Are You Lying to Yourself?

A couple of weeks ago I had a conversation with my own life/career coach who challenged me to stop “beating around the bush” with you and really challenge you to either get serious about your career or “go home.”

So my question to you is this: Are you lying to yourself about how serious and committed you are to your career? Truth be told, I have no doubt that you think you want to be an actor. However, when it comes to the actual work involved in pursuing your career, I’m going to challenge you to be honest with yourself about how much you really want this.

Why do I say this? Because based on what I’ve experienced in working with my coaching clients over the past five years, as well as the five years I spent as a Hollywood agent, ninety-percent of them [actors] say they want this, but only ten-percent of them actually get down to business and do the work they need to do to make things happen.

If you are someone who calls yourself an actor but has nothing to show for it, here are just a few ways you may be sabotaging your career:

1) You don’t market yourself on a daily basis
2) You don’t take any acting classes
3) You don’t network with other actors
4) You don’t attend any industry events
5) You don’t go on any auditions
6) You don’t read the trades
7) You don’t have current headshots
8) You don’t have a professionally formatted resume
9) You don’t use Facebook

If you want to succeed in this business, you need to get serious about your career … Otherwise, go home and do something else with your life.

Now I’m sure I really ticked some of you off by that last sentence. But let’s get real: you HAVE to be doing all of the things I’ve listed above if you expect to have any success in this business. Here’s why:

1) Sending out headshots every couple of weeks isn’t going to cut it in this business. You need to be marketing yourself on a daily basis, otherwise you’re living in a dream world if you think one headshot submission is going to get you the audition or the job.

2) In order to be honing your craft, you need to be in class on a regular basis. It may take you a while to find the right class for you (i.e. the one you “click” with), but even celebrities go back to class on a regular basis just to tune up their skills.

3) Taking class will also enable you to network with other actors, and quite honestly, this business is less about how talented you are and more about whom you know.

4) Along those lines, you need to be attending industry events (like Actor Fest) on a regular basis. Join organizations like Women in Film so you can get out there and meet people. Again, this business is all about whom you know!

5) Go on auditions! I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve seen actors pass on audition, thinking that they should just be offered the part. However, unless you’re a very well known actor, or one with celebrity status, you need to be auditioning on a regular basis. Not only does it give you the chance to showcase your talent but you also never know what other projects a casting director is working on, for which you may be right.

6) The next thing you need to do is read the trades on a regular basis, because this is where you’ll be able to find our what projects are coming up, what shows have been canceled and the like. Reading the trades is the best way for you to know what’s really happening in the industry.

7) My next question for you is this: How current are your headshots? Honestly, there’s nothing that ticks a casting director off more than an actor who walks into an audition looking nothing like their picture!

8) Your next responsibility is to make sure that your resume is formatted to industry standards, and that you have one resume for theatre and one for film and television. The thing to remember here is that a professionally done resume makes you look like the professional that you profess to be, not an amateur with stars in their eyes.

9) Finally, get on Facebook and utilize it to let people know what you’re up to! Thank God for social media, as it’s a great way to connect with other industry professionals that you can’t meet in person. Casting Directors, Studio and Network executives, agents and managers are all on Facebook, so do yourself a favor and start utilizing this great tool!


Food for Thought: Pursuing a career in the entertainment industry involves a lot of hard work. Remember, this is a business and as such, you need to treat it that way. So, unless your commitment level is 200%, I would encourage you to be honest with yourself about how much you really want to do this. Honestly, it’s okay to quit this business if your heart really isn’t in it. I can’t tell you the number of actors I’ve worked with who, once they were honest with themselves, discovered that the happiness and fulfillment they thought they would get from being an actor was just not there, and so they left the business to pursue different careers and they couldn’t be happier!

Remember: Life is short, so make every moment of yours count!


P.S. Based on all of the requests I’ve received asking for help with the marketing piece of pursuing an acting career, I’ve decided to put together a very affordable program ($9.97/month) to help you, so stay tuned because I’ll be telling you more about it in the very near future!

Copyright © 2010 Sharon Moist, The Industry Coach. All Rights Reserved.

