Samuel French Launches Ebooks Today

Now you can get plays digitally, on your kindle or iPad.
Very nice.

I found this article while browsing LOS ANGELES ACTING, a blog by David August

Samuel French Launches Ebooks Today - Los Angeles Acting blog by David August

Let's create goals for 2012!

Let's create goals for 2012!

It's nearly impossible to create the career of your dreams without establishing goals, action plans, deadlines and, budgets. What do you want from your career in the coming year? What are you willing to do to make your career move forward? How much time will you spend? How much money can you invest?

Here are some things to think about:
•How much money did I earn in 2011? Can I earn more in 2012? How much? Be precise.
•What was the artistic high in my career for 2011? Could I find a better highpoint in 2012? What do I want it to be?
•Did I pass any milestones in 2011? My first commercial audition? My first Off-Broadway play? My first National Commercial? My first spoken line on television? Finishing my VO demo? Joining Equity?
Figure out what you accomplished, and what you want for yourself in 2012?
These are your goals.

Now, what are you going to be about it? This is your action plan.
It helps to have a marketing coach to do this, but you can absolutely make personal career breakthroughs by creating your own thoughtful action plan.
Action plans, unlike goals, are 100% up to you. There's no chance involved. These are promises you make to yourself that are controllable by you; these are commitments.

Your action plan could include:
•I'm going to do a mailing of headshots, and subsequent postcards to 15 commercial agents.
•I'm going to finish my audiobook demo CD.
•I'm going to strengthen my relationship with my agent, by calling once a month, and visiting 3 times. I'm going to ask questions, and find out what I can do to make his job easier.
•I'm going to go to open calls for 10 things that will get me my Equity Card.
•I'm going to not accept commercial work that pays less than $300 a day.
•I'm going to join AFTRA.
•I'm going to consistently send postcards to my maintenance list, every 4 to 6 weeks, for the whole year.
•I'm going to buy myname.com
•I'm going to lose 10 pounds.
•I'm going to meet the casting director for Blue Bloods, at a meet-and-greet.
...You get the idea. Again, all of these are 100% do-able.

Now mixed in with your action plan are your deadlines and budgets. Be realistic. Your have a busy life and limited resources. Make the commitment now, and you won't have to feel like you're not doing enough for your career. If you've decided - THIS IS WHAT I'M DOING, you never have to feel bad that you're selling yourself short.

Make deadlines for mailings, for getting in shape, for finishing your demo, for learning 3 new monologues, for finding a great up-tempo audition song, for finishing your one-person show.

Make a budget for all of it too:
$89 to meet the casting director for a show that is currently casting in NYC.
$1000 for a year's worth of vocal coaching.
$60 for 3 bottles of thank-you wine for the agents I freelance with.
$300 goes into savings for new headshots in 2013.
$200 for 3 new audition outfits.
And so on...


I promise, If you thoroughly explore your goals, action plan, deadline, and budget, success will come. You will sleep better, you will audition better, your skin will be better, your LIFE will be better.

If you need any help, drop your questions below in the comments.

Practical Audition Tips...

Auditioning is barely acting. It's a confidence game. The key to a good audition is clearing away the things that make you nervous and inauthentic, so you can just be the natural performer you are. The more you practice, the better you get.

Here are some more audition tips, I've picked up in my 1700+ auditions. Practical tips.

•Sign in clearly. It happens almost every audition: someone signs in sloppily, which ticks off the casting director, and ruins the positive energy in the room. You want the casting director to be on your side. Signing in legibly is a simple way to do that.

•Always bring headshots. For many legit auditions, headshots are still required. But for commercial auditions, they are often not necessary. But, BRING THEM ANYWAY. Last week, I was at an audition, and the computer system was down. They asked for a headshot, which I had, and the audition went great. (I booked it actually.) The guy after didn't have it, and it made the casting director prickly.

•Arrive on time. In a lot of cases it won't matter-your time is approximate. Sometimes, however, it will be very purposefully scheduled. Again, don't piss off the casting director. Just be there. If you're late, they may call your agent looking for you - then that's another person who thinks you're flaky.

•Stay until the door closes.

•Dress appropriately. Remember that most commercials are geared toward Middle America. Dress like them, not like New Yorkers. Hipsters-I'm talking to you.

And now for two little bits of advice I use from time to time. I'll call these Advanced Practical Audition Techniques.

•If you're not sure whether the casting director wants to shake hands, try this: Extend both of your hands, with your headshot in the left, and your right hand open to shake. The casting director will shake your hand if he/she wants, or just take the headshot. No need for awkwardness.

•As you exit the room, you have one chance for a final impression. Don't just head out of the room, ass to the casting director/director. Grab the handle, turn around and give one more smile before you head out. I don't know why, but THIS WORKS. It gives them one last impression of what a nice face you have.

Talent can't be taught. Marketing can.