Too much thinking

Watching what goes on in a audition can really mess with your head. If a casting director keeps certain people behind and lets others go, you can start to think… what is happening, are they getting the “instant callback”… this can lead you straight down the path of self destruction, and blowing your audition.

You need to stay in the game, and FOCUS!!! Do not worry about what is going on with others. Focus on the task at hand, and make it happen!

Yes being observant is not a bad thing at all, but doing the “will they give me the instant callback” song and dance, will destroy your focus. This is yet another reason I like to watch world class Tennis, the players are about the most focused individuals I have ever seen, and it totally relates to what we do as actors. In fact I read a good book recently, that really shows one “HOW TO FOCUS” its called “The Inner Game of Tennis” it has not that much to do with Tennis, but more on the order of How to Focus on the task at hand, its F’ing brilliant, and applies to most all of life.

Anything that helps you stay focused and true to what you are doing, is worth it! Do not waste your time wondering what someone else is doing, do what you do, and the rest will fall in place.

-Frank

Holiday Cards

It was asked of me… should I send out Holiday Cards to casting people and such… My answer was simply “HELL YES”  what a great way to keep your face in front of the people that you want to hire you!

Make sure its not stupid, and in GOOD TASTE!  But for sure do it.  Even go the extra mile and hand write the address, and a personal note to everyone, it shows that you CARE!

This business is crazy, but maintaing great Public Relations is KEY, and this is one easy way to do that, send them to everyone you know in the business, and who knows maybe you will get a great audition, and a job out of it!

Cannot hurt!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

-Frank

Here is a great thing

A friend of mine booked two gigs, all because he had his very own website.  Two separate casting directors searched the Internet for the right guy for the part, and they found this lucky guy and booked him, just by seeing his pictures, and his demo reel!

Now that is the power of a web site if you are an actor!  The Technology is catching up to everything else, do not be left in the lurch, get a website if you do not have one!!!

-Frank

This is a funny video from My Acting Site

these guys really hit the nail on the head with this one.  Not only is it funny as hell!  but its TRUE!!!

The Diva…

This more boils down to what kind of attitude should one have in the business of acting, but it has become so blatant as of late that I had to come up with something on this particular issue.

Look, if you are a MAJOR “A” List Celebrity, do what you want… no one cares… well kind of, but if you are an “A” lister, it will not matter all that much.

If you are starting out, and start with the “Diva” complex… you will fail, I promise you.  There is no fine line between ass kissing and being a all out “Diva”.  

If you have read this far and have no idea of what I am saying, you need to take another look at what Emily Post wrote about manners, as this is what I am speaking of.  Remembering the “Magic Word” is totally important in this business, and you need to treat everyone as a professional.  Yes that even means being nice to extra’s when you are on the set.

You are not god’s gift to everyone else on the planet, and I am strong believer that being nice and courteous, will make you a better person and help you to achieve your goals.

Diva’s suck IMHO!  There is no need for it at all.  

People notice, I have been on many sets and have heard the talks of producers, directors, make up artists, etc.  They all complain about the Diva’s on the set, and the really dislike them.  This is why people fall from grace as it were, and were once big and now they are small.

A great, positive, helpful attitude will take you far!

-Frank

Agent / Manager Differences?

MANAGER’S are generally more focused on the talent’s more broad term goals as an artist. To use an analogy, from a painter, the manager is responsible for the whole canvas, they ensure that from many yards away all the pieces fit together with each other, the colors are right together, and as a whole the canvas is a complete work of art, they may ask the artist to fine tune some section, give a note about what they think might be the next right thing to do, add in anything they think they have a better chance at selling the art work etc.

The AGENT’S role would be to provide the various paints for the canvas, the brushes, they would make sure that each individual small part of the canvas was complete as a single piece, and they would consider their job a well done one each time one small section was done.A manager is a more PERSONAL person to the artist. They should have tens of clients not hundreds. An agent is more about booking many projects for the hundreds of people they represent rather than handholding a small group. There are many other parts to this that I could go on about, legal, commissions etc, but I think this gives the basics.

Hope this helps!

-Frank

The business of acting

Of course I have a day job is the answer to that compelling question… But I also have my life as an Actor.  In my home, I have a desk setup directly for the purpose of Acting.  And I spend no less than ten hours per week at that desk doing the various things I see are necessary to promote myself as an Actor.

I send out no less than 25 pictures and resumes to casting directors and the like every week.  I send out no less than 50 emails per week to people in the industry that can help me get work.  I surf the internet for at least an hour per day, and submit myself to anything that seems right on Actors Access, or Backstage.

I call my agent at least once per week to say hi, or I stop by, the face time is VERY important.  I stay in touch with past people that have hired me.

In short, everything I do is an effort to get me more work.  In my day job, I do that the same way… and I do not think about my Acting… until that job is done for the day.  Then I am full force into the business of getting more acting work.

being a professional at all times is key, just like going to acting class, promoting yourself, having a website, etc…  DO NOT SELL YOURSELF SHORT!  Bust your rear, and you will make your dream a reality in the not too distant future.

-Frank