Maintaining emotional, financial and creative health...

An Actor's life can be a challenging one (or any type of artist for that matter). It can be one of the most hardest, thankless, spirit-draining quests a person can hope to pursue. Not to sound negative, but in no other profession does a person deal with more obstacles, rejection, and self-doubt than any other (admittedly, the latter is often a result of the previous two!).

Thankless? yes... depending on your point of view.

If you are able to pursue your art without the need for attention, praise or recognition, then you're half way there. Otherwise, if you are seeking those things with your art-you might be faced with some difficulty. Maintaining your health is paramount: Emotional, Spiritual, Financial as well as Creative health.

Emotional:

Find yourself a support system. No one can do it alone. Whether it be family, or close friends, it is important to surround yourself with a small, trusted selection of people whom you trust to not only be there for you, but also be a source of trusted feedback and advice. There will be times when doubt rears its head. It is during those times that your support system will be the most necessary; to be a sounding board to vent your frustrations, to laud your disappointments, etc. BUT, don't be hard on them when/if they call you on your own bullshit. That's why they're there. That's why you trust them. Embrace the tough love when/if it comes. It's all part of the process.

You might consider joining a class, your some type of club for no other reason than to meet new people; to expand your social circle - or create a new one.

Of course, emotional health is very much connected to your physical health. As I am no certified medical practitioner, nor nutritionist, etc. I'll refrain from giving the health advice. All I'll offer is the one is connected to the other. Make whatever deductions you will from that.

Spiritual:

I'm not talking clutching bibles and quoting scripture, here (unless, that happens to be your thing). What I'm saying is, it is important to have some type of connection to whatever higher power that you believe in , so as to achieve a type of perspective in life. It's easy to lose focus on the things that are truly important, what really matters. A connection to some type of spiritual belief system helps maintain perspective in life, especially when things seemingly are not going your way. There may be something "else" at work.

If nothing else, if you believe in none of these things (and that is OK), one should at the very least, be grateful for what it is they have. Sometimes, the mere focus on what one has, rather than what one doesn't have can be enough.

Financial:

Gotta bring home the bacon! What I work to achieve is pursuing a 2nd career that can be fulfilling at the very least, if not somehow connected to my primary passion. That 2nd career, for me, is teaching. I have been very fortunate to be teaching for the past 5 years now. It brings me much joy and fulfillment. Find that other thing that can help you maintain your financial responsibilities.

Bottom line: you need a job to pay the bills. There's no escaping it. As with your artistic life, why not make it something you enjoy? Look for those jobs that may prick the creative spurs in other ways. Maybe there's something else that you are interested in learning? The are also resources out there to help artists work when things are slow on the creative front.

Check out: The Actor's Work Fund, Playbill.com, ArtSearch, and others. Google them.

Creative:

For the actors specifically-when things are slow - get a group of friends/actors and do a reading. Read plays. Shoot your own shit. My God, with Flip Cameras, iMovie, and all other sorts of digital tools out there, it is increasingly easier to make your own projects. Begin to write! Draw...whatever! I suspect you don't need me to tell you this stuff...it's just nice to get the friendly reminder.

In these tough times, it's easy to think you're the only one going through the self-doubt and pessimism.

All I'm saying is...

You ARE NOT alone.

Be kind to yourself, and take care of yourself by maintaining your health, in all ways.

Finding the Agent

It's the never ending circle:

I need an agent. But I can't get one till I work more. But how can I work without an agent!

It's all timing folks. Timing and persistence.

How do I start? How do I get seen? How do I get someone interested?

Here are options that worked for me in the past:

1.A specific, targeted mailing. Let me repeat - SPECIFIC, TARGETED mailing. Did two words jump out at you? They should have, because they're the important ones. SPECIFIC and TARGETED.

Ok, what does that mean?

Go to Drama Bookshop and look in their career section. There you will find several weekly, and monthly (or Bi-monthly) listings of agencies (and managers - we'll deal with them later). Find one that appeals to you, and grab a highlighter and start reading. What you will be looking for is a compiled list that breaks down what each agency is looking for (i.e. "fresh faces under 25," or "a variety of ethnicities with significant theater experience"). Every agency that is looking for "your type," you highlight, and so on...

What then?

After you have collected no less than 5, and no more than 15 target agencies (you need to keep it to a number you can realistically manage, as this will become a steady project), start your cover letters (we'll get to them, too!). Keep them brief, personal and specific. Who are you? what do you have to offer (your "type" and talents)? and why THAT SPECIFIC AGENCY IS RIGHT FOR YOU! (and vice-versa) Do your research! KNOW something about that agency and mention what drew you to them, etc.

Now here is a personal rule - and do with this information what you like. I ONLY correspond to my industry contacts if I have something to tell them!

i.e. "My show,_______, has been running to rave reviews! Please come."

or

"I have a new film that has just been accepted in _________Film Festival! Check it out."

"Please let me know when you'd like to attend, and I can arrange tickets for you." (notice I didn't use the word "if." ALWAYS presume in the positive! Implies confidence.)

and so on....

