How Acting Affects Self Esteem - by Robert Curtiss

The theater teaches us to collaborate, to feel comfortable speaking in front of others, and to be able to take direction. It gives us a forum in which to express ourselves, and it makes us think and feel, as performers and as an audience.

We tend to be drawn to it at an early age. Many remember their first introduction to the theater, whether it be a play seen or performed in elementary school or watching a parent or older sibling perform. It is a socially accepted way to fulfill the need for attention and approval, and I think most would agree that the sound of applause is thrilling, empowering, and sometimes addicting.

That said, the theater also tends to attract people with great needs, who try to use it to validate themselves, and are tremendously insecure as a result. They audition and take every job they don't get as a personal rejection and a comment on who they are. They sabotage themselves in their search for a career and find excuses not to attend another audition because they cannot face another rejection. Needy people frequently do not get cast because their "need" for the job is so obvious, and no one wants to have someone that needy to worry about. After all, needy people aren't truly behaving like professionals, because they have an ulterior motive. They need to hear approval constantly and crave attention. Hiring a needy person is akin to getting a job as a babysitter for a demanding child.

Acting, or any performing, also can confuse those with a fragile self-esteem. All too often performers confuse their performances and talent with their identity. They are what they do. They hear that they are talented, and when they are performing they are told they are wonderful. It is understandable that they are confused!

When people who need validation and attention pursue this career in show business, frequently become bitter and resentful that they have to convince people to like them, to hire them, etc. Thus, they sabotage themselves precisely for the same reason they chose this career in the first place!

If I seem a bit harsh, it is only to paint a stark picture of the psychological makeup of many performers. Most performers have some feelings of insecurity about their place in the business. It is a business without much security.

It may be useful to ask yourself how this might apply to your life. Why are you in this business, and are you "too needy"? If the answer is yes, don't be discouraged. This is where some good psychotherapy can help, to build your self-esteem, to learn skills to turn down that needy "voice" in your mind that constantly craves attention, and to help you differentiate between your own identity and your "performing self."

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ARE YOU READY FOR REPRESENTATION? by John Essay

Many actors start looking for a representative as soon as they get to the city; they have been told (usually by people who are NOT in show business!) that they first need to get an agent or manager. These actors seem to think that once they get a representative, the hard part is over; now they think someone else is going to be responsible. Remember, an agent or manager gets only 10% to 15% commission for their work. That should mean that they do 10% to 15% of the work. Think about it. Who is supposed to do the other 85 - 90%?

You should never pursue representation until you are confident that you are able to compete in the major areas of the industry: Film, TV and Theater.  If you are too green, casting directors may remember, and your representative will have a hard time getting a second chance for you to be seen.  When represented, you should always be at the top of your game.   You must be a great auditioner: you must be able to make the best of the short window of opportunity that you have in an audition. This means you must be exceptional, because good enough just doesn’t cut it, and it won’t get you the job over the other actors who are also good enough. You must be able to give your third audition first, meaning you must make strong choices and fully execute them, yet be able to take direction if it is given and fully commit yourself to that direction (instead of only doing what you had prepared).

The more you bring to the table, the more you will help your representative do his job. Have you had adequate on-camera training? Do you know the subtle differences between a TV audition and a film audition? Are you continuing to build your craft every day? Do you know what's going on in the industry, i.e. what plays you are right for, who are the casting directors for various projects, etc.? Do you have any contacts and connections that your representative should be aware of?

You have to be knowledgeable and able to do what is expected of you. Be skilled at your craft. Be open to advice and counsel (remember, they are the ones with the expertise!). Be prepared to go to auditions and know how to get there. Have the money for your basic business expenditures; there is nothing more frustrating than an actor who doesn't have the basic money to accomplish the basic needs. It does not cost a lot of money to set up your acting business. You need money for pictures; printing resumes; postage and envelopes for mailings; classes; basic wardrobe; transportation; grooming and research (theater, movies and publications). If you are not able to pay for these minimal expenses, then it doesn't really matter how talented you are; you most likely are not ready for representation.