Quote for the Day

"Only by coming to grips with difficulty can you realize your full potential."
-- Charles de Gaulle, president of France

Dare to be Yourself

I recently received an email from a business colleague that really annoyed me. The problem wasn't that he sent me an email. The problem was that his email was "pitching" a seminar that he was attending, and he hadn't even written the email himself - someone else wrote it! (The reason I knew that is because I received duplicate copies of the same email from other business colleagues who travel in the same business circle.)

When I asked him about it, he told me that he just wanted to let me know what he was doing with his business. The problem with that is that the email he sent me had absolutely no personalization in it whatsoever. The opening line said "Hey There!" (as opposed to Hi Sharon, Dear Sharon, etc.), and after that it was nothing more than a generic sales pitch, with a personalized link that I could use to register for a seminar (from which he would then earn a commission).

In life, people seem to fall into two categories: leaders and followers. Leaders dare to be different and pave the way for change. Followers don't make waves; maintain the status quo and support the leaders whose visions they subscribe to. You can't have one without the other. However, there are also times when leaders need to maintain the status quo and followers need to make waves. The challenge often comes in discerning which time is which.

Each one of us was born with our own unique gifts and talents, so why are we so eager to be like everyone else?

When it comes to your career, there are times when you do need to conform to industry standards. For example: your headshot and resume need to be 8x10; you need to look like your picture and your website needs to be very easy for casting directors, agents and others to navigate. Beyond that, however, your look is your look, your audition is your audition; your talent is your talent; and so on and so on.

As I said earlier, the fact that this gentleman sent me an email wasn't the issue. The issue was that there wasn't one ounce of him in it!

For the next week, I would like to offer you a challenge, and my challenge is this: I dare you to be yourself every single day, no matter what! Are you up for it? I hope so!

And, for those of you who take me up on my challenge, drop me a note and let me know how it goes!

Quote for Today

"The successful man is the one who had the chance and took it."
-- Roger Babson

Quote of the Day

"My grandfather once told me that there were two kinds of people: those who do the work and those who take the credit. He told me to try to be in the first group; there was much less competition."
-- Indira Gandhi, Indian prime minister

Acting Success Tip

101 Tips for Actors:
Secrets for Success Every Actor Must Know

Designed to provide you with practical information for pursuing your acting career, 101 Tips for Actors gives you an insider's look at how to be successful in this business. To learn more, go to: 101 Tips For Actors


Tip #43. Less Isn't Always More

Have you ever gone on an audition and watched the casting director dig through a pile of headshots as you walk in, before looking up at you and asking you if you have an extra headshot and resume with you?

All of a sudden, your heart stops and you find yourself with a lump in your throat as you shake your head "no," and lose all of your focus before you even say your first line.

Sometimes, for whatever reason, a casting director ends up not having your headshot in front of them before you audition. It's not the ideal situation, but it does happen and it could even happen to you.

That doesn't mean that you don't have a chance to get cast in the part. It just means that during your particular audition, both you and the casting director are at a disadvantage because he or she cannot refer to your resume if a question arises. And if they take notes, they cannot put them on the back of your picture for future reference.

Your goal as an actor is to give yourself every advantage you possibly can and to be prepared at all times. This means always taking 2 or 3 extra headshots and resumes with you to every meeting or audition ... no matter what!

BREAKDOWN: Remember to always take 2 or 3 extra headshots and resumes with you to every meeting or audition, no matter what. You'll feel good in knowing that you're prepared!

Lucille Ball Quote

"One of the things I learned the hard way was that it doesn't pay to get discouraged. Keeping busy and making optimism a way of life can restore your faith in yourself."

-- Lucille Ball, actress

Cate Blanchett Quote

"Someone might have a germ of talent, but 90% of it is discipline and how you practice it, what you do with it. Instinct won't carry you through the entire journey. It's what you do in the moments between inspiration."

