How to start off your acting career? (Step 2: Resume + Headshot/ Comp Card/ Marketing Materials)

STEP 2: Resume + Headshot/ Comp Card/ Marketing Materials          

           

           You’re business plan is completed and you should now be ready to start building your marketing plan. First off, you need to have a detailed resume, a good headshot, a comp card, and a calling card.

           

            Resume:

             Your resume should not go over a page and it should be very well organized so that it’s easy to read, but careful, because your font should not be smaller than 10. If your information still doesn’t fit, then you should edit it down. You also shouldn’t exaggerate, lie or add information or skills that aren’t true.
              Here is a template if you would like to use it, but there are many other ways to write an 
acting resume:            

                                    www.theatricaldesign.com/downloads/actingresume.doc


                     OH, you should use one email only and your name should be at the top,                 centered, and BIG!

           

            Headshot:

            Your headshot picture goes behind your resume and it must be the same length as the resume. You can either print it in that format or you can staple the headshot (one staple in the left corner) behind your resume. Your choice! :)

            Make sure you have a good headshot, preferably taken by a professional. Do not edit the picture too much, try and look as natural as possible, and pick a picture that does you justice! SELL YOURSELF! And many actors choose either a serious look or smiling, so check which one suits you the most.

           

            At the bottom of this post I have attached my latest headshots, taken by DK Img (Dominic Zingale).

           

            Comp Card:

            Now, your comp card is slightly different to your headshot. A comp card is marketing tool for actors and models. They’re an inexpensive and professional way of showcasing yourself. Ultimately, this is your BUSINESS CARD.

            A comp card should include the following:

a)     Name

b)     Contact Information – email & phone number

c)     Physical Description – Height, Weight, Dress Size, Shoe size, Hair & Eye Color

d)     Five Pictures Of Yourself

            One of the pictures is your headshot picture, which goes alone on one side your comp card. I like to have my name, contact information and physical description on the same side along with my headshot. The other four pictures are of yourself in four different looks. The purpose of this is to showcase yourself in different styles or looks. Examples of looks could be: sporty, on a night out, college student, in business attire, at the beach, etc.

            Your comp card should be the size of a page or three-fourths of a page.

Marketing Material - Calling Card:

            A Calling Card is optional but I completely recommend it as it’s of good taste and professional. It’s basically a small card, preferably the size of a business card, where you have your headshot picture, your name, your phone number, and a small space to write down a personal message for any audition you go to. After your done with your audition, it’s classy to give the director, or anyone who’s holding the audition, your calling card with a personal message thanking them for their time.

           So there’s Step 2 to starting off your career. It’s important to always be ready for anything, especially surprise auditions. Therefore, print several copies of your resume + headshot, your comp card, and your calling card. I’d print out copies every month and keep them in the trunk of your card just in case. As Forest Gump said: “Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.”

            Also, always keep your headshot and pictures updated as you change. You don’t want to have a headshot of when you were 20 and now you are 40. Aging is a part of life, we have to accept it somehow haha.

Step 3: Blog is going to be posted next soon. In the meantime...

Happy Acting!

Thank you!

Gracias

n

How to start off your acting career? (Step 1: Business Plan)

            I’ve always wanted to be an actress. I remember in third grade, we had to come to school dressed up as what we wanted to be when we grow up. I, with the help of my creative mother, came dressed as a ‘DIVA ACTRESS’ haha. I put on sunglasses, a feather boa and even made my own Oscar out of cardboard. Ever since then, the dream has never changed.

            Yet, I’m sure that I’m not the only one whose dream has never changed. That’s how you know that that’s what your destined to be, if you believe in destiny. And even if you don’t believe in destiny, if you’ve wanted something for so long, then nothing can make more sense in life than to go fight for it.

            For me, nothing makes more sense in my life than being an actress. The feeling I get on stage and/or camera is both unexplainable and untouchable, and I’m willing to do whatever it takes to get to the big screen. But, it’s not going to be easy and I know that.

