Conventional wisdom suggests that you need an agent and/or manager to make your acting dreams come true. They sign you, introduce you to casting directors who introduce you to the decision-makers and the result is champagne and red carpets. Well, conventional wisdom is all kinds of wrong. Agents are human beings with human limitations who require some understanding. Whether you’re looking for an agent and manger, or looking to better manage the ones you have, here are five things to know about your representative:
1. Your agent (and from here on we also mean manger) is in business. So, you’re an artist who’s in it for the art. Fine. But Bill Shakespeare and every other artist before and since has had to balance art with finance. Each informs the other and each is necessary. Your agent is no different. Vilifying her because she’s trying to make money and put her kids through private school gets you nowhere. It doesn’t make you more of an artist or get you closer to working with great artists. You need to accept the fact that your agent is trying to make money. And if you’re not a commodity she can sell, it’s not personal; It’s business. Your job is to make yourself easy to sell; to be the actor who has the undeniable force of a flourishing artist. Once that happens you will become that “got-to-have” commodity.
2. Your agent is not here to save you. Actors can suffer from Knight-In-Shining-Armor Syndrome. The notion is it that it’s the agent’s job to dust you off, polish you to a brilliant shine, and escort you to the promised land. The belief is that the agent does all the work. Inherent in this thinking is that there’s someone or something outside of yourself that has the power to make all your dreams come true with little effort or output from you, and once you find that person, you’ll be rich and famous. This is insanity. These days getting an agent doesn’t mean you’ll ever have an audition and it certainly doesn’t mean that you won’t have to do most of the work in the relationship. Spending one minute of your time waiting for your agent to call is time wasted. You have to be in classes, write/shoot/produce/direct your own material, put up a play and put yourself out there. These days you have to work harder than your agent. Training in class consistently, creating your own material constantly, and doing whatever you can to engage with other artists constantly is essential to your craft and your career. You have to give your agent the tools to sell you. Relying upon anyone other than yourself is career suicide. Giving up your artistic and professional responsibility to an agent is a grave error that too many actors make. Do the work and make your agent catch up with you.
3. Your agent is cheating on you and that’s OK. Yes, your agent has other clients. Deal with it. Your agent would go hungry if he only had you as a client. He has to widen the swath in order to give himself the best shot at making a living. Moreover, part of the charm for him is that he has a dynamic group of unique actors with unique needs and talents who allow him to explore different parts of the industry. So when your phone call isn’t returned right away, know that there are 20 other actors who are also demanding feedback. Checking your phone every 10 minutes is like waiting for the guy you went on a date with last week to call. It never pans out. Rather than stew about it, talk yourself into a paranoid delusion and wallow in the slimy ooze of desperation, go write a scene and shoot it. Go to class. Address your artistry.
4. Your agent doesn’t speak your language. Chances are your agent isn’t in a weekly acting class. No, she spends her evenings trolling the computer till midnight, hounding casting directors, trying to get you in the room. While many agents have great instincts about actors, they may not speak a language that suggests that they understand your process. So, don’t expect them to. When they offer a note about your performance that might seem insensitive, don’t take it personally. Translate it into language that helps you grow as an artist. And if it’s not helpful, chalk it up to a subjective opinion. Also keep in mind that agents spend 10 hours a day on the phone and computer trying to turn a “no” into a “yes”. They’re doing and saying anything they can to get you in the room. When you call to talk to them in the middle of all that, don’t expect them be able to pull down the walls and relate to you like the vulnerable artist that you are.
5. Your agent has feelings too. Remember how crushed you were when you tested for that pilot, were the Network’s first choice, but lost the part to that name actor at the last minute? So crushed. Well your agent was crushed, too. And that was the fourth time that same thing happened to one of his clients that pilot season. He talked each of his other clients off the ledge, just like he did for you, while at the same time closing deals for his clients who did book pilots, and selling his development level clients to Studios who were inundated with pitches. He’s holding it together, but he’s ready to crack. Cut him some slack and know that he’s probably doing his best.
Your agent is a person. She has emotional and financial needs that inform how she conducts herself. She believes in you but she’s not responsible for your happiness or your success. Her greatest thrill is when you book a job. Her greatest disappointment is when you don’t. But believing that she lives to make your dreams come true shirks your responsibility to work tirelessly on your craft and, what’s worse, gives up your power. Choose to believe that it’s all got to come from you – the work, the marketing, the mindset. It’s when you stop chasing your agent (any agent) and take control of your work and your career, that the agent starts chasing you.
***OK, so I WISH had written this post myself, but I did not…although everything here is EXACTLY what I would say to you if I had. Acknowledgement goes out to a West Coast actor, coach and business consultant Steve Braun and I repeat it here for you because its important that you GET this! Check out Steve’s site and subscribe to his blog and also give me your thoughts and comments about “art vs. business” and agents and how you operate around them. Would love to hear from you! Lisa
https://actoutsidethebox.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/female-agent.jpg207272Lisa Goldhttps://actoutsidethebox.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/AOTB-New-Logo-1000x630.pngLisa Gold2023-09-23 16:25:282024-10-29 12:23:19In Defense of Your Agent
“YES, I’m ready!” Well that’s what I expect most actors to say, whether they actually are or not.
When I worked at the agency, since we were a mid-sized office, we all picked up the incoming calls as we didn’t have a receptionist. It never ceased to amaze me that at least 50% of these daily calls were from actors seeking representation WHO HAD NO EXPERIENCE OR TRAINING AND NO MARKETING MATERIALS WHATSOEVER! Mind blowing.
They would tell me “I’m talented and I’m looking for an agent”, meaning the thought process was that what they bring to the relationship is the talent and the agent does everything else. Now if you’ve been reading my posts thus far, I know that YOU know differently. But how differently? Are you really ready for representation or do you just think you are because you’re talented?
