I don’t need to tell you that you need professional headshots to be a professional actor. Unless you have friends who are directing or producing their own work and casting you, it’s the very first thing you need to get to submit yourself for acting jobs. The problem? They are so dang expensive! Worse yet, […]
Business
Should You Do Background Acting Work?
Background work can be beneficial for actors who’ve just arrived in Los Angeles. In this post, I’ll lay out the pros and cons so you can decide if it’s right for you. PROS OF DOING BACKGROUND WORK: It’s a quick way to start earning money.The barrier to entry for background work is quite low. Once […]
How Many Reels Do You Need?
How many reels do you need, really? Should you have one all-encompassing reel? Or separate ones for comedy & drama? Here are some general guidelines to help you decide. Important note: All agents and managers will have their own preferences, so please ask yours if you’ve got ‘em! If you’re flying solo or they aren’t […]
How To Get Your Footage From Anywhere
After you’ve worked so hard to book that job and delivered a flawless performance on set, you’re gonna want that footage! If not for your demo reel, at least for the memories! Getting your footage isn’t always easy. No matter your situation, I hope I can help you here. PLANNING AHEAD The best way to […]
Leaving Your Auditions To Chance? Swipe My Checklist!
“Tristen’s got a checklist for everything!” My friends often tease me for my love of The Container Store, new iPhone apps, and checklists. They think I LOVE to be organized. But I’ll share my dirty little secret. I don’t love to be organized – I’m actually a bit of a mess. But I absolutely HATE […]
What Does "In Perpetuity" Mean For Actors?
So you’ve booked a gig off LA Casting. It’s an infomercial for a hair product that pays $500/day, $1000 buyout…In perpetuity. But what does that mean? WHAT DOES ‘IN PERPETUITY’ MEAN? “In perpetuity” means…forever. And ever. They can use your image in this infomercial FOREVER! Oh, I can hear what you’re saying “Um…so! I just want […]
4 Reminders For Anyone Earning 1099 Income As An Actor
DISCLAIMER: I am not a tax professional, just a helpful guide. Tax laws change from year to year. Nothing on this page is to be cited as a legal source. This is for helpful/informational purposes only and should not replace direct advice from a tax professional. If you’re earning 1099 or cash income, particularly as […]
Pitching Yourself: Your Actor Logline
If I asked you right now, “What role should I cast you in next?” Would you have an answer? How about when someone asks “What kind of acting do you do?” Do you have an answer for that? Or do you fumble your words like I used to do? I would say something like: “I’m great […]
Networking For Actors – Part Two
Welcome back to Part Two of “How To Work Your Contacts”! With any luck, you’ve checked out Part One and got your assets all set up! So let’s dive in! So you’ve got yourself some shiny new contacts and want to make them work for you. How do you do it? How do you ask them […]
Networking 101 – Part One
In a business that is, arguably, more about who know you than actual talent, it can be hard to navigate the murky waters of your “network.” Many of us struggle with the etiquette of how to approach an industry contact. So, I’m here to offer my best advice from both sides of the “asking.” In […]