Whether you’re currently stuck in “Co-Star Hell,” or you’re planning ahead for the future, you can implement the strategies Coach Melody lays out here to make sure you have forward momentum as you keep booking.
So you’re a free agent on the prowl for new representation. You’ve made your outreach list, brainstormed some solid opening lines, slid into a few DMs to test the waters, and adequately stalked your targets on the socials. It’s time to shoot your shot.
Hold on. Before you dip your toe into the representation dating pool in hopes of connecting with the rep of your dreams, there’s one thing on which you absolutely need to have clarity.
What is it you’re really looking for?
Yes, obviously you want new representation. But what is it that you specifically want out of this relationship?Often actors scroll through IMDb to find a match, go on a few dates, and eventually settle down with a rep (Yay! Congrats!!), only to find months or years down the line that this partnership can’t be sustained due to irreconcilable differences.It’s best to be clear and upfront from the beginning as to what it is you need out of this relationship, so you don’t enter into the wrong one. Just like in dating, you’re unlikely to get ideal results by swiping right on everyone. You ultimately just want a right swipe from the person that’s right for you. How do you know when you’ve found The One?Here are a few things to consider when deciding whether a potential rep is worth the monogamy.
How many other people are they currently seeing?
Do you want a boutique company with a small roster, ex. A manager who works alone and has a roster of 30, or an agency with 100 clients? Or would you want to partner with a large company that has hundreds of clients shared between teams of multiple reps?
Are they down for an open relationship?
As in…are they open to sharing you with reps in other regions? Some reps split commission between them. This is a topic to bring up if you’re a local hire in other cities and are considering, or may already have, reps in other markets.
How do they view their role in your partnership?
Every agent and manager has different expectations when it comes to the part they play in a client’s career. Agent roles are, for the most part, pretty straightforward- they pitch you to potential clients and negotiate contracts.Managers can vary greatly in how they view and execute their roles. Some managers help develop your materials and set you up with agents that will get you auditions. Other managers are more hands-on and will also pitch you themselves. Some want to be involved in all areas of your career, some just focus on the theatrical aspect.Be clear on what would be most helpful to you.
Who else are they currently seeing?
What level of actors would you like to see on their roster? Would you want to be a developmental version of someone they already work with? This could be an advantage if the celebrity version of you passes on roles you’re also right for.Are you interested in a company that also has a lit department? That represents directors/producers/writers as well as actors?
Will they make you sign a contract?
Run. Just kidding. Kind of. But at least know what terms you’re willing to agree to. Anything can be negotiated, including the existence of a contract itself, but the most commonly negotiated terms are:
What is their expectation of you?
I have friends who were formerly repped by large, celebrity-filled agencies and said they auditioned for great roles non-stop for 3 months, but when they didn’t book a series regular in that time, they got dropped from the roster. Yikes. That’s a lot of pressure. How would your ideal partner handle a booking slump? What would they realistically expect of you, and is this something you feel you can manage?
Who are their friends?
If your ultimate goal is to be a series regular on a half-hour sitcom, you’re more likely to have success if your rep has great contacts in the comedy world.A good question to ask in a meeting would be, “Which offices most often call your clients in to audition?”You can also research on IMDb to see what their clients have recently booked.Even if you’re not looking for an LTR with your next rep, working with one that has connections in line with your long term goals can help you land the bookings you need to get to where you want to be.
What do their exes have to say about them?
If you know anyone who’s previously been represented by them, get the dirt. Why didn’t it work out? Is their answer to this question something you can work with? Know that people grow and change, and your relationship might be completely different from the experience of this particular ex(-client). But it’s always a good idea to be aware of potential red flags before committing.
What’s their communication style?
Any successful relationship requires clear communication. How communicative would you like your reps to be? Some want to chat with clients monthly, others are super accessible via DM, and some communicate on an as-needed basis (read: only when you book). What’s your ideal (but realistic) turnaround time if you reach out via phone or email?
Before you seek out a partner, answer these questions honestly for yourself, and rank them in order of importance. Not all of these elements will hold equal weight. Then, assess the reps you’re considering in terms of how well they fit what’s most important to you at this stage of your career.
