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How to Make 2014 your Career's Best Year

HAPPY 2014!

Yesterday was about saying goodbye to last year, today is about welcoming the next. That makes it a great day for a manifesting ritual… Nothing crazy, just a little exercise to let the Universe know what you want this year to be about, and invite it to get on board.

I'm not talking about 'resolutions,' though you can do those too if you like them. (For me, the 'r' word brings up all kinds of baggage about which ones I met or missed in the past, which sends me off in the wrong direction. If that happens to you too, feel free to skip 'resolutions' this year!) This ritual is really just a simple breathing exercise:

(Read the rest of the post for a special bonus exercise to give your acting career a big jolt in 2014!)

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I Got You a Gift or Three…

(Make that four… There's a HUGE bonus at the end!)

I got you something. 

Three things, actually. 

They're for your acting career. Not the business side… The creative side. They're for your creative soul. 

And some assembly is required… You have to put them together yourself - but that's the best part. 

Ready? Open them open them open them!

 

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3 Things You Can Do When it's 'Slow'

Aaah, the holidays. Family, food, frivolity, and no auditions. 

Nothing is shooting. Casting is on vacation. Agencies are shutting down for the year. It can make you lose your mind if you let it. But there is a silver lining...

Pilot season is right around the corner. Come January, you are going to want every part of your career to be firing on all cylinders. If Luck = Preparation + Opportunity, December is your chance to prepare for January's opportunity explosion.

So what should you be doing?

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What Would Meryl Do?

John Wells is one of Hollywood's most successful writer/producers (ER, The West Wing, Shameless.) Meryl Streep is… Well, she's Meryl Streep for heaven's sake. John Wells recently directed Meryl Streep in 'August: Osage County,' in theaters now.

At this point in her career, Meryl Streep could roll into the first day of any production half-drunk in her pajamas and people would give her a standing ovation. But she doesn't. Quite the opposite, in fact. Here's a video of John Wells talking about something she did at the first read through of 'August: Osage County' that raised the all-star cast's level of professionalism for the rest of the shoot. (And these are no slouches in the professionalism department.)

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Thanksgiving Homework

When it comes to acting, I'm not big on books. I don't want to read about it, I want to DO it. But there are two books that are so fantastic, exceptions must me made. One of those Books is Your Best Year Yet. It's not specifically for actors, but it's a perfect companion to the work we do in coaching, and contains an exercise that's perfect for Thanksgiving.

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The Rule of Seven, or Remember the Blender

There's a casting office in LA that has booked me on three big Guest Star roles. They're huge fans of mine, I'm a huge fan of theirs, it's a big fat love fest. But before that, I spent six years seeing them in workshops and sending them postcards and not getting called in. Not once. I seriously thought they were using my headshot as a dartboard when they needed to blow off some steam. 

Here's what was really going on.

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The Best (Secret) Reason to Send a Postcard

Since last week's tale of postcard redemption struck such a chord, let's linger on the subject a little longer.

What do you consider a good reason to send a postcard? When you've send postcards in the past, what have they been about? What could happen that would motivate you to send your next round of postcards?

The answer to all of those questions is probably something like 'Booking a big fat role in a big fat project!' And that is certainly a fantastic reason for a postcard mailing... 

But what if it's been a while since you booked a big fat role in a big fat project? Are you just not going to send postcards? Just gonna let 6 or 12 or 18 months go by without putting yourself in front of your industry contacts' mental filing cabinets? 

Hell. No. 

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The Truth About Postcards

Actors tell me all the time that they know they should be sending postcards, but they're pretty sure casting directors just throw them in the trash, so what's the point? 

It's true. Casting directors throw actor postcards in the trash. 

After the postcards have done their job.
 
Postcards are like bananas… They end up in the trash once they've served their delicious purpose. (If you don't like bananas, substitute your favorite food-with-a-wrapper; The analogy is the same.)

