Actor Business: Let’s Self-Promote!
The whole point of our actor “business” is to fully understand how to promote ourselves so that we are in positions to be seen and then, ideally, be considered for roles.
So, as actors, what is our role in this business process? And what is our Agent’s role? We really do count on our agent to promote us and to create audition activity for us. BUT… as I’ve said for years, it’s nearly impossible for them to take 10% of your earnings and for you to expect they’re working for you 90% of the time. Don’t begrudge them. Let’s take some initiative!
Understanding the Promotion Philosophy
First, let’s answer the questions which cause fear in our actor population:
- How do I promote myself?
- What is the best way to do so?
- How do I know I’m being seen?
- Is there a really good/bad time to self-promote?
With promotion, I can tell you the effort is necessary because all it takes is one call, one e-mail, one referral and…BOOM! Audition! Your aim is to create awareness of YOU and how you as a product are compared to all the other products out there which all want to be seen by writers, producers, directors, ad agency people.
I’m an advocate for shooting with a rifle, not a shotgun. Promotion is some version of the following: Snail Mail, Phone, Referral, A REAL referral, In-person, Social media. Again, it’s not just what you do, it’s how you do it.
Never Stop Promoting!
I bother with self-promotion when I get cast. When I’m booked as a guest-star on a TV show, I let people know. I want them to know that I’m CASTABLE!
Within your promotion efforts, you will create a “target” list. A list of people that you’ve never met. They’re strangers but you want to make anyone on that list aware OF YOU. Times have changed. Your efforts to advance your career need to be targeted because today, all of us actors are dealing with hundreds and hundreds of entities in casting and production.
The keys to promotion are planning and execution with THE consistent repetition of these two things!