Remember in one of my previous blogs where I spoke about what I looked for in an actor when evaluating them for possible representation? Marketability? Well here is what I mean by that. On top of talent, in order to be represented you must have:
Experience – this is a list (more than one credit) of actual work that you have done. As in “been cast or hired” to perform and not simply starred in your own show or webisode or one person show – for free. Yes, that kind of work is good too, but can’t be the only kind of work on your resume. The old “catch 22” of not having an agent “so how can you get work?”, doesn’t apply anymore. With self-submission platforms, networking, social media pages/groups and more, getting your own work is easier than ever.
Training and/or Formal Education – This is in addition to your experience, not instead of it. If you’re just out of acting class, a conservatory, or even a graduate of a 4-year program or MFA, it’s a misnomer that you’re ready for an agent or manager as evidenced by the plethora of school ending showcases with very few offers to graduates. Being trained is part of the process of becoming a gifted and talented actor, but that doesn’t mean with training alone you are ready for representation.
Stellar and Up to Date Marketing Materials – Today this means all of your on-line profiles with which a representative will be using to submit you must be “tricked out” with everything at your disposal to help them to get you in the door of casting offices. It’s no longer good enough to submit for representation with a headshot and resume. You need media (video, audio clips in addition to full demos), various and many headshots, your resume in an order so that your credits speak quickly as to what your area of focus is and more.
A Business Mindset and Industry Knowledge – An agent respects you as a person even more and will be more inclined to work with you when you have taken your time to learn about your industry. Knowing the names of casting directors, shows, production companies, directors, what’s trending in the industry and other easily accessible information is essential. The “me” mentality of most actors seeking representation is a very narrow point of view and unfortunately too many actors have it. This is the biggest pet peeve of almost every representative I know as they desire a true partnership with their talent. Taking time to educate yourself in the business of show isn’t only a good idea, it’s what will get you an agent much sooner.
If you’re lacking one or more of the above, then in my not-so-humble opinion you are not ready for representation. But inside this realization there are clues as to what steps to take in order to be ready.
If you do have all of the above or are well on your way, then my next post will explore your first steps in seeking an agent or manager. Stay tuned.
By the way, feel free to share where you’re at today. Just starting out? Back after an absence? Been at it for a while and still looking for the right fit? I’d love to hear from you!
https://actoutsidethebox.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/AlreadyReadyPhoto.jpg37445616Lisa Goldhttps://actoutsidethebox.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/AOTB-New-Logo-1000x630.pngLisa Gold2022-05-25 20:48:242024-12-12 11:07:37So Are You Ready for a Rep? Here’s How to Tell…
I’ve been writing a lot on the subject of time in my last few blog posts. This is due to the fact that I recently took part in a 4-day silent meditation retreat. It was over a long holiday weekend so it seemed perfect timing…meaning, business wasn’t expected to continue at its normal pace so I felt I could fit it in my schedule without too many things getting overlooked.
WOW, what an eye opener! One of the biggest take-aways from the Vipassana was the speeding up AND the slowing down of my experience with time. We literally had 6 meditation sessions a day with rest, tea and meal breaks. And 4 days with no talking! ME, not talking. That alone is quite a feat, but as I said time was super warped. Some days the sessions flew by and other times it seemed like forever, though we were doing pretty much the same thing. Eyes closed, deep breathing, counting breaths, not speaking, in and out, over and over and over again.
The point is that somewhere I came to understand that the only point in time that truly matters is the one we’re living right now. The present moment. I’ve been teaching this for years, but the meditation experience brought it home.
And no matter how many times I teach “the joy is in the journey” and “you can enjoy every moment on your way to your manifested desires”, most still want a microwave fast career. Go to school (or a few acting classes), get an agent, have a few awesome auditions, book a gig on TV, film, be seen by key people and become a household name, highly sought after actor on her way to a big award…and like YESTERDAY PLEASE! Listen I get it, so here’s a little something for you to chew on…
For those that have known me over the many years or even if you’ve just recently started reading my blogs, you may know that I’m a huge believer in the Law of Attraction, and I truly believe that if you’ve read this far, then you’re here for a reason and your timing is perfect. So I’d like to share a short video from one of my great teachers on the subject, Abraham-Hicks.
The video is entitled “How long do I have to wait?” and I offer it to those of you who want what you want faster than you’re getting it and the possible answer to why that is. Click this link and take your TIME, eyes closed, and listen to the answer.
I’m still a huge believer in enjoying every moment to moment delicious moment of the day, and I’m still creating lots of things I desire that haven’t yet manifested for me too. But I’m not in a hurry about it anymore. Instead I know that it, they, he, she, those are coming my way and I’m perfectly content if it’s tomorrow, next week or next year.
I’d love your comments on the video/audio and or the Law of Attraction and how it works in your life below!
https://actoutsidethebox.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/LOA.png584792Lisa Goldhttps://actoutsidethebox.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/AOTB-New-Logo-1000x630.pngLisa Gold2020-01-05 20:54:272024-10-23 13:36:19TIME and The Law of Attraction
My brand for well over a decade, “How to Get and Keep an Agent”, has been my “hook” to get actors to pay attention to what I teach. It’s because I know the prevailing thought process of every actor out there, ready for representation or not, is that you need an agent and/or manager to make your acting dreams come true.
Agents and managers validate you by saying “yes” to representing you, and when they do, what goes through the average actor’s mind is something like this:
The doors of casting offices you’ve never been in before will suddenly be flung open and you’ll have awesome audition opportunities.
You’ll then be able to get in front of the real decision-makers, get hired on jobs in a major film or TV show, book a National Network commercial or Broadway show and the result is a big paycheck, champagne and red carpets. You begin rehearsing your Oscar/Emmy/Tony speech.
Conventional wisdom, and this thought process, is all kinds of wrong. I came to find that agents and managers are human beings with human limitations (like me) who require a LOT of understanding (like me!)
