A Brand You're Proud Of

When you're crystal clear on the characters you play best...
EVERYTHING becomes easier.

You'll book higher-paying jobs, get an agent/manager faster, start building a following and even get called in (out of the blue) by casting directors who want YOU... over all other actors.

Martin Bentsen has been featured in:

"Getting my acting career off the ground is harder than I thought it would be."

"In class, acting was all about performance. I got to live in the moment and have fun breathing life into new characters.

But ever since I got out into the real world and started looking for paid work... everything changed.

Now I have to deal with the "business" side of acting, which means:

Learning how to submit in a way that gets casting directors to actually invite me to audition (instead of the other 3,000 actors who submitted).
Recording self-tapes and auditioning, things that just feel like "necessary evils" in this career path.
Attending callbacks and somehow figuring out how to stand out so casting directors pick me over the other finalists for the role.

In fact, just doing #1 above feels almost impossible – how will I ever book legit acting work when I find it so hard to get invited to auditions in the first place?

Should I take another acting class? Do I need better headshots? Should I pay to shoot a reel?

And most of all... how do I know if it's actually going to make a difference?

At times my acting career feels like it's just a never-ending series of fixes... and after all those fixes, things STILL don't change."

But what about the actors who've figured out how to break through?

Just watch a few TV shows and you'll come across them.

They're the people who consistently book co-star and guest-star roles on major platforms like Netflix and HBO. They're the people who eventually get called in for recurring and series regular auditions... jobs that, if booked, often lead to life-changing career opportunities.

Imagine what it would feel like to be one of those actors, the kind of actor who:

Gets multiple auditions per week, because you're signed by a great agent who gets you in the room for major TV shows, films, and theatrical productions.
Has a callback rate of over 30%, and books a high percentage of auditions.
Feels confident and secure in their abilities, knowing exactly what training to spend time and money on... and what to ignore.
Saves money on headshots, reels, and other marketing materials because you're crystal clear on exactly what you need.

Suffice it to say, you'd be given far more opportunities by casting directors, agents, and managers, and you'd have a MUCH easier time in virtually everything you do to grow your career.

So what's the difference?

Why is it that some actors get called in for audition after audition, and have no trouble at all getting meetings with agents and managers?

And why is it that others – those who frequently spend hundreds (or thousands) of dollars on headshots, footage, and training – STILL find it a challenge to get called in for (or book) legit auditions, and almost never hear back from the agents and managers they submit to?

Well, it's not magic, and believe it or not, it's not just luck.

Sure, there's a bit of luck, plus strategy and networking... but I hear from plenty of actors who are highly strategic and have numerous connections in the industry... yet they STILL struggle get more than 1-2 acting jobs every few months.

So what's the problem?

In a single sentence: They've become a jack of all trades, and a master of none.

It's like going out to eat. If you're in the mood for Chinese food, would you want go to a fancy steakhouse that randomly offers egg drop soup and fried rice on their menu?

Probably not. Most people would choose to go to a Chinese restaurant because they'd probably serve better-tasting Chinese food and have more options on the menu.

The same goes for casting directors and agents! These industry gatekeepers want actors who specialize in specific character Types. They want actors who:

Are realistic about what they can and cannot play – they want someone who knows that they can't specialize in everything, and instead just chooses to focus on a few character types they do really well.
Look like the character Type they're needing right now – they want an actor who's right for the role they're casting at that moment (or if they're an agent, the specific roster position they're looking to fill).
Have marketing materials that highlight their specific character Types – so they don't have to use their imagination and "guess" at what the actor can play best.

Over and over, I see actors holding themselves back just because they don't want to get specific.

They believe that being too specific will limit their opportunities, when in reality, it's the exact opposite.

No casting director wants to hire someone who can play every role just "OK." They'd much rather find the one actor who specializes in the particular character Type they need – someone who can perform that role fantastically.

In other words, no casting director or agent wants a jack of all trades. They want someone who has mastered just a few.

The Magic of Being Clear on Your Types & Brand

Imagine how you'd look to an agent or casting director who asked, "How do you see yourself?" and you had a well-rehearsed (and SHORT) answer?

"I most enjoy playing doctors who are confident, direct, and well-organized."
"I'm the strong, loving, and funny father... who can be brash at times."
"I have a soft spot for playing the best friend who tells it like it is – no sugar-coating."

Imagine if you then reached into your bag and pulled out a set of perfectly tailored marketing materials that captured your Brand and Types – from fonts & colors all the way down to the expressions in your headshots?

