[NoHo Arts District, CA] – This month’s acting blog from Fran Montano of Actors Workout Studio discusses how to “Get your Sh##t Together!!”
Happy New Year! Are you ready for the new year? Do you have your materials ready? I have been having this discussion with actors in my classes recently.
It’s January, my past blogs in the beginning of the year have been about the business of acting. You can check them out (Part I, Part II) if you’re interested in things you can be doing to kick off the year.
My message today (Get your Sh##t Together!!) is make sure you have your media, promotion materials, quick, easy and readily available.
When I get an inquiry from a potential student for my class, I ask for their picture, resume, and information on themselves. It’s like a business card, information that I have everything I need to see about that person.
Sometimes I get a photo, the next day a resume and few days later a video of some work. That tells me one thing, they don’t have their sh##t together!
Every actor, if you’re serious about being a professional, or if you want to be taken seriously as a professional, you need your kit, your media information, easily available.
I tell actors, it should be a one-link email.
I had a producer and director attend a class this month. They watched the actors work, then gave out some sides to read and even improvised situations. They had a lot of contact with the actors and got to work with them. When they left, all they had is their name on a piece of paper. They weren’t interested in looking at photos or resumes, they were here to see the work, period.
The next day the director contacted me, thanked me, and asked to have the actors send their information to him. This is a busy person, with probably hundreds of emails every day. I told my actors, send one email with one link that can show them everything they need to see. That includes photos, resumes, training, special skills, different looks, some short specific clips, IMDB link, any other links or information that might be relevant, and a one-minute reel if you have one. Also, any more information about you, like if you do something special or are known for something different.
One-stop shopping. Make it easy for these industry people to see and know you!
If they have to go looking for you, they will stop as it takes too much time and energy and it also shows them you’re not the professional that you think you are.
You don’t have to spend a lot of time creating a website for yourself, although that can be great. You can do this very inexpensively, even free if you know your way around. Also, you can have profiles on Actors Access, casting networks or Backstage West.
Whatever you do, it shows them who you are and where you are in your professional journey.
Make it fun and easy and you don’t have to spend a lot of money to do this. This is basic and if you’re serious about this work, that should be all handled.
All the best in 2024!
Fran Montano
Actors Workout Studio