Things are quieter right now because of the strike. And if for some reason you have missed what is going on, please take a look at the WGA’s website, social media, and most recently, SAG-AFTRA’s statement of approving a vote for a strike authorization of the actor’s union. Though things may be a little bit shaky, we can find our footing by connecting with those around us. If you are interested in deepening connections or showing appreciation, I have a couple of free gives that can be shared. Everyone could truly take a little gift to feel better during these uncertain times. 1. Insight Timer - Free Meditation App Find a short meditation on Insight Timer that speaks to you and the recipient. Share the specific meditation with them as a gift of breath, peace, and a moment of calm. 2. Share a memorable moment from your encounter If you connected with […] Read More
Writing a bio gives a lot of actors cold sweats. I mean, you don’t want to be thought of as the actor who blows their own horn. That’s gross and super stereotypical. And you definitely don’t want to be associated with that old look-at-me-I’m-the-center-of-attention-at-all-times actor trope. The good news is that if you’re stressing about being that kind of actor – you aren’t going to be! Good to know, right? But what goes into a good actor bio? First I ask: What makes you read someone’s bio? Do you want to know more about them? Are you looking for common connections? Do you simply want to know where someone studied? There are no wrong answers here. When I read a bio, certain things definitely stand out to me: Credits Training Personality So, I use those as my three steps to writing a bio. Step 1: Career Highlights Highlighting past career […] Read More
Even if you have a love/hate relationship with self-taping, there are some hidden benefits that you might not have thought of. In his latest vlog, Coach Eric shares how to take advantage of self-tapes in ways you may not have considered. Eric booked 17 TV shows/commercials in 2022 alone, with 14 being entirely through self-tape or virtual auditions, and continues to book regularly — so he clearly knows what he’s doing in the self-taping game. Watch his short (2.5 min) video here: Read More
Every actor knows the feeling. Anxiety is real. That feeling before you step on stage on opening night and can’t remember your lines or the gap between jobs that can span weeks, months, or even years. There’s as much fear in those moments as there is hope. We associate excitement with positive feelings, but we think of anxiety as an overwhelmingly negative emotion that’s at times debilitating. While some anxiety is useful, as it can help motivate us, protect us when we’re in danger, and increase our alertness, too much can be disruptive to our state of being and make us suffer physically and mentally. So how do we manage the ebbs and flows of this business alongside the ups and downs of our lives? Well, I recently came across the Biopsychosocial Model, a pluralistic model of understanding mental health that looks at the Biological, Psychological, and Social factors that contribute […] Read More
“How are you?” It’s a question we hear all. the. time. And we’re so conditioned to give a generic response. What do you usually say? “I’m great!” “Good, thanks, and you?” “Happy to be here” But when you enter a live audition, a producer’s session, or a meeting with someone who has hiring power in the industry, instead of a basic, overused answer, what if you used this question as an opportunity to connect? As an artist, when a producer, casting director, or someone else - who has the potential of offering you a job or chance for collaboration - asks this question, this creates a great moment to give a personal YOU-nique response. One that shares your personality and brings out a common human interaction. For example, I was in a producer’s session and when asked, “Tiffany, how are you today?” I said, “Well, I got my son’s hair […] Read More
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 […] Read More