Remember that finding a representative doesn’t necessarily mean that you have found the “right” representative for you. When you do find representation, I hope that you and your representative have an amicable relationship that is mutually beneficial.  I wish you good luck on your journey!
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WHEN AM I TOO SICK TO AUDITION? by John Essay

If you are too sick to audition, don't go! Even if it is with the casting director you have been trying to meet for years, don’t go – it is so not worth it. The fact of the matter is, if your illness will affect your audition in ANY way, don't go. An audition that was less than your best is never excusable because you were sick; it is simply an audition at which you were less than your best. SINGERS, this is particularly addressed to you! Being sick means you have far less control over your voice. And, trust me, casting directors are already sensitive to getting sick themselves because they see hundreds of actors for any given project. The last thing they need is your runny nose, your cough or a voice that doesn't sound remotely like your own healthy voice.

I had a client who auditioned for a Broadway comic musical with a severe cold; she just had to go.  She was lucky and was called back - OR WAS SHE? When she returned for her callback, she was healthy and sounded nothing like she did before. It was her sick audition voice they fell in love with, but now she couldn't replicate it. Needless to say she didn't get the job.   I hope that none of you ever have to ask yourselves “Am I too sick to go to the audition”?  Forever health to all of you.

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7 Things to Do Every Morning - by John Essay

As we approach 2013, I offer my suggestions to add to your New Year’s resolutions.  My list of 7 Things To Do Every Morning will help you to run your business more effectively and be more efficient and productive.  Happy New Year!

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1. Check email and voicemail.
Calls/email may have come through during the night and you will want to make sure to answer them as soon as possible. Make sure to check your "Spam" folder - sometimes important messages can get mistakenly labeled as Spam.

2. Take a shower right away.
Don’t laugh - this is MOST important. You need to be prepared for any last minute appointments. It can be so frustrating when I call a client with an appointment, only to hear "I haven't even showered yet!"

3. Eat something.
My personal favorite! There are days when you will hit the ground running. Don’t forget to eat. You don’t know when you’ll have another chance and you’ll need the energy.

4. Plan what you will do for your business today.
Read a play? See a play? Write some letters/emails? Look at regional theater season websites? You MUST do something business related!

5. Check the news: Internet, TV or newspapers
Being up on current news provides interesting topics of conversation and is an important part of being a well-rounded person.

6. Plan some physical exercise for the day.
Walk to an appointment or on an errand instead of taking the subway. Sometimes exercising is easier when you do it with a friend.

7. Always look your best when leaving for the day.
Dress neatly and be well groomed and ALWAYS carry a picture and resume and/or business card. Women, make sure your hair and makeup is done. You will find NYC is a small world and you never know who you will run into!

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Behavior is a Mirror - by Robert Curtiss

"Behavior is a mirror in which everyone shows his own image" (Chinese fortune cookie)

I recently read the saying above on the "fortune" in my fortune cookie, and it reminded me of other similar sayings:  "Actions speak louder than words", and, "You are what you do". All of these sayings boil down to the same simple truth: we show the world what kind of people we are by what we do, literally -- how we treat others, how we are groomed, how we manage our time, to list just a few examples.  Our behavior gives powerful non-verbal messages to others that tell them what to think about us. After all, they may say "Never judge a book by its cover", but we all make assessments and judgments based on the available evidence before us. Knowing this can help us shape how others perceive us.

Our attire and our personal hygiene send strong messages.  People may not consciously note that you look clean and neat, but they definitely notice when you are sloppy or otherwise not well-groomed.

How we manage our time sends a powerful message too. When we are on time, we are telegraphing to others that we are ready and eager for our appointment; when we are late, we may give the impression that we do not value other people's time, and that we are not responsible -- which may not be true, but this is the impression some may be left with.

When we are kind to others and offer them care and concern, our actions reflect kindly upon ourselves, and when we speak about others behind their backs -- a bit of snide gossip, perhaps, or maybe belittling another actor's talent -- it says to others that we probably talk about THEM behind their backs as well.

How do you perceive of yourself, and how do you want to be perceived by the world? Think about that, and think of ways to behave that promote that perception in yourself and in others.

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Rejection

Rejection is a big topic for actors. You may feel rejected each time you audition for a role and do not get the part. You may take this personally, and call this “rejection”. After all, one definition of the word rejection is “discard as useless or unsatisfactory”, and the more actors audition and do not get cast, some feel more and more discouraged and depressed, as if they are being judged and found wanting, discarded and useless. Has this happened to you?

You may be surprised when I say that you were not rejected at all.