-- Cate Blanchett, actress

Rooney Mara Casting

Good news for every unknown actor waiting for their big break ... Dreams do come true! http://tinyurl.com/RMooneyCasting

Inspirational Quotes

Our fears establish the limits of our life.
~ Erwin McManus

All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.
~ Walt Disney

Chance favors those in motion.
~ James H. Austin

Our fears establish the limits of our life.
~ Erwin McManus

Find a way - or MAKE one.
~ Mary Kay Ash

Do one thing everyday that scares you.
~ Eleanor Roosevelt

Amateurs hope. Professionals make it happen.
~ Garson Kanin

The biggest gap in the world is between "I should" and "I did."
~ H. Jackson Brown

Let me tell you the secret that has led me to my goal. My strength lies solely in
my tenacity.
~ Louis Pasteur

To live a creative life, we must lose our fear of being wrong.
~ Joseph Chilton Pierce

Always a Bridesmaid?

When Venus Williams was knocked out of Wimbledon last week, the first thought that crossed my mind was that she always appears to be a “bridesmaid,” next to her sister Serena, aka “the bride!”

But after watching some of the other games, I found it very interesting to note that many of the top-ranked players, including Roger Federer, were actually losing matches to their lesser-ranked opponents and thereby opening the door for those who, in the past, have not had the opportunity to advance to the quarter-finals, semi-finals or even championship matches!

So what does this have to do with your career? Everything if you have ever found yourself feeling like you’re “always the bridesmaid but never the bride.” And if that’s the case, here are two simple steps you can take, to leave your “bridesmaid dress” behind forever!

Do the Work. When I was pursing my own acting career, I had a cousin who was discovered by the casting director of The Young and the Restless while he was walking down Hollywood Boulevard.

If you’ve ever seen the movie Legally Blonde, then you may remember this line “Do you think she woke up one morning and said: I think I’ll go to law school today?” Well, that was kind of my cousin’s journey, where he just decided to move LA one day to pursue an acting career. And, while I don’t know too many of the details, I do know that he blew the opportunity that had been handed to him on a silver platter and is no longer in the business.

If you’re able to read this article, then I’m willing to bet that you went to school to learn how to read. I’m also willing to bet that you had to take tests to move from one grade to the next, and eventually graduate. And if that’s the case, I’m also willing to bet that unless you were a superstar athlete and was able to get someone to take your tests for you, you were the one who had to study and do the homework in order to pass those tests.

So here’s the deal: when it comes to pursuing your career, you have to do the work involved, and that means: taking class; networking; sending out your headshots and resumes, and going on as many auditions as possible. Because just like when you were in school and no could take your tests for you, no one can pursue your acting career but YOU!

Don’t Quit. The other day, as I was flipping channels on the TV, I came across an old movie entitled Life Guard that starred Sam Elliott (loved him in Road House) and Parker Stevenson (loved him in The Hardy Boys). Now the thing that struck me the most was the fact that this movie was made back in 1976 – thirty-four years ago – and the fact that these two guys are still working in the business. That being said, however, can you imagine how many times one or both of them probably felt discouraged and wanted to quit the business? Dozens, at least!

When I was in high school, someone shared this poem with me, and I’ve kept it on my bulletin board ever since! Hopefully it will inspire you as much as it has me:

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest, if you must, but don't you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As every one of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about,
When he might have won had he stuck it out;
Don't give up though the pace seems slow--
You may succeed with another blow.

Success is failure turned inside out--
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far,
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit--
It's when things seem worst that you must not quit.

- Author unknown

Food for Thought: Just like the poem says, you never know how close to success you may be, but if you don’t do the work or you decide to quit when things get hard, you may never know “what could have been,” had you just pushed on a little further!


P.S. Want more inspiration like this? Then sign up for my free newsletter, the Industry News Digest today!

A Dose of Inspiration!

Are you an actor looking for a little encouragement around your career? Then I’d like to offer you a dose of inspiration, if I may!

The other day one of my private coaching clients was telling me that she had just re-listened to a call I held last December regarding the Actors Success Circle™ Program that I was putting together, and that she walked away from that call with the following pieces of information:

• The only two reasons why agents take on new clients
• The main job of an agent and/or manager
• The one thing agents can do which managers cannot
• The underlying motives agents can have in trying to get their clients to take a job
• What hidden secret you need to know about getting the Breakdowns

I also did a brief Actors Mindset™ session around the topic of "Career Commitment," which you can hear, as well.

