Martin Bentsen Actor Marketing Consultant
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Build a strong foundation and start generating consistent auditions for legit projects... even if you don't have an agent, professional reel, or strong credits.


Join Martin Bentsen for a live, 3-month Zoom workshop series... and start getting casting directors to notice, respect, and call you in for auditions you're right for.

Martin Bentsen has been featured in:

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​​​Hey, I'm Martin Bentsen and I believe every actor deserves a shot.

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One of my clients recently said this to me: "I feel like I'm staring through a glass window at all the opportunities other actors are getting. It's like there's an awesome party going on... and I was never invited."

Wow.


On one hand, some actors feel like their soul is being crushed under the constant rejection they face in auditions. But on the other hand, what about the actors who don't even get auditions in the first place? Does anyone ever talk about them?

You can be the best actor in the world, but if casting directors won't let you in the room to prove yourself, how are you supposed to get ahead?

Are you destined to forever perform in unpaid indie productions or community theater, hoping one day the Goddess of Luck will shine her light on you?

Is it really impossible to get ahead without being well-connected or having tens of thous
:a:nd:s of social media followers? And is it really impossible to get booked if you have an agent who doesn't submit you... or worse, no agent at all?


​Luckily, the answer to all those questions is a resounding "NO."


If you've been in the acting world for any length of time, you've probably noticed that some "business of acting" gurus will try to convince you that they have the single best secret to booking more work. They might even make you feel like if you're not doing their one special trick, you're missing out!

But you and I know there's no single secret to growing a successful acting career.

​Social media is not the cure-all. Sending a "video pitch" to casting directors, producers, and writers is not going to result in constant auditions. And even if you do happen to book a great role, what will your career look like a few months later? Will everything be glitz and glam... or will you be in relatively the same place, with just one more credit on your resume?

All you have to do is look to other actors who have decent credits. Do they still have difficulty getting consistent auditions? Of course.

That's because building a solid acting career is not about the individual successes that come here and there. Instead, it's about the accumulation of failures (or as I call them, "tests") that add up over time to give you the experience to understand what works and what doesn't, so you can start to improve your audition and booking ratio until eventually, you become a full-time working actor.

​I've been fortunate in my position to have the results of TONS of these tests, just from the sheer number of actors I've worked with over the years. By this point, I'd have to be an idiot to not have found patterns of what works... and what doesn't.


That fact is, it is possible to go from one audition every few months to 2-3 auditions per week without having to sell your soul to "business of acting" gurus who make you do things you don't enjoy (like sending awkward social media DM's or asking random people on the street for feedback on your Type).

It is possible to get auditions for professional film & network television jobs without actually needing a hard-working agent or manager (really).


And it is possible to get auditions for roles you'll LOVE playing without pigeonholing yourself into characters you don't enjoy (just because some "branding expert" told you those are the only kinds of roles you can do).

I've seen firsthand that these results are possible because of the successes my clients have had, including signing with top-tier agents in under six weeks (without any professional resume credits), booking paid speaking roles in major film & TV shows (without a professional reel), and even landing roles on Broadway in just 4 weeks (after trying unsuccessfully for over 7 years).

I've had the opportunity to personally help over 8,000 actors with their headshots, reels, branding, and marketing strategies since I started in 2009, and tens of thousands more actors have read my articles in Casting Networks News, or have studied my strategies when I've taught at NYU, Actor's Connection, and The Actor's Green Room.

​"Martin Bentsen is a kind, authentic and genuine advisor and friend to actors and actresses hoping to advance their careers. His practical, yet heartfelt – and even funny – suggestions rang immediately true to me as an aspiring actress. Martin now has a forever-open dinner invite at my home anytime he may find himself in North Central Massachusetts!"

​– Anita M.

​"I found your Practical Performer course to be packed with info, very encouraging and easy to understand; adding a strong voice to engender confidence in what I find to be an intimidating industry. I'm already seeing more auditions!"

– Janine M.


​
A love of the craft isn't enough...


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

​But when they look back, they feel like they've been stuck in the same place for far too long, getting just 1-2 auditions a month (some months zero). And of those they do get, they rarely hear back.

So what to do?


How come some actors just seem to constantly get auditions (2-3 per week or more), while others struggle to get even one a month? And for those who are getting some auditions, how do you improve the quality of them so you're getting auditions for bigger, paid roles with legitimate budgets?

​Is there a way to do all this... without an agent?

Well, I'd like to introduce you to:


The Practical Performer shows you how to get more opportunities for legit productions by getting casting directors to notice, respect and start calling you in for auditions you're right for – even if you're still relatively new and don't have a complete "Actor's Package" yet.

