• What are your Pride Words and how do you find them?
  • Most actors feel boxed in by the industry, unhappy with their brand because they think it pigeonholes them.
  • A Brand and a Type are two very different things.
  • Type is what you look like, how the industry sees you.
  • Brand is when you combine that Type with your personality.
  • Your Pride Words are the three words that describe you and you’re most proud of unconsciously.
  • Even if the industry tends to box you into playing characters that are something you normally don’t like, you can find a way to enjoy them by using your Pride Words.
  • An example of three pride words could be Giving, Loving, and Strong.
  • Now let’s say the industry sees you as a hardened criminal, but you don’t like playing those types of characters.
  • Well, if you combine that character with your Pride Words, you could say, “Deep down, this hardened street thug I’m playing is someone who’s giving, loving and strong.
  • Perhaps the environment or something changed him and made him have to become this hardened street thug.
  • But deep down, they’re a good person.
  • Now knowing that, it becomes way easier to play the character and to like them more and identify with them.
  • And once you identify with a character, it becomes WAY easier to do a great job in your performance.
  • I highly recommend you read this short article to not only learn more about Pride Words and how to use them, but exactly how to find yours.

• How do I set up a self-tape studio at home with no money?
  • All you need is a camera, a window, tape, and a white, blue, or gray sheet. Ideally if possible, you’d use a big piece of styrofoam or cardboard so there’s no wrinkles, but even if there are some slight wrinkles, it’s not the end of the world.
    • Here are two links – if you’re open to spending money to get even better results, I’m including a backdrop I recommend and Gaffer's Tape.
      
  • Hang the sheet or board about 6 get away from the window so all the window light falls onto it.
  • If you don’t have a tripod, use some gaffers tape ($15/roll on Amazon) to tape your phone to the window.
    • I recommend gaffers tape because it doesn’t leave residue on things, and you’re going to be using it to tape your phone to the window
    • But you’re welcome to use any tape you want
  • Reverse the screen on the phone so it’s pointing at you, and sit in front of the window with the backdrop behind you.
  • Check the framing to make sure it looks good and the backdrop is filling in the frame behind you.
  • The lighting on your face should be fairly soft.
  • Try doing a quick test recording with your phone to ensure the audio is good.
  • If there is too much echo, lay a sheet or something soft on the floor beneath you to absorb some sound.
  • Between the backdrop, window light, and clean sound, your setup should be professional and good so you can record as many self tapes as you want!

​

• How do I stop feeling nervous before auditions?
  • I’ll be putting together an in-depth course on this in a few months, but for now, I’m going to lay out two quick tricks you can do:
  • First is to give to someone in need right before you go in for your audition.
    • Find someone homeless or in need, and give them $5-10 dollars.
    • They’ll appreciate it, and you’ll feel really good about yourself, which helps relax you and make your audition performance a lot better.
  • The second trick is to use your Pride Words. Once you know the three words that describe you at the deepest level and you’re most proud of, you can say them to yourself right before any audition.
    • Close your eyes, and really feel each one. Strength, Compassion, Love, etc.
    • If you do that and really feel them right before going into your audition, it will ground you and your nervousness will evaporate, and you’ll do a much better job!

• ​A note on Virtual Headshots
  • As of today we now have technology to do better quality ones, and are happy to do them for actors.
  • You'll just need a friend to help you out.

Thanks for joining me today! Watch the video, and the meeting notes are below it.

