Ring In The New Year!

On this day before New Year's Eve, why not take a moment to outline 12 goals for 2009? One for every month. This list will give you a clear view of the things you want in the new year and can help you stay on track! Get those new headshots, update that resume, do a play, finish your screenplay! Stay motivated and here's to a great 2009!

The Year in Review

The end of the year can be a great time to reflect on your accomplishments as well as prepare for the upcoming year. However, to avoid the pitfalls of quickly-forgotten new year's resolutions, here's a way to plan out your next year and stick with it.

First, review the year in total as it relates to your career. Write down what you accomplished month by month in the past year, whether it be acting jobs, classes and/or taking new headshots. Anything that helped you work or advance your career is fair game here. Look at the list, and find out what times you are busier than others. Is there a pattern here? Also, maybe the down times are good times for the next year in which to take a small vacation, work on writing or perform a show. I always find my Julys are slower than other months...

Second, make a separate list of auditions from the past year and calculate the percentage that you book TV jobs, Films and commercials. This should be easy to do if you keep an audition log.... If you don't have one of these, then get one for the new year ASAP! Once you've got the ratio of auditions to bookings, then you can focus on what areas need strengthening.

Third, make a list of all the projects you started in the past year and which you accomplished vs. which you didn't. Use this list to figure out what to carry over into the next year and what to leave behind. These could include updating your pictures, website or bio (which you should be doing regularly anyway).

Finally, congratulate yourself on a year well spent. Don't look back with regret -- look forward with promise and optimism. You can only go up from wherever you are!

On Getting an Agent

Lately, I've been flooded with emails from friends of friends as well as actors I've never met regarding getting an agent and moving to LA. So, here are some of my random thoughts on getting an agent in today's (recession-affected) environment:

1. If you're not a pro at what you do, stay where you are and get better before moving to LA. Even for those of us who have shows/credit under our belts (and this includes actors WAY more experienced than me), getting and keeping an agent in this climate is next to impossible. Agencies are FIRING half (or more) of their clients who aren't making them the big bucks just to keep their doors open. It is SOOOOO hard to get an agent here now (I was without one for THREE YEARS), and that's just the truth. At least from my point of view.

Something to consider: the only reason I have my current agent is because I do sketch comedy/improv (Second City, I.O.), I write (with show credits on my resume) and I am a host/entertainment reporter (E! News, Sirius radio). Most actors only have one main skill, so I challenge you to develop more. MANY more, to make yourself attractive to agents.

2. Okay, so you're in LA already and you need an agent. I personally can't help you. Let me just say that first :-) However, you never know who can. Ask EVERY actor you know what their agents look for, you may find one that would be interested in setting up a meeting with you. The other option is to get a manager who can refer you to an agent. How do you do this? Again, network and send in pictures/reels. But cold mailing and calling is rarely successful, since these places are inundated with them. Try to make a personal contact at a networking event, through others in the business, etc.

3. You want to come to LA for a few weeks to "test it out." To me, this is silly. How would you ever know what it's like out here in that amount of time? If you feel you're ready -- JUST MOVE. If you're not -- DON'T! It's really that simple. I've never understood why people come to LA "for pilot season" and then go back home. Casting directors don't know you and they won't after you leave. I moved to LA 6 years ago to work 10 years to become an "overnight success." That's how I've always thought about it, but I also recognize that everyone's story is different.

At the end of the day, that's what you have to know. You have to be here (IN LA) to do the work and you can't ask any actor for advice since everyone forges their own path completely differently. But you also have to know that no one is unique like you and there eventually is room for all of us. You just have to stick it out and never give up!