It's designed specifically for actors who either don't have agents or want to supercharge the results they're getting with their current agent, and will supplement the current work your already doing (workshops, intensives, and conservatory programs) so you start seeing real-world results from your training.

Just imagine going from 1-2 auditions per month for unpaid indie projects... to 1-2 auditions per week for network-level, professional productions.

It's possible to achieve all this without an agent and with just 2-3 hours of work each week... And it's even possible to actually enjoy the process (you don't have to become an expert on the "business of acting").

Don't worry – there's no awkward networking necessary or nagging emails to send to casting directors, and you won't need to spend thousands of dollars to shoot a high-end reel, create a fancy website, become an expert at social media, or attend endless casting director workshops.

The Practical Performer is not just about getting you more auditions – it's about getting you the right auditions. Auditions for characters you'll LOVE playing, for roles that pay, and for roles you'll have the highest shot of booking.

Since it's digital, you can take The Practical Performer from anywhere in the world and at your own pace. And you'll have lifetime access to the material so you can come back for a refresher anytime you want.
​​
The Practical Performer includes:

  • 9 info-packed videos with over two hours of content that dive deep on the exact steps you need to take to start getting access to more (and better) auditions without an agent
  • How to discover a brand that expands your range (instead of typecasting you into roles you don't want to play)
  • How to revamp your marketing materials without spending much money so they impress the right casting directors (hint: the key word is "right")
  • And what to stop spending your time on – so you can actually enjoy the process of getting more auditions (instead of feeling forced to do things that make you uncomfortable or anxious)
 
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Access The Practical Performer 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, at whatever time is most convenient.

Each of the modules is accessible 24/7 so you can watch at 3pm... or 3AM.

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

​​Adormeisay Frazier - Went from an audition every few months to 1-2 auditions per week!
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"Martin’s material helped me immensely. Prior to The Practical Performer, I was getting around one audition every month or two, and after just a few weeks of applying what I learned, that number jumped to 1-2 per week! It's still increasing – and I haven't even updated my headshot yet.

Originally I did not know what was keeping me stuck. The whole idea of learning to “market” myself felt awkward and overwhelming because I did not want to do things the wrong way and possibly annoy people or get my headshot posted on the 'Wall of Shame.'

I’m happy to say that my acting career is picking up now, and I am auditioning much more regularly for roles I’m excited about. Thank you, Martin!"

 – Adormeisay Frazier,  professional actress

​​A Layout of the Course:

The Practical Performer is broken into two core modules and an introductory page.

Check out the breakdown below to learn what each module contains:
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Introduction:
What It Takes to Get Auditions Without an Agent


The introductory module explains the course and how it works, plus gives you a good mindset shift to help you prepare for more consistent auditions in the digital age.
​


Videos and Details Covering:​

  • How One Actress Quadrupled Her Auditions Within 2 Weeks - learn how an actress implemented just a few of the strategies outlined in the course to VASTLY increase the number and quality of auditions she was getting
  • The Most Critical Element to More Consistent Auditions – you can learn every amazing tactic in the world to get more auditions, but without one crucial mindset and behavior, you'll always find yourself stuck in the same place
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Screenshot from "Think 'Outside the Industry'"

Module 1:
Build Your Rock-Solid Foundation


The first module is all about building a strong foundation of marketing materials, discovering exactly what makes you different than other actors, and learning all the things NOT to waste your time on.

A solid foundation is critical because without it, you'll find yourself submitting to auditions aimlessly, never knowing what's working and what's not. If you want to become a full-time working actor, you should build your career one step at a time – but those steps MUST be taken in the right order.

​

Videos and Details Covering:​

  • From Rags to Riches: The Path of a Successful Actor – the exact 12 steps I take my private consulting clients through to go from brand new in the industry to getting consistent auditions for paid, professional roles
  • The Mathematics Strategy for WAY More Auditions – learn how to supercharge your auditions using three separate levers, any one of which can multiply your results... but when combined together they will EXPLODE your auditions​
  • 9 Steps to Find a Brand You're Proud Of - one that will inspire and excite you and help you get clear on the types of auditions you should (and should not) be submitting to
  • The 3 Key Marketing Materials You'll Need for Consistent Auditions and how to make them truly stand out (while spending as little time and money as possible on them)​
  • How to Build a Professional Self-Tape Studio without needing specialized equipment
  • What NOT to Waste Your Time On and why spending time on these common (and often recommended) things could actually cause you to get fewer auditions
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Screenshot from "9 Steps to Find a Brand You’re Proud Of"

Module 2:
Start Generating Consistent Auditions


It's time for the rubber to meet the road! In Module 2, we'll dive deep on exact strategies to maximize the number and quality of auditions you get, and I'll show you how to systematize each process so they work together like a well-oiled "audition-generating" machine so you can essentially become your own agent.