Please know that this note is actually not about promoting the Actors Success Circle™ to you. If you're interested in learning more about the program, that information is also covered on this call.

Instead, what I really want to do is to offer you some inspiration around your career and would invite you to listen to the call RIGHT NOW, as it may just be the catalyst you need to take action and have some fun at the same time!

Remember, I believe in you and I KNOW that there's room for you in this industry!

Actors Success Circle™ - Registration Open!

If you and I were having a conversation and I asked you this question: “Is your career where you had hoped it would be by this time in your life,” would your answer be “Yes?” If not, would you be interested in receiving personal, one-on-one coaching from me so that you can start seeing the results you desire?

A new coaching group in the Actors Success Circle™ will be starting on July 6th, and will be limited to 6 members. Spots are filled on a first come, first served basis and once all of the spots have been filled, membership in the Actors Success Circle™ will be closed.

If you’re ready to up-level your career, then click here to learn more and secure your spot today!

Quote for the Day

"Auditions level the playing field!"
~Sharon Moist

How Clear is Your Vision?

Earlier this week I had a session with one of my own coaches, and on our call she said something that I’ve often said before, but had actually forgotten. Her comment was this: “You either create your day by design or default.”

She went on to say that “the more random your vision is, the more random your day will be,” meaning that if I don’t have a clear plan for my day, I’ll spend a lot of time doing miscellaneous things or wasting time, neither of which will most likely help me accomplish my goals.

What about you? Do you have a clear vision about where you’re going in your career, and a clear plan on how to get there? If not, here are three steps you can take to get started:

1) Start with the end result in mind.

In order to have a clear vision of where you’re going when you start something, the best way to proceed is to do so with the end result in mind.

For example, when you decide to take a trip, you usually know where it is that you want to go, and then you make plans to get there.

The same holds true when pursuing a goal. Once you know what it is that you want to achieve (Audition for Casting Director X; Land a role in a Broadway show; Become an agent or manager), you can create a map for yourself, in reverse order, so you know how and where to get started.

2) Break down the steps to your goal.

Once you know EXACTLY what it is that you want to achieve, and how to get started, the next step is to write down all of the steps or actions you need to take to get there.

For example, if your goal is to become a Hollywood agent, some of the steps that you’ll want to take to reach your goal will include: (1) Making sure your resume is current and geared towards working in a talent agency; (2) Contacting the agencies you’re interested in working for and finding out what the application process is for that company; and (3) Contacting everyone you know, letting them know what you’re trying to do and asking them if they know anyone who can help you.

This step is about creating a road map for yourself, from the end, to the beginning, and then simply staying on the path and following it through.

3) Delete the unimportant.

The third step in the process (which is actually the first step in creating a clear vision for yourself), is learning how to eliminate those thoughts, actions and/or behaviors that have nothing to do with your goal.

Often times, when things aren’t moving forward the way we’d like them to, or we can’t control the circumstances in our life, it’s very easy to get caught up in or focused on things that have nothing to do with our goals.

Examples of this include cleaning out files instead of sending out headshots; spending time on Facebook or going through emails instead of writing query letters to agents; watching TV or YouTube videos instead of checking out and going on open auditions listed in Backstage.

When that happens, try asking yourself this question: “Do I need to do this right now, or can I do it later?” Unless what you’re doing is an emergency, or has an immediate deadline, chances are pretty good that you can change your focus and take action towards your goal.

And, if your goal seems too big, or too overwhelming to deal with at that moment in time, then just commit to taking ONE action step. Before you know it, one small step will lead to two steps, then to three steps, and pretty soon you’ll find that you’re already halfway there, towards achieving your goal!

Food for Thought:
One day this week commit to spending sixty minutes to get clear around one goal you have in your life. Then go through the three steps listed above and get started on the path to success!

***

Sharon Moist, also known as The Industry Coach®, is a highly sought-after professional career coach, whose clients include Actors, Hollywood Power Brokers and A-List Celebrities. After 5 years as a Hollywood Agent, Sharon left the agency to open her own coaching and consulting company.