            I don’t know how the industry worked back then, but I do know that now casting is not only about talent. Casting is also about experience, looks, being in the right place at the right time, WHO YOU KNOW AND WHO KNOWS ABOUT YOU.

            As Julian Bialowas said: “Every artist was first an amateur”. Therefore, you have to crawl before you can walk, as any actor/actress in the industry has had to do. All the actor/actresses who are big shots now, have been in the same position as you, a nothing…YET :). So I’m going tell you what are the essential first baby steps to becoming KNOWN!

STEP 1: Business Plan

           

            Get yourself a notebook or write down on your computer a business plan for your new freelance company: YOU. It’s essential to have plan to start off your career, as this can help you get a visual perspective of your advantages and disadvantages.

            SECTION 1 of Business Plan: Description of Company (You)

                        In your business plan, first write down a brief but confident description of yourself and why you are an asset to the acting industry. Include a summary of your qualifications like for example: quick learner, dedicated, what languages you’re fluent in, dynamically skilled, etc. This will help you put into perspective what assets you need to flaunt and what assets you need gain and work on.

            SECTION 2 of Business Plan: Industry Analysis

                        Afterwards, write down an industry analysis. Research what the acting industry is like where you are currently living and what data sources are reliable and useful. Some Internet sources that work for me are: auditionagency.com, actorsinfobooth.com, and maimiaudition.com.

                       

            SECTION 3 of Business Plan: Customer Analysis

                        Now you should research and write down a customer analysis. This is basically a list of talent agencies, agents, acting agencies, etc. in your area. You should research who they are, where they are, and what they’re looking for. This way, when you have all of your marketing tools, which I will discuss further on, you can mail to each one of these contacts your information and marketing tools. This is a great way to put yourself out there and develop a name for yourself.

           

            SECTION 4 of Business Plan: Competition Analysis

                        Next, you should write down in your business plan your competition analysis. This is fundamentally a list of whom your competition is most likely going to be like, and what assets will they probably have that you don’t. Then, write down a “Battle Plan” in which you explain what you plan to bring to the table in order to make up for you disadvantages. What makes you unique? ;)

            SECTION 5 of Business Plan: Marketing Plan 

                        Now comes the marketing plan. This is the MOST IMPORTANT part of starting off your career. I’m going to list the marketing tools and later on discuss each one in full detail:

a)     Website

b)     Comp card

c)     Blog

d)     Social Media

e)     Marketing Materials

f)      Sample Products

SECTION 6 of Business Plan: Operations

                        Following the Marketing Plan comes the operations, a.k.a. your schedule. This part of your business plan requires structure, dedication, and most of all, sacrifice. This is the segment where you organize a daily operations routine of what you will work on each day in order to reach success. You are your own company. Therefore, you HAVE TO sit down everyday and devote at least six hours of work of your career and company. This includes: doing research, working on your website, working on your blog, looking for and going to auditions, working on scenes for your reel, working on monologues, etc. This section also must include your long-term goals and milestones. It’s important to set goals for you and your company because this establishes structure and a road to follow.

                        Ask yourself these questions when working on this section: From what time to what time will your work on your company each day? What will you work on? What are priorities and what aren’t? What needs to be done first, second, third, and so on? Where do you want to be at 6 months from now, 1 year from now, 2 years from now? (IMPORTANT TIP: Be realistic.)  

SECTION 7 of Business Plan: Management Team

                        Thereafter comes the management team section, where you write down a quick list of your members and their duties, rights and responsibilities. Now, because you are the only key member of your company, the list is then a list of your responsibilities. For example: working everyday for six to eight hours on your company, establish and keeping contacts, updating your marketing tools, going to the gym, etc.    

SECTION 8 of Business Plan: Financial Plan

                        Now comes the Financial Plan. The Financial Plan is EXTREMELY important because this will give you a perspective, as well as a reality check haha, of how much money you CAN spend and how much money you HAVE to make. This section requires exact details and you must be realistic about money. Sadly, anything in life requires spending money. You need to spend money to make money and as my mom always says: “There is no free lunch.”

                        First make a table of costs/expenses. Then make a table for income/revenue.

