Business of Being an Actor PART 2

Business of Being an Actor PART 2
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This is part 2 of my series on the business of being an actor focusing on setting goals.

With Covid upon us I have gotten may requests to have this conversation so I am once again addressing this conversation. This month I am discussing setting goals.

(In case you’ve missed The Business of Being an Actor, PART 1)

Business of being an actor – Setting Goals

In our classes we spend a lot of time on goal setting and actions to do. We take them very seriously and it is different depending on the level actor you are, and your work experience.  We go into a lot of detail, discussing energy, karma, consciousness, issues, special needs, procedures, and blocks.  Here is a sample of setting goals.

GOALS 

Start with a list of goals. At least 5-7 major things you would like to accomplish. Define your goals as things you’d like to achieve. Make them realistic, achievable, yet dream and stretch yourself.  It’s important to make goals that are reachable but challenge you.  The biggest mistake actors make is they don’t set their goals realistic to their situation.  Some set them too simple and some too big. If you set them too big, you might burn out and get discouraged, so this is not as simple as you might think. I like to define goals as achievements with clear results – meaning at the end of the time period for the goal it is an absolute yes or no as far as achieving.  

For example for our purposes – it is not a strong goal to “get in shape,” but a good one would be – “to weigh x pounds with x % body fat by x date.” That is measureable. Same with acting choices, “To audition more” is not a strong goal. But to say “x auditions in x time” is measureable – with an absolute yes or no. The other thing about goals is you don’t have absolute control over succeeding to make it happen. You just don’t have absolute control to make your goal a yes. If your goal is to get a TV series regular, you don’t have complete control to make that happen. That’s where the next step comes in.

ACTION LIST

Once you have a list of goals; make a list of actions that you can take on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis to help achieve your goals. By setting up an action or task list, you can take action and make things happen that you do have control over.

For example, let’s say your goal is to get a commercial agent. Many actors send out headshots and wait, maybe make a few calls. They will send out a mass amount and pray for one to hit. Make an action list for this.  Do some research of agencies that are open to your experience level. Then select 10 and don’t stop until you get an absolute yes or no from every one of them. That would include a phone call to find out whom to contact, and then send your materials. Follow up at least three times until you get an interview or they say no. If they say, “We’ll let you know if we are interested,” then schedule to call/contact them at least three more times to follow up. You can stay in contact with them in a creative way to not be a pain. After three tries and a specific amount of time, you still get the same line, consider it a no, and move on.  Then, go to the next 10 agencies on your list.  Do the diligence and research, make a checklist, record the contact person and create a relationship with them.  Don’t take the “no” personally. Just like the engineer in the above example, they might not have any openings for your type. Once you get your action lists in order, get a partner.

Be honest with yourself, make realistic yet challenging goals, also that are attainable.

Next month I’ll talk about accountability.

All the best.
Fran Montano

Fran Montano
Fran Montano - is the owner and Artistic Director of The Actors Workout Studio, located in the NoHo Arts District for nearly 30 years. It is one of the longest running small, intimate theaters and Acting Schools in the Los Angeles area. AWS was created to being a “home” for aspiring and working actors were the work not only includes classes and training, but personal coaching, career planning, networking, showcasing, and regular performing. His students range from beginning actors, accomplished actors who work regularly in film, television, and stage, as well as numerous working directors and writers. His style is on an individual basis and in his small, intimate classes, it’s like working with a private coach. His reputation is in finding and breaking actors blocks Fran’s background as an actor, in producing, directing and theater makes him an excellent resource for actors in Los Angeles, in finding their way both in their talent, and promoting their career. Visit www.actorsworkout.com for more information and a schedule of classes and productions