The Successful Talent: Tips for the Actor & Model

THE MUST HAVE CAREER SITES

Taryn Southern, provides great advice from backstage.com; on what websites are best to use in today's marketplace. Whether the goal is to socialize, promote your work, or just to be current with the latest trending technology, these sites are worth considering. 

Q.: I want to start building a presence online, but I’m so overwhelmed I don’t even know where to start. Do I need to have a Twitter page? What are the “must haves”?

A.: There are no musts, and maintaining a social media presence simply isn’t of interest to some talent. But if you want to optimize your brand, industry relationships, and work opportunities, you should strongly consider investing your time and energy in the following sites:  

Facebook Fan Page Unlike a personal Facebook page, a fan page is a place where you can safely and shamelessly promote your work without confusing potential fans and collaborators with photos of you knocking back margaritas last Friday. Once you create an account, upload your headshots, press photos, and demo reel, and update the page with posts about new projects.

Personal website This is the only platform over which you have complete control. That said, a crappy site is worse than no site at all. Make sure it looks professional, can be viewed on a mobile device (no Flash!), and contains the following: contact info, résumé, reels, short bio, social media links, and photos. 

YouTube Account Even if you’re not out there making your own videos, you can still benefit from having a channel page that showcases your demos and/or clips of your work. If there are videos or trailers already on YouTube with you in them, you can create playlists so these videos will automatically show up on your landing page. Confused?  Head to my channel, and check out how I organize my playlists.

Twitter It’s hard to explain the benefits of Twitter to people who don’t actively use it and engage with the community, but it can be a wonderful tool for self-expression, branding, and even networking. It’s the one platform where you can easily reach out to pretty much anyone, as well as read about last-minute filming opportunities, screenings, and events. If you’re going to make the leap, just make sure you learn and abide by proper Twitter etiquette.  

Before you get started on any of these platforms, make sure you register one name across the board (e.g., my Twitter, Facebook, and website pages are named TarynSouthern) to avoid confusion. 

Caution:  taking on too many new sites at once could cause you to feel overwhelmed.  Pick only a couple to start with and commit to becoming comfortable on those chosen platforms before adding new accounts.  And have fun with your social medias!  Just like in the casting room, the industry is drawn to those who express positive ideas and thoughts relevant to our interests!

What social media platforms are you already comfortable using?  How have you already benefited from them?

Related articles

How To Get More Fans To Your Facebook Fan Page

HOW TO LOOK YOUR BEST FOR THE STILL CAMERA

Bryce Buell, a international professional model gives tips from his experience on the best way men can prep for a photoshoot. Not all of these tips are just for the guys, though.  Listen up ladies and heed some good advice!

As a full time fashion model throughout the 1990’s, fitness took a vital role in my career. While I was a fashion model and not a “fitness model” per se, my ability to maintain a lean, fit body led to many opportunities that my thin but unfit counterparts could not partake in such as underwear ads, Men’s Fitness articles, swimwear, romance novel covers, etc.
The secret was to maintain a body that looked very muscular in underwear or swimwear, but still allowed you to wear standard catalog industry suit sizes (40R – 42L) nicely and other clothing for my more mainstream work in catalogs. The secret to achieving this balance was simple: definition.

Definition is achieved through maintaining a very low body fat percentage. A high degree of definition makes you appear very muscular when in fact you may not carry a lot of actual muscle mass on your frame.

Once you achieve a low body fat percentage through proper diet and exercise, your biggest enemy to looking as defined as possible is water retention. Water retention makes one look “soft” and less defined. Fortunately there is an easy, natural solution. If I knew I had a body shoot coming up, my trick was to drink at least a gallon of water a day for at least four days before the shoot, five days is even better.

Drink more water so your body looks less bloated? That doesn’t make any sense… or does it?

The reason may seem counter-intuitive at first -- but the science behind it and the real-world results are sound –- the more water you drink, the less water your body will retain. Why? Because unless you are already drinking at least a gallon of water a day, your body is in a state of dehydration. Anytime you are thirsty, your body is heavily dehydrated and desperately needs water – hence it signals you, “Hey, I am thirsty!” As a result, any water your body receives it will hold on to, often under the skin, making you look smooth.

When you drink at least a gallon of water a day, after a few days your body realizes it is getting enough water and therefore it no longer feels the need to retain as much as it can and it dumps it. The end result is your musculature will look sharper, feel tighter and will photograph much better. When you drink that much water your urine should be very clear – so clear that as my dear friend and model colleague Jonah Taylor used to say “you could re-bottle and sell it.”

