GARY MASON

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gary@gary-mason.com

Wisdom

1000 “no”s

Acting, Encouragement, Voice Over, Wisdom

Welcome back!

And thanks for reading!  It’s said that you have to go through 1000 nos to get to a yes, or kiss 1000 frogs before you find your prince.  The idea of rejection has been with us for a long time.  This week let’s talk about rejection and how to deal with it.

REMEMBER:

Just a reminder here that when I use the term “actor” I mean it to encompass all forms of acting including voice, stage, and screen.  Yeah, I know I say this every week, but it falls under the heading of “The things that go without saying are the things that most need to be said”.  What follows applies relatively equally to all of these forms of acting.

FIRST

We say that rejection is just a part of being an actor.  Rejection can really get an actor down, and sometimes that can spiral into the “I’m not meant to be an actor, I should just find a full-time day job” thought process. While it is true that we book only a small fraction of the gigs we audition for, I do not think of the ones I don’t book as a rejection. It’s not a process of rejection, it’s a process of SELECTION. I’ll explain later.

Rejection thinking

The problem with rejection thinking is that it’s negative self-talk. Get rejected often enough and pretty soon you’re thinking you are not worthy.  This thinking makes you feel defeated and tired. It drains your energy, and energy is just what you need for an audition. Pretty soon you are feeling rejected going IN to an audition and at that point your acting career is in a death spiral. Some call this “rejection fatigue”.

Negative Self-Talk

The problem with negative self-talk is that it is much easier to convince yourself of something than it is to convince someone else.  If you are not careful, you’ll have yourself convinced you are a terrible actor.  That can lead to low-effort auditions, and you have a self-perpetuating cycle. You are sure you’re terrible and won’t book a job, go into the audition already defeated, put up a less than stellar audition, don’t get selected and affirm (to yourself anyway) how terrible you are.  Negative self-talk can actually damage your auditions!

Not to be confused with

Just to stop the folks thinking I am being all Pollyanna about this, don’t confuse my eleven part “You’re not getting the f*&^ing job” series with negative self-talk. There is an enormous difference between a healthy understanding of the casting process and thinking you are not good enough to book work.  One is freeing, and the other is a prison sentence. Know that you can both be good enough AND not get the job.

Maybe you are terrible.

The GREAT thing about being a terrible actor is you have no place to go but up.  Go back and look at or listen to your first audition self-tapes and compare them to your latest.  Are you happy with that first one?  If I were a betting man, I’d guess probably not.  My first self-tapes make me cringe when I see/hear them!  But my most recent ones?  Maybe not Oscar worthy, but a WHOLE lot better than those first few.

Each no brings you closer to yes.

Every time you step in front of the camera or sit down behind the mic, you have an opportunity to improve.  I mean, you ALSO have an opportunity to book a job, but that’s not what I’m talking about here.  My point is, if you do happen to be a terrible actor today, every audition helps you become a little better.  Like with many things in life, the more you do something the better you get at it.  Acting is no different. But feelings of rejection make it tough to even GET in front of the camera or microphone (I know, I’ve been there) and that defeatist attitude negatively affects your audition!

Trying to get a job.

Here’s the thing, and it may seem a little non-intuitive.  If you see your auditions as trying to get a job, you’ve already lost half the battle.  Hanging your hat on the outcome of an audition is a recipe for disaster. Yeah, I know you have bills to pay and booking the job is how you pay them, but bear with me here.  If you see auditions as an opportunity to do something you love (act) and to showcase your talent with a casting director instead of as a path to employment, then you’ll enjoy doing them more and be a lot more relaxed and confident.

By the numbers

And remember: There are 100 (or more) people auditioning for the same role.  They will only select one of them. You have a 1 in 100+ chance of booking a particular role.  Ninety-nine times out of a hundred you won’t get it.  If, instead of auditioning to get a job, you audition to provide a CD with a selection of how that role can be portrayed, then not getting the role gets easier. You were not rejected, just not selected.

The Menu

I like to use a menu analogy.  If I go into a restaurant and want to buy dinner the first thing I do (after ordering a drink) is to peruse the menu.  Odds are the menu has a selection of different foods: Beef, chicken, pork, pasta, salads…sometimes even pasta salads. Sometimes I can also choose breakfast items like eggs and pancakes. Usually there are MANY choices.  If I choose chicken, have I rejected beef?  Or Pasta?  Or pork?  NO!  I just selected chicken and tomorrow I may choose beef. It’s the same with auditions.

YOU are the menu item.

When you audition, what you are doing is giving the CD a menu selection.  It sucks to be beef when they want chicken, but it doesn’t mean they don’t like beef or that beef “just isn’t good enough”.  Sorry to all the vegetarians/vegans out there for the meat focused discussion, the same can be said of plant-based food. Stay on the menu long enough and before you know it, they’ll be ordering chicken…or whatever you are.