This will help make sure you don’t settle for someone that’s wrong for you just because they’re willing and available.
Ugh. We’ve all been there.
Also, if you want tips on how to partner with a great rep now, check out our The Insider System Course HERE.
What if promoting projects you’re in helped open doors to you being cast in future projects? Promoting projects not only aids in building your fan base, it also can leverage new opportunities, as it shows filmmakers how valuable you are to the success of their film. It also shows other storytellers that you’re excited to promote, which increases the likelihood of them considering YOU for their future projects.
Below, I go over some tips on ways to effectively promote your projects on social media, at film festivals and through digital/physical mailers.
Digital Postcards
With so many free design programs out there, it’s relatively easy for you to create digital mailers that you can email or post to your social media channels. And if you’re not too graphically inclined, you could even have someone create one for you for pretty cheap (check out FIVERR.com!).
What to put on the image?
Using a program like Canva or Photoshop, create an image that includes your photo, the name of the project, dates of when one can watch it, and some other fun info. For example, if you book the role of Mercutio in ‘Romeo and Juliet,’ you could have a postcard with your headshot, a phrase saying “Just booked Mercutio!”, the name and address of the theater along with the show dates, and a fun little quote from the play, like “True, I talk of dreams/ Which are the children of an idle brain, /Begot of nothing but vain fantasy.”
Where do I post the image?
Post this digital postcard on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, etc! Create posts on your social media channels and tag the filmmakers, playwrights, crew members, other actors, everyone involved. Let the world know about your incredible work and the incredible people that you got to work with. Make sure to reply to comments and say thank you for all the amazing support you get on these posts.
Email your digital postcard.
When people in the industry ask you to keep them updated on what you’ve got going on, make sure you do just that! Email them your digital postcard! Let them know about a booking or a play, the type of role you’re playing, what excites you about the project. Keep it relatively short and sweet. And if there’s a live performance or screening, invite them to watch.
Hard Copy Postcards
Another way to promote your good news is through traditional, hard copy postcards/mailers. Take the digital image you’d created for your social media posts above and adjust slightly.Add a little more info:Postcards have lots of space on the back that can be utilized to showcase a bit more of your personality. Add a little note about the project, for example, “I’m super excited to be working opposite so-and-so actor, and it’s been fun to get to play this type of character.” Make sure to put your (or your rep’s) contact info and be sure to address the postcard to the appropriate person. Send that baby off!
Create Multiple Mailers About The Same Booking!
A booking is a big deal and it should be shared multiple times. Use essentially the same template for each version of the mailer, but with different updates, like:1) Just booked!2) Just shot!3) Here’s a shot of me on set!4) Watch me on TV next week!5) I was on TV!6) Nominated for this award!7) The Reviews are in! (Be smart with this… Spread out these updates, especially if you are sending them to someone’s inbox)
Film Festival Promotion
A great part of our industry is that there are a multitude of festivals that are screening our projects, which creates so many opportunities for people to see our work. There are a lot of cool ways to promote film festivals and screenings, and here are some ideas for you.
Film Festival Promotion
A great part of our industry is that there are a multitude of festivals that are screening our projects, which creates so many opportunities for people to see our work. There are a lot of cool ways to promote film festivals and screenings, and here are some ideas for you.
Promoting On Social Media
Stills from a project are a great way to get promo images and to create a digital postcard, especially if you are growing tired of using your headshot for everything. Pull a still or screengrab with you in it, and then using an image editing software, add the laurels for that festival somewhere on the still. Also add info about the screening times and locations. Remember to ask the creators if this is ok to do, especially if you’ve been given an NDA to sign. Filmmakers do love it when people promote their projects, just clear everything with them beforehand :)Post these stills on social media + tag your collaborators
Just like the digital postcards above, post these images onto your social media channels. Make sure to tag the festival and the filmmakers. Make sure to THANK the festival for selecting the project you’re a part of! Oftentimes festivals will repost these types of posts, which allows your work to be seen by even more people.