The first thing to really understand is that representatives are in a BUSINESS. Our business is to RE-present what you offer the marketplace to our contacts and MAKE MONEY. Yep, that’s why we do it. It’s not the only reason of course, but it is the primary one. We choose the best options for that particular outcome…money in our pocket to pay the rent, put kids through school and enjoy a desired lifestyle. We don’t choose to represent you because we like you and want to grab lunch or even because we think you’re awesomely talented. We choose you because we think we can make money with you.
Your job as part of this TEAM, and even before you’re a member of a rep/talent team, is to make yourself easy to sell (both craft wise and with complete and amazing marketing materials) and realize that to be a working actor today, you need to consider yourself as more than simply a talented artist. Gaining opportunities to show that stellar talent is a full time job, and it’s YOUR job. A representative is an extension of your marketing efforts.
But you’re an artist who’s in it for the art. Great. But every other artist before and since has had to balance art with finance. It’s a completely necessary consideration. Hearing actors say things like “I have an agent but got in the door on that audition by myself…why didn’t she get me in?” Or, “my agent isn’t getting me any (enough) auditions.” Or “I’m the one writing to Casting Directors, marketing my butt off going to networking events and casting director workshops, so why should I have to give her 10%?”
I’m actually going to answer those questions and hopefully give you a different perspective in my next several blog posts. For now I just want you to accept the fact that your rep is trying to make money. And if you’re not a commodity that’s ready to be sold, it’s not personal, it’s business.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on this. Feel free to comment and share!
https://actoutsidethebox.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Wisdom_Image.png504881Lisa Goldhttps://actoutsidethebox.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/AOTB-New-Logo-1000x630.pngLisa Gold2019-11-04 16:57:442024-12-12 15:59:52Conventional Wisdom Suggests that you Need an Agent, but Do You?
Today I will share with you some of my most useful career experience. Believe it or not, it comes from rejection, and lots of it. Who likes rejection? I’ll tell ya who – I do! Well, maybe not ‘like” it, but certainly I can appreciate it.
I knew I wanted to be in show business (singing, acting, walking the red carpet) ever since I was 4 years old. At the beginning it was easy. I got the lead in all of the school plays (Red Riding Hood, Peter Pan, solo for the class song on the radio) and grew up in a house where my dad was a comic. I was fully supported and when I wanted to go to North Carolina School of the Arts for high school, I got in on the first try.
During the summer when I was 16, I auditioned for and got my very first paying acting/singing job in a show called Hooray for Hollywood at a NC based theme park – Carowinds. So where’s the rejection you ask? Everything that happened directly after that. And I am thankful!
After school and then some college I began going on hundreds of auditions. Yes, HUNDREDS. I auditioned for everything, appropriate or not for my type or level of skill, and because of that, of course, didn’t get MOST of the things I auditioned for. Big theater companies rejected me, little jingle companies rejected me because I couldn’t read music well enough, print agents said I was too “big” (I’ve lost over a hundred pounds since then but that’s another story!) and forget TV. Most of the auditions I did get for TV were basically open calls or generals (which they don’t even do anymore) before they also rejected me.
It was mainly because I had very little experience. The economy was recovering then too – the recession of the 80’s, the gas crisis, hey, everything old is new again, right? And I kept thinking my career would be different if someone would just give me a break. How can I get the experience if someone doesn’t give me a break?
The reason this period of time was so useful is that it helped me develop a really thick skin. I came to realize that casting directors weren’t really rejecting me as a person or on my potential (heck I was and still am an AWESOME singer) – they were rejecting my resume; my product. As it became depersonalized, it became easier. I eventually landed a gig with a big band, then my first musical, and shortly after that a gig as an “in house” jingle singer in Houston, TX. From there I did more musicals, cruise ships as a headliner, print work, soaps, commercials, some indie film and 35 years later I look back and see that I have a very nice history doing what I love and getting paid. But it took TIME and lots of rejection.
One of the great things about auditioning over and over again is that your “payoff” of getting the gig is almost always a function of a series of “best of all attempts”, not the average. Now that my focus has turned to helping other actors gain representation, I get rejected by many more people several times at a day. And that’s OK because I always remember that at the end of a long string of “nos” there is bound to be a yes!
Reaching this level of appreciation takes time AND getting rejected a lot! So if you aren’t getting rejected on a daily basis, get your butt out there! Never give up and keep on keepin’ on!
I’d love some stories of rejection. Yes, it may be painful or it could be cathartic. This includes auditions, agent interviews or even at networking events. Maybe social media comes in to play? Please share!
https://actoutsidethebox.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Rejection.jpg427640Lisa Goldhttps://actoutsidethebox.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/AOTB-New-Logo-1000x630.pngLisa Gold2019-10-16 12:08:472024-10-23 13:47:37The Reason to Love Rejection
You know the old saying “It’s who you know” that will help you get ahead in this biz. Well that’s half true.
My take on it is “it’s who knows you”.
For every agent meeting you take, you’ll be asked “how many casting directors know your work?” Before you interview, my recommendation is that you have at least a list of 5 or don’t go! And when you have a rep, your talent agent and/or manager will want you to continue to grow your list on your own in addition to the auditions they send you on.
So how do you create a network of influential people that know you, like your acting work and are in your court?
Here are 5 ways to do just that:
Mail or email your headshot, resume and online profile links to the 10 top casting directors in your area of focus every quarter, without fail, letting them know that you’re available and what else is going on in your career i.e. a new class, skill acquired, call back or booking.
Identify which CD’s you’d like to show your talent to in person and book a meeting with them at a casting director workshop establishment like Actors Connection. If you’re either in LA or New York, check out for local networking places to meet industry professionals in person.
Attend a networking party, brunch, assistants night, screening or other event where casting directors and other industry will be in attendance. Introduce yourself as an actor and be interested in them and what they do before you offer your business card or ask to send them your casting profiles.
