5 Mistakes Actors Make That Block Success

Hey there Bold One, Today I’m going to give you a breakdown of how to go from a surviving, scraping-by actor to a thriving working actor using 5 Pillars of a Thriving Acting Career: Mindset, Marketing, Branding, Networking, & Community. You’ll also get actionable things that you can do for each of these pillars.

Some of you might already know, I’m an American actor living and working in Germany. I was 47 when I returned to acting after having been a working actor in America. When you’re pushing 50, that’s well past the conventional expiration date for a female actor and therefore technically, with nothing to offer as a woman in showbiz. Hollywood or otherwise. But I beg to differ. I think women and men over 45 have a lot to offer that goes way beyond just skin deep.

Here I am, 9 years later, and am proud to say I belong to the 2% of actors who make their living entirely from their art. I’m not saying this to brag, though I am proud of what I’ve accomplished. I’m saying it so you know it’s possible. If I can do it, so can you, and I did it using the principles that I’m about to outline for you.

In this episode, you’re going to learn the 5 pillars of a thriving acting career, their importance, and how they relate to one another. You’ll also learn a few strategies for each pillar that you can put into immediate action.

So once again, the 5 pillars of a thriving acting career are Mindset, Marketing, Branding, Networking, and Community. Think of them like a family - each pillar is integral to the others but can also stand on its own. Mindset is the mother because everything stems from that. That’s why it’s the first pillar. If you don’t have the right mindset, forget everything else.

Mindset

You’ve got to get your mindset in the right place before you start. You must get into the practice of grooming your mindset so that it supports you and your dreams instead of stamping them out. I have a quote by Henry Ford on my cellphone that I look at almost daily,

"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't - you're right."

Now, I don’t care much about cars but I do believe in what Henry said.

Goals are an important step in mindset, but it’s even more important to put systems in place so that your actions support your aspirations. One of my favorite mindset exercises is the 90-Day Letter, a powerful exercise in which you write a letter to yourself from 90 days in the future as if you have already accomplished the goals you set for that period. The purpose of the exercise is to help you clarify your goals and visualize what success looks and feels like, which can motivate you to take action toward achieving those goals. It can also help you identify any potential obstacles or challenges that you may face along the way and develop a plan to overcome them. I did a whole video on the 90-Day letter which includes a free downloadable 5-page worksheet. I’ll link to it in the show notes.

Branding

Marketing and Branding are fraternal twins or opposite sides of the same coin. They’re different but, one without the other won’t get you very far. Unless your branding is on point, you can do all the marketing you want but either no one is going to want what you’re selling or, if you’ve been misrepresenting yourself, when someone does buy into your brand, they’re going to feel cheated.

Branding really boils down to two things, your inner characteristics - these are your essence and values. The things that remain constant throughout your life - basically they’re who you are. And your outer characteristics, meaning your appearance, way of speaking, and personality. Both of these obviously play a huge role in the types of roles you get cast in. Authenticity is the word of the decade. That’s why casting directors are always going on about “your essence” or “your energy.” These things are just part of the makeup of who you are so you need to embrace them.

For example, someone who has a fun, energetic personality might get cast in comedies or more lighthearted roles. On the other hand, someone who has a more serious demeanor might get cast in more intense, dramatic roles. Of course neither of these are hard and fast rules.

Second, an actor's personal values can also come into play when choosing which roles to take on. For instance, if you’re really passionate about social justice, you might be more drawn characters who fight for a cause. Or if your values lean more towards family and relationships, you might be more drawn to roles that involve strong emotional connections.

Your brand is all about accepting and loving how you’re perceived by your audience. There are ways to change people's perceptions, but first, you have to know and accept what they are. If you’re interested in learning more about “Branding for Actors” here’s a FREE workbook that will definitely help you nail down your niche as an actor.

Marketing

Once you know your type, you can begin to market yourself so that the jobs you get are aligned with your outward branding as well as your inner values. Marketing includes all the things you do to represent yourself; your headshots, showreels, casting portals, websites, and social media.

Networking is the pillar that most actors don’t think is within their control but that’s just not true. Too many actors make the mistake of relying on their agent to do the work of building connections for them for them. But it’s your career. You must be in control of it. In fact, the better your network the more value you bring to an agent or manager, putting you in a strategic position to get a better agent or manager.

It’s imperative for actors to be proactive about their careers. You must make connections with people who are in a position to either offer you a role, like directors, showrunners, and producers as well as casting directors so that your name is front of mind when it comes to getting an invite to an audition. It’s human nature. People like to work with people they like.

How can you get in touch with these decision-makers? Reach out. Ask people you know who they know. If you have IMDbPro you can search for what is being shot in your region and then reach out to the filmmakers. Often, directors and producers will use the same casting director over and over again (remember? People like to work with people they like.) So even if you don’t see a casting director listed, you could check out who cast their last film or series and send them your materials.

Just about every city has a film commission where they list films that are in pre-production. These are a wealth of information. Once you know who the filmmakers are you reach them through their website, social media, LinkedIn, or even better, film events like festivals where you can meet them in person.

When actors and agents make posts about actor’s bookings on social media they almost always include the name of the casting director who cast them as well as other important members of the film team like the director and producer. Keep a file of these names and the shows they cast and send them your materials. If you get cast in a production, make sure to keep your call sheet. This is a gold-mine of information. Ask other actors to let you know what they’re auditioning for or better yet, make sure all your acting friends know that you are available to help them with an audition. I know of several actors who got roles in films and series because they read with a colleague who said, “you know what? You would be perfect for the role of such and such and I just happen to have that scene in my sides packet.”

Make sure you keep a spreadsheet of all your connections including how you met them, what actions you’ve taken, such as sending them a link to your materials, or a letter of introduction, etc. how they responded, and any personal details that will give you talking points at a later time and date.

I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase when everyone is zigging you should zag? Well, everyone, and I mean everyone these days sends their material electronically. Invest in some postcards and send them by snail mail. You’ll stand out from the crowd. That is a guaranteed way to make sure that before your postcard ends up in the trash someone in that office will have seen your face and if it’s right for a project, they will look you up. This brings me to my next point and it may seem like an obvious one. Make sure that you are findable. I interview a lot of casting directors and I can’t tell you how often they complain that some actors don’t include a working website or phone number. This is especially important if you’re not represented by an agency.

Community

Lastly, we come to the pillar of community. Actors are a wonderful resource for other actors. Make it a habit to attend workshops regularly, support your colleague by attending their theater productions - you never know who else will also be there. Create scene study groups and work on your craft together. Lead by example and share what you know about projects that are being cast. Don’t forget to add other filmmakers to your community as well. If you have a scene study group, you could invite local directors, camera folks, and sound engineers to help you film your scenes.

If you’re interested in learning more about how you can become a working actor using the 5 pillar system here’s a direct to my calendar where you can book a free appointment to talk with me to see if you’re a good fit for my program.

BTW, if you’re looking for another video to watch I recommend “How to Get Better Auditions & Roles.” It’s a deep dive into branding for actors and the exact system I used to level up my auditions and roles.

That’s it for now. Until next time, you stay your bold and beautiful self.