Lots of reasons

The simple truth is this: There are a of of reasons you may not be selected and most of them have nothing to do with your acting ability. Maybe you are too short, too young, too old, have the wrong color hair.  Perhaps you just don’t have the right chemistry with a scene partner. It could be that the choices you made for that audition are just not what the casting folks were envisioning.  Great performance, just not the one they imagined for that role. It’s not rejection, it’s selection (even if the selection was someone else).

And remember:

Also keep in mind that when you DO book a gig, there are 99+ people who weren’t selected.  That’s both humbling and gratifying at the same time. Even big-name A-list actors are sometimes not selected for roles they want. If you don’t believe me, check this out.

Motivation is the key.

If you understand that you simply can NOT book every role, and that the selection process likely has nothing to do with your acting ability then it is much easier to stay motivated.  And motivation is the key to success here. If you aren’t motivated to audition, then it’s going to take you a LONG time to get through all the no’s to find your yes. And the yes is what we really want because that yes allows us to do what we REALLY love: Perform. And every audition is an opportunity to perform as well!

At the end of the day

Every actor, the guy or gal who started acting today and the people whose names you recognize immediately ALL auditioned for roles they wanted but didn’t get. Sometimes it’s good to remind ourselves that when we don’t book a particular role we are in good company.  The trick is to not think of roles you don’t get as rejection.  Rejection fatigue is real, and that feeling of despair will come across in your auditions leading to that self-fulfilling prophecy of “not good enough”.

You are.

You are good enough. You are talented enough (or on your way to being talented enough). You are just a few no’s away from that yes that will launch your successful career.  You just have to keep pushing, keep auditioning and keep working till the yes arrives!

If you enjoyed this, please leave a comment below to let me know.  If you DIDN’T enjoy it, well, I’d like to hear from you too!  And please feel free to share this blog on social media or with other people you think might enjoy it.

If you haven’t already, please feel free to subscribe so you don’t miss anything – and as a thank you receive a free copy of my E-Book: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About getting Started in Voice Over but Didn’t Know Who to Ask!  

What to do when things are slow (like now)

Acting, Encouragement, Voice Over, Wisdom

Welcome back!

And thanks for reading!  I don’t know if it is just me, but MAN it sure seems pretty slow around here these days.  I mean, I’m still working, but not nearly as much as I’d like to, and future jobs are slim pickings.  This week let’s talk about what you should do to keep busy during slow times.

REMEMBER:

Just a reminder here that when I use the term “actor” I mean it to encompass all forms of acting including voice, stage, and screen.  Yeah, I know I say this every week, but it falls under the heading of “The things that go without saying are the things that most need to be said”.  What follows applies relatively equally to all of these forms of acting.

Slow times

It happens in everyone’s acting careers.  The nature of this business is that there are going to be times when work is slow. Maybe there are just fewer productions in the works. Maybe there are just not a lot of roles you are fit for.  This year, for example, all of the major unions are up for renegotiating their Minimum Basic Agreement contracts with the major producers . Also, this year there is some major contention with the Writers Guild, and they are threatening to strike.

Potential writers’ strike

I wrote a bit about this previously, but the threat of a writer’s strike has increased risk for big union productions, so there is a pretty significant reduction in new productions starting.  It’s understandable, because negotiations with one union group (WGA) can, and often does, affect negotiations with the other unions.  The natural result is that productions are holding off going into production (and casting actors for them) until things are settled.  Consequently, there are fewer jobs for actors at the moment.

So, what do you do?

It’s bad when work slows down, but there are still some things you can do to keep busy during slow times, and maybe even earn a little money as well.  What follows is an exploration of things an actor can do to keep busy and maybe earn some cash during slow times. The first thing you need to note about the following is that doing these things requires a lot of self-motivation, especially for the things that don’t earn you money while you’re doing them.  If you are not self-motivated, well, maybe you are in the wrong field!

A note

Listen, we all experience slow times for varied reasons. Even seasoned and famous actors have periods, sometimes long periods, where they are not working.  I’ve read several books about actors whose career was SO slow just before a big break they were considering getting out of the business.  Consistency, persistence, and motivation are what you need to get through slow times. These slow periods are NOT an indictment of your talent (usually) so do what you can to weather them and get through it.

Side jobs

Unless you are an A-List actor (or maybe even a B-List actor) with a ton of reserve cash, which the vast majority of us are not, then you probably have (or need) a side hustle to get through lean times.  It’s sad, but since we are all pretty accustomed to eating and having a place to sleep, during slow times you should try to ramp up your side gig.  Take more hours, hustle more or do whatever you need to do to allow you to survive.  I know this goes without saying, but a slowdown in acting work leaves you some extra free time to concentrate on your side gigs.  Thus, when things slow down the first thing to do is to increase your non-acting work.  I mean, you do have more time for that, right?

Training

Even a busy actor should continue training and coaching, but during slow periods in your acting career you have an opportunity to commit to something a little longer term.  Is there a class you’d like to take but were too busy for the commitment before?  Now is your chance to take that class.  True, you never know when things will pick up again, and there is a bit of risk involved in committing to a long term class. It’s a personal decision, to be sure, however if things pick up again before you finish you just have a scheduling issue, not something insurmountable.