REMEMBER: Promoting projects makes you look good to the producers, filmmakers, other actors, because you’re also promoting them. Whenever I produce a project, I make note of who in the cast/crew actively promotes the film on social media. It’s free advertising for my project, and it encourages me to work with those people again because it simply means that more people are becoming aware of the project.
While the industry remains shut down and it feels like we’re stuck in an infinite time loop a la Lonely Island’s new Hulu movie Palm Springs, I’ve received questions about outreach/marketing/general business etiquette, and wanted to address a few of them here.
Bottom line: There are still (always) things you can do to drive your business, but make it a priority to maintain your sanity during these crazy times. Tackling the industry once it’s fully up and running will be a lot easier if you’re healthy mentally, physically, and emotionally!Here are some DOs and DON’Ts to keep in mind during the shutdown:
Most people aren’t in the office to receive it. If you have something to share, do it via social media or email.
This one seems self-explanatory. The news is bleak. I’m all for being an informed citizen, but know that it’s ok (and probably even necessary) to give yourself a break and recharge before hopping back in to stay up-to-date with this week’s developments.
Beyond staying in communication with close friends and family, don’t be afraid to send out an e-newsletter to your business network to share an update. It could be career-related, but it doesn’t have to be. One tip I share with my clients is to keep a running Google doc of shareable announcements throughout the year. It can be hard to come up with this kind of stuff on the spot. Besides being an easy resource once it’s time to send out that bi-annual email blast, it’s also encouraging to look back and realize you have more exciting, newsworthy material than you thought. Jot them down as they happen- you’ll find more good things happen to you than you can think of at any given moment!Topics that are a great excuse to reach out to your business (or non-business) contacts:
If the people you desire to connect with are amongst the many turning to baking in their free time, maybe connect by including a pic of your latest doughy quarantine creation. A fringe Facebook connection posted a pic of homemade Hokkaido milk bread last week and it was so beautiful I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it. Way to stay top-of-mind, right?
Staying on the topic of keeping in touch, social media usage is up more than ever. It’s a great time to stalk some IG profiles and learn about what people you want to connect with value and respond to. Go ahead – respond to some IG stories and slide into some DMs. If they don’t follow you back (or even if they do), you might not get a response, but what’s the loss? There’s only the potential upside of forming a new relationship.
Note: not everyone is on every format of social media, so if there’s someone you’re dying to connect with, search them on multiple platforms.
The most effective outreach happens when you make it about the other person. Even though pretty much nothing’s been filming over the past few months, people still have projects filmed a while ago that are airing for the first time.
“How do I find out if someone has a project airing for the first time?”
Refer to the above section – the producers, writers, and directors are probably excitedly posting and reposting about it all over their socials.
Also, Emmy Award nominations came out July 28th. Did your industry contacts work on any of the nominated shows? Either way, congratulating someone on such an exciting career achievement is a great icebreaker and excuse to reach out to any producers/writers/CDs/directors/showrunners you’ve been wanting to e-meet!
The quarantine didn’t magically transform them into enlightened, compassionate beings. Assuming they don’t live with you, what an amazing opportunity to purge any unhealthy relationships!
There’s never been a better time to finally start or finish that project you’ve had on the backburner. Since people have time now, reach out to someone you’ve been wanting to collaborate with. Taking on a partner and setting project goals as a team is also a good way to hold each other accountable.
Most importantly…
If any of this seems overwhelming, that’s totally ok. This list is meant to spur activity for anyone spinning their wheels thinking of ways to be productive with their downtime. However, it’s completely understandable to need more time than usual to unplug and unwind. Some days we have more energy than others. Do what you need to do to take care of you. On some (or, let’s be honest, most) days, that might mean not doing very much at all. And that’s absolutely perfect.
As the pandemic keeps on keepin’ on, putting a majority of film/TV/commercials on hold, voiceover is the one area that hasn’t faltered. What has changed in these times is that the actors booking most of the VO work have access to a home studio.
More and more, actors are asked to state in their audition file what type of mic, audio interface, and remote connection we have, if any, and sound engineers weigh in on who gets hired.