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3 Keys to Headshot Success

As an actor your headshot and resume are your calling card, so one of the most important things you can do for yourself is make to sure that your headshots rock!

Here are three ways to make that happen:

1) The Magic is in the Eyes

It has been said that the eyes are the “window to the soul.” If that’s true then you to make sure your eyes POP out of your photo.

2) Take Your Headshots in the Town Where You Pursue Your Career.

Since every market is different, it’s very important that you have your headshots taken in the town where you will be pursuing your career.

Why? Because a good headshot for pursuing your career in Wichita, Kansas, rarely translates into a good headshot for pursing your career in Los Angeles. Therefore, when you have your photos taken in the town where you pursue you career, you’ll know that they’re market-appropriate.

3) Look Like Your Picture

There’s nothing that annoys casting directors more than actors who don’t look like their pictures.

Initially, you’re being called in to audition for the part because of what you look like (i.e. the picture the casting director received). So if you don’t look like the actor the casting director is expecting to walk through the door, you are going to have one very unhappy casting director on your hands.

Food for thought: Remember, you’re running your career as a business, and one of the key elements to success is making sure that your pictures stand out from the crowd.

*********

Sharon Moist, also known as The Industry Coach®, is a highly sought-after professional career coach, whose clients include Actors, Hollywood Power Brokers and A-List Celebrities. After 5 years as a Hollywood Agent, Sharon left the agency to open her own coaching and consulting company.

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Think Outside the Box!

This note was posted by a member of the Actors Resource Center and it was so good I wanted to share it with you!

***

This isn't really about goal setting but I thought some of you could benefit from reading it. Its a good metaphor to remind you that there is no one, set in stone path to success in life and success as an actor. Think outside the box.


You are driving down the road in your car on a wild, stormy night, when you pass by a bus stop and you see three people waiting for the bus:


1. An old lady who looks as if she is about to die.

2. An old friend who once saved your life.

3. The perfect partner you have been dreaming about.

Which one would you choose to offer a ride to, knowing that there could only be one passenger in your car?

Think before you continue reading...

This is a moral/ethical dilemma that was once actually used as part of a job application. You could pick up the old lady, because she is going to die, and thus you should save her first.

Or you could take the old friend because he once saved your life, and this would be the perfect chance to pay him back.

However, you may never be able to find your perfect mate again.

YOU WON'T BELIEVE THIS...................


The candidate who was hired (out of 200 applicants) had no trouble coming up with his answer.

He simply answered: 'I would give the car keys to my old friend and let him take the lady to the hospital. I would stay behind and wait for the bus with the partner of my dreams.'

Sometimes, we gain more if we are able to give up our stubborn thought limitations.

Never forget to 'Think Outside of the Box.'

***

Sharon Moist, also known as The Industry Coach®, is a highly sought-after professional career coach, whose clients include Hollywood Power Brokers and A-List Celebrities. After 5 years as a Hollywood Agent, Sharon left the agency to open her own coaching company. Her website is: The Industry Coach®

To sign up for her FREE COACHING NEWSLETTER, go to: Industry News Digest

The Top 10 Mistakes Actors Make When They Sign a Contract

By Jeff B. Cohen, EsQ.
BackStage.com
July 30, 2009


1. They don't read it.

Your primary focus as an actor is your craft. So when you get that part and a deal comes your way, your first instinct may be to sign, sign, sign before the contract evaporates. But take a moment to read it. This thin piece of paper governs the relationship between your money, your art, and your career. In a business filled with puffery, the rubber hits the road with your contract. You worked so hard to get it, so read the damn thing!

2. They don't get the opinion of an attorney.

As an entertainment lawyer, I may be a bit biased here. But whether the contract is with a studio, network, or theater producer, you can be sure those on the other side will have a lawyer advising them. So should you. You may have no leverage to negotiate a better deal. Your agent may have already pushed the agreement as far as it will go. But you still need to read it and discuss it with an attorney. Why? So you'll fully understand the obligations you're agreeing to.