Explore other acting venues.

Are you primarily a screen actor? Voice artist? Theater actor?  Branch out!  Try community theater, audition for VO roles.  If you don’t pigeonhole yourself your opportunities to act will increase.  Try looking for low-paying or unpaid independent gigs just to keep working those acting muscles.  Find a local theater or film school and volunteer to perform in their productions. Many of these opportunities are completely unaffected by things like union negotiations and strikes, and student productions are always looking for actors…some are even paid opportunities.

Meet with your agent or manager.

Slow times are a good time to meet with other members of your team.  Approach your agent or manager with an open mind, mention you are not getting as many auditions/bookings and ask what you might do to improve your odds.  Maybe it is time to learn a new aspect of the craft (such as stage/screen fighting or stunts), maybe it is the right time to concentrate on updating your marketing materials like head shots, or maybe your resume needs some work.  Slow periods are good time to take care of those things.

Network

Slow periods are a great time to nurture industry relationships. Reach out to your network and set up that lunch meeting that you’ve not had time for.  Attend industry events like Film Festivals and premiere screenings.  These are great places to meet people in the industry and get to know them.  Remember, though, that networking is a way for you to get to know people and them you.  They are not auditions or interviews.  And when networking remember that your goal is to find ways to help them not to get them to help you.  Networking is not an opportunity to pitch yourself or your ideas.  Networking leads to new friends, which may lead to opportunities to pitch yourself or your ideas, but that is not the point of networking.

Research

Study productions that fit your “essence” to see what makes them good.  Seeing (or hearing) other successful actors in roles you would be auditioning for will help you know how to prepare for these types of projects when things pick back up.  It definitely will give you a leg up on other actors auditioning for the same roles who did not do any research.  Also, research what productions are waiting in the wings to see what might be coming up.  A subscription to Casting About will give you a good idea of what to be preparing for and also an idea what producers/directors are getting ready to start casting so your agent or manager can pitch you directly.

Get in shape.

Is the crafty table just a little too tempting when you’re on set so you’ve put on a few pounds?  Slow times are a good time to concentrate on you and your health.  Do you need to take off a few pounds?  This is a good time to think about exercising or maybe starting that diet you’ve been thinking about. You should always be concerned about your health, after all, it is tough to work if you are incapacitated or dead, but slow times give you more time to concentrate on that.  And you even get to control what gets put on YOUR crafty table.

Create

If it is slow for you, it is likely slow for your circle of friends and acquaintances.  Slow times are a good time to create your own content.  Get together with other industry folks you know and produce some fun short content, then post it on your YouTube channel.  It’s fun, doesn’t cost a ton of money and it gives everyone involved a chance to keep practicing the craft they love. These projects should be fun and don’t have to be “highly polished” productions. You never know where something like this may lead.

At the end of the day

There are always going to be slow times as an actor.  It’s inevitable.  The key is to keep working, keep moving, don’t stagnate.  If you allow yourself to slow down at the same pace as the industry, overcoming the inertia to get moving again will be difficult.  You may not actually earn any money from some of these, and some may even cost some money, but they will pay off in the long run when the industry picks back up.

If you enjoyed this, please leave a comment below to let me know.  If you DIDN’T enjoy it, well, I’d like to hear from you too!  And please feel free to share this blog on social media or with other people you think might enjoy it.

If you haven’t already, please feel free to subscribe so you don’t miss anything – and as a thank you receive a free copy of my E-Book: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About getting Started in Voice Over but Didn’t Know Who to Ask!

Top Twelve Acting Skills an Actor Needs to Develop

Acting, Voice Over, Wisdom

Welcome back!

And thanks for reading!  So, you’re an actor or want to become an actor?  Consider these Top Twelve Acting Skills an Actor Needs to Develop.

REMEMBER:

Just a reminder here that when I use the term “actor” I mean it to encompass all forms of acting including voice, stage, and screen.  What follows applies relatively equally to all of these forms of acting.

Skills

Or is it Skillz these days?  I don’t know, but what I do know is that actors need them.  I recently had someone comment on a Twitter link to a blog post that “…acting and blogging isn’t real work.  It’s all just pretend…”. Well, to that I say…PSHAW!  If you’ve been doing this work for any amount of time, one thing you’ll realize right away is: It’s not as easy as it looks and there is a definite skill set involved.  These skills can be natural or trained, but the skill is required no matter what.  Let’s take a look at the 12 most important skills an actor can have.

Memorization

Admittedly, this skill is not one that is terribly important for the VO actor, although in a way it is if you are able to “lift” copy from the page – read ahead of your speaking so it doesn’t sound like you’re reading.  That’s sort of a rolling memorization.  For a stage or screen actor?  Probably the most important skill to have.  When you first get started this is also probably one of the hardest to master, but your brain is like a muscle and when you exercise it it gets stronger – and memorization gets easier.  There are a couple of methods to help in memorization such as; writing your lines out by hand; reading your lines over and over and over and over…; or reading your lines out loud with a partner.  These days there are apps like Rehearsal Pro that help a lot.  Rehearsal Pro is my go-to method.