Volunteer at or attend a charity event frequented by the entertainment community. Animal rescue and health awareness causes always draw actors, agents and casting directors alike. Do your research on your top picks to see what they stand for and if you get behind the same cause, you have commonality.
Follow or friend them on Facebook, Instagram, and other social media. Today casting directors use the web to offer advice, post auditions and give feedback on many things hoping to help the actors they will meet someday in an audition room.
It’s time you understood that with a HUGE network of people that have you on their radar, the chances of having the breakthrough, kick-butt, acting career of your dreams are dramatically increased. There are many people in the showbiz world who are ready and waiting for you to get connected and stay connected. You never know which one of them will be key in your forward movement.
What are your favorite ways to make contact with casting directors, agents and other industry? If you have resources to share, please post away in the comments section below with your location and why you recommend what you recommend. Thanks!
https://actoutsidethebox.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Attract-Agent.jpg6611000Lisa Goldhttps://actoutsidethebox.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/AOTB-New-Logo-1000x630.pngLisa Gold2019-08-06 22:47:282024-12-12 15:41:34Attract Agents by Knowing Casting Directors
Over my 40 year professional career as an actor and my last 20+ years as a coach/mentor/business owner of two companies that serve actors, I’ve had the privilege and the heartbreak of watching others go after their dreams. One set of actors seem to just know what to do or are constantly educating themselves to figure it out, while the other set seems to struggle, question, stay stuck and wonder “why not me”?
I honestly think it comes down to one, and only one distinction in a human being – their habits. For a habit is a thing you do over and over again without thinking. This automaticity can make or break your career, life and ultimately your happiness day to day.
The good news is you can always create new, productive and supportive habits. Here are some habits of actors who are turning their dreams into realities:
1. They see challenges as opportunities
Most actors interpret fears as obstacles and tend to run away from them. People who live their purpose successfully have developed the capacity to see fear as a sign of what they really need to go for, and put all their courage and energy into it. To ACT Outside the Box, if you will!
2. They see their career and also their life as a game.
Having this vision opens up space for playfulness and creativity instead of limitation. It also cultivates those qualities of resilience, problem solving and confidence that helps actors take risks not only on the stage but in their business to get to the next big place.
3. Living the life they want is the only option.
They’re so committed to making their dreams a reality that they banish any possibility of quitting whatsoever from their mind. They don’t think things like, “If it doesn’t work in 3 years, I’ll just go become a CPA.” Of course, I’m a great believer in having multiple steams of residual income from many sources, but that’s not quitting, that’s being a smart actorpreneur.
4. They always speak their truth.
They are able to speak it everywhere in their lives because they make a conscious effort to connect to their truest desires, their inner voice, and their spirituality without fear of judgment. This is HUGE in an industry where we are constantly judged. This connection to self is often fostered through meditation, journaling, being mentored and being surrounded by like minded-people. Just ask any successful actor you know and they’ll tell you they have a foundation of practices around their spirit and guidance from sources greater than themselves.
5. They aren’t just dreamers: they ACT on their desires.
There’s that word again. ACT is for action, not acting. Starting to get it? Instead of getting stuck in their hopes, wishes and dreams, they snap right into action, no matter what it takes. Whether it’s turning down a job that a gut check tells them to, getting out of a situation that holds them back, investing in themselves financially when called to, or moving to a new location across the country for other opportunities, they have the courage to do it. They do this by listening to, and then acting on, their intuition.
6. They expect and know that they deserve the best.
Actors who expect that what they want is going to happen as if it were an inner-knowing is THE SECRET. You’ve heard of that, right? They expect and feel they deserve to earn well, do what they love, serve others using their gifts. THE SECRET is that they still expect the best even when they don’t have all the answers as to how it’s going to happen.
7. They have no fear or guilt when asking for what they want.
Because they’re so connected to their passions, they aren’t afraid to ask for what they want. In fact, they understand that their success depends on others, so asking for what they want is part of the deal. They set their boundaries and express their needs without fear, guilt or shame. Best of all, this is a trait that earns them respect from others.
8. They create their own rules.
They create their own rules instead of fitting into path set for them before. As in “they say you can’t do this and you have to do that to make it in this biz”. They make decisions from a place of what they want to have instead of what they think they can have or limiters heard from others. This gives them the freedom to design their destiny.
9. They’ve learned to be comfortable being uncomfortable.
One of their favorite places to be is wherever they are uncomfortable. They don’t get stuck in having all the answers, making things perfect or trying to gain comfort by controlling everything. Instead, they’re aware that they’re not going to see the next step until they make the decision to move forward despite the discomfort.
10. They have teachers, mentors and role models.
Having teachers increases their awareness. They clearly understand that each time they’re getting ready to pursue their dreams all their limitations are going to come up to the surface so that they can let go of them. Having role models and mentors helps them quickly identify where they’re stuck so that they can immediately change their results.
If it’s time to follow your dreams in an entirely new way, I recommend adopting some of these habits. If you’re looking for someone’s assistance, we’re here!
(Inspiration for much of this post comes from an article I read on broccolicity.com)
https://actoutsidethebox.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/whatwerepeatedlydo-@allielefevere.jpg10241024Lisa Goldhttps://actoutsidethebox.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/AOTB-New-Logo-1000x630.pngLisa Gold2019-07-19 15:32:012024-10-23 13:46:4010 Habits to Turn your Dreams into your Reality
Marketing IS risky. Why? It might not work. That alone is what has most actors not market themselves at all. Oh well, sure…you go online and submit for gigs, send some follow up postcards out every once in a while to build your contacts…is that really marketing? It is, but BARELY.
To really clear through the clutter, you have to be BOLD, courageous and sometimes outrageous. You have to THINK like they think, not like you think. And after you figure out what, how, and who to market too, you actually have to take ACTion and DO it.
