavement, take classes, stay up-to-date with current industry news and build up contacts like the yellow pages (is that still a thing?). And when we finally get a big opportunity, what do we do? We act like it’s no big deal because deep down, some of us sometimes feel like phonies. Like our achievements were just luck. Like no matter what we do, we’re “pretending” to be part of this industry. We ignore evidence that we are skilled, talented and successful.That feeling, my friends, is called Imposter Syndrome. Imposter Symdrome isn’t a mental illness It’s very real and very icky. Imposter Syndrome isn’t a mental illness (thank goodness!), but it can still have some serious […] Read More
How to avoid waiting room mind games at your next audition How do you feel when you’re in the audition waiting room? Do you feel calm and relaxed? Or do you feel stressed and nervous? Maybe you feel excited? Or perhaps you rotate through all those feelings? If you feel great about your pre-game, waiting room mindset, STOP READING NOW. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it! BUT….. if you feel that sometimes that pesky brain of yours can get in your way, or if you struggle with nerves, read on. I’m going to share some tips and tricks to master that waiting room self talk. Party with those nerves! Brene Brown defines vulnerability as: uncertainty, risk and emotional exposure….. pretty much the definition of an audition. The more you put on the line, the more physical sensations you will have, it’s a guarantee. So if you struggle with nerves, […] Read More