Act Smart! Good tools for a great career

me with the absurdly nice, handsome and tall Ed Marinaro

For the main page on acting, click here

Way back in 2006, I took over a monthly advice column for actors from my pal and colleague, Matt North. My goal at the time was to gain some additional writing experience, make a (very) few bucks, and offload some of the thousands of person-hours of hard-won knowledge I’d gained over the course of two 10-year careers: one as an advertising copywriter and another as a commercial actress.

As is usual with most exploits, I ended up gaining all kinds of things I wasn’t expecting, including an understanding of the similarities inherent in different modalities of communication.

Which is just a fancy way of saying, “All roads lead to Rome.” Or maybe “There’s more than one way to skin a cat.” And, sadly, “You can’t always get what you want.” (But if you try, sometimes you might find you get what you need.)

So yes, these are all articles about acting. But they are also about the particular, peculiar life of people who choose to express themselves for a living. Or for whom communication, the good kind, that entertains and uplifts and changes the world, is really important.

I hope you enjoy them, and even more, that maybe you’ll find them useful in a way you weren’t originally expecting. Yeah, that sounds weird, but when it happens? You’ll totally get what I’m talking about.

xxx
c

Officer Dorothy Kramer inspects a former suspect

2012

Etiquette for the modern-day attention economy (January 2012)

In an era of increasing digital connectedness, good old-fashioned courtesy and restraint are more important than ever.

nawt, tiniest alien from "Space Jam" (1996)

Cartoon me gave cartoon Danny DeVito a manicure in outer space

2011

The magic of interlocking goals (January 2011)

Part II of getting more out of the year ahead is about choosing goals that build on each other. (Read Part I here.)

Shining more brightly in the room (February 2011)

To give a better audition, create a better buffer zone around it.

How to get people to pay attention to you (March 2011)

A brief lesson in the new golden rule and how it applies to the smart actor living in today’s attention economy.

Attention, Pt. 2: Giving good info (April 2011)

People love to pay attention to people who are useful. To make yourself one of the chosen few, learn to provide excellent information at all times.

Attention, Pt. 3: Offering support (May 2011)

People care most about the people who care about them most. Being supportive turns you into one of those people.

Attention, Pt. 4: Entertain them, Entertainer! (June 2011)

Everyone loves being entertained. So why are entertainers often the worst at using that to their advantage?

Attention, Pt. 5: Specifically? You need to F-O-C-U-S (July 2011)

When it comes to attracting a scarce resource like attention, focusing, like a laser beam, if possible, is your best friend.

Attention, Pt. 6: For best results, revert to Kindergarten Rules: (August 2011)

None of it works, and neither will you, unless you’re nice.

Perfectionism vs. Striving (September 2011)

A coda to the “attention” series, wherein we describe using the credo “Always be AWESOME” as a useful guide, not a self-bludgeoning device. And offer helpful tips for doing so!

10 better ways to start your day (October 2011)

You wouldn’t show up to a job or an audition without getting your head in the right place. So why are you treating the building blocks of your career that way?

Brain-Food Portion Control (November 2011)

Whether you’re looking to keep yourself motivated, learn a new practice, or entirely rewire your brain, the simplest way to do it is one day at a time.

Getting a jump on next year (December 2011)

Few things feel better than hitting the ground running. Use a little of your holiday time wisely, and you’ll be the one ho-ho-ho-ing come January 1.

the author in pith helmet from film "Family Attraction"

Pith helmets! a.k.a., "just one more great reason to be an actor"

2010

Start acting like a business (January 2010)

I don’t care how much of an artistic genius you are: if you’re looking to act professionally, you are also a small business. Start this year right by promising yourself you’ll behave like one.

What keeps you from finding your way (February 2010)

Beware of anyone telling you the way to success, including me. Learn how to take information from a variety of sources and make your path truly your own.

First, be able to do the job (March 2010)

What you must know about the “All Things Being Equal” Rule if you are going to succeed.