Communication

 

Maybe an essential skill in any career, but certainly important for an actor on several levels.  Much of an actor’s work is communicating with a variety of people.  Everyone from agents and managers to producers and directors while working out the details of the logistics of acting: Rehearsals, call times, wardrobe and many others.  This is a critical skill for actors both on and off stage, after all, acting itself is communicating.  One very important aspect of communication is listening. More specifically, active listening.  If you are working with a scene partner, you are going to have to be actively listening to them so that you react appropriately!

Control: Body and Voice

As an actor your body and your voice are your instrument.  An actor MUST learn to control their voice and body in order to be competitive in their career.  For stage/screen actors think about learning dance, or fight choreography.  Learn to know how your movement relative to the camera affects the scene.  As a voice actor you will need to learn to control your voice much like Nancy Cartwright does when voicing Bart Simpson and Chuckie Finster.  This skill is as important for voice actors as memorization is for stage/screen actors.

Script Analysis

No matter the length of the script – a 30 second commercial to a feature length film to a series of 60-minute television shows – an actor will need to develop the ability to break down and analyze the script.  A script is a 2 dimensional thing, but the end result needs to be 3 dimensional and believable.  You start by asking the 5 basic storytelling questions of who, what, when, where and why.  Who is your character?  Who are the characters your character will interact with? What is everyone doing? What time period are we in? Where are we? Why are we doing and saying the things we are?  All of these will inform your character and their dress, language, accent and how they interact with other characters.  If the script doesn’t answer these questions, the actor comes up with answers as they build their character.

Stamina

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: Actors work exceptionally long days, usually starting in the wee hours of the morning when sane people are still sleeping.  Even with long periods of waiting while changes to camera position and lighting are going on, it takes a good bit of Stamina to be an actor.  If you are a stage actor, add weeks of grueling rehearsals to the mix. And for VO, imagine recording, editing and mastering an 8–10-hour audiobook!  Stamina is a necessity!

Emotional Intelligence

This is one you don’t think of often. An actor must be able to tap into their own emotions and use them to connect with their characters and their audience. Emotional intelligence is the ability to understand, manage, and express emotions, which is essential for actors to be able to fully inhabit their characters. You not only need to understand a plethora of emotions and their nuances, you also have to know what they look and sound like.

Improvisation

It seems counterintuitive when you think about scripted content.  Sure, IMPROV troupes need to learn and hone their IMPROV skills, but even in scripted formats improvisations is important.  In a stage play if another actor “flubs” or misses a line, his scene partner(s) has to keep the scene flowing by improvising something or it looks wooden and unnatural.  Actors should be able to think on their feet and react to unexpected situations.  And sometimes an improvised line in screen or VO makes it into the final cut because it sounds more natural and the director likes it.  Improvisation allows actors to be more spontaneous and responsive in their performances and can lead to more dynamic and interesting characters. Check out this list of The Ten Most Iconic Ad-Libbed Scenes in Film History.

Resilience

The acting profession can be unpredictable, with rejections and setbacks common. As an actor, you better be able to handle rejection and failure and keep pushing forward. Even the best actors go through periods of un (or under) employment.  It can be very easy to just give up and fall back on a 9-5 job. But the resilient actor keeps pushing on.  You may never “make it”, but giving up makes it certain.

Passion

I’ve talked about this one before:  If you are an actor who does this for any other reason than you love it, you are setting yourself up for disappointment. Actors must have a genuine love and passion for their craft or they quickly burn out. It is this passion that drives them to continue to improve their skills, take risks, and persevere through the challenges of the industry. Yes, you can still act and may even be successful without passion, but the odds are definitely not forever in your favor!

Business Savvy

Let’s face it, no matter HOW much you love acting it is, at its core, a business.  As an actor you are an independent freelance business owner and treating this career like that will take you a lot farther.  Know your brand, understand fundamental marketing, stay on top of shifting industry trends, know simple financial management and contracts and you will go much farther, with much less stress.

Self-Tape Basics

The COVID pandemic shut down the industry briefly, and a major shift was to begin auditioning almost exclusively by self-tapes.  This opened up an acting career path for a lot of people who might otherwise might not have had access, which is great, but it also added a whole new skill set required of actors: self-tape production.  You don’t have to be an experienced DP, but you do need to understand a bit about framing lighting and sound to produce a professional self-tape.

Kindness

You’d like to think this is a skill every human would possess, but if you’ve been alive long enough to become aware of other people, you’ll know it is not always so. This doesn’t need to be a massive effort, but small acts of kindness go a long way.  Simple things like remembering the casting associate (or casting director’s) name, always being on time (or calling if circumstances make that impossible), listening attentively and following the rules.  These are simple things that make people want to work with you more.

In conclusion

Being a successful actor requires a wide range of skills and talents. These include memorization, communication, body and voice control, script analysis, stamina, emotional intelligence, improvisation, resilience, passion, business savvy, self-tape basics, and kindness,  Actors who are able to develop and master these skills will have a greater chance of achieving success than those who do not.

