Happy Holidays!!!!
With the new year approaching you have the opportunity to take stock, and make goals.
Santa doesn't have to be the only one making a list and checking it twice!

Take pen to paper- where are you in your career? By the end of this year where do you want to be?
How you are going to achieve those goals? Try to make a step by step guide for yourself.

e.g. Want to audition more and land a big gig by the end of the year? here's a few things I would recommend making your list-
1) learn a new monologue every week. Read new plays. See new work (TV, Film and/or theater).
2) Take a private class with a teacher you respect to work on material, or take an acting class.
3) Sign up for Actors Connection, The Actors Network or One on One NYC networking events and workshops
4) Apply apply apply.
5) Audition, audition, audition.

Focus and you can make a real difference in your career this year!

REVIEW YOU HEADSHOT

Some basics to keep in mind.

• Does your headshot honestly reflect how you look and how you carry yourself?
•  I don't want a shot you before you cut and dyed your hair 5 months ago or a Glamour shot that doesn't show your true personality. LADIES- I will never call you in if you submit a sexy picture of yourself on a car. GENTS- I don't care about your muscles, Can you ACT?
• Comp card and Headshots are different: Headshots should not be a shot of you as a "Character" i.e.a doctor, a policeman. 
• Seek advice from people you trust! Pick your photographer with thought, and the shots you choose to send out with even more thought- Headshot sessions are expensive, as is reproducing the selected pictures!

READ THE BREAKDOWN CAREFULLY!

This seems so basic, but you'd be surprised. I just finished a theater project of a Tennessee Williams classic: and we were casting characters that are traditionally cast Caucasian as Hispanic instead. It was an important part of this particular production. How many Caucasian actors do you think submitted themselves? Honestly, I lost count!!!
Hence the title of this tip: READ THE BREAKDOWN CAREFULLY! A few more pointers:

• Did the Casting Director publish the preferred method of submission? If they say to email or to send a hard-copy, please respect that! Perhaps the office is trying to go green and use email submissions only, or perhaps they hate the office email being flooded with submissions. Either way, Submit appropriately.
• DON'T submit on a job if you aren't sure you are available for the shoot dates/theater run
• Similar to the above: If you are applying for a low/no pay- look at the amount of time versus pay. Will you work for that rate? For example- a non-union music videos will pay you $100 a day, for 8-10 hours. Is the experience worth it?
• DON'T cold call the office. It's just not done that way.

STAY CURRENT!

You should be current and up-to-date on all aspects of the acting business!
The periodicals like Variety, Hollywood Reporter and Backstage should be your bibles! Take Backstage, for example; many actors go straight to the Casting Notices section, but you should read it COVER TO COVER (or web page by page, if you only receive it digitally). It's the simplest way to stay connected and knowledgeable about the business you love! From advice columns to articles on the newest TV show or theater projects- those magazines are packed with information!