No matter where you are in your acting career, you need to do these five, basic things if you haven’t done them already. Even if you’re just starting out, the sooner you get these five things done, the more established you’ll seem and the more comfortable casting directors and filmmakers will be with hiring you.
1. Buy a URL (domain name) with your name in it… Like www.martinbentsen.com. Think you don’t need a website? Think again. These days, simply having a social media presence isn’t going to cut it. It’s absolutely vital if you want to be taken seriously to have some sort of web presence, and buying a simple domain name is the first step. Visit a website like www.godaddy.com and buy your domain name before someone else does. If your domain is unavailable, try adding the word “actor” next to it, like www.martinbentsenactor.com.
2. Create business cards with your headshot, name, URL, and email address. I like to use VistaPrint because their prices are very affordable and they have professional-looking templates you can use if you’re not ready to drop $300 or more on a professional graphic designer. Make sure you include your headshot because it’s a way for people to remember who you are when they first meet you. And as a side tip, if you don’t already have a professional email address, make sure to create one. Using Gmail is great because it’s free and looks more modern than a Yahoo or AOL email address. Keep it simple like your URL: first.last@gmail.com or first.last.actor@gmail.com. If you have a long and complex name, try just using your first name so it’s easier for people to spell.
3. Go through your emails from a long time ago and make a list in Excel with all the people in your industry you’ve worked with. Include their name, phone number, and email. Also, be sure to include a simple note of something you remember about them, whether it’s just the project you worked on together or something interesting and unique about them. You’ll later use this list to network and get back in touch with people. Remember, keeping top of mind means you’ll be more likely to get requested to audition for projects. Having an “in” with someone gives you a leg up on everyone else.
4. Create a free YouTube account and upload anything decent you have of yourself performing. When you build your websites, having a YouTube channel with up to date work will make the website creation process faster since you won’t have to worry about uploading everything again. You can just embed your YouTube videos, and then every time someone watches one, you’ll also get a view, which, as you gain more views, increases the likelihood of getting subscribers. The more subscribers you have, the more marketable you are to casting directors. Also, be aware, you should delete any bad footage of yourself. If there is anything online that shows you in a not-so-good performance, get it down as soon as you can so casting directors don’t accidentally see it.
5. Get a great Demo Reel made and upload it. A professional demo reel puts you well ahead of most actors who don’t have one. Casting directors really want to see your performance abilities on camera, be able to hear your voice, and see how you look on screen, and not having a demo reel makes this much more challenging.
I’ll be back soon with more great actor marketing and promotion strategies. Feel free to reach out to me at martin@cityheadshots.com if you have any questions.
Martin Bentsen has spoken numerous times at New York University, has run educational seminars at Actors Connection and other acting studios on branding and marketing strategies for performers, and has written a 60 page informational book called Get Cast™, which focuses on marketing tactics actors can use to find more consistent work. He is a member of both the National Association of Sales Professionals and Sales & Marketing Executives International, two highly acclaimed marketing organizations in the United States.
Martin graduated in 2011 with honors from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts’ Film and Television program with a focus on directing, and in 2010 he founded City Headshots®, which, according to Yelp, is ranked the top headshot studio in New York. Martin’s long term goal is to run major business and actor marketing seminars across the country while expanding his City Headshots brand to go international.
The post Five Basic Things You NEED to do in your acting career by Martin Bentsen, NY Photographer and Filmmaker appeared first on Actors Connection.