So here are my 5 Tips to take the risk OUT of marketing…FOREVER! Read more
https://actoutsidethebox.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Money-Marketing-and-Mailing-2.jpg437556Lisa Goldhttps://actoutsidethebox.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/AOTB-New-Logo-1000x630.pngLisa Gold2019-06-27 07:51:432021-05-09 20:27:245 Tips to take the Risk OUT of Marketing
Are you feeling fortunate? As creative and performing artists, the phrase “fame and fortune” is used a lot. We all know that the fame is about acknowledgment. But what about the fortune part? Is it really only about money? I don’t think so. Fortune and being fortunate, expresses itself in our daily lives in so many different ways.
If you woke up this morning with more health than illness, you are more fortunate than the million or so people who won’t survive the week. If you have never experienced the danger of war, the loneliness of prison, the agony of torture or the pangs of starvation, you are more fortunate than 20 million people around the world. If you attend a religious meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, torture, or death, you are more fortunate than almost three billion people in the world.
If you have food in your refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof over your head and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75% of this world. If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish someplace, you are among the top 8% of the world’s wealthy.
If your parents are still married and alive, you are very, very rare, especially in the United States.
If you hold up your head with a smile on your face and are truly thankful, you are fortunate because the majority of people can, but most do not. If you can hold someone’s hand, hug them or even touch them on the shoulder, you are fortunate because you really know what compassion is.
If you can read this message, you are more fortunate than over two billion people in the world that cannot read anything at all.
You are so fortunate in ways you never even realize and NONE of it has to do with getting an agent, an acting gig, or the like.
Take a look at just how fortunate you are right now. Write a list of at least 10 “fortunes” you have. Write the list on a piece of paper small enough to carry with you in your wallet or purse at ALL TIMES. When you find yourself feeling down about missing that audition or having any other “poor me” thoughts, just take out that piece of paper and remind yourself of your riches!
Check out this quote from one of my favorite gurus –
“Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.”
– Oprah Winfrey
https://actoutsidethebox.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/fortunate.jpg174290Lisa Goldhttps://actoutsidethebox.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/AOTB-New-Logo-1000x630.pngLisa Gold2018-06-19 20:42:512020-12-12 22:10:50Prescription for Inspiration
In Defense of Your Agent
/in Agents, Biz of Show Info, General/by Lisa Gold1. Your agent (and from here on we also mean manger) is in business. So, you’re an artist who’s in it for the art. Fine. But Bill Shakespeare and every other artist before and since has had to balance art with finance. Each informs the other and each is necessary. Your agent is no different. Vilifying her because she’s trying to make money and put her kids through private school gets you nowhere. It doesn’t make you more of an artist or get you closer to working with great artists. You need to accept the fact that your agent is trying to make money. And if you’re not a commodity she can sell, it’s not personal; It’s business. Your job is to make yourself easy to sell; to be the actor who has the undeniable force of a flourishing artist. Once that happens you will become that “got-to-have” commodity.
2. Your agent is not here to save you. Actors can suffer from Knight-In-Shining-Armor Syndrome. The notion is it that it’s the agent’s job to dust you off, polish you to a brilliant shine, and escort you to the promised land. The belief is that the agent does all the work. Inherent in this thinking is that there’s someone or something outside of yourself that has the power to make all your dreams come true with little effort or output from you, and once you find that person, you’ll be rich and famous. This is insanity. These days getting an agent doesn’t mean you’ll ever have an audition and it certainly doesn’t mean that you won’t have to do most of the work in the relationship. Spending one minute of your time waiting for your agent to call is time wasted. You have to be in classes, write/shoot/produce/direct your own material, put up a play and put yourself out there. These days you have to work harder than your agent. Training in class consistently, creating your own material constantly, and doing whatever you can to engage with other artists constantly is essential to your craft and your career. You have to give your agent the tools to sell you. Relying upon anyone other than yourself is career suicide. Giving up your artistic and professional responsibility to an agent is a grave error that too many actors make. Do the work and make your agent catch up with you.
3. Your age
nt is cheating on you and that’s OK. Yes, your agent has other clients. Deal with it. Your agent would go hungry if he only had you as a client. He has to widen the swath in order to give himself the best shot at making a living. Moreover, part of the charm for him is that he has a dynamic group of unique actors with unique needs and talents who allow him to explore different parts of the industry. So when your phone call isn’t returned right away, know that there are 20 other actors who are also demanding feedback. Checking your phone every 10 minutes is like waiting for the guy you went on a date with last week to call. It never pans out. Rather than stew about it, talk yourself into a paranoid delusion and wallow in the slimy ooze of desperation, go write a scene and shoot it. Go to class. Address your artistry.
4. Your agent doesn’t speak your language. Chances are your agent isn’t in a weekly acting class. No, she spends her evenings trolling the computer till midnight, hounding casting directors, trying to get you in the room. While many agents have great instincts about actors, they may not speak a language that suggests that they understand your process. So, don’t expect them to. When they offer a note about your performance that might seem insensitive, don’t take it personally. Translate it into language that helps you grow as an artist. And if it’s not helpful, chalk it up to a subjective opinion. Also keep in mind that agents spend 10 hours a day on the phone and computer trying to turn a “no” into a “yes”. They’re doing and saying anything they can to get you in the room. When you call to talk to them in the middle of all that, don’t expect them be able to pull down the walls and relate to you like the vulnerable artist that you are.
5. Your agent has feelings too. Remember how crushed you were when you tested for that pilot, were the Network’s first choice, but lost the part to that name actor at the last minute? So crushed. Well your agent was crushed, too. And that was the fourth time that same thing happened to one of his clients that pilot season. He talked each of his other clients off the ledge, just like he did for you, while at the same time closing deals for his clients who did book pilots, and selling his development level clients to Studios who were inundated with pitches. He’s holding it together, but he’s ready to crack. Cut him some slack and know that he’s probably doing his best.