3. They don't check the exclusivity.

Exclusivity provisions can prevent you from performing in various commercials, television shows, films, and even Internet projects. Additionally, they're almost always subject to negotiation.

4. They don't confirm the union status.

The contract should clearly state if the agreement is covered by the Screen Actors Guild, the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, or Actors' Equity Association. And on an independent film, the actor should call SAG to confirm that the producer really is a SAG signatory.

5. They don't get most-favored-nations language.

The producer may have assured you that all the actors are getting the same salary, the same credit, the same-size dressing room, and so on—this is often referred to as "most favored nations"—but the contract should clearly state that the actor's terms are on a most-favored-nations basis, just so the producer doesn't get cute.

6. They don't get a merchandising clause.

It's very common for producers to provide actors with profit participation with respect to merchandising—5 percent of the net profits associated with any merchandising that uses the actor's image. So ask for it!

7. They don't use a loan-out corporation.

If an actor is grossing in the ballpark of $150,000 annually, he or she may be able to save money in taxes by forming a corporation that contracts directly with the producer for the actor's services. This is commonly referred to as a loan-out corporation. Please consult with your attorney and tax adviser to see whether the benefits outweigh the costs in your situation.

8. They don't understand how long the contract may last.

In the case of a test option agreement for a television show, the broadcaster may have the option to engage the actor at a preset price for a number of years (six years is not uncommon). Make sure you understand how long the agreement may tie up your precious time.

9. They don't get pay-or-play language.

So let's say you don't get along with the director and you're unceremoniously fired for no good reason. What then? Well, if you have pay-or-play language, you still get paid. A pay-or-play provision means that even if the producer no longer uses your services, you still get paid your contractual rate.

10. They don't check the perks.

Who doesn't like perks? They're the fantastic swag bag in the gifting suite that is your deal. Keep your wardrobe, get first-class travel to the premiere of your film and a luxurious dressing room (no less favorable than those of your co-stars, of course), plus a dedicated assistant, a free DVD copy of the project when it's commercially available, a first-class ticket to the location for your significant other…. You work hard. If you have the leverage to get those perks, live it up!

101 Tips for Actors - Last Call at Sale Price

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LAST CALL @ SALE PRICE!

101 Tips for Actors: Secrets for Success Every Actor Must Know





Designed to provide you with practical information for pursuing your acting career, 101 Tips for Actors gives you an insider's look at how to be successful in this business. To learn more, go to: www.101TipsForActors.com.

***

As you know, I'm completely Sold-Out of my book "101 Tips for Actors," and have been for a while now. The GOOD NEWS is that I have given you access to the PDF version of my book at 50% off for almost a year now, bringing the price to $9.97. You see I really want to help you succeed in this business.

The BAD NEWS is that this sale price is ONLY AVAILABLE THRU JULY 31ST because on August 1st, I'm raising the price back up to $19.97.

Therefore, if you want to take advantage of this great opportunity, go to: 101 Tips for Actors and download your copy TODAY!

***



"A valuable guidebook, written by someone who truly cares (and who has truly been there), 101 Tips for Actors offers a user-friendly combination of acquired wisdom, business etiquette, and good old-fashioned common sense for anyone who's just beginning to navigate the strange and often murky waters of this swamp we lovingly call Hollywood."

Mark Deklin
(Film, Television, and Broadway Actor & Fight Director)

***



"I have just read the very useful book, '101 Tips for Actors: Secrets for Success Every Actor Must Know,' by Sharon Moist. Here you have a very practical guide on how to get your acting career up and going, and how to sustain it. This book presents a hands-on approach that is fresh, practical and amusing. Sharon has managed to condense my 35 years of being a professional actor into 101 Tips. What is obvious to me will now be obvious to you. Brava, Sharon!"

Marianne Muellerleile

***

BUY YOUR COPY TODAY!

New in Print: Discover Your Inner Strength

I'm pleased to announce that my newest book, entitled "Discover Your Inner Strength," is now for sale.

This brand-new anthology was co-authored with business giants Brian Tracy, Stephen Covey & Ken Blanchard, and can be purchased here.

Enjoy!


Sharon Moist
The Industry Coach®
*********
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