​You'll learn how to access auditions of all levels, from indie and student film auditions that don't have casting directors, all the way up to major recurring & series regular roles for TV (and even Broadway roles).



Videos and Details Covering:​

  • How to Find WAY More Audition Opportunities - casting websites are just one tiny piece of the audition puzzle; learn not only how to multiply your results with those, but discover 9 other wildly different, yet highly effective strategies to access better auditions (eight of which do NOT require an agent or manager)
  • Submissions Secrets – discover the 3 Submissions Secrets that will greatly increase the chance of a casting director inviting you to audition (includes a sample word-for-word cover letter that helped one of my clients DOUBLE their auditions overnight)
  • How to Access High-Level Auditions Without an Agent - learn the secret, backdoor way to access hidden roles for network productions that only agents and managers normally have access to (plus how to submit for them without landing on the Wall of Shame)
  • ​Easily Staying Motivated Amidst a World of "No" - I'll show you the simple three-step process my clients use to always stay positive and turn any failure into a success
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Screenshot from "The 9 Key Strategies to Getting Better Auditions"

The Secret to a Successful Acting Career

Why is it that some actors constantly find their career in a state of ups and downs, where one month they get 3 auditions a week... and the next three months they get none at all?

And why is it that other actors (who don't even have agents) just seem to get audition after audition, constantly and without fail?

Is it luck? Their looks? Do they have "friends" in the industry?

Or is there something else at play?


Do these busy working actors just love marketing themselves? Or do they actually hate it but force themselves to do it?
No. They don't spend their time on things they hate. Instead, they simply found a way to create opportunities for themselves by focusing on their strengths.

Sometimes we need to STOP going against the flow in order to become successful.

Trying to do things we don't enjoy (like constant social media posting, never-ending casting workshops, or networking inauthentically) just because others tell us to or we think we should is often what keeps us stuck – because we're working against our strengths!

Those things can actually hurt you in the long run because they suck time, energy, and attention away from auditioning, learning lines, and doing what matters most – acting.

​The Practical Performer is not a magic bullet solution to the perfect acting career, but it is a step by step process that shows you how to significantly increase the number of paid, professional auditions you get each month, and it shows you how to do it by creating a plan custom-tailored to your strengths (you'll build your plan in Module 1).

It really is possible to have fun and enjoy the process of booking more acting work... but only when you do it right.

At the end of the day, the secret to a successful acting career is consistency, and there's no better way to stay consistent than by doing what you love. Let me show you.
​

The Practical Performer


Join today and get:

  • The complete Practical Performer course: everything you need to know to start getting not just more auditions, but auditions you're right for, all without an agent. Includes over 2.5 hours of video content and text that show you exactly how to find your brand, upgrade your marketing materials without spending much, and properly submit to get called in for more auditions.
  
  • 2 info-packed modules filled with word for word email templates, headshot, reel, and resume checklists, strategies to access auditions not publicly posted, a step by step process to easily become friends with almost anyone in the industry, and much more.
 
  • Exact, actionable steps that will help you get more auditions in as little as 21 days. Pay extra attention to Module 2, Video 1, where I outline the 9 Key Strategies to Getting Better Auditions.
 
  • A structured, easy-to-follow approach: Yes, signing up for any new course can feel a bit daunting, but I've spent a lot of time making this course streamlined so it takes no more than 2-3 hours per week. The course is built in such a way that you can take action on the easiest steps first to get more auditions right away, and then you can do the more complex steps whenever you're ready. Module 2 even includes a checklist to ensure you don't forget the action steps to take.​
 
  • My Personal 60-Day Money Back Guarantee: join The Practical Performer and watch all the videos. If you implement what you learn and don't see a noticeable increase in auditions within 60 days, just email me and I'll refund you everything you paid. I'll even cover the credit card processing fees.

$197

Get Instant Access
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​For questions or concerns, please email [email protected] or call (212) 706-1902.


Plus, an Exclusive Bonus:
Recordings of Seven 1-Hr Career Audits on Getting More Auditions

Every week, actors pay hundreds of dollars to work with me personally in private sessions called 1-Hr Career Audits.

​In these sessions, we work through their toughest career challenges and come up with step-by-step action plans to get them from where they are to where they want to be.

​For the first time ever, I'm sharing seven handpicked recordings of these 1-Hr Career Audits (with the actors' permission of course) so you can learn the advanced, high-level strategies I teach on how to get more auditions and essentially "become your own agent."