The simple fact is, actors who are clear on their Types and Brand command respect from industry gatekeepers and are often remembered for how specific they were.

These actors are the small minority... but they book the vast majority of all high-level acting work.

When you're clear on your Types, it means you know exactly what kinds of characters you're best suited to – and most-enjoy – playing (nurses, executives, lawyers, gang members, students, etc.).

And when you're clear on your Brand, it means you've taken those Types and mixed your own unique personality into them.

But getting clear on your Brand and Types can be very challenging!

It can be hard to figure out the kinds of characters you're right for:

You may have tried asking friends, agents/managers, and even random people on the street how you're seen. But it's awkward and time-consuming, and how do you even know if people are being honest? What if – just to be nice – they decided not to tell you they could see you playing an ax-murderer?
You may have searched online for shortcuts to find your Type, but finding a complete list of "Types" can feel almost impossible! Plus, what does "Queen B" or "Girl Next Door" even mean – what do they look like in real life and how do you know for sure they'd work for you?
You may have paid for Branding & Type workshops – but at the end of them, you wound up with so many descriptive words and "essences" that you felt just as confused as before you went. OR worse... you may have disliked the Brand you were given, but were told to play it anyway.

In fact, getting "pigeonholed" as an actor can be scary – I know some people who were boxed into playing character Types they didn't enjoy for YEARS!

But the fact is, whether you know your Types & Brand or not, people are already classifying you the moment they meet you (or look at your headshot/reel).

In other words, you're already being pigeonholed by people, and if you're unclear on what that "pigeonholing" is, you're always going to find it difficult to get work as an actor.

Almost every day, people email me notes like:

"I don't like the kinds of acting jobs I'm getting offered but they're the only jobs that pay..."
"I'm too [skinny/tall/short/overweight/etc.] to be considered for roles I really want..."
"If I find my Types I'll be boxing myself into a limited set of characters, but I want to expand my range as much as possible..."

But each of the above is just a story we tell ourselves... a story that might not be true.

In fact, there are ways to break out of any mold you've been placed into, but the first step is to understand what those molds (or Types) currently are.

Wouldn't it make sense to find out how you're being perceived... so you can take control of it – and then bend it to your will?

Once you're clear on your Types (or have decided to create new ones for yourself), you can upgrade them into a Brand you love – one that inspires and excites you to do your absolute BEST work.

From Brand... to Broadway

A client of mine had been working as a professional actor for almost 20 years. He felt stuck because he was always being offered the same, small one-liner roles in film, TV, and theater.

He told me he had a clear grasp on his brand because he was always being called in for police officer and detective roles. He said his brand was: the strong, burly detective.

But there was a problem: he wasn't passionate about that brand.

Even though he looked like a detective and was being called in for those auditions frequently, he just wasn't enjoying the work he was doing, and he felt stuck.

I took him through a series of very specific questions, and after about thirty minutes he came up with the following "Passion Brand," as I call it:

African American strength, compassion, and pride.

And that's when everything changed.

His face lit up. I could sense the complete change in his voice as he said his brand aloud. He literally became his brand.

In less than a month, he was offered his first-ever role on Broadway (something he'd been trying to get for over seven years). He was also offered a multi-day guest-star role in an HBO show two weeks later. And one week after that, he signed with a well-known film & television agency in New York (a goal he'd been working towards without success for almost three years).

Tyrone L. Robinson - Getting clear on his Brand helped him get to Broadway.

"I’ve been working as an actor for almost 2 decades and had been wanting to perform on Broadway for almost seven years. I did a branding and career consultation with a well-known business of acting coach a few years ago but it didn't help, so I was skeptical.

Would Martin's material be any different?

YES. His unique Brand/Type process combined with my training and experience in the industry unlocked something that helped me book several jobs back-to-back... including my Broadway debut!

Martin has something very special to offer actors, and I can’t recommend him highly enough.”

– Tyrone L. Robinson, professional actor

Hi, I'm Martin Bentsen and I believe EVERY actor deserves a shot.

You might have seen me speak at NYU, Actor's Connection, or The Actor's Green Room. Or you might have taken headshots at my #1 Yelp and Google rated photography company called City Headshots.

I've had the opportunity to work with tens of thousands of actors since 2009 when I started, and every day, actors ask me if I know what they should do to book more work.

I've realized that most actors are so busy earning a living, paying their bills, training, and performing, that they have ZERO time to figure out how to position themselves properly so they start booking more jobs.

Well, after YEARS of working with so many different actors (at all different levels in their careers), I've come to a simple conclusion:

Finding steady work as an actor all starts with creating A Brand You're Proud Of.