Find out how much money you need to spend and how much money you need to make in order to sustain yourself. And a reality check for all aspiring actors/actresses: YES, YOU WILL NEED A SECOND JOB!! It’s going to be struggle for a few years to make a lot of money before you land your big break; but, if you really want it, you’ll persevere.     

SECTION 9 of Business Plan: Feasibility

                        Last but not least comes the feasibility section of your business plan. Write down a specific list of what you will accomplish by specific dates. For example: “By June 22^nd, I will have this much done…”

Well, that's Step 1 to starting off your acting career. Step 2 (Resume + Headshot/ Comp Card/ Marketing Materials) is coming up soon!!

Happy Acting!

Thank you!

Gracias

You Could Win a Trip for 2 to See Rihanna in Atlantic City on June 17th!

You Could Win a Trip for 2 to See Rihanna in Atlantic City on June 17th!

Why Florida?

           Why would Florida be a good place to start an acting career, rather than New York or Los Angeles? Well, what most people, especially actors, don't know is that Florida is a right-to-work state. As Wyatt Elling explained, this allows producers to hire non-union actors if they can make a professional case. Once a non-union actor is hired to a union production, that actor automatically qualifies for union membership. ("Bypass New York and L.A. and Start Your Career In The Sunshine State", para. 4). Basically, this makes Florida a great place for an actor to get their SAG (Screen Actors Guild) or AFTRA (American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) accreditation. That is, if they want it…

            See, once someone becomes a union actor/actress, they can’t continue to work in any non-union productions. This applies to everyone, in any state. For instance, if I were to become part of SAG, I could only work in SAG productions. As stated in their website (www.sag.org)

            “No member shall work as a performer or make an agreement to work as a performer for any producer who has not executed a basic minimum agreement with the Guild which is in full force and effect.” - from the SAG Constitution


            Now, the great thing about Florida is that non-union actors/actresses can work in both non-union and union productions because Florida is, say it with me, a RIGHT-TO-WORK STATE! :)

            Plus, Florida is, in my opinion, the underdogs of the acting industry. Florida is on FIRE and Miami is the HOTSPOT!

            In fact, Miami/Florida has been host to some of today’s most popular shows and movies like: Dexter, CSI: Miami, Burn Notice, Miami Vice, 2 Fast 2 Furious, Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, Bad Boys (I, II, III), Marley and Me, Donnie Brasco, The Birdcage, Nip/Tuck, etc. 

            Besides the beautiful climate, which is what keeps attracting more and more shows and movies, Miami is one of the top five film production markets in the country, as reported by Elling.

            Yes, New York and Los Angeles are the big dogs of the industry. I myself wish to go there in the future to really kick off my career. It’s a great place to act and earn yourself a name, and I recommend it to any practicing actor/actress. Yet, there’s no place like Miami to start off and gain the experience needed. And if an actor/actress wishes to later on join the union SAG or AFTRA, they’ll be happy to know that Miami is home to the South Region offices of SAG and AFTRA (Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, The Carolinas), which have the highest amount of memberships after New York and Los Angeles.   

So remember, it's not the destination one remembers, it's the journey to get there!!

Happy Acting!

Post 3 coming up soon!

Thank You!

Gracias

     

            

Welcome!

Welcome!
          My name is Natalia Márquez. I'm 20 years old and I'm from San Juan, Puerto Rico. I'm a studying freelance actress at Lynn University and I'd like to welcome all who are interested, to read every week a new blog about acting, acting methods, the industry, critiques, etc. My purpose is to inform you, the readers, about the field of acting and the industry behind it. As a freelance actress, it's crucial to research and be up to date with everything that's happening in the field, the people hiring, the competition, and auditions coming up. More so, as a Latin Actress in Miami, the competition is more fierce. Therefore, I will not only provide reliable information about the industry, but tips and advice on everything essential for an actress in Florida, like audition advice, monologues, agents, agencies, and the evolution of the industry.
          I will also update soon my new website with a reel so that all of you can see my work.

I will post again soon this week to start off the blogging.

Thank You!
Gracias