If you enjoyed this, please leave a comment below to let me know.  If you DIDN’T enjoy it, well, I’d like to hear from you too!  And please feel free to share this blog on social media or with other people you think might enjoy it.

Looking for your next great non-fiction read? Check out this promotion: Become Inspired. Become You.

If you haven’t already, please feel free to subscribe so you don’t miss anything – and as a thank you receive a free copy of my E-Book: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About getting Started in Voice Over but Didn’t Know Who to Ask!

PROS and CONS of an acting career

Acting, Wisdom

Welcome back!

And thanks for reading!  So, you want to become an actor?  If you are not yet familiar with the film or VO industry, consider these Pros and Cons before jumping in.

REMEMBER:

Just a reminder here that when I use the term “actor” I mean it to encompass all forms of acting including voice, stage, and screen.  What follows applies relatively equally to all of these forms of acting.

Acting

Ever thought how great it would be to be an actor?  I used to think that all the time, and now I AM an actor!  Let me tell you, it is definitely an awesome career choice…although not quite as “stable” as some other career choices might be.  Most jobs have you apply, interview, get hired and then you work there for a few years, or even decades before either finding another, better, job or retiring. As an actor?  Not so much.  Sure, a few actors land gigs as recurring characters on popular shows that last for many years, but that is the exception, not the rule.

Like any other job

Well, OK, not exactly like any other job…but a lot like any other job there are pros and cons to being an actor.  It’s great, but as I tell my kids all the time “If it was always fun, they wouldn’t have to pay you to do it”. Unlike other jobs there are a ton of actors who actually DO work for free just because they love it and are trying to build a portfolio.  I suppose other industries also have unpaid internships; it just seems more prevalent in this industry.  Anyway, let’s look at some pros and cons, shall we?

CONS

I like to get the bad news out of the way first.  So, I’ll start with the CONS of acting.  If you answer the question: “You want the good news or the bad news first?” with “Good news”, then you should start at the bottom and read your way up.  That’s just not me, and since this is my blog, I’ll start with the bad news.

Questionable job security

Probably the biggest CON of deciding to work as an actor is the uncertainty of it all.  No matter how talented you may be, there is just no guarantee you’ll book enough work to support yourself. While you definitely need talent to be successful, booking enough work to be able to support yourself also requires a fair amount of luck.  No matter who you are, or how good of an actor you are, you are GOING to experience periods of unemployment…sometimes LONG periods. Acting is one of the very few career choices that will likely require you to have a second career to be able to pay the bills, at least for some period of time (and maybe forever).

Competition is FIERCE

It doesn’t happen often in today’s self-tape age but walk into an in-person audition and you’ll see 100 other actors who look similar to you waiting to audition.  Generally speaking (there are exceptions) and in my experience other actors are friendly and helpful.  But as an actor you have to know that there are a multitude of others all vying for the same jobs.  It’s a bit of a dichotomy but what I have found is most actors are not “competitive” with other actors per se, but at the same time there is a lot of competition for a given role.

The hours are abysmal

It may look all glamorous and fun, but working as an actor means long days, early call times and long periods of just sitting around waiting.  The actor may be the face of the production, but the 200 people who run hair, makeup, lights, sound, set design, photography, catering, craft services and a host of other necessary production items are the ones who “work” full time.  Most of the actor’s day is spent either IN hair, makeup, and wardrobe…or waiting around for the set to be ready to shoot.  And once the production day is over, the actor gets to go start preparing for the NEXT production day.  Honestly, most of the work of an actor is completed away from the set.

One bad performance

In the Navy we had a saying: “One Aw-Sh*t wipes out a thousand atta-boys” and that can definitely be true for an actor.  You may be cruising along booking awesome roles and knocking them out of the park and then one bad performance can crush you.  Not only does it wreak havoc with your ego and self-confidence it may mean you have to (or at least FEEL like you have to) start over trying to claw your way to where you were before a bad review.  If you are emotionally fragile, this can hurt you in ways a bad performance review in other lines of work cannot.  You will definitely need thick skin and a pretty stable mindset to succeed in the long run.

Privacy

And then, you finally “make it” as an actor.  You get the recognition of industry pros that you are a solid, dependable actor and you begin to have a fan base. Uh-Oh…you have a fan base (I’m speculating here, because my fan base consists entirely of people who were my fans before I started acting: My family and friends). If you do this right, and become a well-known actor, you can kiss your privacy goodbye. Want to take your wife out for a quiet dinner?  Better be able to buy out the whole restaurant. Thankfully, most of us will never have to worry about this CON.

PROS

OK, now on to the good stuff.  While there are certainly some downsides to being an actor there are even more PROS.  Of course there are…or no one would want to do it!  I’ll try to briefly capture a few of them here.  There are a lot more, but I try to limit my word count.

FAME!

Well, fame is a double-edged sword, and it’s not very likely as I have mentioned a number of times before, but it is a perk if you manage to achieve it.

