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!

Want to be an actor, but don't know where to start? Here are some basics for the business

Before I started working in the casting business,  I had already spent a number of years in New York-first as a student at acting school, and then as a working (and often not working) actor. I was surprised by the mistakes some actors make when submitting to the various casting companies I work with- so here are some very basic rules to follow so that you come across as a professional actor, even if you are new to the business.

1) Don't cold call and NEVER cold visit a casting office. 

Think of it this way- do you enjoy strangers turning up at your door and trying to sell you something, or those customer survey phone calls?

Casting offices are always very busy, and don't have time to talk to people we aren't expecting! By turning up uninvited  you will not make a connection with the office, but probably damage any possible  future relationship with the people that work there. If you are calling the office to make general  inquiries or make a submission- look on the website of the company you are targeting, could your questions be answered there? Is there an email/address so that you can submit your material via mail or email? 

2) Headshots should be as professional as possible.

Ladies- I will not take you seriously if you send me a picture of you in a bikini: unless I am looking for an actor for a hooters commercial. Men- Never send  a picture of you, in a bar, with a drink in hand- even if you look attractive. 

Headshots should be taken PROFESSIONALLY- and photographers prices vary greatly for that. (I will follow up with an advise article  about how to pick the right photographer for you) 

Exception to getting professional shots done- Children. Young actors grow and change so much  that a simple, digital picture with your child looking at their best (but not overdone- no pageant shots) will be just as good, especially if you aren't sure your child wants to really pursue acting professionally.

3) Have material prepared- the more the better

Preparation is key.

If you aren't a good cold-reader, practice.  You should be comfortable with any material that you were meant to prepare for the audition, but here's a friendly warning-  often you will arrive at an audition and the script you have learned has changed, or we will give you extra copy to read.

For theatrical auditions you will need to have a number of monologues that are age/gender/type appropriate. Have different styles in your repertoire-  comedic, dramatic, classic, contemporary.

Even if you don't audition for musical theater, I advise you have a song, that reflects your personality and skill level, ready to go.

Know your personal measurements- you often need them at the audition.

4) SUBMIT, submit, submit.

If you aren't actively submitting for acting jobs you will not work! Simple as that!! 

There are a number of online sources, here are some websites to start you.

www.backstage.com

www.actorsaccess.com

www.castingnetworks.com

www.mandy.com

www.nycastings.com

www.realitywanted.com

5) You get the audition- what you should know before you go

If you have submitted yourself or if your agent has submitted you on a project and you get a phone call or email- some of these details will be in the breakdown, and some will be new information give to you when you get the audition. Either way this is what you should know before you go. 

-The location

-Your audition time

-The name of the casting company and project title

-What type of project it is, and whether it is union/non-union.

-The project shoot dates/Run (don't take the audition if you aren't available!)

-Whether there are sides, or if you have to prepare something

-Dress code

The above seem basic, but often actors turn up to the wrong place, don't know the project title, don't know what the project is exactly, and are late!

6) A Casting director wants you to succeed- No, really, we do!!!

I am often surprised by the amount of people that feel negatively about the audition process. Nerves are understandable, but the more you audition the more comfortable you will become. We have called you in because we see something in you that's right for the role.

A casting director wants to you to do your best and wants you to be the person who is right for the role. We want as many great options to present to the client as possible!

I often place casting notices on my facebook-

https://www.facebook.com/CMcKennaCasting/