But don't take my word for it. Have a look at this recent Twitter exchange between an actor friend, a tv casting director, and me.  (Names & locations have been blurred to protect the innocent.)

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The Fear Series, Part 4 - Nerves

So you've identified how fear shows up in your career, and you know how to crush it. (Or you're working on it. That counts.) But there's one last thing... When you're 'on deck' at an audition or about to walk into a meeting, it's not that you get scared, exactly; It's just that you get... NERVOUS. Where does that fit in to all this fear stuff?

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Fear Series, Part 3 - Crush It

In the last 2 weeks, we've talked about the two biggest fears actors face, how they manifest themselves in our work and careers, and how they work together to sabotage our progress.

This week, we finally get around to the million dollar question, WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT IT?

 

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Fear Series, Part 2 - Fear of Success

This month, we're talking about fear... Specifically, the most common fears we face as actors, how they show up and hold us back in our careers, and how to conquer them.

The first installment was Fear of Failure. This week, we tackle its even more insidious partner, Fear of Success.

 

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Fear Series, Part 1 - Fear of Failure

 “I could never be an actor.” We hear it all the time. What people really mean is, “I would be terrified to do what you do.” While most people cringe at the thought of getting up in front of a bunch of strangers and performing for their judgment, we’ve learned not only to overcome that terror, but to feed off of it. Pretty cool. But we also know a secret… Fear shows up for us in other, sneakier ways that hold us back every day.

There’s nothing wrong with fear. It’s a normal, healthy instinct designed to protect us from risk. But unlike most professions, risk is a critical part of being a working actor. So to be a working actor, you have to do something most people don’t; Learn to manage your fear.  And that’s what the next few posts are about.

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Escape The 5 Worst Waiting Room Traps

I had an audition recently for a recurring guest star role on a great show at an office I've been to a bunch. I was prepped, on time, knew what to expect, all good... And then I fell into a Waiting Room Trap (#3 specifically.)

No actor is immune. You can go for months without hitting one, and then WHAM. And then you panic, which makes it worse, and then you get pissed that you're panicking, and before you know it your prep is out the window, you've stumbled through your audition in a fog, and you're back in your car kicking yourself.

No more. Working actors don't let Waiting Room Traps become audition-killers. How? We have escape routes.

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The Art of the One-Liner

Ask any casting director, and they’ll tell you one-line roles are among the hardest to cast, because there are so many ways to screw them up.  The cruel irony is that those itty-bitty roles are often your best bet for beefing up your credits, building a reel, and getting your foot in the door.

Here’s the good news – with these simple techniques, you’ll be well on your way to mastering the art of the one-liner:

 

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Announcing the launch of Working Actor Wisdom!

For years, I've worked with actors in all stages of their careers who are struggling with all-too-familiar obstacles; finding the right representation, getting into casting offices, booking jobs, and the frustration, impatience, and confusion that gets kicked up in the process. Friends and colleagues tell me they refer actors to me because I've overcome those same obstacles in my own career, and few things make me happier than helping other actors save all that time and struggle by sharing what I've learned.

Which brings me to the big news... I'm hugely excited to announce the launch of Working Actor Wisdom, a career and audition skills coaching practice that turns good actors into working actors!

I'm kicking off with private career and audition skills coaching, with group sessions, online offerings, and more to come.

Sound interesting? Then join the Working Actor wisdom email list!

You'll get an instant taste of what Working Actor Wisdom is all about with '3 Audition Prep Steps Most Actors Miss'. These are things I do before every audition to boost my chances of booking, and turn that audition into many more down the road. It's my way of saying thank you for checking out this new adventure, and this email list is the only way to get it...

Did you sign up? Do it, I promise you'll be glad you did.

You can also follow @WrkngActrWsdm on Twitter and explore more info right here on the website (and if you like what you see, please share it with friends...)

Thanks for reading and supporting me and Working Actor Wisdom. I can't wait to see how it - and your acting career - grows!