Well, my friend, I’ve done it. I’ve taken everything I know from my seventeen years in the Los Angeles acting game – all my training and meetings with personal consultants, and come up with the answer to every acting career question you’ve ever had or will have. I’m about to save you MILLIONS of dollars. Are you ready?
The answer is… “It depends.”
Pretty mind-blowing… right?
Now, before you roll your eyes and get back to social media, let me break this down.
Q: Are you too old to start an acting career?
A: It depends.
Are you a great actor? Then no.
Is your dream to book a romantic lead on a CW show and you’re 55 years old? Then yes.
Q: Should you send postcards to casting directors?
A: It depends.
Are you in an overly saturated casting category and are only going to send a photo of your face? Then no, you should not send postcards.
But are you a unique type? Did you just book something interesting? Can you include a link to a kick-ass demo reel? Then sure.
Q: Should you move to Atlanta?
A: It depends.
Are you going because you think it’s easier there? Then no.
Or is Atlanta closer to your family and you’d like to see them more often? Then yes.
Q: Should you fire your agent?
A: It depends.
Are you thinking that someone else will sign you even though you don’t have great photos, reel or credits and they can “pitch” you on passion alone? Then no.
Or is your agent mean and makes you feel like crap? Then yes.
So please stop taking one-off blanket statements from “industry pros” as the gospel. They don’t know you and they don’t know your unique situation.
They don’t know everything and you know too much.
You know your day-dreams, passions, past successes and failures. It’s almost impossible for you to look at yourself objectively. But that’s exactly what you need to train yourself to do.
You must look at each investment you make in your career from an objective, strategic POV. Just like someone running a major company.
It doesn’t matter what moves your competitors are making. What matters is your strategic next steps, based on your personal brand, timing, resources, and intended results.