Bottom line? It’s not just about your acting anymore. Production teams need to know that the actor they hire has the equipment to deliver production quality sound. Which means that the sound quality of your audition file also matters. If your audition can be close to broadcast quality, you’ll only help your chances of booking the job.
If you’re new to a home VO setup, the equipment, cost, and technical stuff can be intimidating. The good news is, it’s much less complicated than it seems, and it doesn’t have to break the bank.
Here, I’ll break down the basics of setting up a VO home studio and provide some additional resources.
Decide where to set up your equipment based on how soundproof the location is. Walk-in closets are great. I have a tiny closet under the stairs that I’ve turned into my own home studio.
Recently, an audio engineer told me that the treatment of your recording space matters more than your actual equipment, so choose wisely! Ideally, your studio setup is away from any noisy appliances or windows.
Cover up any reflective surfaces in your recording space with something that’ll prevent sound from bouncing around, like blankets or towels. To further soundproof, use the same materials to seal up any areas of light. If you’re open to spending a little more, you can also get acoustical blankets and foam specifically designed to soak up sound.
General principles:
Finally, here’s what you’ll need once you have your space set up.Mic: Large diaphragm condenser mics are preferred by sound engineers over USB mics for sound quality. They range in price from about $200-$5000, so you’ll hopefully be able to find one that fits your budget.Mic Stand: Shock mounts are a separate piece and mitigate audio pickup if the mic moves subtly during your performance for any reason.Pop Filter: Mitigates the “popping” sound of plosives.Music Stand: Or something on which to prop up your script.Headphones: Over-the-ear vs. noise-cancelling headphones are used for studio recording.Audio Interface: Translates the audio signals going into the mic into the digital version that you can edit on your computer. The audio interface is hooked up to your mic on one end and your computer on the other with an XLR cable.
Computer Laptop: Runs the recording software. Software (DAW): Whichever program you choose to do your recording and editing in. Audacity, Reaper, ProTools, and Twisted Wave are a few that are commonly used. Remote Connectivity: If you book a job, do you have ISDN, Source Connect, or ipDTL? All essentially allow your home studio to function and record a live session as if you were in a recording booth with the director in the next room.
There’s plenty of information available online, from Youtube equipment reviews to sample home studio setups. Check out some additional resources here:
A couple aptly titled YouTube tutorials:How to Turn a Crappy Closet into a Home Recording Studio on a BudgetSetting Up Your First Voice Booth
SAG-AFTRA FoundationFor union members, check back frequently for new VO classes that cover everything from auditioning for specific segments of VO to software tutorials and yes- classes about home studio setups, all run by working VO professionals.
Sweetwater.comThey’re not paying me to say this, but I purchased my preamp from this site and loved that their sales team, which largely consists of sound engineers, reached out to offer remote help with setup. I found this to be super reassuring since I’m not very tech-savvy. Also the prices were good, there was free shipping, and that shit got to my house faster than Amazon.
Have fun with your setup! Don’t be afraid to reach out to VO professionals in your network for help. And know that, if all else fails, the tips, tricks, and knowledge of many experienced VO experts are just a quick Google search away.
Booked it! Congratulations! After going to tons of castings the excitement of booking a job and finally getting a chance to play on set or stage can be so intense that we almost don’t care about the money anymore.
The paycheck becomes an afterthought, almost an added bonus. And here come the problems.
When actors don’t pay attention to earnings and carefully read check stubs, they may be missing money that is owed.
All those classes, coachings, headshots and reel footage have a cost attached and talent has real market value. Without a process to ensure payments were properly prepared it’s possible to lose significant business earnings.
Most recently, I personally earned an additional $3,606.14* from just two jobs. I used the same tips I offer in this blog to secure these payments. This was on top of the sessions fees I had already received. It’s almost like booking twice!
So the next time you get into a tizzy about the next exciting job you’ve booked use the following checklist to make sure you are accurately paid and get every penny you are owed. Also, underpayment is sometimes a result of an honest mistake on the part of the production company or payroll company, not any malicious intent, so make sure you are paid what you are owed on all fronts.
