The 90% of audition prep work you need to do BEFORE you get the sides (or appointment) You got an audition for a great TV show! How exciting. Now, cue scrambling to prepare, dealing with audition nerves, and the inevitable flood of damaging thoughts. On top of that, you’ve got to learn all your lines, research the show, figure out what to wear, all while balancing your day job and life in general. HOW IS THIS ALL POSSIBLE IN THE 24 HOURS THEY’VE GIVEN YOU? Well, good news. 90% of my audition prep occurs before I ever get an audition. And so can yours. Here are a few common damaging thoughts that come up during the audition process that you can learn to tackle in your everyday life so you can stay focused when a last second appointment comes through. THOUGHT: “I’ll never memorize these sides on time.” INSTEAD: “I […] Read More
How I Booked the Lead in a Major Feature Film Without Reps The Director yelled “cut!” I looked around. And it hit me. Holy crap. I’m the lead in a legitimate, independent, FEATURE film. I’m working with Emmy-winning actors and people I grew up watching in movie theatres and on television. I am literally living my dream. Acting in AMELIA 2.0 was a dream come true. I got to spend a month in another city, fully immersed in the story and character I had fallen in love with. And it all happened without reps. Let’s back up. But let me start by saying the trap many of us fall into is to immediately become obsessed with tactics. The how. How did you book the job? What website did you go to, what email signature did you have, how long was your demo reel?! The truth is there is no specific […] Read More
Last week, I found out that I booked a Top 5 billed role in a new made for TV movie! It was a direct offer, no audition. I started crying the moment I found out, it was such an incredible feeling. Whenever I book something, I like to reflect on the instances that led up to the booking: was it a self-submission? Do I know the casting? Do I know the director or producer? I am excited to share with y’all some ideas as to how I booked this little baby that I hope will help you in your career. Read More
The Three Keys to Taking a Meeting Congratulations, you got that meeting with an agent or manager! Now what? Well, first of all celebrate. You’re already in the very top percentage of actors in town to even get the meeting. Major win no matter the outcome. Then… 1) Prepare, prepare, prepare. Do Your Research It’s easy to worry about how we’re going to present ourselves, but the first step is to care about who you’re meeting with. Research their clients on IMDb Pro. Contact anyone you know who is repped by them. Look up their work history on LinkedIn. See what you can learn about their personality from any public social media profiles they have. Write down three possible conversation topics (personal or professional) based on them. Prep for the most important question you will get 90% of the time the rep will start with some version of “so, tell […] Read More
Why Your New Year’s Resolutions Suck and what to do about it… Did you set New Year’s Resolutions this year? About 50% of people do, and if you’re reading this blog I’m guessing you’re the kind of person in that 50% who’s driven and wants to succeed. Well done. 😉 Btw, if you aren’t the kind of person who doesn’t set goals, know that studies have shown that 46% of people who made a resolution were continuously successful at it 6 months later, and only 4% of non-resolvers were. Yikes! So let’s be clear that setting goals ROCKS. However, the way that most people declare New Year’s Resolutions already sets you up for failure. The good news is, it’s not your fault. Blame your monkey brain. So if you did you set resolutions this year, how are they going? Have you accomplished them yet? Already given up? Way off track? […] Read More
I currently have nine reps (LA Theatrical & Commercial, managers, and six reps in local markets.) By pitching myself via email, I secured meetings or direct offers for representation from all of these reps. (Full disclosure: I did meet one in person, but I had emailed before and after meeting in person!). I know how to write a strong email pitch. So, what are the magic ingredients?I will happily break it down for you. There is nothing we love more at Career ACTivate than helping actors take control of their own acting careers within the entertainment industry. I’m going to share with you my biggest tips that I teach my clients to make a standout email pitch to reps.Agents and managers are always looking for actors with talent. If you can effectively communicate with a good agent, you will increase the possibility of being signed by an acting agency. As […] Read More