Your agent is a person. She has emotional and financial needs that inform how she conducts herself. She believes in you but she’s not responsible for your happiness or your success. Her greatest thrill is when you book a job. Her greatest disappointment is when you don’t. But believing that she lives to make your dreams come true shirks your responsibility to work tirelessly on your craft and, what’s worse, gives up your power. Choose to believe that it’s all got to come from you – the work, the marketing, the mindset. It’s when you stop chasing your agent (any agent) and take control of your work and your career, that the agent starts chasing you.
***OK, so I WISH had written this post myself, but I did not…although everything here is EXACTLY what I would say to you if I had. Acknowledgement goes out to a West Coast actor, coach and business consultant Steve Braun and I repeat it here for you because its important that you GET this! Check out Steve’s site and subscribe to his blog and also give me your thoughts and comments about “art vs. business” and agents and how you operate around them. Would love to hear from you! Lisa
I Am Thankful For…
/in General, Random Thoughts/Musings/by Lisa GoldBe thankful for everything by embracing the small and big wins, as we open the door to more opportunities, joy, and success
So Are You Ready for a Rep? Here’s How to Tell…
/in General/by Lisa Gold“YES, I’m ready!” Well that’s what I expect most actors to say, whether they actually are or not.
When I worked at the agency, since we were a mid-sized office, we all picked up the incoming calls as we didn’t have a receptionist. It never ceased to amaze me that at least 50% of these daily calls were from actors seeking representation WHO HAD NO EXPERIENCE OR TRAINING AND NO MARKETING MATERIALS WHATSOEVER! Mind blowing.
They would tell me “I’m talented and I’m looking for an agent”, meaning the thought process was that what they bring to the relationship is the talent and the agent does everything else. Now if you’ve been reading my posts thus far, I know that YOU know differently. But how differently? Are you really ready for representation or do you just think you are because you’re talented?
Remember in one of my previous blogs where I spoke about what I looked for in an actor when evaluating them for possible representation? Marketability? Well here is what I mean by that. On top of talent, in order to be represented you must have:
Experience – this is a list (more than one credit) of actual work that you have done. As in “been cast or hired” to perform and not simply starred in your own show or webisode or one person show – for free. Yes, that kind of work is good too, but can’t be the only kind of work on your resume. The old “catch 22” of not having an agent “so how can you get work?”, doesn’t apply anymore. With self-submission platforms, networking, social media pages/groups and more, getting your own work is easier than ever.
Training and/or Formal Education – This is in addition to your experience, not instead of it. If you’re just out of acting class, a conservatory, or even a graduate of a 4-year program or MFA, it’s a misnomer that you’re ready for an agent or manager as evidenced by the plethora of school ending showcases with very few offers to graduates. Being trained is part of the process of becoming a gifted and talented actor, but that doesn’t mean with training alone you are ready for representation.
Stellar and Up to Date Marketing Materials – Today this means all of your on-line profiles with which a representative will be using to submit you must be “tricked out” with everything at your disposal to help them to get you in the door of casting offices. It’s no longer good enough to submit for representation with a headshot and resume. You need media (video, audio clips in addition to full demos), various and many headshots, your resume in an order so that your credits speak quickly as to what your area of focus is and more.
A Business Mindset and Industry Knowledge – An agent respects you as a person even more and will be more inclined to work with you when you have taken your time to learn about your industry. Knowing the names of casting directors, shows, production companies, directors, what’s trending in the industry and other easily accessible information is essential. The “me” mentality of most actors seeking representation is a very narrow point of view and unfortunately too many actors have it. This is the biggest pet peeve of almost every representative I know as they desire a true partnership with their talent. Taking time to educate yourself in the business of show isn’t only a good idea, it’s what will get you an agent much sooner.
If you’re lacking one or more of the above, then in my not-so-humble opinion you are not ready for representation. But inside this realization there are clues as to what steps to take in order to be ready.
If you do have all of the above or are well on your way, then my next post will explore your first steps in seeking an agent or manager. Stay tuned.
By the way, feel free to share where you’re at today. Just starting out? Back after an absence? Been at it for a while and still looking for the right fit? I’d love to hear from you!
TIME and The Law of Attraction
/in General/by Lisa GoldWOW, what an eye opener! One of the biggest take-aways from the Vipassana was the speeding up AND the slowing down of my experience with time. We literally had 6 meditation sessions a day with rest, tea and meal breaks. And 4 days with no talking! ME, not talking. That alone is quite a feat, but as I said time was super warped. Some days the sessions flew by and other times it seemed like forever, though we were doing pretty much the same thing. Eyes closed, deep breathing, counting breaths, not speaking, in and out, over and over and over again.
The point is that somewhere I came to understand that the only point in time that truly matters is the one we’re living right now. The present moment. I’ve been teaching this for years, but the meditation experience brought it home.
And no matter how many times I teach “the joy is in the journey” and “you can enjoy every moment on your way to your manifested desires”, most still want a microwave fast career. Go to school (or a few acting classes), get an agent, have a few awesome auditions, book a gig on TV, film, be seen by key people and become a household name, highly sought after actor on her way to a big award…and like YESTERDAY PLEASE! Listen I get it, so here’s a little something for you to chew on…
For those that have known me over the many years or even if you’ve just recently started reading my blogs, you may know that I’m a huge believer in the Law of Attraction, and I truly believe that if you’ve read this far, then you’re here for a reason and your timing is perfect. So I’d like to share a short video from one of my great teachers on the subject, Abraham-Hicks.
The video is entitled “How long do I have to wait?” and I offer it to those of you who want what you want faster than you’re getting it and the possible answer to why that is. Click this link and take your TIME, eyes closed, and listen to the answer.