​

• Coronavirus - you need to change your mindset and look into online work.
  • Actors MUST be online and learn how to record self-tapes.
  • You MUST learn how to use equipment and how to act for screen
  • Background actors are not going to have much work anymore
  • Now’s the time to start building relationships with people - start small so that in a couple months, when things resume, you’re friends with lots of high people.
• So how do you network with people you don’t know?
  • Look them up online
  • Find out at least ONE thing you can learn from them or you find very interesting about them
  • Use it as the premise for a cold email - thank them for it.
  • After you send that initial email, follow up after 2 weeks by thanking them for something else, or reiterating a SECOND thank you for the first thing (and why you’re thanking them again).
  • Send them an email 3-4 weeks later showing them how something they were involved in helped you become a better person or get an opportunity somehow.
  • Then continue following up with those types of emails every 6-8 weeks.
  • On the third email and after, you can mention to them that you’re looking for audition opportunities, and if they or anyone they know is holding auditions, you’d love the opportunity to be considered.
    • The more specific you are thought the better.
  • EXAMPLE:
    • I want to network with a casting director, so I look up their name online and find a video where they explain the top 3 things casting directors hate during auditions.
    • Oh wow, I never knew they hated when I do a very formal slate - that’s news to me!
    • I’ll email them thanking them for what I’ve learned, saying I’m going to apply it.
    • Two weeks later, I’ll send them another email saying I also enjoyed their video about why a casting director will never tell you what they want. I’ll thank them for what I learned.
    • Now at this point, the CD knows who I am.
    • 4 weeks later I’ll email them saying those two things have definitely made a difference and I’m starting to understand how casting directors operate. I appreciate what they taught me. I’ll mention I also see they are casting for an upcoming film, and I thought the role of Bruno would be perfect for me if they’re still looking to fill in any roles.
    • Chances are, they might allow me to submit a self tape!
    • If not, I’ll keep following up with this every 6-8 weeks, for different characters and projects, and eventually something will stick.
    • If they never respond top any messages and it’s been at least 4 months, only then will I consider stopping emailing them.
    • If you do this with 100 casting directors, how much work fro you think you’ll get after a while?

• Time for Questions
  
  1. How do I find an agent during the coronavirus?
     1. Agents are actually more likely to respond to your email right now since they have a lot more free time.
     2. The same rules apply for finding an agent now as do when life is normal - except you might not be interviewing or auditioning in person.
     3. Some agents ARE signing actors right now.
     4. Key things you MUST do to have shot at landing an agent:
        1. You must first figure out who you want to target and why, and then build your campaign and marketing materials around those agents specifically. Don’t try to send a mass copy and paste email to everyone.
        2. Key things to contacting an agent - be sure you’re clear on your brand and your headshot, resume, and reel are up to date.
        3. Once you know who you’re contacting, figure out at least 2 reasons why they would want YOU on their roster. What are you bringing to the table for them? The mores sppecific you are the better.
        4. Then, write your cover letter (making sure it’s short), and start sending out submissions or cold emails. I recommend starting with 5 agents, seeing whether they respond, and then doing 5 more. Keep going until you’ve submitted to at least 25 agents.
        5. You should get a few positive responses and be able to meet or at least speak with them.
        6. You can even use the networking strategies I outlined earlier to stay in touch with them if they’re not ready to sign with you yet.
        7. The biggest reason most actors don’t have an agent is because they don’t actually send personalized messages out asking for representation – they just wait, hoping to be discovered (or they send a hundred canned copy-paste messages which never works).
        8. Be specific and personal and you WILL eventually get what you want.
        9. I have a very in-depth course called Land an Agent, and you can learn about it here.
           
  2. How do I get a professional headshot right now?
     1. No one is legally allowed to shoot headshots, but you do have a few options:
     2. First, look to see if photographers are willing to skirt around the laws and do your headshot anyway. Some definitely are – they can do your photos outdoors in a park and make sure to stay at least 6 feet away from you. This way everything is fine.
     3. If that’s not an option, some companies offer virtual headshots where they either take your photo using your own iPhone or computer camera, or they guide you on how to do it yourself.
     4. You can also get a friend to take your shots, and if you’re going to do that, definitely give this guide a read through.
     5. But it’s more important to be sure that you’re READY for a headshot. Do you really need one yet? Or can you wait another month or two until photographers are shooting again?
     6. Right now perhaps you might want to focus on your reel, resume, or website.
        