Working the still camera as a talent is imperative!  There are many reasons as models cross into on camera work and actors continue to do still shots to learn the other side of your industry as a talent.  What other tricks have you found that make you look your best before a shoot?

Related articles

Lets Get Personal

WHAT WE SEE IN AN IMAGE

Mercedes Rose, blogger for Backstage Unscripted provides perspective on other things the casting directors look for.  As obvious as it sounds, headshots are one of the biggest headaches CDs deal with.   She says . . .

Many actors do not look like their headshots. Or forget them entirely so I have no idea if they look like their headshots or not. This is such a no-brainer I can't believe it is still an issue... bring a headshot and resume already stapled to every audition NO MATTER WHAT. Better to have it and not need it then need it and not have it. And that headshot that you remembered to bring every time should look like you. And preferably it shouldn't have a coffee stain right across your forehead. This is your calling card. What is it saying?

I am sure I haven't heard every excuse in the book . . . yet, but I don't deal with as any talent as a CD would.  Each time a CD hears an excuse, (s)he becomes more callous, which means you could be the next unfortunate soul to have all the negative feelings of prior irresponsible actors or models thrown at you.   No one wants to be the straw that breaks the camel's back when it comes to explosive anger.  Set yourself up for positive feedback and positive experiences - be professional and prepared!

How do you keep your headshots available and in good condition for last minute audition opportunities?

DOES YOUR FACEBOOK HELP YOUR CAREER?

Social media becomes a bigger factor in booking on almost a daily basis.  Repeatedly in the past few months, I have heard producers, directors, and photographers say things like, "I wanted to know more about [insert your name here], so I checked out his/her facebook page and saw . . . "   That lead in has ended with some really positive statements and translated into a booking for the named talent.  It has also sometimes began a displeasurable rant about politics, sexuality, religion, and other topics. 

Social medias are a new front for marketing, entertainment, and communication.  Like most new things, we are going to have to learn some lessons the hard way before the younger generations are coached on how to use them effectively.  Since most of us are already adults and making an effort to join the technological era, these words from BackStage blogger Mercedes Rose are well-timed.

Social media does make a difference. A producer in the room for final callbacks recalled a recent very negative Facebook posting one of the actor had recently done. The producer immediately said he wasn't "overly excited" about the prospect of that negative energy coming to set. Now, I totally understand that one negative FB status does not a negative actor make. The point is: this producer didn't want to take that chance. And that is his right as the one doing the hiring.

In his new book, Talking Back to Facebook: A Common Sense Guide To Raising Kids in the Digital Age, Steyer explores some of the effects of digital media and outlines strategies for avoiding what he calls RAP — relationship issues, attention/addiction problems and privacy pitfalls — while navigating the digital world.  "Young people in particular often self-reveal before they self-reflect," Steyer tells Fresh Air's Dave Davies. "There is no eraser button today for indiscretion."

There is a place for personal discussions in life - it is between those involved and in private.  There is also a time for venting and bouncing ideas off of trusted sources - it is again, between those involved and in private.  Social medias are too easily accessible, too quickly completed, and too likely to not be filtered based on statistical analysis noted in the book, Talking Back to Facebook. 

There are ways to make certain posts visible to a specific group of friends; say, your family of origin, for example.  Keep in mind, though, that the information you posted may only be immediately visible to those you choose, but it is still accessible out there on the worldwide web.  No need to have haunting things pop up later when you make it big, right?

 

How are you using your social media positively?  What results have you seen?

VOLUNTEER YOUR WAY TO THE TOP

These days it isn't necessarily what you know, it's who you know. With that being said, networking is one of the most important things in the entertainment industry. It can actually make or break your career! Having trouble finding ways to network? Think about volunteering! Lisa Dempsey from  AuditionArt.com writes about how volunteering can actually get you cast. 

A great way to make those connections and become a familiar face is volunteering. Every show, every theatre, every company could use another body helping out. Whether that be in the box office, ushering, painting, or building sets, if you’re there meeting people and networking, then you are helping yourself get cast in their next production.

By bringing up in conversation that you are an actor, maybe mentioning names of people or theatres you’ve worked with, and by being a joy to be around, you’re marketing yourself and getting your foot in the door. If they like you, can rely on you and know that you are a credited actor looking to work, they will most likely think of you if they have last minute auditions or need a replacement.

Volunteering can also just make you a “familiar face”. Being recognizable is incredibly important in the audition room as it can spark the question: “Where have I seen you before?” This conversation starter can allow you the opportunity to let your sparkling personality shine! Win them over; tell them you’re volunteering for them, maybe even mention how you’ve become good friends with the producer or house manager. They’ll be flattered and impressed that you are so active and involved, and will also have a person to connect you to and remember you by.

