What's Your Biggest Pain Point?

Thanks for stopping by!

Below are a bunch of the top questions/challenges actor ask me, so I figured I'd lay everything out in a simple format so you can see my thoughts on each quickly and easily. Simply click the category to be taken to the relevant page.


JUST STARTING OUT

1. I need a better reel but have no idea how to get footage.
2. My resume is weak, so no one will give me a chance. How can I build a strong resume?
3. I keep sending out headshots and resumes but rarely hear back.
4. How do I create a website?
5. I am just getting started, what should I do?

CLARITY & FOCUS

1. I feel overwhelmed by constantly changing technology and new processes in this industry.
2. I feel like there are way too many things to do, I don't know where to start.
3. There's too much information out there and I don't know who or what to trust.
4. I'm afraid of trying new things.
5. Am I spending money and time on the right things right now?
6. I need to slow down and let the seeds I plant grow - I want to do everything as soon as possible and I feel overwhelmed.
7. I don't know where to spend my time and effort - there's too many options.
8. I spread myself too thin.
9. I wish I could get feedback from casting directors for my auditions so I knew exactly what to do differently.
10. I feel overwhelmed with too many possibilities of what to do, and I’m not sure exactly what to focus on.
11. Technology is sometimes too complicated.
12. I wish I had a map or system that clearly helped me organize all the things I need to do.

AUDITIONING

1. I'm having trouble just getting into the room.
2. They're selecting other actors over me for things outside my control, like nationality, look, ethnicity, etc.
3. I'm not sure whether casting directors actually like me.
4. I'm worried that I might be bad at auditioning.
5. It's too challenging having so many different lines to memorize for all these different auditions.
6. I rarely land the job even though I audition a lot.
7. I'm worried casting directors are starting to see me as, "The actor who always auditions but never books."
8. Casting directors are gatekeepers and all they want to do is keep me out.
9. I struggle being vulnerable during auditions, which stops me from doing my best.
10. How do I "give them goosebumps?"

TYPE, BRAND, SPECIFICITY

1. I have trouble figuring out my type or brand.
2. Everyone keeps saying to find your type and brand, but I have no idea how to figure that out!
3. How do I target specific people in the industry?

MONEY

1. I struggle with money most.
2. I don’t want to have to constantly worry about money. I HATE IT!
3. I literally have no money to spend on anything, so how can I “invest in my career” like everyone says?

ACTING TECHNIQUE

1. I'm not sure if I'm doing my best, authentic work (especially when working with directors who aren't great).
2. I am often not respected on set by the director or people working there.
3. I feel like I’m unable to be creative and “play” in this industry even though I thought I would be able to be. I feel like my ability to "play" is being stifled.
4. I feel frustrated and angry, and I loathe going to rehearsal when I feel like I'm stuck on sets that I don’t enjoy.

NETWORKING

1. I know I’m supposed to network, but I hate selling myself. I guess I’m out of luck because I’m an introvert.
2. I suck at networking and need to learn to be more natural.
3. I want to figure out how to enjoy connecting with people in the industry.
4. I'm terrible at keeping in touch with people.
5. What if I say the wrong thing to a CD or Agent? What if I wind up on their Wall of Shame??

I NEED AN AGENT / I DON'T KNOW WHO TO TRUST

1. I need an agent and/or manager.
2. The people I'm networking or meeting with are not actually helpful for my career.
3. I don't want to be BS'ed by people giving simple tips and suggestions. I want real results and strategy, someone who is committed to rolling up their sleeves and going all the way.
4. Most people out there who promise to help me get an agent or land a recurring role are probably just trying to get something out of me.
5. I don’t know who to trust.
6. If I invest money into a training program and it doesn’t help me, I’d feel foolish for wasting my money or time.
7. I don’t know whether I should trust certain people or not, or whether they know what they’re doing.

ADVANCED ACTORS - MOVING TO THE NEXT LEVEL

1. I'm having trouble getting on Broadway or landing a recurring TV role.
2. I'm stuck at a plateau doing the same types of work over and over again.
3. I don't have a clear sense of direction in terms of where I'm going as an actor.
4. I can only find info for new actors online... I'm a veteran actor and don't know how to take my career to the next level and start getting larger roles.
5. I need to perform in projects of more substance.
6. I need to move on to bigger things, but I'm afraid to leave those who've helped me in the past behind.
7. I'm worried I'll never land a recurring role.
8. I'd love to win a major award.
9. I don’t want to be stuck doing background work and one-liners for the rest of my life.
10. I’ve done everything I was supposed to. I spent YEARS of my life training, acting for free, and putting my reel & resume together, I spent thousands of dollars on headshots and re-designing my website, why do I feel stuck?
11. Sure, it would be amazing to have a recurring role, but if you’re not already well-connected, that’ll take YEARS. I’ll be 80 by the time that happens.
12. I’m not doing enough or investing enough in my acting career.

WORK/LIFE BALANCE

1. I have trouble balancing my professional actor life with my personal life.
2. I’ll let people close to me down if I don’t make it as an actor.
3. I struggle making time for myself to enjoy life - all I do is watch Netflix when I have time to myself.
4. Auditions pop up randomly and I have to completely rearrange my life at a moments notice to get to an audition.
5. This is my career, my business - I have to go after every opportunity.​ Why am I putting my family through this?
6. They ask me to hold time for a project and then they go with someone else - now what am I going to do with all this free time?

NEGATIVE THOUGHTS

1. I feel lonely as an actor.
2. I try to stop myself from worrying but sometimes fear still grips me.
3. I sometimes wish I could talk to my family or people close to me about my deepest worries as an actor, but it's embarrassing.
4. I need someone to talk to to clear my head.
5. I have deep challenges in my acting career but I'm afraid of how I'll be perceived by others if I actually ask for help with some of these things - especially ones that might be embarrassing for me.
6. I don’t want to see my friends because they are successful in their careers. I don’t want to talk about how well they’re doing and how bad I’m doing.
7. I wish I had a partnership group to help keep me accountable.
8. I worry I may have missed my opportunity as an actor.
9. Why would a filmmaker or agent want to help me? What do I have to offer them?
10. The only people who get ahead in the acting industry are the ones who got lucky - and what if I never get lucky?
11. Sometimes I almost feel ready to throw in the towel. How will I ever make it as an actor?
12. ​I feel depressed because of all the rejection and inability to know why.
13. I feel disappointed frequently when I don't get jobs.
14. I feel like my talent is going to waste because no one will give me a chance.