Wealth

Again, not as likely as we’d like it to be, but you can earn a decent living even if you don’t get rich once you start booking consistent union work.

Enjoyable work environment/fun work

Contrary to the CON mentioned above about abysmal hours (which can definitely be true) and sitting around a lot (also true) you get to work behind the scenes “making the magic happen”.  On top of that, all that sitting around gives you time to meet and get to know some very interesting people.

Opportunity to collaborate

Are you creative?  (If not, why are you an actor?).  This career not only gives you an opportunity to meet and get to know some pretty interesting people, it ALSO gives you a chance to collaborate with them on projects you’ll enjoy.

Exploring new places

Face it, it’s not likely there are going to be any movies shot in your backyard, or even in your city (unless you live in LA, NYC or Atlanta anyway).  So, it’s a pretty safe bet that you’ll get to travel to some cool new places as an actor.  You may not have a lot of time to explore those places (see abysmal hours above), but you should get to experience some of the culture and may even work in a day off here and there,

It’s never boring

Despite all the sitting around (that is really networking) being an actor is never really boring.  Each project and set are different, and there are always new people to meet.  On top of that you get to portray a different character each time.  It is fun and a learning experience to explore new characters as well as your own emotions.

And there it is

Some PROS and CONS about becoming an actor!  Pretty sure you can think of more, and if you do, I’d love it if you popped them into the comments below!

If you enjoyed this, please leave a comment below to let me know.  If you DIDN’T enjoy it, well, I’d like to hear from you too!  And please feel free to share this blog on social media or with other people you think might enjoy it.

Looking for your next great non-fiction read? Check out these promotions:  Personal Wellness and Self-Help and Become Inspired. Become You.

If you haven’t already, please feel free to subscribe so you don’t miss anything – and as a thank you receive a free copy of my E-Book: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About getting Started in Voice Over but Didn’t Know Who to Ask!

10 Acting myths debunked!

Acting, General, Voice Over, Wisdom

Welcome back!

And thanks for reading!  There is a lot of mythology surrounding acting and most of us believe at least one of them.  This week let’s debunk some acting myths!

REMEMBER:

Just a reminder here that when I use the term “actor” I mean it to encompass all forms of acting including voice, stage, and screen.  What follows applies relatively equally to all of these forms of acting.

The myths of acting

Sitting on your couch binging Netflix is a great way to be entertained, especially during a global pandemic (let’s hope THAT’S behind us in 2023!) and may make you want to be an actor.  Actors and non-actors alike have likely heard many of the myths that follow, and maybe even believe them.  What follows are 10 common acting myths you may have heard, and reasons why they are myths and not facts! There are a lot more, but these are the 10 I chose to talk about.  So, let’s just jump right in!

Background (BG) work leads to principal roles.

OK, so this misleading bit of tomfoolery gets passed around pretty often.  It’s true and can be verified by our friend Mr. Google, that many of the famous actors you know and love once worked as background actors.  The thing is, none of them were “discovered” as BG actors. Working in BG is a great way to learn your way around set, make a few bucks and get an idea what the life of a principal actor is like.  While it is possible to pick up a line or two (rarely), working as a BG actor is not likely to get you discovered and help you move into speaking roles.  While I was able to find many examples of famous actors who once worked as BG, I was unable to find a single example of an actor being noticed by CD’s, producers or directors.

Actors are born, not made

Ummmm…no.  Talk to any well-known actor or VO artist and you will find that each and every one of them has put in countless hours of training and practice to become the actor they are.  Having some natural acting ability is certainly a plus, but even starting off with no natural ability won’t stop you from being a working professional actor.  Acting is a learned skill…after all, acting is, according to Meisner, just (Just…LOL) “Behaving naturally in fictional circumstances”.  Acting is living, even if it is living in a fictional universe.  We all know how to live; the key is learning out how to live within the framework of the fictional world.

You have to be young and attractive to become an actor

Seriously, I don’t understand how this keeps going around.  First of all, watch TV and movies…you see every type of person being portrayed, because these productions are attempting to depict a real (even if fictional) world…that every kind of person inhabits.  And if you are into VO?  Who CARES what you look like!  My mom said I have a face for radio, and I STILL have managed to book a number of on-screen gigs. I didn’t even start till I was 60 years old!

You need an agent to be successful

A lot of people believe that signing with an agent will propel them to stardom pretty quickly. They are sorely disappointed when reality sets in.  Having an agent is not a bad thing, and agents generally have access to bigger roles than we do as actors…but the agent doesn’t book your roles, you do…so if you are not booking roles on your own, an agent isn’t going to magically make a producer hire you.  The unhappy truth here is that an agent is not likely to even consider signing you unless you are already booking work on your own (they only get paid when you get paid!) and even after you sign with one you need to keep hustling on your own if you want to be successful.