Let me explain: true rejection is when someone trusts someone else and opens his/her heart to that someone, and then that someone rejects them. Tells them they do not love them anymore. It is awful. It is personal. It is devaluing. It hurts and can be devastating. THAT is rejection.

Now, I think it would be fair to say that nothing like that actually happened to you in the audition room. The people who are holding the auditions are there all day themselves, and they most likely want you, and every actor, to be the right one!  They usually do not know you at all. You have merely spent a very short amount of time showing them a very brief presentation of your talent. They may have liked you, and also quite a few others who auditioned, as it would be likely that many of those who auditioned were talented. They have many people to choose from, and they have to choose one person to cast for each role.

As my partner Robert Curtiss and I like to say, imagine that you are making an egg for breakfast and you have to choose one from the egg carton in the fridge. Perhaps you choose one because it's slightly larger, or a different color. Whatever the reason, there are eleven eggs left. Now, did you choose one egg, or did you reject eleven? Chances are that all the other eggs will be chosen to be eaten at some point, but not for this breakfast.

Now to address what I think is behind the fear of rejection: the possibility does exist that, after many auditions over a long period of time and no callbacks, perhaps you need to improve your auditioning techniques, or perhaps you are not marketing yourself correctly, or maybe you see yourself as a "type" that is not what others are seeing. These are lessons that need to be learned so that you can make adjustments in what you audition for and/or how you audition. Think of all your auditions as full out performances – you just aren’t getting paid … yet!

The next and last possibility is a hard lesson, and one that some people have to face: perhaps you are not as talented as you may have believed. I believe that it is probably a rare experience, in that most people who are pursuing this business need some positive feedback, and without it would probably have given up long before they had to figure it out the hard way. So, although this possibility does exist, the probability is that you simply were not chosen for these jobs. You need to keep your perspective about it.

It is as simple as viewing a glass half empty or a glass half full. Remember that the next time you start to feel that you were rejected.  It really is in how you look at it!
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How Do I Get "Discovered"?

How do I get “discovered”?  Ah, that is the 10-million-dollar question!  I assure you, you will find the secret to being discovered right next to the answer to "How I lost 100lbs in two weeks!"  Of course, if you clicked on this article in hopes of actually finding the answer to immediate stardom, you may want to take a good look at yourself and why you are still trying to reach for this unattainable fantasy.   Nothing in life comes that easy; sometimes (but rarely) there are exceptions to this rule (or ANY rule, for that matter), but an exception should never be confused for the general rule, or even considered a realistic possibility.

You may have heard the legend of how the Hollywood star Lana Turner was discovered by Zeppo Marx while she was drinking a Coke at Schwab's Pharmacy in L.A.  Zeppo signed her to his agency and soon she began working. 


That was a long time ago. Does that kind of thing still happen?  Rarely  to never.  It is a FANTASY, like winning the lottery. Waiting for that to happen to you is a waste of your time. If you pursue this business as a smoke-and-mirrors FANTASY - i.e. "I'm beautiful and talented so things will automatically happen for me" - then you are in for a big disappointment and many years of wasted energy.  Show me any successful career and I will show you a lot of blood, sweat and tears that helped get them there. 

Having said that, there are many things you can do to HELP yourself be seen along the way.  You need to be available for discovery.  A buried treasure is hard to discover unless you know to look in the general vicinity it is located.  Making yourself available by going to plays, movies, industry parties, and taking classes will allow you to be seen by others who may be helpful to you on your way to a successful career.  

Most important, be prepared.  This business requires a passion for all aspects of it from the auditioning to the performance and everything in between.  It is your responsibility to hone your craft and be a good performer, to prepare yourself to be a professional at the business of show business. This also means you should increase your knowledge and life experience:  read, watch, and engage in the world around you.  Being an actor is an integral part of your life as a whole. The REALITY of the business of being an actor includes all aspects of your life: relationships (or lack thereof), health, finances, family, you name it. It is your responsibility to stay on top of all of those parts of your life and make sure you stay healthy and on track.

You may notice I try to use the word "business" instead of "career". The word career conjures up a steady arc of achievement that develops over time. So just starting out, a young actor cannot accurately describe his or her business as a "career", because it has not developed yet. The word "business" really captures what you need to focus on: all of the work you must do each day to keep your business going, and what it takes to "sell" yourself and get work.  You are responsible for your own business.

If you pursue your acting career with great gusto, enjoyment and determination, chances are you will find work as an actor. Break a leg!
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