I’m still a huge believer in enjoying every moment to moment delicious moment of the day, and I’m still creating lots of things I desire that haven’t yet manifested for me too. But I’m not in a hurry about it anymore. Instead I know that it, they, he, she, those are coming my way and I’m perfectly content if it’s tomorrow, next week or next year.
I’d love your comments on the video/audio and or the Law of Attraction and how it works in your life below!
Conventional Wisdom Suggests that you Need an Agent, but Do You?
/in General/by Lisa GoldAgents and managers validate you by saying “yes” to representing you, and when they do, what goes through the average actor’s mind is something like this:
The doors of casting offices you’ve never been in before will suddenly be flung open and you’ll have awesome audition opportunities.
You’ll then be able to get in front of the real decision-makers, get hired on jobs in a major film or TV show, book a National Network commercial or Broadway show and the result is a big paycheck, champagne and red carpets. You begin rehearsing your Oscar/Emmy/Tony speech.
Conventional wisdom, and this thought process, is all kinds of wrong. I came to find that agents and managers are human beings with human limitations (like me) who require a LOT of understanding (like me!)
The first thing to really understand is that representatives are in a BUSINESS. Our business is to RE-present what you offer the marketplace to our contacts and MAKE MONEY. Yep, that’s why we do it. It’s not the only reason of course, but it is the primary one. We choose the best options for that particular outcome…money in our pocket to pay the rent, put kids through school and enjoy a desired lifestyle. We don’t choose to represent you because we like you and want to grab lunch or even because we think you’re awesomely talented. We choose you because we think we can make money with you.
Your job as part of this TEAM, and even before you’re a member of a rep/talent team, is to make yourself easy to sell (both craft wise and with complete and amazing marketing materials) and realize that to be a working actor today, you need to consider yourself as more than simply a talented artist. Gaining opportunities to show that stellar talent is a full time job, and it’s YOUR job. A representative is an extension of your marketing efforts.
But you’re an artist who’s in it for the art. Great. But every other artist before and since has had to balance art with finance. It’s a completely necessary consideration. Hearing actors say things like “I have an agent but got in the door on that audition by myself…why didn’t she get me in?” Or, “my agent isn’t getting me any (enough) auditions.” Or “I’m the one writing to Casting Directors, marketing my butt off going to networking events and casting director workshops, so why should I have to give her 10%?”
I’m actually going to answer those questions and hopefully give you a different perspective in my next several blog posts. For now I just want you to accept the fact that your rep is trying to make money. And if you’re not a commodity that’s ready to be sold, it’s not personal, it’s business.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on this. Feel free to comment and share!
The Reason to Love Rejection
/in General/by Lisa GoldI knew I wanted to be in show business (singing, acting, walking the red carpet) ever since I was 4 years old. At the beginning it was easy. I got the lead in all of the school plays (Red Riding Hood, Peter Pan, solo for the class song on the radio) and grew up in a house where my dad was a comic. I was fully supported and when I wanted to go to North Carolina School of the Arts for high school, I got in on the first try.
During the summer when I was 16, I auditioned for and got my very first paying acting/singing job in a show called Hooray for Hollywood at a NC based theme park – Carowinds. So where’s the rejection you ask? Everything that happened directly after that. And I am thankful!
After school and then some college I began going on hundreds of auditions. Yes, HUNDREDS. I auditioned for everything, appropriate or not for my type or level of skill, and because of that, of course, didn’t get MOST of the things I auditioned for. Big theater companies rejected me, little jingle companies rejected me because I couldn’t read music well enough, print agents said I was too “big” (I’ve lost over a hundred pounds since then but that’s another story!) and forget TV. Most of the auditions I did get for TV were basically open calls or generals (which they don’t even do anymore) before they also rejected me.
It was mainly because I had very little experience. The economy was recovering then too – the recession of the 80’s, the gas crisis, hey, everything old is new again, right? And I kept thinking my career would be different if someone would just give me a break. How can I get the experience if someone doesn’t give me a break?
The reason this period of time was so useful is that it helped me develop a really thick skin. I came to realize that casting directors weren’t really rejecting me as a person or on my potential (heck I was and still am an AWESOME singer) – they were rejecting my resume; my product. As it became depersonalized, it became easier. I eventually landed a gig with a big band, then my first musical, and shortly after that a gig as an “in house” jingle singer in Houston, TX. From there I did more musicals, cruise ships as a headliner, print work, soaps, commercials, some indie film and 35 years later I look back and see that I have a very nice history doing what I love and getting paid. But it took TIME and lots of rejection.
One of the great things about auditioning over and over again is that your “payoff” of getting the gig is almost always a function of a series of “best of all attempts”, not the average. Now that my focus has turned to helping other actors gain representation, I get rejected by many more people several times at a day. And that’s OK because I always remember that at the end of a long string of “nos” there is bound to be a yes!
Reaching this level of appreciation takes time AND getting rejected a lot! So if you aren’t getting rejected on a daily basis, get your butt out there! Never give up and keep on keepin’ on!
I’d love some stories of rejection. Yes, it may be painful or it could be cathartic. This includes auditions, agent interviews or even at networking events. Maybe social media comes in to play? Please share!
Attract Agents by Knowing Casting Directors
/in General/by Lisa GoldMy take on it is “it’s who knows you”.
For every agent meeting you take, you’ll be asked “how many casting directors know your work?” Before you interview, my recommendation is that you have at least a list of 5 or don’t go! And when you have a rep, your talent agent and/or manager will want you to continue to grow your list on your own in addition to the auditions they send you on.
So how do you create a network of influential people that know you, like your acting work and are in your court?
Here are 5 ways to do just that:
It’s time you understood that with a HUGE network of people that have you on their radar, the chances of having the breakthrough, kick-butt, acting career of your dreams are dramatically increased. There are many people in the showbiz world who are ready and waiting for you to get connected and stay connected. You never know which one of them will be key in your forward movement.
