On top of maintaining and improving skill with training. And on top of preparing and sending in audition tapes. And on top of grooming, eating right, working out, etc. There is a heck of a lot more that an actor or parent of an actor should be attending to. The business side of an acting career is vitally important. Do not forgot this. While the Actor is responsible for 100% of the creative output. They are also responsible for 80-90% of the business duties. An agent or manager realistically should only carry the load of the commission percentage they earn. Although, we all know, they do much, much more.

Networking is a crucial ingredient to any business.

Products need marketing. Only in this instance, the actor is the commodity.

I teach this to some of my kids in class this way.

I used to sell houses so lets relate this concept to real estate.

When a house is for sale it is usually put on a Multiple Listing Service that is accessible to Real Estate Agents.

Sort of like Actors Access/Breakdowns.

On that listing there is detailed information about the home. The home’s history, it’s features, desirable attributes.

Not unlike a RESUME

There are beautiful photos of the exterior and interior. Taken in great light, showing flattering angles.

Sounds like HEADSHOTS, huh?

There are video footage and drone footage used to see the property in useful relatable, human terms.

Just like demo clips or a reel.

Often there is a website with all this information listed as well.

Actors have websites as well

This is the cheapest and easiest place to make and host an actor website

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Realtors often advertise on Instagram or Facebook to engage or network with their circle.

An actor should use social media for the same purpose

(ran by a parent if actor is a minor).

Potential buyers decide they want to see it up close and schedule a viewing.

THE AUDITION

They may come back with relatives as well to get more opinions.

Just like the callback process.

Virtually the same stuff, the house cannot begin to get seen by the right buyers until it has all the fantastic marketing elements that it needs to show off it's potential and awesome traits.

Actors should have these sharp and effective marketing materials

(Headshots, Reel, Clips, Profiles, Websites, Resume)

to stay on top of the minds of the Industry participants

(Producers, Casting Directors, etc)

who can create opportunities for the actor?

This is Networking 101.

In a saturated market you must keep your product on the front of the minds of the consumers.

At least once a quarter (four times a year) you should be sending something out to stay connected.

To whom you might ask.

This is where having a list or spreadhseet comes in handy.

Do you keep an Audition log with names of Casting Directors you have auditioned for?
Or do you use a submission report from your agent or manager to target the casting offices you want to meet but havent yet?
Are you keeping track of the various producers, directors, writers, etc that you have meet or made a connection with?

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Just click the image.

If the answer is NO, then you have some work to do. This is a very easy list to create and add to.

There are many ways to reach out to those on your list.

Use Social Media Direct Messages - but make sure you target a professional account instead of a personal one if possible.
Send an Email to their work email address
Use Twitter to tweet a link.
You can even go old school and snail mail a postcard or send handwritten notes.

You have to create a reason for this correspondence.

We aren’t blindly just shoving our materials out there like junk mail.

You just got back new headshots
You have a premeire date for a TV appearance or a Fillm opening
You want to invite them to see you in a stage performance or workshop
You are in a new web series that you are proud of
You created some content and want to send a link to the youtube or vimeo clip.
You just cut a new reel.
You joined the Union.
You passed the CHSPE and are now a legal adult that looks young.
You tested for a TV series.
You signed with a new agency or management company.
You moved to a major production hub.
You have quotable great feedback from a Casting Director, Producer or Director.

Anything you send has to be relevant to your acting career.

Whatever type of communication you send out it must include:

A current headshot
A link to your Actors Access profile
Email address to your talent reps
Any video should be sent as a link and not an attachment
You can use a link tree to give access to multiple sources of material

If you are giving a link to your Social Media or using a Social Media Account to network make sure that you are not using a personal account. The account should be pertaining to your acting career. It should be clean. You should curate the content so the important, relevant and eye-catching posts are all you see.

For Minors - THIS MUST BE A PARENT RUN ACCOUNT

Can you make effective, creative, eye popping graphic material?

Sending a One sheet or a timely Holiday Greeting is another reason to send to those on your networking list.

These networking activities are somewhat cringey to a lot of actors and parents. It feels pushy or sales oriented.

But the fact is - IT IS EXPECTED.

If you use your judgement, there is little room to anger or annoy anyone on your list.

Timing is everything and you never know when this message may be coming at the perfect time to benefit you.

So where do you get all this contact information?

Google is your best friend.
There are services like CASTING ABOUT that list Casting Office information.
You can ask your Talent Reps. You can use Social Media.
And you can make a habit out of asking how to reach somebody that you want to keep in touch with when you are in front of them.

GOOGLE IT

I always Google before asking someone

This topic is wildly under-discussed.

It is also wildly under-utilized.

It begins with making materials sharp and in order. The right headshots, great clips, clean casting profiles.

Then you use that polished material to effectively and creatively stay in people’s minds.

Simple.

Be Genuine Always.