Taking one night out of the week to volunteer at a theatre, local festival or even on a low budget movie set can really improve your chances in this industry and build your long term network. Its not free work if you enjoy doing it and make new relationships out of it, right? Volunteering can be fun, it's all what you make out of it!

Have you ever volunteered or done a project without pay and then watched those connections turn into paying work later?  Tell me your story.  We all need inspiration!

FACEBOOK, TWITTER, LINKEDIN OH MY!

Ever find yourself overwhelmed by the abundance of social media outlets that are available today? Ever wonder what the do's and don'ts of social media are? As a model or actor, it's extremely important to know that you (maybe more than most people) are always in the public eye. Agents, casting directors, and managers have free reign of the internet so lets just say they have a little free time during the day and they decide to search for you on twitter, would your tweets be appropriate? You don't want them basing a casting decision off of your tweets or facebook posts, so its time to learn some social media etiquette. Below is a simple guide to social media etiquette from NAACT.

1. Don’t bash other people on your social media accounts. It doesn’t matter whether you refer to  them by name; it makes you look petty. Once in a blue moon, people will forgive and forget. Do it all the time, and you’re [labelled] a whiner.

2. Be considerate when you decide whether to post, Tweet or share. I hear people saying “it’s my account, I’ll post what I want” all the time. To a certain extent, that’s true. You should be yourself. But you should also remember that other people have to sift through five million YouTube videos to see what their other friends said – just because you were in a Metallica kind of mood. Bombarding people’s news feeds with anything (whether it be videos or game updates) just isn’t polite.

3. Engage other people in conversation. Don’t just post updates and have conversations on your own wall, comment on your friends’ pictures and status updates, retweet their tweets and share their news stories. That’s the whole point of social media: to be social.

4. Don’t post embarrassing pictures and videos of your friends and then tag them. That’s just mean. Sure, sometimes they deserve it, but you can be the better person, can’t you? On the same token, don’t post embarrassing pictures of yourself either. Eager to show off a new tattoo in an inconspicuous place? Social media is not the venue.

5. Don’t share uber-personal details about your life.   Remember that you’re sharing this info with people you used to work with or went to high school with and haven’t seen in 15 years. I don’t know you like that, and no offence, but I don’t want to know you like that.

In the video below, casting director Michael Cassara, currently casting a movie in our market, gives his opinion on how actors should use today's social media.

 

Hopefully these tips will make you think twice about what you post on your social media pages. What Facebook, LinkedIn, or Twitter posts do you enjoy seeing most?  Are you posting things like that?

TALENT WARDROBE 101

Knowing the right clothing to wear in your headshots can be a tough task for some, especially if you haven't been blessed with what they call the "style gene". But that's why you're reading this, to help you prepare your wardrobe for the photoshoot. While reading these tips, remember this number one rule: Keep it simple!

1. Stay away from prints and bold patterns since these will distract from you. Also limit (or avoid altogether) accessories for the same reason.

2. Solid colors always work best on camera (still or video).  Avoid logos or typeset.

3. For these purposes, color is your best friend! Find a color that works best with your skin tone.

4. Wear clothing that flatters your figure.  Loose clothing does not work well on camera and actually makes you look bigger than you are -- fitted is the way to go!

5. Make sure that clothes are clean and wrinkle free! The camera will pick up wrinkles.

6. The last, and maybe most important tip, is to wear clothing that you feel comfortable in! If you are uncomfortable in an outfit, that will come out on camera. You will get the best shots if you are confident and feel great!

Below are examples of what to wear and what not to wear to your headshot session.

                               
            DONT!-crazy print, not fitted                                                      DO!-great color, fitted, plain, timeless

Erika Ludwig, a Minnesota based photographer, tells you how to prepare and what to bring to a headshot session. She has also attatched several photos of great headshot examples to give you ideas!

What pieces in your closet are your go-to choices for auditions and your marketing or promo materials?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HUDSON HILL: MORE THAN A TALENTED KID!

Meet Avenue Talent Hudson Hill.  Alex Ramirez from The Network writes:

A twelve-year-old boy who loves community service, surfing, modeling, and acting. This well-rounded boy is the son that every mom wishes for. Hudson’s natural beauty makes him look angelic with his long smooth hair, light skin, and piercing blue eyes. There is no doubt that Hudson will be fighting the ladies off when he is old enough to date. Hudson is not only a beautiful face, but he has a heart as big as the ocean. All he wants to do in life is help others and make sure that he is doing all he can to spread awareness through out the world. His interview is by fair the most interesting one yet. His intellectual responses make him sound so much more mature than a normal twelve-year-old boy.

