Artist Tips

1.  The good news for you is that 95% of folks who say they want to be actors are delusional. Those folks talk a good game, but manage not to show up for themselves in all kinds of creative ways: failure to learn lines, missed or late to class/auditions, claim to not have money for headshots/audition outfits and other necessities the professional actor must have including extensive training and education. Instead of hunkering down through difficulties, they complain instead of giving themselves a focused task that is completely within their power to accomplish.  What that means for the remaining 5% is that if you do your work vigorously, persevere and work beyond your financial and emotional comfort levels all the time, you will learn twice as fast and YOU WILL WORK! Not just now, but for the life of your career.  I only work with the 5%, so it's best to let folks know upfront. I can smell the 95% a mile away....

2.  Few people follow their dreams -- not because it's difficult, but because we avoid that sensation of uncertainty.  ---TED Talks3.  Don't get it right, get it true!   -Stephen McKinley Henderson4.  Acting is a boxing match.  It's a prize fight that has to do with endurance and focus.  It starts from the moment you hit that audition room.  That's why I don't show up ready to socialize at auditions, it's about me and this battle I'm about to fight and no one else.   ---Billy Eugene Jones5. Read Shakespeare aloud, an entire play at a time, that's how you learn to deal with language, pursue action and make yourself understood.6.  There's no such thing as artist who's not a business person...an artist who's not a business person is an artist with a very short career...

3. Artist Tip: Before you pay someone for classes, coaching, you need to determine if they are really qualified to teach. Just because someone is an actor or writer, doesn't make them a good teacher. Teaching is a very particular gift. Research the person, check out their bio, where have they taught? Who were they trained by? Do you know anyone who has studied with them? What kind of results? How long have they been teaching? Ask them for referrals from students who have had success, the kind of success you're looking to have. If the class or teacher is cheap, then your training is going to be cheap.

By the same token, if you're studying with a master Acting Teacher, but they have no experience in today's business world of acting, know that you're going to have to go someplace else to get that. Interview teachers, ask to meet with their students, ask to audit a class or take an inexpensive online or webinar or one day class with the teacher. What have they done professionally recently both as a teacher and an artist? These are important questions to ask. Your teacher must teach you the craft, but they also must be able to teach you how to survive as an artist.

Want FREE Casting Notices, Audition Secrets, Business Tips, FREE classes, FREE conf calls , special Coaching/Class DISCOUNTS & inspirational quotes delivered straight to your inbox weekly?

Sign-up for the Actor's Arsenal to receive FREE Audition tips, Business tips and a step-by-step process to Grad School Auditioning.  Click here to register

---