What are your favorite ways to make contact with casting directors, agents and other industry? If you have resources to share, please post away in the comments section below with your location and why you recommend what you recommend. Thanks!
10 Habits to Turn your Dreams into your Reality
/in Actor Marketing, Mentors and Thought Leaders, Reaching Goals/by Lisa GoldOver my 40 year professional career as an actor and my last 20+ years as a coach/mentor/business owner of two companies that serve actors, I’ve had the privilege and the heartbreak of watching others go after their dreams. One set of actors seem to just know what to do or are constantly educating themselves to figure it out, while the other set seems to struggle, question, stay stuck and wonder “why not me”?
I honestly think it comes down to one, and only one distinction in a human being – their habits. For a habit is a thing you do over and over again without thinking. This automaticity can make or break your career, life and ultimately your happiness day to day.
The good news is you can always create new, productive and supportive habits. Here are some habits of actors who are turning their dreams into realities:
1. They see challenges as opportunities
Most actors interpret fears as obstacles and tend to run away from them. People who live their purpose successfully have developed the capacity to see fear as a sign of what they really need to go for, and put all their courage and energy into it. To ACT Outside the Box, if you will!
2. They see their career and also their life as a game.
Having this vision opens up space for playfulness and creativity instead of limitation. It also cultivates those qualities of resilience, problem solving and confidence that helps actors take risks not only on the stage but in their business to get to the next big place.
3. Living the life they want is the only option.
They’re so committed to making their dreams a reality that they banish any possibility of quitting whatsoever from their mind. They don’t think things like, “If it doesn’t work in 3 years, I’ll just go become a CPA.” Of course, I’m a great believer in having multiple steams of residual income from many sources, but that’s not quitting, that’s being a smart actorpreneur.
4. They always speak their truth.
They are able to speak it everywhere in their lives because they make a conscious effort to connect to their truest desires, their inner voice, and their spirituality without fear of judgment. This is HUGE in an industry where we are constantly judged. This connection to self is often fostered through meditation, journaling, being mentored and being surrounded by like minded-people. Just ask any successful actor you know and they’ll tell you they have a foundation of practices around their spirit and guidance from sources greater than themselves.
5. They aren’t just dreamers: they ACT on their desires.
There’s that word again. ACT is for action, not acting. Starting to get it? Instead of getting stuck in their hopes, wishes and dreams, they snap right into action, no matter what it takes. Whether it’s turning down a job that a gut check tells them to, getting out of a situation that holds them back, investing in themselves financially when called to, or moving to a new location across the country for other opportunities, they have the courage to do it. They do this by listening to, and then acting on, their intuition.
6. They expect and know that they deserve the best.
Actors who expect that what they want is going to happen as if it were an inner-knowing is THE SECRET. You’ve heard of that, right? They expect and feel they deserve to earn well, do what they love, serve others using their gifts. THE SECRET is that they still expect the best even when they don’t have all the answers as to how it’s going to happen.
Because they’re so connected to their passions, they aren’t afraid to ask for what they want. In fact, they understand that their success depends on others, so asking for what they want is part of the deal. They set their boundaries and express their needs without fear, guilt or shame. Best of all, this is a trait that earns them respect from others.
8. They create their own rules.
They create their own rules instead of fitting into path set for them before. As in “they say you can’t do this and you have to do that to make it in this biz”. They make decisions from a place of what they want to have instead of what they think they can have or limiters heard from others. This gives them the freedom to design their destiny.
9. They’ve learned to be comfortable being uncomfortable.
One of their favorite places to be is wherever they are uncomfortable. They don’t get stuck in having all the answers, making things perfect or trying to gain comfort by controlling everything. Instead, they’re aware that they’re not going to see the next step until they make the decision to move forward despite the discomfort.
10. They have teachers, mentors and role models.
Having teachers increases their awareness. They clearly understand that each time they’re getting ready to pursue their dreams all their limitations are going to come up to the surface so that they can let go of them. Having role models and mentors helps them quickly identify where they’re stuck so that they can immediately change their results.
If it’s time to follow your dreams in an entirely new way, I recommend adopting some of these habits. If you’re looking for someone’s assistance, we’re here!
(Inspiration for much of this post comes from an article I read on broccolicity.com)
5 Tips to take the Risk OUT of Marketing
/in Biz of Show Info, Productivity Tips/by Lisa GoldTo really clear through the clutter, you have to be BOLD, courageous and sometimes outrageous. You have to THINK like they think, not like you think. And after you figure out what, how, and who to market too, you actually have to take ACTion and DO it.
So here are my 5 Tips to take the risk OUT of marketing…FOREVER! Read more
Prescription for Inspiration
/in General/by Lisa GoldIf you woke up this morning with more health than illness, you are more fortunate than the million or so people who won’t survive the week. If you have never experienced the danger of war, the loneliness of prison, the agony of torture or the pangs of starvation, you are more fortunate than 20 million people around the world. If you attend a religious meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, torture, or death, you are more fortunate than almost three billion people in the world.
If you have food in your refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof over your head and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75% of this world. If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish someplace, you are among the top 8% of the world’s wealthy.
If your parents are still married and alive, you are very, very rare, especially in the United States.
If you hold up your head with a smile on your face and are truly thankful, you are fortunate because the majority of people can, but most do not. If you can hold someone’s hand, hug them or even touch them on the shoulder, you are fortunate because you really know what compassion is.
If you can read this message, you are more fortunate than over two billion people in the world that cannot read anything at all.
You are so fortunate in ways you never even realize and NONE of it has to do with getting an agent, an acting gig, or the like.
Take a look at just how fortunate you are right now. Write a list of at least 10 “fortunes” you have. Write the list on a piece of paper small enough to carry with you in your wallet or purse at ALL TIMES. When you find yourself feeling down about missing that audition or having any other “poor me” thoughts, just take out that piece of paper and remind yourself of your riches!
Check out this quote from one of my favorite gurus –