In this week’s video, I’ll address a question I get asked a lot. “How do you keep fear from getting in the way of your best work when you haven’t worked in a while?”

What if you reach your goal, achieve your wildest dreams and you still feel the same? Shouldn’t you feel differently? Better? Awesome? Well, that’s not always the case. Just because you booked the part, shot the scene, got some recognition or a great new agent, doesn’t mean you will suddenly feel like a whole new person. But, the goal is to feel confident inside no matter what happens in your career.

An acting career is expensive with countless places to invest your cold hard cash. And if you’re like most actors, you want to put everything you can toward classes, subscriptions, and events but you don’t actually have a system in place designed to help you avoid over-spending so you can put your money where it matters most.

This has to be one of my favorite posts of the year! I developed this exercise to allow you to take stock of the year behind you and acknowledge all the amazing things you accomplished. It will also help you to kick start the new year with excitement and vision. So sit back, relax and get ready to Celebrate + Create!

So you’re ready to get paid for your acting but you’re the only who knows it? Not to worry. The problem is the solution here. Making this transition can be a powerful way to step up in your career. Check out this week’s Acting Business Bite to find out a graceful and seamless way to let your collaborators know you are looking to be paid for your work – whatever pay means to you.

Do you spend more time worrying about the obstacles to your goals than actually taking action to achieve them? Well, this Week’s Biz Bite lets you glean some advice from one of my favorite beings. This special someone has a lot to teach us all about being persistent no matter what setbacks may occur along the way. Watch this week’s Acting Business Bite to learn how to adjust your strategy when you get bumped off course.

As an artist, inspiration is your strongest muscle.  The more you act into your inspiration, the more it will serve you.  Inspired action sounds so freeing and spontaneous, but it’s not as easy as it sounds. How often does an inspired action pop into your head and then you begin to plan, contemplate, complain, or over-analyze the probability of this idea actually working? You convince yourself right into giving up before you even try.

So many actors just want to work. If you’ve been thinking about creating your own web-series, short film, or feature in order to take control of your career, I’ve got a few tips for you on how to leverage the final product once it’s shot and ready to be released. Learn More with This Week’s Acting Business Bite.

When was the last time a big problem, obstacle or fear prevented you from taking action? If you’re like most people, more often than not, obstacles either stop you from living large or at the very least, distract you from your goals. What if I told you that the big obstacle that’s preventing you from taking action could easily be turned into the motivation you need to do the very thing you’re afraid of? What if I told you that the problem is actually the solution? I first heard of this concept from a student of acting coach Cameron Thor. She explained to me that Cameron encourages his actors to turn their perceived obstacles into opportunities to improve their craft. He teaches them to turn the problem into the solution. Okay, so what does “the problem is the solution” really mean? Let me share an example. If you don’t know the best way to stay in touch with your agent, don’t suffer through trying to figure it out on your own. Don’t try and guess what your agent wants. Simply ask your agent. The problem: “I don’t know how I should be communicating with my agent.” The solution: “Hey agent, I want to make sure I keep up my end of the bargain, and I’m not sure of the best way to communicate with you. So, I’m just going to ask; what’s the best way to stay in touch?” So now instead of avoiding your agent because you’re afraid of reaching out inappropriately, you can channel your fears and use your desire for clarity as the very reason why you reach out. The problem is indeed the solution, and you can apply this principle to all areas of your career and your life. A lot of actors struggle to bridge the gap between knowing people personally and working with them professionally. The problem here is that the fear that your industry friends may think you’re using them, right? So, instead of giving your friends the opportunity to decide for themselves if they’d like to help your acting career, you simply…[ click here to read the full post ]

The Art of the Cover Letter. Let’s face it… writing a cover letter feels like walking a tight rope. Striking the perfect balance between charming and professional, tooting your own horn without bragging, and cramming all the essential information onto one page takes a lot of work! Now, you can take your cover letter from ordinary to excellent with four simple and effective tips in my latest Acting Business Bite Video. Following these sure-fire tips will give you CONFIDENCE in your Cover Letter and make it stand out from the rest. **Note from Dallas** I know it seems obvious, but just in case… Please know that when I say “Dear Casting Director”, I’m implying that you should insert this person’s name in your salutation. Once you’ve got my fool-proof cover letter formula, who is the first person you’re going to send your new and improved cover letter to? Tell me in the comment box below the video.