Check out Hudson's interview!

 

CMT AWARDS 2012

Now that Nashville has finally died down a little from the craziness of the CMT Awards and CMA Fest, let's take some time to congratulate all of the winners and nominees from the Awards show.

 

Video of the Year

Carrie Underwood—Good Girl

Jason Aldean—Dirt Road Anthem

Kenny Chesney feat. Grace Potter—You & Tequila

Toby Keith—Red Solo Cup

Lady Antebellum—We Owned The Night

Miranda Lambert—Over You

Brad Paisley feat. Carrie Underwood—Remind Me

Blake Shelton—God Gave Me You

Taylor Swift feat. The Civil Wars—Safe & Sound

 

Male Video of the Year

Luke Bryan—I Don’t Want This Night To End

Jason Aldean—Dirt Road Anthem

Eric Church—Drink In My Hand

Toby Keith—Red Solo Cup

Blake Shelton—God Gave Me You

Keith Urban—Long Hot Summer

 

Female Video of the Year

Miranda Lambert—Over You

Sara Evans—My Heart Can’t Tell You No

Martina McBride—I’m Gonna Love You Through It

Kellie Pickler—Tough

Taylor Swift—Ours

Carrie Underwood—Good Girl

 

Group Video of the Year

Lady Antebellum—We Owned The Night

The Band Perry—All Your Life

Eli Young Band—Crazy Girl

Pistol Annies—Hell on Heels

Rascal Flatts—Banjo

Zac Brown Band—Keep Me In Mind

 

Duo Video of the Year

Thompson Square—I Got You

The Civil Wars—Poison and Wine

Love and Theft—Angel Eyes

Montgomery Gentry—Where I Come From

Sugarland—Tonight

Thompson Square—Glass

 

USA Weekend Breakthrough Video of the Year

Scotty McCreery—The Trouble With Girls

Lauren Alaina—Georgia Peaches

Brantley Gilbert—Country Must Be Country Wide

Hunter Hayes—Storm Warning

Pistol Annies—Hell on Heels

Thompson Square—I Got You

 

Collaborative Video of theYear

Brad Paisley feat. Carrie Underwood—Remind Me

Kenny Chesney feat. Grace Potter—You & Tequila

Rascal Flatts feat. Natasha Bedingfield--Easy

Lionel Ritchie feat. Shania Twain—Endless Love

Taylor Swift feat. The Civil Wars—Safe & Sound

Zac Brown Band feat. Jimmy Buffett—Knee Deep

 

CMT Performance of the Year

Jason Aldean—Tattoos On This Town

Lady Antebellum—Dancin’ Away With My Heart

Little Big Town—Fix You

Blake Shelton—Footloose

Sting & Vince Gill—If I Ever Lose My Faith In You

Steven Tyler & Carrie Underwood—Just A Dream/Dream On

 

Stars in the country music industry have provided great opportunities for Avenue Talent to star in their videos.  Check out Taylor Swift’s Ours video below, starring our very own talent!

 

 

STOP BEFORE YOU SPLURGE

Showbiz requires a lot of purchases—headshots, classes and lessons, trainings—the expenses never end, which leaves you with little money to spare.  Why is it then, that actors still make big purchases without doing their research first?  Erin Cronican, professional acting coach, shares an example of this:

I was recently visiting a printer where I was getting reprints of my current headshot. I stood in line behind two women who were talking about the high price of being an actor. They were quoting all of the areas where they were being forced to spend money - headshots, acting classes, dance lessons, dialect training, voice teachers, casting director workshops, mailings ... on and on and on. One of the actors commented that she couldn’t print as many headshot looks as she needed, because she just didn’t have the money to spare. 

When they got to the front, the person behind the counter asked them if they would like to order postcards along with their headshots, saying, ‘You’re already giving us your photo for your headshot, you might as well order postcards while you’re at it.“ The actor (who couldn’t print her full headshot set) said, ”I hadn’t really thought about it, but I guess you’re right. That would probably be easier to do it now.“ She then plucked down around $120 more to buy postcards... with no hesitation. 

Read the rest of Erin's article here:

http://theactorsenterprise.blogspot.com/2011/01/spending-your-money-wisely.html

So when you are approached with purchases that seem like they are worth it to your career, stop and do your research before you jump into anything.  Save those dollars!