The first thing you have to know about acting is that you have to market yourself if you want to get anywhere. You may have great talent, but it doesn’t do you any good if no one knows about it. So, you have to act aggressively if you want to act at all. There are various tools at your disposal to build your own personal network of resources and people who may be able to help you. Here are some things you can do now to kickstart your career:
- Create a Resume: You need to put down on paper everything you’ve ever done as an actor or in show business in general. No part is too small to include. Do you have any special skills: stunts, magic tricks, singing and dancing, a musical instrument, a foreign language, or perhaps an unusual physical feature? Don’t hold anything back. Fit it all on one sheet of paper so you can attach it to the back of your headshot. Format your resume to suit the genre you are in: film, TV, or theater.
- Get a Headshot: Use a photographer recommended to you from someone you respect. The headshot should look like you, the current you. If you send a photo that doesn’t resemble you, you are just wasting everybody’s time. Use a digital, 8×10 color photo that is not obviously Photoshopped. As a member of the local actor’s union (you ARE a member, aren’t you?) you can contact the union to find the name of a good photographer. You can also check the tradepapers, especially if you are in New York or LA.
- Make Contact: Secure a list of show business sales leads from a reputable seller. You are looking to make yourself known to casting directors, producers, agents, and talent scouts, among others. Work the sales leads by placing phone calls and mailing packets containing your resume, headshot, business card, a cover letter and clippings of any favorable reviews you have received. Follow up with post cards requesting a face-to-face meeting. The postcard should be a printed photo of yourself, different from the headshot. Send out a fresh set every quarter.
- Create a Website: Nothing beats a custom website to make yourself known to other industry professionals. You can hire people to create your website and fill it with content for a very reasonable price. If you have video clips of your work, be sure to include these, along with photos arranged in a slide-show format. A recording of your voice giving a greeting message can be a very nice touch. It is best to purchase a domain name that easily identifies you, such as www.joeactor.com.