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We have limited time in our days, weeks, and months, right? As actors so often that time is filled with work we are doing just to pay the bills to support our acting career. We have 24 hours in a day-- which can sometimes feel like a lot, sometimes a little. You have more control over your time than you may think. How are you spending yours and how might you be able to make a shift to get more done and find time to rest and recharge so you are ready and confident to book more of the work you want? Below are three ways to Make More out of the Time You have.  Daily & Weekly Actions
Be sure that the actions you take in your career are actually worth your time and are not you throwing spaghetti against the wall. How can you tell the difference? What is the current goal you are working towards? What are all the actions you need to take (building relationships, attending auditions, practicing mindset, creating marketing materials) to achieve that goal? Eliminate the actions you are taking that are not working. If you’re not sure, get another pair of eyes on your action plan. Consider working with a career coach or mentor - enrollment for the #GlobalActor Power Groups opens up soon - who can help you get crystal clear on your goals and the actions you need to take to achieve them. Find Your Ideal Actor Day Job You don’t HAVE to wait tables, temp or work another non-acting related job to support your acting career. If you’ve found a day job you love, well, then keep going, skip this section :) But if you’re NOT in love with your day job, may I offer the day job that shifted everything for me? Narrating audiobooks! The audiobook industry is EXPLODING right now and shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. What better way to put your craft to work on a daily basis? Through narrating audiobooks I’ve become the breadwinner in my family AND have a solid income source that I can turn up or down depending on the other acting work coming my way. Focus, Flex & Free Time This is my jam for infusing my week with both rest and productivity. It’s scientifically proven that the human brain can only focus for a certain # of hours per day. That said, organize your schedule with 2 hour chunks of FOCUS time for the big rocks, the actions that require the most effort from you and will ultimately provide the biggest results. You may only be able to fit one or two of these blocks in per day. Flex time is time where you are working but maybe your focus is not so intense-- checking emails, updating social media, errands for work, etc. Free time is just that. Put boundaries around daily free time so that your body and mind have time to rest and recharge so that you are ready to focus again when it’s time. Which of the 3 above will you explore this week? Let me know in the comments below!
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I booked a BIG job last week which made me realize that my long-term vision is coming to fruition.
Why am I telling you? Because it was all made possible when I got super clear on what I really wanted and set a crystal-clear, vivid vision in place. AND guess what? I know that whatever your long-term vision is... it's possible for you! Whether you know your vision or not, dive into this FB LIVE recently shared inside the #GlobalActors FB group for inspiration and actionable steps on creating and moving towards the just-right vision for you. I break down the actions I took so that YOU can put your plan in place for what YOU truly want. Bonus: Also included in this video are some additional Q & A on the topics of agent/actor relationships, self-submitting and more. Want to catch the next FB LIVE? Be sure to join us inside the FREE #GlobalActors FB Group!  Welcome to the 8th and final week of #VoiceoverCamp! In this episode we dive into the good stuff—- BOOKING A GIG! So you’ve booked your first Voiceover gig… now what?! Amy Russ, of Actor-Webs, and I are here to prepare you with what you can expect! This video will equip you with the expectations of a self recorded gig vs an in-person session, some tips and tricks for your first booking, and some mindset essentials to help you stay super confident! Let’s dive in! “Trust yourself, you did really well. Roll with the punches”
Congratulations! I want to hear all about it. Let me know what you think in the comments below! And an extra congratulations!! You’ve made it through the #VoiceoverCamp series! Already miss these videos? You can always watch it all again here, Voiceover Camp Series. It’s not too late to grab your Free VO Starter Kit! Click the button below and download it today!!  Ah, the age-old demo question… If this is your first foray into VO and you don’t have a ton of professional recordings at your fingertips, you DO have options. Check out this week’s video for the answer to this big question. BONUS: If you’re looking for a place to have your demo done, I know just the place! Just hit play :) Ready to test the waters and start developing a reel? Let me know in the comments below!
And of course, if you need a little refresher on #VoiceoverCamp you can click here to catch up on the series! Don’t hesitate to click the button below and download your free Voiceover starter kit today!  Are you ready to audition for your first Voiceover gig but you’re not sure what to expect? We’ve all been there… new experiences can definitely be intimidating! So that’s why Amy Russ, from the Actor-Webs, and I discuss What to Expect at a VO Audition as we begin to wrap up our #VoiceoverCamp series. Of course, every audition is different. So, for this episode we discuss the differences between an in-person vs. recorded audition, how to prep, and some resources to check out before auditioning. Pro Tip: An improvisation class can be very beneficial in order to crush your first audition. We get into that and a whole lot more! Check it out! So give these tips a try and let me know how it works in practice at your next voiceover audition!
And remember, if you need a little refresher on what we’ve covered so far, you can check out the full Voiceover Camp Series here! The Free VO Starter Kit is still up for grabs! Be sure to download it now!  So, you’re ready to get serious about a career in VO, yeah? Do you wonder about the different types of gigs you will be auditioning for? In Episode 4 of #VoiceoverCamp - a summer-long #AskAnExpert series with Amy Russ, from the Actor-Webs, we get into it! If you missed our first few videos, check them out here. So what excites YOU? The world of commercials, audiobook narration, animation?
Let us know in the comments! Remember, VO isn’t just reading out loud. It’s a medium that allows you to get creative, play, and guys, it is SO MUCH FUN! Stay tuned for next week's blog as we continue to share even more about VO. Be sure to grab your complimentary copy of the VO Starter Kit now!  This one goes out to all those actors attending large combined auditions this season. Whether a summer stock/educational theater type gathering (i.e.Strawhats, NETC, SETC, Midwest Theatre auditions) or a regional theater consortium (i.e. Unifieds, StageSource, etc.) these large auditions can be a fabulous opportunity to make an impression and begin relationships with several theaters, casting offices or productions companies at once.