Then, whenever you have another event to advertise: send them a postcard with your headshot on it, and the event details on the other side. This may take a while (a few months, a year), but in the end, if it gets you an agent...what do you care? My belief is, you send your mug across their desk enough times advertising the work you're doing, they;ll start to presume at lest two things:

This actor is a hard worker and I won't have to babysit them.

Wow, this actor works A LOT!

Trust me, nothing is more uninteresting, and kind of off-putting than the standard, "I'm looking for an agent" letter. Yea? you and the whole world is looking for an agent!!!!

Why you? Well, come and see me in this, and find out!!

2. Acting Seminars. Same as above - be specific and target those agents who might be looking for your type.

Now, this is a rather new industry that has been gaining in credibility. I admit, during it's genesis, I was skeptical, perhaps even disgusted. Why should I pay an industry professional for something their already paid to do?

Over the years however, this new industry has not only grown, but it has also proved itself credible. More often than not, I have heard of actors who have been called in by both Agents and Casting Directors.

So, why not?

I won't mention specific houses by name, but comment to this post, and I'll answer questions, if you have them, about what companies are out there.

Now here's the thing about this avenue. As I have worked at one of these firms for a period of time, and I encountered this A LOT!

It is imperative that you view these seminars as OPPORTUNITIES, rather than AUDITIONS. What do I mean by this?? These seminars are a way to make contact with industry professional you wouldn't otherwise meet for a long time. Don't be discouraged if they don't call you right in after meeting you. Don't forget, you now have made contact with an agent you wouldn't have met otherwise! You now have what's called a "hot-lead!" Now, when you book your next show, you can send them a postcard to invite them, and they know who you are!!! Remember folks, this journey is a marathon, not a sprint. Also, remember, it's not that you weren't "Mr. or Mrs. Right," you just weren't "Mr. or Mrs. Right NOW!" So, by keeping up with the contacts that you make through these seminars...the persistence will pay off.

And, finally...

3. Your friends! If you have a friend who is represented by an agency you like. Ask them to vet you to them. Or, ask if you may drop their name in a cover letter. It's called "networking," folks. And so many people don't know how to properly do it.

Now here's a little piece of advice. To preserve any friendships you wish to keep, I suggest remembering this little gem:

The deal with ASKING someone (specifically a friend) for anything, or a favor - you HAVE to be OK with the possibility that the answer will be "No." Asking is not demanding, nor should it be. Some people get weird about this. But some actors are very provincial about their careers, or there could be some other reason you couldn't possibly fathom. My point is, if they say "no," it very well may have nothing to do with you. Or, quite possibly, they're trying to help you without you knowing it.

Perhaps, you friend has a bad relationship with his/her agent, and doesn't want to subject you to that mess. Or, perhaps they're new at that agency, and just feels uncomfortable asking just yet, it could be anything. If you encounter a "no" or resistance...move on. Is this worth jeopardizing a friendship? That is a question you must ask yourself.

Of course, the answer could just as easily be, "Of course!!! Bring me your stuff, and I'll drop it off." Then the rest is up to you.

You have options, I have presented 3 solid ones...I'm sure there are others. Be creative, bold and persistent. If you want it bad enough...it'll happen.

Promise.

The Audition, part II

Very often, your booking the job, or not, has occurred before you have spoken your first line.

What?

Walking in the door and taking your space is almost more important than the actual audition itself.

How is your posture? Are you confident? Are you apologizing for being there?

TAKE THE SPACE. It is YOURS for those few minutes. Be unafraid at presenting the best YOU you can be, while still maintaining a sincere, professional connection with others in the room.

Shaking hands: Do you? or not?

My rule: LET THEM dictate.

What do I do? I enter the room with a warm, friendly, sincere, "Hello" and a genuine smile. If they (and this is where our observation skills as actors pay off) move towards you and offer their hand to shake it? TAKE IT.

If not? DON'T

...and move on.

Now here's the thing...if they DO NOT shake your hand...you CANNOT take it personally! Think about this: in these times of OCD, SARS and Swine Flu...some people are just a little uncomfortable with physical contact, OR, maybe they have something they don't want to give to you.

Bottom Line:

Don't make it a big deal if the shake doesn't happen. It's about the work, and NOT the hand shake. Don't let it rattle you. Be confident, show your work, be you.

It's funny, I have overheard actors bitching about how rude an agent, or a CD was because they chose NOT to shake the actors hand.

"I couldn't believe how rude they were! I held out my hand and they said to me, 'I'm sorry I don't shake hands.' - DO YOU BELIEVE THAT!? I didn't know what to do. That ruined my audition. (S)He's a jerk!"

really?

All that?

Cuz of a handshake?

Don't let the little things distract you from why you are really there, and what you are looking to accomplish.

And you may have to ask yourself a hard question: Are you LOOKING for something to blame? In other words, fear of success can rear it's head in strange and unusual ways. By finding some insignificant thing to blame your "botched" audition on releases you of the responsibility of presenting your best work. DON'T DO THAT! Be responsible for the amazing work for which you are capable!

Focus, and let nothing steer you from a successful audition.