No serious casting director or agent is going to work with an actor who isn't crystal clear on their Brand and Types, and yet it's so easy to fall into the trap of thinking, "I'll figure out my brand later, once I'm more established."

Wrong!

The only way to get established in this industry is by FIRST figuring out your Types and Brand, and then using those to build up a resume of credits that will open the door to bigger and bigger roles – roles you'll truly love playing.

When you're crystal clear on your Types and you create a Brand you're passionate about, you'll find yourself auditioning for roles you're perfect for, which VASTLY improves your shot at booking them.

Eventually, one day when you're booking so much work that you have a major following, you can even completely change your Types & Brand (if you want) because people will simply want to work with you for the name you've built.

But it all starts with creating...

A Brand You're Proud Of is my three-part video course designed to help you uncover your Types and build a Brand you love.

In just two hours from now, you could be crystal clear on your Types and Brand – this program does NOT require you to ask random people on the street "how they see you" or wait ages to figure out your Type-specific "booking ratios" in the industry.

Access A Brand You're Proud Of online instantly, from anywhere in the world.

I've designed this as an easy-to-access video course you can go through from the comfort of your own home as soon as today, or whenever you're ready.

Plus, you get lifetime access so you can come back whenever needed to review the material – either this year, next year, or two decades from now.

A Layout of the Course:

A Brand You're Proud Of is broken into three modules. Check out the breakdown below to learn what the program includes:

Module 1: Mind Reading
Learn How You're Perceived

The first and most important step in building a brand you love is discovering what people think when they first see and meet you. Without knowing what's going through their minds, how can you ever hope to take control of it?

Module #1 Covers:

"Type" vs. "Brand" vs. "Passion Brand," and what each can do for your acting career
The Most Commonly Looked-For Types and How to Use Them to Book More Work – plus a different way of thinking about Type that makes it WAY easier to understand
X-Ray Vision: The Step-by-Step Process to Discover Your 4 Primary Type(s) – this simple, quick process you can do from home right now will get you crystal clear on your Types (and doesn't require you to ask random strangers on the street for feedback)
How to Verify Your Types – once you've uncovered your primary Types, you need know with absolute certainty that they're correct – this shortcut will show you how to do it fast

Module 2: Take Control
Create a Brand You Love

Module 2 is all about how to take control of what people think when they meet you, so you can build a Brand you're proud of.

In this Module, you'll upgrade your Types to a "Brand" and "Passion Brand," and learn how to change the way people perceive you so you start getting opportunities for roles that excite and energize you, instead of ones that make you feel stuck and uninspired.

Module #2 Covers:

A Step-by-Step Process to Expand Your Range – avoid getting pigeonholed by learning how to get the industry to see you almost ANY way you want (potentially as soon as this week)
The 9-Step Process to Upgrade Your Types to a Brand – one that will inspire and excite you, and differentiate you from ALL other actors out there so you get noticed by casting directors and agents
Upgrade Your Brand to a "Passion Brand" – uncover the final (and deepest) level of Branding – what I call your "Passion Brand" – and learn how this advanced concept can make auditioning and networking feel significantly easier

Module 3: Make it Real
Use Your Brand to Boost Your Career

Once you've come up with a Brand you're proud of, it's time to make it real. Module 3 dives deep the exact steps to capture your newfound Brand in all your marketing materials, plus how to use it to get more auditions FAST.

Module #3 Covers:

How to Work Your Brand into Your Headshot, Reel, & Resume, Step by Step - this little-known shortcut will help you get clear on the exact colors, fonts, and styles for all your marketing materials (including a website if you have one) so they capture your brand perfectly
How to Audition Better with Your Brand – this easy-to-use psychological hack can be used before ANY audition to ease nerves and help you feel more grounded (this was the same technique my client Tyrone used to get booked on Broadway)
How to Talk About Your Brand with Industry Gatekeepers - it can feel awkward to talk about your Brand & Types when someone asks... but I'll show you exactly what to say with word-for-word scripts
How to Access Hidden Opportunities With Your "Passion Brand" - learn 10 creative ways to get agents, managers, and casting directors interested in meeting you by using your "Passion Brand"

Bonus Module:
Submissions Secrets

Self-submitting is very much a numbers game. You can submit yourself to 1,000 auditions, but if you do it improperly, you'll still rarely get called in – even if you're clear on your Brand and Types!

In this module, I share secrets to help you greatly increase the number of auditions you get by using your newfound Types and Brand.