You need connections to make it big

Sure, having some connections to people in the industry doesn’t hurt…just look at all the “legacy” actors who have followed in their parents and siblings’ footsteps.  Connections help, but not having connections won’t prevent you from making it as an actor.  I’ve said it many times, relationships in this industry are foundational, but you don’t have to start with them; you can build them over time.  Get involved in your local acting community, join groups on social media for the type of acting you want to do.  This is the way to meet people in the industry and start building relationships.  Just remember, building relationships starts with how you can help them, not the other way around.

Introverts can’t become actors.

I’d love to put a BIG RED X (a la Family Feud) on this one!  Again, Mr. Google is helpful here.  Click the link and see if you recognize any of the names right at the top of the page: Clint Eastwood, Harrison Ford, Tom Hanks…these are just the first three on the list.  It’s also true that many successful actors are extroverts, but it is not essential to being a successful actor.  You bring a bit of yourself to every role, and you just have to find the roles that are best for you and your personality.  And when your character is an introvert, who better to portray them than an actor who is an introvert!

Actors are “starving”

We’ve all heard of, or may even know, a “starving artist”.  The problem with this myth is that there is a grain of truth to it.  Particularly when just starting out, most actors will need a survival job in order to make ends meet.  It is extremely unlikely (although not completely unheard of) to begin your acting career and immediately earn enough money to support yourself.  The simple truth is if you put in the work and keep putting yourself out there you can become successful (not talking about fame here) and be able to fully support yourself with an acting career.  There are many, many, non-famous actors making a good living with their craft!

Voice actors are not “real” actors

I love (HATE) this one! Let’s start by setting the record straight: Voice Artists are actors.  If you want to “get into” voice over, first “get into” some acting classes (along with VO classes, because while it IS acting, it is a different kind of acting from stage or screen acting).  Of course, the most obvious difference is you can see a stage or screen actor and not a voice actor.  The truth is just because you can’t see them doing it, a voice actor behind the mic, if they are any good, is presenting the same facial expressions and some of the same gestures as any other actor…and don’t let anyone tell you it’s not possible to “hear” those expressions.  Voice actors are real actors.

There are rules and rituals to follow for success

Most of us have our rituals or things we believe will help us along our career path like always making sure to send a thank you, mailing postcards every six months ad infinitum.  The truth is a career as an actor is very unpredictable and there is no formula for a one-size-fits-all path to success.  If that were true every actor would follow the same path, and all would eventually be a success.  Instead of looking for some magic formula try working on honing your skills as an actor and figure out what works for you.  Acting is art, and art is both individual and unique.  If you want to be successful, find out what makes you unique and highlight that.

Fame is success

If you are acting because you want to be famous, I have bad news for you: only .001% of all actors become famous.  The good news though, is that fame does not equal success in this business.  If you are an actor because you want to be famous, then perhaps you need to find another line of work.  While fame certainly means you have been successful, being successful doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be famous.  There are thousands of successful actors, people you see or hear all the time, who are not famous.  Truth is, success means something different to each person, so figure out what success looks like for you and pursue THAT.

And there you have it!

Ten acting myths debunked.  If you can think of more, stick them in the comments section below, but remember: They call them myths for a reason.  We’re all individuals with an individual path and an individual goal.  Don’t just follow someone else, find out what works for you in pursuit of your acting goals and just keep working it!

If you enjoyed this, please leave a comment below to let me know.  If you DIDN’T enjoy it, well, I’d like to hear from you too!  And please feel free to share this blog on social media or with other people you think might enjoy it.

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Common Misconceptions About Acting

Acting, General, Wisdom

Welcome back!

And thanks for reading!  This week let’s talk about some common misconceptions about acting.

REMEMBER:

Just a reminder here that when I use the term “actor” I mean it to encompass all forms of acting including voice, stage, and screen.  What follows applies relatively equally to all of these forms of acting.

Outside looking in

When you’re nestled on your couch watching television, or riding in your car listening to the radio and that hilarious commercial comes on…you think: What a life.  I could do that! (NOTE: you probably could). We see the glitz and glamour of a Hollywood premier, we watch award shows, read the tabloids and learn about the millions of dollars actors make.  We envy those people…but should we?

Dire Straights

No, not your situation, the band.  Have you heard their song “Money For Nothing” from their “Brothers In Arms” album?  It’s an 80’s “Classic Rock” song (and I hate that because it makes me feel old). If you are young and haven’t heard it click the link and you can.  TRIGGER WARNING: The song contains some language that was commonly used in the 80’s but which is rightfully no longer fashionable.

“That aint working…”

The song was a hit, of course, but do you know the origin? It’s fun.  One of the band members was in a store in NYC where a wall of TV’s was playing MTV.  He overheard one of the delivery people talking about how easy the life of a famous musician was and many of the lyrics are direct quotes from that guy (Pretty sure he is uncredited though…which could be a problem).  It caught this musician’s attention because it is such a huge misconception, and he wrote the lyrics right there in the store, later setting it to music.

This isn’t about musicians

No, this blog is about acting.  In my experience, many of the same misconceptions about musicians apply to actors as well.  So what follows are six common misconceptions about acting.

