An Actor's Key to Success

So many times I hear short-sighted actors say that they've come to LA for a year to "give it a shot". And then, if that year won't be a success, they'll pack it up and head back to whatever town or city they came from. When I hear statements like that as a coach, I'm torn. Although I would never try to openly discourage anyone from pursuing lofty goals and dreams, I do find an obligation to share with my students that an overnight success is about as rare as a lottery win.

Sure, the media would like us to believe that so-and-so actor came out of nowhere and, look at them now, they're an instant star. However, an instance like that almost never happens to be the case. Most any successful actor worth their salt has been at it for quite some time. They've faced rejection more times than they can count and they have been working at their craft for YEARS. One quick check on IMDB and you'll probably be surprised to find your favorite actor has been showing up in credits for a lot longer than you would imagine. It's common knowledge that, at least in LA, it takes an average of 5-7 years to start seeing traction in the direction you're headed. And that's a low estimate.

Understanding that success in the film/TV industry is a game of time and numbers is half the battle. Imagine throwing a huge handful of darts at a dart board. One of them is bound to hit the bullseye, right? Most of them won't. Sometimes, none of them will. That's the nature of auditions. Then there's the understanding that, just like any other industry, the entertainment industry requires a certain amount of "paying your dues". That takes time -- time to build trust, time to build a reputation (aka resumé

No sane A-level producer is going to give an actor with very little camera experience a huge role. Newbies make mistakes. Mistakes cost time. Time costs money. Producers don't like to lose money. You get the picture. So despite a strong desire to jump into the LA pool and start swimming with the big fish, the truth is you'll probably need to have several co-stars under your belt first.

Many times I see students worry intensely whether or not they're going to land the role they so desperately want. As one of my favorite teachers said, the #1 Rule of Hollywood is: Don't Ever Want It. The more you worry about what's going on in the heads of the casting director or producers, the more time you're wasting. We can never know what they're saying behind closed doors after our audition is over. Nor can we control it. Part of becoming better at the "audition process" is understanding that being prepared and doing your best in the room is all you can do, so just focus on those two things. Auditioning prowess comes from forgetting about the one you just did and just moving on, focusing entirely on the next thing -- whether that be a class, audition or project.

Lastly, and most importantly, we have to remember that the person who is watching our preliminary audition -- the Casting Director -- is most likely working on more than one project. And if they aren't, they probably are planning to in the future. Knowing that, the actor has a responsibility in his/her own best interest to establish relationships with casting directors. Building trust with casting directors is one of the many ways to increase the number of callback auditions. In fact, I've heard several casting directors mention "favorites" -- budding actors they had seen several times and were excited to find the right role for. Casting directors love to discover new talent. But you have to prove to them first that you can be trusted to perform with a consistent level of quality. That brings us back to paying dues and things that take time.

So, next time you're getting ready for an audition...

Don't worry so much about the movie or the TV show you're auditioning for. Check out your breakdown and find the casting director. Look them up on IMDB. Have they worked on any shows you know/like? Worked with any directors you know/like? Do they consistently work on specific types of shows and does that mean they might appreciate a certain type of tone or pace? Answers to all these questions cannot only make for a more informed audition/performance but also be great talking pieces if the CD (Casting Director) wants to strike up conversation.

Developing a rapport with a casting directors over time means that they become more and more familiar to you. This will lead to a much more comfortable room, void of the awkwardness of meeting someone or performing in front of them for the first time. A comfortable room breeds confidence. Confidence leads to relaxation. Relaxation allows great work to be done. So do yourself a favor and get to know the casting directors in your area. They're hard working people. Appreciating their work and developing a professional relationship with them over time is key to having a long-lasting life in the entertainment business.

Be prepared. Let rejection roll off your back. Always be looking towards the next project. These three simple things will make your professional journey towards success more bearable and more fruitful.