​These sessions were done with actors at varying levels:


  • Brand new and just starting out
  • In the industry for 20+ years – looking for Guest Star, Recurring, and Series Regular auditions
  • Actors who left the industry and are now just getting back in, struggling with technology and the digital age of submissions

Each recording is about an hour long and the call was valued at $295 – in fact this series of videos could probably have been an entire course unto itself – but I decided to roll the recordings into The Practical Performer as an exclusive bonus because I want to give you every possible tool, framework, and strategy I can to help you get WAY more auditions without having to get an agent.

These seven videos dive deep on:


  • Advanced tactics to expand your range... while at the same time make casting directors think you specialize in just the single Type they're looking for (this is one of my favorite "outside the industry" hacks)
  • Direct feedback on reels and how to use editing tricks to improve them greatly (without adding more footage)
  • Actor website design strategy and how to create an effective one for free
  • In-depth feedback for online casting profiles like Backstage and Actor's Access, plus exact steps to improve your profile so it sends the right message
  • Technical feedback on self-tapes and how to make them look and sound more professional
  • How to change the way the industry perceives you (i.e. from "theater actor" to "screen actor," etc.) using the same marketing materials you already have
  • How to make your IMDB page look professional – even if you have no credits yet
  • How to set effective goals that inspire you (but don't overwhelm you)
  • And TONS more...

I've never shared any of my 1-Hr Career Audits publicly until now. This is my most cutting-edge content – things I normally only share with my high-paying 1-1 clients.

But these recordings are my gift to you as a member of The Practical Performer.
​

The Practical Performer


Join today and get:

  • The complete Practical Performer course: everything you need to know to start getting not just more auditions, but auditions you're right for, all without an agent. Includes over 2.5 hours of video content and text that show you exactly how to find your brand, upgrade your marketing materials without spending much, and properly submit to get called in for more auditions.
  
  • 2 info-packed modules filled with word for word email templates, headshot, reel, and resume checklists, strategies to access auditions not publicly posted, a step by step process to easily become friends with almost anyone in the industry, and much more.
 
  • Exact, actionable steps that will help you get more auditions in as little as 21 days. Pay extra attention to Module 2, Video 1, where I outline the 9 Key Strategies to Getting Better Auditions.
 
  • A structured, easy-to-follow approach: Yes, signing up for any new course can feel a bit daunting, but I've spent a lot of time making this course streamlined so it takes no more than 2-3 hours per week. The course is built in such a way that you can take action on the easiest steps first to get more auditions fast, and then you can do the more complex steps whenever you're ready. Module 2 even includes a checklist to ensure you don't forget the action steps to take.​
 
  • My Personal 60-Day Money Back Guarantee: join The Practical Performer and watch all the videos. If you implement what you learn and don't see a noticeable increase in auditions within 60 days, just email me and I'll refund you everything you paid. I'll even cover the credit card processing fees.
 
  • Exclusive Bonus: Seven handpicked 1-Hr Career Audits – each a laser-focused, hour-long strategy session on how to get more auditions and navigate the industry without an agent. Learn my cutting-edge "outside the industry" strategies as I guide my private clients through their most difficult challenges.

$197

Get Instant Access
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​For questions or concerns, please email [email protected] or call (212) 706-1902.


​"You've helped me in just the first 10 minutes with what I've been struggling with for like 10 years. HOW."
Tatiana R.


"The insight from The Practical Performer was invaluable and spot-on. The branding and pitch info was very helpful and got me through some difficult doors, and I have gotten more auditions than usual over the last two months. I am grateful to have taken this course!"
Ashley G.

​
"I was blown away by your insight and pragmatic approach to how actors should submit themselves. Thanks for taking the time to create this course, I'm already seeing almost twice as many auditions!"
​Adam B.


"Wow I feel like this course couldn't have come at a better time! I have really been trying to take my career by the reins and I'm already seeing it pay off. BUT this course has been crucial in helping me really take my career to the next level by being an actor that can handle her business as well!"
Ariel L.


"I was totally taken aback. You have such a genuine and sincere approach that was filled with insightful information that I bookmarked this course to keep coming back to it. I have been focusing a lot of my energy on the business of acting lately. I have already seen a lot of positive mindset work on your end in some of your videos and I am working on strengthening that muscle more and more. Thank you for your insight and positive vibes!"
Peter T.


"Thank you for sharing this information. I'm excited that I've found out all the things I've been doing wrong until now. Since fixing some of these things, the number of auditions I'm getting has definitely improved. My goal for this year is to book a speaking role on a national television show, network, cable or internet, and also to book a featured or leading role in an independent feature film. I feel that this course will help me get there!"
Lisa M.
Can't Find What You're Looking For?
[email protected]
(212) 706-1902
©2023  MJB Home Entertainment, LLC
  • 76 Actor Types (List)
  • About
  • Knowledge Center
    • Kickstart Your Acting Career
    • Newsletter
    • Get Cast (book)
    • Interviews with the Industry
  • Help Center