Another 10 things you can do in 30 minutes (April 2010)

Another installment in what is by far my most popular series of columns. Must be an attention-span thing.

The end starts with the beginning (May 2010)

If you want to succeed, breakfast isn’t the only thing you should consider starting your day with.

The problems you’re probably not seeing (June 2010)

All of us have blind spots. Check this list to see which ones may be getting you in trouble.

How to deal with rejection (July 2010)

Nobody wins all the time. Here’s how to lose gracefully, and learn.

It’s ALL marketing (August 2010)

You’re selling yourself even, sometimes especially, when you don’t think you are.

A few words to those who are, and are not, listening. (September 2010)

As your friend of four years, I think it’s time we had a little talk.

Take your brain to the gym (October 2010)

If all you’re reading is this column and other “actor-specific” publications, you’re already falling behind.

How to get the perfect job (November 2010)

Wherein I finally reveal what you’ve been waiting for: the secret to booking happily ever after.

5 Things to Put in Place Now for a Good 2011 (December 2010)

Cushy legacies and dumb luck aside, the future belongs to the prepared. Here’s how to be one of them.

Me as Tanya the Whore in Justin Tanner's serial sketch for The Strip

2009

10 things you can do in 30 minutes (January 2009)

Putting a small amount of time toward your career every day can make a big difference.

10 more things you can do in 30 minutes (February 2009)

Want more? You got it! Now, go get ‘em, good actor!

Making your email more about them, Part 1 (March 2009)

Don’t shoot yourself in the foot with the communications you send out. Learn how to make every email work for you, not against you.

Making your email more about them, Part 2 (April 2009)

More tips, tricks and generally sound advice for using a valuable tool without coming across as one.

Lottery mentality and how it kills careers (May 2009)

How to think about your work and practice it to optimize your chances for a long and healthy career in the industry.

Mid-year reboot rules (June 2009)

It’s easy to lose steam halfway through the long year. Here are some tips for identifying “leaks” in your system, and for patching them up and getting on with it.

Kayaking, music and the truly successful actor (July 2009)

Smart marketing lessons for musicians translated into actor language, so you can start seeing how to translate all kinds of good information made for “other people” into stuff you can use the hell out of.

Put yourself out there (August 2009)

Questions (and answers…duh!) about how to choose the best projects and use the best communications tactics for putting yourself out there.

Translating standard marketing-speak into actor language (September 2009)

Hey, there actor-person! Did you know there’s a whole world of great information on how you can learn to market yourself from NON-actors, too?

Five non-acting books every actor should read (October 2009)

Should you be reading great books about acting? Yes, you should. Should you also be reading great books, period? Only if you want an edge over 99% of other actors out there.

A gatekeeper’s take on social media (November 2009)

Yeah, I spout off on using the social web. But here’s the skinny from Chaim Magnum, owner of Lemon-Lime Talent in L.A., on what to do, and NOT to do, if you want to be well thought of by them what matters.

What to do on your winter vacation (December 2009)

How to use the end of the year wisely, so that next year (and the years beyond) are even more fruitful.

Publicity still from T&H2K, a spoof of the Psycho remake

I am VERY serious. ESPECIALLY when playing an agent.

2008

Get ready to take on the new year. (January 2008)

A bevy of ideas, projects and tools to reenergize your attitude and your career.

How to ask for helpâ€¦and how not to. (February 2008)

I get Emily Post(al) on your asses about the right way to solicit assistance.

Relax into acting. (March 2008)

Actual, actionable tips for creating that mind-like-water, in-the-zone state so critical to good acting.

Spring cleaning for your career. (April 2008)

When’s the last time you cleared out your career-related clutter? Some tips on how to.

Tooting your own horn effectively (Part 1). (May 2008)

I didn’t spend 10 years in the trenches of consumer advertising (and countless hours online afterwards) for nothing. Learn how to leverage branding for your acting career.