How you make the most of an audition like this is up to you, but I’d love to share an outline of the process I use with my power group clients. When followed completely, these steps have led to dozens of bookings and callbacks. Research (8-10 weeks before audition) Once you’ve decided on which audition you will be attending, and have registered, determine if a list of attending producers is available. Who will be there? If a list is not available, is there one from the previous year? Begin to research each company- check out their website. What shows/projects are in their upcoming season? Do a few companies stand out as specific to your skill set and current level? Do you have relationships with any company? Do you know someone who may be able to introduce you ahead of time, or whose name you may be able to mention in a callback situation. Create a target list of the companies you’d specifically like to begin relationships with. This research may continue through the next couple months as more info (i.e. season announcements) become available. Preparation (4-8 weeks before audition) Based on your research, decide on an audition piece(s) that will showcase you in the best light possible. If a company is producing a play that house your dream role? Find a piece that that play and stand out! Brief comedic pieces typically work best on these busy auditions days. Work your pieces with an acting coach (I have some availability if you're looking for a coach), and make a plan to perform your audition piece(s) for several small audiences (handfuls of friends/family) before audition day. Is the audition time? If so, be time be sure to make proper cuts so you are well under the time limit. If callbacks take place on the day of, be sure to have a range of back-up monologues/songs ready to go. If you are a dancer or move well decide on fab dancewear, and jump into class, if you're not in one already. Postcard Reachout (2-4 weeks) Now that your audition pieces are ready to go and you are clear on which companies you’d like to pursue, reach out to the companies on your target list with a brief postcard introducing yourself (I like the TouchNote app ), your website (if you have one), and what day/time they can expect you at the audition (i.e. “I look forward to auditioning for you at UPTAs in Chicago on Thursday afternoon, January 27.”) Audition Day Ensure a full night’s sleep the night before the audition, then begin your day bright & early. Make time to fit in a quick workout (if your audition is not super early). Complete a full physical & vocal warm-up before you arrive at the audition site. Bring healthy snacks, water and whatever positively fuels you- maybe headphones & music that pumps you up and cools you down. If callbacks are a possibility at this audition be sure to bring several headshots, resumes and other promotional materials you might like to share. Bring something to take notes in, as you’ll want to remember actors, directors, volunteers and producers you meet. Check-in well in advance of your audition time, and do whatever you need to ground yourself. Deliver your audition with the best of who you are. If callbacks come up that day, remember “they already like you!” Follow-Up (1-3 days after audition) Be sure to follow-up on any callbacks you may have received as well as any companies on your target list with a heartfelt hand-written thank-you note. As you build an Industry Contact List, be sure to include the directors, producers, casting professionals you met at this audition and loop them into future updates you send out. You've got this! Break a leg and let us know how it goes :) Head on over to the #GlobalActors FB Community and fill us in. With Joy & Inspiration ~ Elise  Are you a musician as well as an actor and singer? If so, I'm sure you've been noticing the call for more and more actor/singer/musicians in the theater today- from John Doyle's Sondheim productions to shows like ONCE and NATASHA, PIERRE & THE GREAT COMET OF 1812. And what a great way to set yourself apart from the herd in this competitive business! If you're ready to market yourself as an actor/singer/musician, you have a special opportunity to stand out and book work that few others can. So, how can you make the best first impression auditioning with your instrument? Check out this week's video below for what is being asked of you in these kinds of auditions! I'm interviewing Erica Spyres who takes us through the step-by-step process of what it was like to audition and be cast in the National Tour of ONCE! (Be sure to follow her, as she makes her upcoming Broadway debut in CAROUSEL!) Watch it now! So what do you think? Now that you've got some tried & true tips, select a song or two that would seriously show off your musicianship and personality on your favorite instrument, and let me know how it goes, in the comments below. Stay tuned for more from Erica next week and in the meantime check her out at ericaspyres.com Welcome back for Episode 3 - #BookACoStar series. You'll want to check out Episode 1 and Epidose 2 before watching this week's video. So, you've been marketing and networking to your target list and auditions are beginning to roll in... You continue to plug away, continuously honing your craft, developing relationships and auditioning well --- this leads to that booking! You've done it- you've booked your co-star role! Now what?! In this week's video, John Cramer (House of Cards, Blue Bloods, OITNB) shares his ProTips to help you best prepare for and execute a fine performance for your upcoming Co-Star shoot! Check it out! So there you have it!
You can connect with John on Twitter @johncramer and facebook.com/johntcramer. Find his work and sign up for his updates at: www.johnthomascramer.com Be sure to tune in next week for another episode and please share your #BookACoStar thoughts in comments below! So, you're a trained actor, you've met some Casting Directors... Now, how the heck do you get yourself on Network television?! Or Streaming for that matter? This week's guest, John Cramer (House of Cards, Orange is the New Black, SVU, Blue Bloods, The Leftovers), is super generous in sharing his booking secrets. If you are ready to finally book that first co-star, or second or third, you'll want to check out this video! Join us next week for more on John's journey including how he specifically targets specific casting directors in order to book on multiple television shows. You can connect with John on Twitter @johncramer on Facebook @johntcramer and find his work at www.johnthomascramer.com If this episode finds you motivated to book TV work, let's talk! I still have one or two spots left in my #GlobalActor Power Group- your opportunity for super-affordable, valuable career coaching. Check it out here and contact me ASAP if you want in! |
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