I know, you’d expect 5 or maybe 10 – I’m a rebel (and try to stay with a 1500 word limit so I don’t lose people).

Acting is easy to get into

OK, in some ways this is true. You want to be an actor?  Start submitting for acting jobs; VOILÀ, you’re an actor.  Then start taking classes, get professional head shots, draft a resume, take more classes, find an agent, buy, set up and learn how to use the equipment you need, take more classes, start an LLC (it IS a business after all), hire an accountant to keep track of all the admin crap for taxes and insurance, take more classes…you get the idea.  Starting to act is easy – it is simply a decision you make – becoming a working actor who gets paid for their efforts is a lot of work.

Acting is easy

I admit, at one time I thought this very thing.  Then I started acting.  Newsflash, it’s not; acting is hard work (but still fun…it’s a real dichotomy).  What you see or hear as a member of the audience is just the tip of the iceberg.  What you DON’T see is:

  • Early morning call times. There are 24 hours in a day, and any one of them may be the time you need to report to work.  Sometimes your scenes are night scenes, and well, they shoot them at night.  Sometimes getting ready for your scene (Hair and Makeup) take hours to complete so you need to be there early…like in the middle of the night.
  • LONG days. Especially on low budget independent films, you can expect to work 12, 15 or 18 hours straight.
  • MONTHS of preparation. Not for every gig, but it takes a lot of preparation to become a character.  Even for short VO recordings preparation is key.
  • Long periods of unemployment. A given role could last anywhere from a day to a few months.  Once it is “in the can” that job is over, and you are back to looking for the next job.

And this is just a touch of what you don’t see or hear.  There is also years of training and days/weeks/months of submitting and auditioning…on top of working a survival job to pay the bills between gigs.

Actors make a ton of money

Some actually do!  Most actually don’t. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, actors earn a median hourly wage of $23.48 as of May 2021. The lowest earning 10 percent made less than $11.16 an hour — not even as much as an average fast-food cook ($12.07).  Combine that with the fact that there are potentially long periods of unemployment between gigs, the cost for all those classes and head shots (and if you are lucky enough to have an agent, sharing 10-20 percent with them) and VOILÀ, you’re a starving artist. If you are acting for the money – quit now while you’re ahead.

You have to be attractive

It’s sad but true that attractiveness provides an advantage in any profession. If you don’t believe me, Google it, there are a number of scientific studies that confirm this.  So, pretty people have an advantage…but there are certainly plenty of roles for…what, unattractive people?  Let’s call them regular people.  People like me – and probably you.  Look around…most people look normal…which is probably why “attractive people” stand out.  Obviously for VO what you look like matters less than how you sound, but even in TV and movies pay attention to how many “normal” people there are.  I especially hate this misconception because what is attractive to me may not be attractive to you and vice versa.  So, take this one with a grain of salt.

You have to be young

Well, if THAT were true, I’m screwed.  You see, without a ton of very expensive makeup and prosthetics a 25-year-old person is not going to be able to play the 80-year-old person in a nursing home, or the jovial grandpa…or even the long-standing politician.  The truth is that there are roles for people of every age. Honestly, I personally find that there is ALSO a lot less competition in my age group, probably because most people believe this misconception. So, go ahead and keep believing this one so I have a better chance to book roles.

The best actor always gets the job

This one may be partially true in that the best actor who submitted and auditioned and who fits the look/character for the role and who is available during production dates usually gets the job. See the last paragraph for an example: If the 25-year-old actor is a better actor than the 80-year-old actor…they are not getting the role of 80-year-old nursing home patient.  Yes, it is important to train and practice and hone the craft of acting to become the best actor you can become.  Just remember that even the best actor cannot fit every character.

Any agent is better than no agent

Anyone who has been acting for much more than a couple weeks can tell you this is false.  It’s false for several reasons, one of which is that if your agent is not a good agent; they have few industry contacts, are not liked by many casting directors, or just don’t hustle and market you strongly enough…they are not going to book you work.  All agents are not created equal, so do your research and make sure you sign with a good agent if you sign with one at all. On top of that, there is a misconception built into this misconception that once you have an agent you can stop hustling for work on your own. I have 4 agents and the majority of the work I book I find on my own.  I’m not saying my agents are bad, they are not, and I love them, but they have multiple actors to worry about and I only have one.  I can concentrate on me like they cannot.

So, there you have it!

Six common misconceptions about acting that both non-actors and new actors (I hate the word aspiring) actors believe that are simply not true (or are only partially true in some circumstances).  Don’t let these common misconceptions keep you from pursuing your drams. So, take the classes, submit for the work and above all: KEEP HUSTLING no matter where you are in your career.

If you enjoyed this, please leave a comment below to let me know.  If you DIDN’T enjoy it, well, I’d like to hear from you too!  And please feel free to share this blog on social media or with other people you think might enjoy it.

If you haven’t already, please feel free to subscribe so you don’t miss anything – and as a thank you receive a free copy of my E-Book: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About getting Started in Voice Over but Didn’t Know Who to Ask!