CAVEAT: This checklist is primarily applicable to union work.
MONEY CHECKLIST
Did you do a fitting before your shoot day(s)?If yes, you are due commissionable fees by the hour for your time and this should be included in your check.When was the check due?Use the SAG FAQs page for the appropriate department or call SAG and ask for the business rep for the production to find out when payment is due.
For Theatrical jobs payment is typically due a week from the last work day in the production week. For example, if the production week runs Monday-Friday, Friday is the last day of the production week and payment must be mailed out by the following Friday.
Commercial payments are typically due 15 business days from the last day of work for talent for a session fee or the first air date for residual payments.
If the check is postmarked after the deadline, talent is owed a non-commissionable late fee. I’ve literally made thousands of dollars from double checking the due date for all my payments.
Late fees are most common with commercials.
KEEP IN MIND: If your money is processed first by your agent or manager, it’s almost impossible to know the postmark date. In this case, use the check date.
Did you use your own wardrobe on set?If yes, a non-commissionable cleaning reimbursement fee is due and should be included in the check.
The only way to get this payment for this is if you filled in the wardrobe fee portion of your contract on set.
Was the shooting location outside of the studio zone?If yes, you are due non-commissionable mileage reimbursement.
PLEASE NOTE:
Agents and managers are not inclined to invest time into pursuing non-commissionable fees (late fees and reimbursements) for talent because they are not commissionable. If your agency doesn’t have an accounting department you’re probably better off pursuing the fees on your own.
If you are due a late fee, ask the accounting department at your agency to send payroll an invoice or email the payroll contact yourself. The email for the payroll person handling your checks is typically listed on the paystub. Be sure to include the production name and episode number or commercial ID in any email correspondence.
After reaching out to payroll several times without receiving a response or payment, union actors do have the option of filing a claim with SAG-AFTRA. Filing a claim is considered the absolute last resort. It’s like hitting the big red button that sets off sirens. The good thing about filing a claim is that it is anonymous. The union handles all further pursuit of payment and every actor on that contract gets paid.
TIP: Always take a picture of your contract and the sign out sheet before you hand it over to production and exit set for the day.
Simply being grateful for work is wonderful. I believe an important part of exercising that gratitude is making sure you are properly paid and, therefore, fully leveraging each job to support you on your journey to the next one.
*I earned exactly $1,106.14 in late fees and one unpaid Class A use from one job. I earned an estimated $2,500 from monitoring unpaid usage and applicable late fees from a second job. This is just a sampling of recent payments received using the aforementioned methods and does not include all received additional payments.
In April, Career ACTivate launched our first-ever self-tape challenge and it was a huge success!For this challenge, participants were asked to submit a self-tape of any length. It could be a favorite scene, or even a brand new monologue. As a prize we offered General Meetings for the Top 9 Winners with Casting Associate Laura Aughton of Wendy O’Brien Casting, Casting Director Mike Page of Page & Day Casting as well as Talent Managers David Chien of Art/Work Entertainment and Jacob Gallagher of E85 Artist Management.
Our Top 9 Winners aren’t the only winners. Just for participating, everyone who submitted is being invited to Q&A Sessions with David Chien, Laura Aughton, and Jacob Gallagher. During our Q&A Sessions, participants can submit their questions and the industry professional will provide their insights as well as tips & tricks.If you didn’t submit, never fear! We have two more Q&A Sessions coming up and you’re invited. Register to receive the virtual meeting links or to receive a recording of the events. Join us for our upcoming Q&As listed below.Friday, June 5th at 11:00 AM – Q&A with Laura Aughton, Casting Associate at Wendy O’Brien CastingREGISTER HERE: https://www.careeractivate.com/lauraqa
Tuesday, June 23rd at 2:00 PM – Q&A with Jacob Gallagher, Talent Manager & Owner of E85 Artist Management
REGISTER HERE: https://www.careeractivate.com/jacobqa
We’d like to give a shoutout to everyone who submitted a video: We are absolutely blown away by the talent and creativity you all shared with us; the competition was fierce. Today we are announcing all 9 winners right here.
