Plant Seeds Everyday

A good gardener tends to her crop daily, making sure there are no weeds sneaking in or any rodents eating away at all her hard work. As an actor, you must do the same. Not to overrun this metaphor, but you must plant seeds and tend to your garden every day. It's not enough to hope daily that your agent will call. After all, he takes 10 percent while you take 90 percent, so you should be doing 90 percent of the work!

This means sending update postcards, thank you cards, and networking with your connections. Find interesting tidbits to share that will keep you top of mind in the brains of people who can help you. If your mind is constantly focused on the work, you will attract great opportunities to you. If you're low on funds or ideas, get creative. Maybe just send out an email to fellow actors and ask what they do in down times. Update your website, email a director you worked with years ago, redo your closet and weed out outfits that don't work for auditions and iron those that do! Write a play. Read up on Meisner. Practice old sides in the mirror or videotape yourself and critique your technique. Look over old class notes and refresh. There are so many things you can do to invigorate your acting energy, so get started!

Google Yourself!

In a continuation of my rant regarding your "web presence".... I'd like to suggest that my fellow actors take advatange of the Internet in new ways. Do a "Web First Impression" check... and clean up any links you might not want out there! Here's a checklist:

1. Google yourself -- In the google.com search bar, type in your name with QUOTATION marks around it. For example, "Robin Thede" not Robin Thede. This will narrow down your results to just things that relate to you (unless you have a really common name, but it will still help).

2. Evaluate the links that come up and adjust pages that you have access to....such as Facebook or Myspace. Sometimes, you will be shocked at what comes up! A rude comment someone left on your myspace, a picture someone tagged you in that may not be flattering, etc.

3. IMMEDIATELY delete comments (made by you or others), pictures, and other elements that may alarm potential employers (i.e. Casting Directors, agents, etc.). You only have 15 SECONDS to make a first good impression in this business!

4. If there are links that you simply can't do anything about (old movies you did, other people's pages, etc.), then create more pages -- get yourself listed on IMDB.com (The Internet Movie Database), TVGuide.com, myspace, facebook, whatever.... to help push out negative page listings. This may take a while but it's crucial that you are aware of what your web presence is before those who hire you do.

A note about IMDB.com -- keep close track of this site and make sure your past TV and Film jobs are listed here. Even some shorts or student films can be listed on this valuable site, so click "UPDATE INFO" at the bottom of your individual page and add credits as instructed. If you can't find the program you are looking for, talk to the producers about getting it listed on IMDB.

As an example, here's my profile... Robin's IMDB Page

What Do You Do Between Auditions?

Do you sit around complaining about not having any work? Or do you send postcards thanking the casting directors who've seen you? I know actors who do both, with varying results. I always think that a positive attitude will bring more work into your life. To help this along, though, why not send postcards? In this brief note, you can thank the casting directors for seeing you and let them know what you're up to in ONE sentence. Don't drone on about things that don't matter, it makes you seem weird :-). Also, be sure your postcards have your picture and representation information on them so they know who sent the note.

On another (semi-related) note, I've been seeing a lot of resumes lately that have personal information on them... Phone number, address, sizes, SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS! Are you serious?! Please Please Please, do not put this on the Internet or on your resumes! If you've ever seen a PROFESSIONAL actor's resume, you'll notice that they do NOT include sizes, height, weight, or any other personal information. They should only have your representation's contact info. If you don't have an agent/manager, then you must put your own cell number and/or email on the resume, but NEVER put your home phone number. As always, just my opinion. :-)

Choices, Choices....

When you're an actor, it can be tough to find a job that helps support your career but also allows you to skip off to auditions at any moment. For many of us, we have a moral issue when confronted with a work-audition conflict. So what do you do when you've got to work, but you've just gotten an audition right in the middle of your shift? This is a tough one. In my opinion, you have to set yourself up with a job in the beginning that will never give you this conundrum (i.e. bartending or waitressing at night, working from home, or just having a great boss who understands....). However, if this is not possible, I say be honest with your employer. Call ahead and let them know that you'll stay later or come in earlier, whatever you need to do to make it up to them. But whatever you do -- GO TO THE AUDITION. You never know when that audition can provide you the resources to leave that crappy job :-).