This Module Covers:

Marketing Materials That Impress Casting Directors - learn the critical differentiators between "amateur" and "professional" actor marketing materials – differentiators that can mean the difference between coming across as an "out of touch" actor... or someone the casting director can trust completely
Cover Letter Secrets – discover how to get noticed by casting directors and improve your shot of being called in with a simple "submissions note" that makes the casting director think, "Wow, this actor is perfect for the role because of X"
Winning the Long Game of Acting - In Part #3, I break down the most common mistakes actors make in their careers that cause them to spend YEARS focused on the wrong things – just becoming aware of and changing a few of these things can make a huge difference in the long run

Where will you be next year... and in another five years?

So many actors I know got into this industry because they wanted to do something they loved.

Acting always had a special "magic" for them – something that made them feel truly alive as they performed.

But when they look back, they feel like they've been stuck in the same place for far too long... boxed into playing roles they're uninspired (or even bored) by.

Some actors are never even invited to auditions in the first place!

The sad truth is that too many actors give up because acting has lost its magic for them.

I don't want this to happen to you.

It’s not easy, but if you’re truly committed to your acting career, you owe it to yourself to take control of how the industry sees you so you can start getting called in for roles you'll love.

Because once you do, all that magic comes back. And that's when everything changes.

Milly Figuereo - Getting clear on her Brand made networking WAY easier.

"I have worked as a full-time actor for the past 8+ years. I have had a good amount of success - national SAG commercials, supporting roles in independent films, long time representation... However, I did not have a clear picture of my Brand, my Type or even my Why, and I didn't have an idea of what was working and what wasn't.

Through your process, I am now completely clear on my Brand and Types and I understand how to use this knowledge to get to where I want to be.

I have created new and more appropriate marketing materials and even a website. I produced new footage for my reel. I have even used my Brand to strengthen my relationship with my agent and am finding it much easier to connect with Casting Directors. I am so grateful to have found Martin Bentsen. I pass his information along to any and all of my actor friends who want to succeed."

– Milly Figuereo, professional actress

Ashley Davis - Getting clear on her Brand helped her land her dream job.

"As a new actor, I didn't know what made me any different from all the other actors out there. But just a few months after I got clear on my Brand, I landed my dream job! I decided to focus my Brand on comedy and ran with it for my new headshots.

I now work at Shadowbox Live in Columbus, Ohio. It’s steady work where I sing rock n' roll and act in sketch comedies. It’s an open-ended contract, so ironically your Branding process and the headshots I took based on that Brand were so good that I never had to use them to find more auditions because I found my professional home.

Thanks, Martin!"

– Ashley Davis, professional actress

More Kind Words

"This is by far THE BEST program I've come across on branding. MIND BLOWN. Thank you."
Naina M.

"I just got a manager AND booked my first paid acting gig since discovering my Brand. Thank you!! Figuring out my Brand made it easier for me to make a website, and by clarifying what I bring and how unique I am, I am now getting new opportunities."
Manu P.

"You make it so simple to 'step-by-step' tackle in a logical way something I find overwhelming. I have just rebranded myself, or at least tweaked my Brand. I sincerely appreciate this."
Carolyn G.

"LOVED this!!! THANK YOU! Types I came up with – #1-Edgy, Business Pro, #2-Punky Mom Sexy Rockstar, #3-Love Interest, Leading Lady, #4-Sexy Powerhouse Boss, CEO. Fun and SO HELPFUL! Honestly, THANK YOU – this process has been invaluable for me to figure this out!!"
Kate J.

"Hello Martin, just wanted to let you know that I have gotten a supporting role in a short film and wanted to thank you for all of your help with branding. I feel more confident when I submit to NYC Agents and managers because now my resume isn’t just training. Thanks again!"
Tristan D.

"This program has helped me to understand a lot about the necessity and requirement for branding and selling my type. I am learning how to present myself as a serious and more professional artist so as to be viewed more favourably and given consideration in a very competitive industry."
Zariah C.

"This was a really great program. It was so comprehensive and the idea that you're not necessarily limited by your Brand (or that you should limit yourself) is important to self-actualization and motivation."
Elizabeth B.

"Your advice on how to have your headshot, demo reel, and website all in alignment with your brand was immensely helpful to me. Thank you, thank you, thank you, Martin!!!"
Elena S.

"Martin's strategy on branding was SO helpful and insightful! His strategy opened many doors even during the pandemic – I've gotten more auditions than usual and also booked a pilot! I highly recommend taking this program."
Lisa M.