  3. I have a lot of free time right now and want to design an actor website. How can I do that for free?
     1. Right now is definitely a good time to work on putting together your marketing materials.
     2. I recommend using Weebly, Squarespace, or Wix.
     3. They offer template design and you can drag and drop, so it’s very simple.
     4. Most of them have a free plan but you can eventually pay to remove their logo like Create your own free website with Weebly!
     5. Make sure to build your website around your brand. If you’re not sure of your brand, watch this video.
     6. You need a Welcome page
     7. About page
     8. Blog/Works page
     9. Media page
     10. Resume page
     11. Contact page
     12. Ensure it’s super simple and easy to navigate.
     13. You can also include raves and reviews, especially from someone noteworthy
     14. Here’s an example site I built for a client - you can use as a sample: https://www.jamessarli.com
         1. Note that I would prefer you embed your reel instead of making it a downloadable file like he did. It should just be a video player so someone can press Play and watch it.
     15. If you want my feedback on your site, feel free to email me the link once you’ve put it together!

Today's call was fun! Watch the video, and the meeting notes are below it.

Unfortunately, I was unable to record today's Monday's With Martin meeting, but I've included the notes below.

Topics & Questions in the Meeting Included:

• Coronavirus strategy for actors
• How to build a VO studio for free
• How to get better auditions without representation
• Is it OK to submit to agents right now amidst Coronavirus?

Coronavirus - you need to change your mindset and look into online work.

• Actors will be submit online more
• Actors must start filming their own scenes online
• VO actors are getting lots of work right now
• CD’s and Agents could become less needed eventually - these days, directors and producers are seeing they can do things without CD’s and actors are learning they can submit without agents
• Actors will always be needed.
• You MUST treat your acting career as a career, not  a hobby.
• This means investing and spending money on serious marketing tools
• This means spending money to market yourself (and learn how)
• This means not being afraid to approach total strangers and get rejected.
• This means judging your acting technique harshly to ensure it’s really natural and professional.
• This means treating your career professionally, and being reliable.
• The Coronavirus is what will separate serious actors from hobbyists because the hobbyists won’t do anything during it and will look for other jobs.
• The serious actors will figure out how to get booked up and make connections during this crazy time.

Time for Questions
Since this is the first meeting, I just have three questions I’ll be answering.
But if you have one, feel free to write it in the comments and if there’s time, I’ll try to get to it.

How can you build your own VO studio for free?

• Don’t buy expensive equipment.
• The key is making sure there is no echo or background sound.
• Use a closet or quiet room.
• Hang stuff and put blankets to deaden sound.
• You should be standing, not sitting, when recording.
• Record yourself and test it by playing it back in good quality headphones to ensure it’s loud a clear.
• Compare it to professional VO recordings which you can find online.

How can I make more industry connections that can get me auditions and possible work? Most of the work I get now is through self-submissions, but what is the trick to getting auditions without representation?

• CD’s hate being emailed by unprepared actors: unprofessional marketing materials, not right for the part, poor training, unprofessional or unfriendly.
• You need to go places, like live webinars, to become friends with people.
• You can also watch or read content from CD's online.
• Once you learn at least ONE thing from them, send them an email thanking them for what you learned, and make sure to mention where you learned it. Tell them that you’re using it for ______ and mention that you’ll keep them updated on how it goes.
• If they don’t respond, wait about 2 weeks.
• Send another email letting them know your progress and thank them again for what you learned from them.
• Then once every 4-6 weeks, send an email to keep them updated on your latest achievements OR to congratulate them on theirs.
• After the first month, you’ll be able to email them any time they are casting something you think you’re right for to ask if they have available slots for you to audition.

Is it OK to submit to agents right now?

• Yes, they have more free time and are looking to make their rosters stronger.
• This is probably the best time to submit to agents, according to numerous agents themselves.
• For more information on how to submit and land an agent, check out my course Land an Agent.