The life an actor can be quite unpredictable.  You might have your whole day structured perfectly and then a last minute audition throws your planning out the window.  Most actors can agree that flexibility is crucial when it comes to your day job, your rehearsal schedule, and even your down time with family and friends, but flexibility can also create a major drawback to your acting business. Many actors are allergic to structure.  With a desire to stay open to unforeseen auditions and bookings, too many actors live week to week with no plan in place. Instead, you spend your days simply reacting to what happens around you rather than proactively creating the career you desire.  Without a structured plan, it’s too difficult to measure how far you’ve come, to know precisely where you stand, and to visualize what’s possible for your future. The secret to juggling your day job and your personal commitments with your acting opportunities is structure.  And though it may sound like an impossible notion, structure will truly set you free. Imagine two people with no improvisation training attempting to improvise together.  Sure, they may create some funny moments, but the best improvisation happens when all players operate with the same rulebook.  You must know some basic guidelines before you can create incredible improvisation. The same is true with your time.  If you feel like there aren’t enough hours in the day, you probably lack the structure you need to make the most of your time. So let me share three tips to help you create structure in your life while leaving plenty of room for creativity, flexibility, and of course, auditions and bookings. 1.   Start a Slush Fund Reserve ninety minutes of open space on your calendar each day.  This will allow you to catch up on tasks when you run behind schedule and move appointments easily when auditions arise.  With the extra time built in already, unexpected changes won’t stress you out. If you have a day job, you can bookend that commitment with extra slush-fund time.  This way, if an audition arises, you…[ click here to read the full post ]

Even in this age of Facebook, Twitter, smartphones and iPads, traditional media outlets still have a lot of sway.  You can bet that a large portion of the news you read everyday comes directly from press releases crafted by publicists, media experts, and even interns.  That’s how news happens. Publicists use press releases to share current and compelling information with the news media.  Celebrities, large corporations, political figures, and even small businesses rely on press releases to communicate with the general public.  As an actor, you too, can utilize press releases to make a splash!  Whether you want to garner interviews and media attention, or you just want to inform certain industry contacts, press releases are a great addition to your marketing arsenal. So, I’d like to share three quick tips to help you make the most of press releases. It’s All About Perception People often perceive the information in a press release as “newsworthy” simply because it’s presented in an official format.  The next time you send a mailing, use a press release instead of a postcard or headshot and cover letter.  The release itself provides validity to the reader. Bypass the media all together and mail, email, or fax your press release out to the industry contacts you want to stay in touch with.  I don’t know about you, but I find it easier to toot my own horn in a press release rather than a personal letter. Not every press release is sure to result in a news article, interview, or review, but the release itself can be a very valuable marketing tool for actors at every level. Get Back to Your Roots Sure, Variety may not be interested in the co-star you just booked, but your hometown newspaper will eat that report up! Reach out to hometown publications, smaller news outlets, Internet outlets, and your alma mater to generate some media buzz.  The Internet is home to thousands of media outlets begging for quality material.  You might be surprised by how easy it is to get your release published online.  You can then use the articles featured…[ click here to read the full post ]