Congratulations to all of our winners!We hope you saw a familiar face above, maybe even your own.
How Can You Be The Next Winner?
To win, you have to submit! Find a current list of self-tape challenges by heading on over to our Career ACTivate Success Network Facebook Page. We’ve got you covered.
Along with jigsaw puzzles, virtual dance parties, and Zoom happy hours, another activity to trend during quarantine is the wave of #monologuechallenges all over Instagram.CDs and channels like Freeform are taking this opportunity to discover new talent, or reconnect with talent they already know, by hosting open calls and inviting actors from all over the world to submit their work.Here’s what I’ve found after looking at some commonalities between the winning self-tapes that have won, and a few general tips to streamline this process and keep it fun.
You should already be following CDs on Instagram (IG). Make it a routine to check their IG stories at least a few times a week. That’s how news of scene challenges and open calls are spread! Even if a particular CD isn’t participating in a challenge or open call, many share news from their casting colleagues to help spread the word to their own followers.
Since these challenges have been going on for weeks, a list of past winners can be found in many CDs’ saved IG stories, which can be viewed in their IG highlights – they’re the little circles at the top of their profile, hopefully labeled something along the lines of “Past Challenge Winners” or “Monologue Challenge.”
Check out past winners to inform your own performance and scene choices, especially if the same CD is running a new challenge.
Here are examples of 2 #SelfTapeChallenge winners from Career ACTivate’s self-tape challenge. What jumps out at you that may be effective if applied to your next tape?
NOTE: 3 other winners were announced on our Instagram (@careeractivate) last week, and we’ll be announcing the last 4 winners in the upcoming couple of weeks via email or social media. Stay tuned…
Which leads into…
Choosing the right material!The vast majority of monologue/scene challenges and open calls are coming from CDs who work in TV and film. Although many are fans of theater, and Shakespeare has written some wonderful monologues, it’s most effective to use these opportunities to show how you could be cast in one of their upcoming TV and film projects. Therefore:
The point of all this is to show what we can do as actors. To get more eyeballs on your mad monologue skills, post the tapes to your IG account, to your IG stories, tag the CD who’s running the challenge as well as any CDs who’ve posted about this challenge for their peers (they’ll each get a notification), and use the proper challenge hashtag.
With seemingly new #monologuechallenge and open call opportunities popping up every week, it can seem like a lot to keep up with. To avoid feeling overwhelmed, find a good monologue/scene that plays to your strengths and use that same tape for every challenge it’s right for!
Slates are meant to be simple and just provide the required information, so don’t overthink it.
Each time I create a slate for a project, I’ll save the slate as a separate file for my own records and label the file by what information is included, ex. “Name_Height_Location,” or “Name_Height_Full Body_Rep”. That way, when a slate for a future project asks for the same info (and the character doesn’t have a drastically different style or tone), I’ll just reuse a past slate.
TIP FOR INSTAGRAM NEWBIES:
Each submission opportunity comes with its own rules and submission link. It can be hard to read the rules and submit on your phone. You can access and view IG from a computer (although you can’t post) if it’s easier to read the submission rules and access submission links there vs. your phone. Just go to www.instagram.com/@(CD’s IG handle)
Here’s to winning the next challenge! Or, at least, having created usable, quality self-tape material for ourselves in the process. Sounds like a win either way.
Do you ever wish you could be a fly on the wall and see how actors ACTUALLY get cast? In this Vlog, we got the opportunity to sit down with VJ Boyd (Lincoln Rhyme, SWAT, Justified) and got the inside track on:
Watch the short interview below:
#tbt to this exclusive podcast interview with Career ACTivate Elite Program alum Anjelika Washington on her journey and preparation to landing a lead Amazon’s Legend of the Master Legend after having 0 TV credits previously.
By listening to her inspiring interview, you will learn how she built her team, mindset, and her game plan that led to this huge booking. Also, she details the shocking thing she did to prepare for the role that impressed the entire room. Now she’s a series regular on STARGIRL, playing a DC character.