What Ought to You Do Subsequent Now That The Strikes Are Over
by Brette Goldstein, Casting Director/Producer
Strike has ended! Hooray!
Listed here are some useful suggestions for getting issues in movement over the subsequent few weeks!
Ensure your casting software program profiles are up to date and fabulous. Casting Administrators usually tend to view profiles on casting software program platforms first, fairly than take the time to analyze a lot of particular person web sites, so prioritize these used most regularly in your market.
Are your pics really consultant of who you’re NOW? (After a couple of years, a world pandemic which can have included probably homeschooling your kids for the higher a part of a yr or extra…you catch my drift.)
Is your major picture that your reps use the first picture you’d like them to make use of? (This often comes as a shock to actors once they see what their reps are utilizing as a major headshot.)
Is your resume up to date, straightforward to learn, and freed from spelling, punctuation, and grammatical errors?
Are you making sensible, intelligent use of your bio field on Actors Entry? What concerning the “About” line on Casting Networks? Maybe extra about that on a future weblog. (Or test my IG reels..I do know I’ve created a reel on that subject. It’s there on the grid someplace.)
Does your Media really train US how one can solid YOU? Is it a real reflection of the place your Wheelhouse meets your Wishlist meets your Market? (Take into consideration registering for my Manner Past Sort class at Actors Connection for extra on this.)
Is your whole media – clips, reels, audio tracks, and many others. – labeled nicely? If I’m having a look at your whole media directly, is it overwhelming by way of amount and/or obscure labeling, or would I be capable of go on to the clip I want or am within the temper to see? (In my specific case/style it’ll almost certainly all the time be a single-cam comedy clip.)
Do your particular expertise mirror your present proficiency?
Subsequent!
Be acutely aware, empathetic, and particular in your communication. Casting Administrators are developing for air post-strike. They’re additionally being inundated with “Hey! Strike’s over! Preserve me in thoughts!” emails. Listed here are some recommendations on e mail communication:
Make e mail updates related to the recipient. For instance, in case you’re sending an e mail to a casting director that primarily casts community procedurals, they’re more likely to be much less involved in your newest business or VO demo reel. Ship them what you suppose will encourage them to name you in for what they’re casting now. This finally could imply segmenting your e mail checklist.
I might additionally advocate treating emails like postcards from approach again when. You didn’t anticipate a reply to a postcard for essentially the most half, proper? I’d even kick it up a notch by closing your emails with a touch of empathy. You possibly can say one thing to the impact of, “I understand how busy you should be proper now. Please don’t really feel like it’s essential reply in any respect. Simply dropping a line to test in with you and contact base. Have an ideal Thanksgiving if we don’t join beforehand!” One thing like that. If you happen to acknowledge that you just’re not a hearth that must be put out – figuring out that our inboxes usually really feel precisely like that – and that there’s no want to jot down again, I can’t converse for others however I do know I might write again if I had a couple of minutes! Why? Since you get it! Additionally, empathy rocks.
If you happen to’re emailing a casting director, think about sending a self-tape or clip of one thing that reveals that you just work on the earth of no matter they’re casting.
Additionally, suppose long run with regards to constructing relationships. The very first thing that involves thoughts for me is being sensible with regards to inviting trade to reveals, readings, screenings, and many others. Let’s say you’re doing a present downtown. A brand new play. You get by means of tech and first preview. It’s simply okay. The writing is okay, however not improbable and the solid is a little bit uneven. You’re nice…after all you’re nice! However there are some elements, together with the set, that, nicely, aren’t.
Right here’s my recommendation.
Inform the casting director that already is aware of and likes you that you just simply completed a run of a present however selected to not invite them to this one since you weren’t positive it might be their cup of tea. You simply wish to allow them to know you performed a very compelling main function in a latest manufacturing of a brand new play. You didn’t need them to come back see a present that general was a little bit uneven. You already know they like your work and also you wish to respect their time.
That could be a reward. And infrequently, if ever, occurs. Attempt it! It’s one nice solution to construct and foster knowledgeable relationship over time.
Subsequent!
If you happen to’re searching for illustration, hold your eye out for brokers and managers who’ve moved to new corporations or began their very own. Discovering illustration is likely to be difficult proper now. Reps will wish to deal with the shoppers for whom they’ve been unable to get work because of the strike. There could also be few reps which can be champing on the bit to carry on new shoppers proper now.
That stated, it is vitally potential that people bought laid off through the strike and will probably be shifting to new workplaces when work picks up, and even venturing out on their very own. And guess who’s throughout that? ACTORS CONNECTION! They are going to carry reps in for workshops and seminars. Look out for “New to this workplace!” within the workshop header. You’ll must register shortly as these workshops are in excessive demand. I wouldn’t wait, although. And right here’s why.
It is a generalization, however I feel two issues occur once we get a brand new job.
1. We’re comparatively excited concerning the alternative and alter of surroundings.
2. We do what we are able to to “make it our personal”. This may occasionally imply signing or freelancing with new people. Additionally – and once more, it is a enormous generalization – many people lose that preliminary glow and enthusiasm after a couple of months at a brand new job.
Register early for these workshops. They are going to replenish shortly, and as soon as a rep has signed on new actors, they might must take a pause and deal with their roster. Get in whereas the vitality is excessive!
That’s my recommendation for now! Regulate my IG @brettegoldstein. Heaps and plenty of suggestions there. Preserve kicking butt and taking names! I’m in your facet!