Acting Career – Getting It In Gear - "Starting today, I'm going to buckle down and get somewhere in my acting career! Yup, it's time to think about changing my ways ... and changing my results. I am absolutely inspired to get going now. I'm tired of the same old working for free and hoping for lightning to strike." The good news is that planning to change your results will actually work – CLICK HERE TO READ ENTIRE ARTICLE

Acting: Talent? – The idea that some people should just forget it, because they aren't talented – or that others should go forward because they have 'gobs of talent' – should be dispelled by those of us who know the truth about what it REALLY takes to have a professional acting career. CLICK HERE TO READ ENTIRE ARTICLE

Acting Success In 10 Steps – Well, while these stalwarts are unlikely to be topped by the likes of me, I will add my 24 cents. What follows are 10 steps that you must take if you expect to have the acting career you've always dreamed about. CLICK HERE TO READ ENTIRE ARTICLE

Acting: The Real Job – Entertaining the audience is what you will get paid for. Whether you ply your trade anonymously behind a microphone, appear in Broadway musicals, act in commercials, sing for your supper, do your thing in sitcoms or soaps, make independent films, or interpret Shakespeare in the park – your primary focus (as a business person) should be the audience. The paying customers. CLICK HERE TO READ ENTIRE ARTICLE

Acting For Casting Directors – Despite what you may have heard about casting directors, there are many people on the “other side of the desk” who are really on your side. One of the tragic mistakes that I see many actors make, is their assumption that casting directors and assistants are there to make things difficult. CLICK HERE TO READ ENTIRE ARTICLE

Acting Magic – There are basically two types of actors who read my stuff: Working pros, who are looking for ways to improve their acting income and newer performers, who are anxious to start making money as actors. I think I attract those types of actors because they know from my writing that my entire focus is on the money-making part of being an actor. The success part. The show BUSINESS part. CLICK HERE TO READ ENTIRE ARTICLE

Acting: Do It Yourself – One of the first (and most important) things I talk about in my courses is the absolute necessity of doing the legwork – (homework, hard work, scut work) – yourself. Because, as long as you live in a world where someone else is going to do the work it takes to get to the top, for you – you are not going to move forward. And you will probably get hurt ... financially or otherwise. CLICK HERE TO READ ENTIRE ARTICLE

Acting Audition – I am often asked about auditioning ... "what's the secret?" Well, the truth is that really aren't any secrets, but here is my memory word to help you remember everything you should be doing – and make sure that every audition in your acting career is much more successful. The word is PARADIGM. CLICK HERE TO READ ENTIRE ARTICLE

Acting: 7 Ways To Fail – Over the years, I've had a chance to watch those poor actors who just couldn't seem to get anywhere (many of them very talented, by the way). The struggling actors I've seen, seemed to be using different tactics. So, I noted these behaviors – and I'd write down what I called, "a failure method." CLICK HERE TO READ ENTIRE ARTICLE

Acting: The 110% Solution – I refer to my looks, every so often. I do this for two reasons: First, a lot of talented actors give up because they believe it's all about looks. Second, a lot of beautiful actors get hurt because they believe it's all about looks. I'd like to stop both types of actors from believing this somewhat loony idea. CLICK HERE TO READ ENTIRE ARTICLE


Acting In The Background – I frequently get emails from actors who are just starting their acting careers, asking about being an "extra." The most common thing they've heard (which is completely wrong) is that being a 'background artist' will somehow stand in the way of becoming an actor in the future. Utter nonsense. CLICK HERE TO READ ENTIRE ARTICLE

Acting: Habits of Success – A lot of actors ask me what it takes to be successful in this business and I always answer with this one word: Habits. What follows are the absolutely essential habitual behaviors, that every actor must possess, if she (or he) wants to enjoy a successful acting career: CLICK HERE TO READ ENTIRE ARTICLE

Acting On Bad Advice – One of the biggest difficulties faced by those of us who decide to become professional actors is a large group of folks I call the Bad Advice Crowd. BACs are a diverse group which includes smart alecks, wise guys, nay-sayers, fear-mongers, cynics, gossips, fact-checkers, dummies, failures, rumor repeaters, experts, and even those poor souls who are worried about what other people will think. CLICK HERE TO READ ENTIRE ARTICLE

Acting Mentor 24/7 – As most actors who read my scribblings know, I'm a big fan of quotes. There is a good reason for this: I think that it really helps to have a mentor, a trusted advisor, an honest critic – as one pursues the goal of professional acting success. And it's always been my experience that wise people are the best mentors. CLICK HERE TO READ ENTIRE ARTICLE

Acting With A 'Net' – Although the internet can be a source of great information – it's very nature can lead to lots of misuse. For instance, I read this morning that George Lucas is a union buster. That's utter nonsense, of course – but because it's out there, on the net, it gets repeated and eventually accepted as 'data.' CLICK HERE TO READ ENTIRE ARTICLE

Acting With Attitude – Many of us go to the gym to stay in shape. However, your mental condition is crucial to your dreams of acting success.  Because this is a business that has as its main feature a great deal of rejection (everybody gets rejected, even big stars), it is a good idea to get yourself into peak mental condition. CLICK HERE TO READ ENTIRE ARTICLE

Acting Headshot Basics – A lot of actors ask me to look at their headshots. Then they ask my opinion. Usually my answer goes something like this: "Try again." Why? Because, while many actors complain that they don’t get very good results from their mailings to casting directors, they seldom connect those results to their headshot. CLICK HERE TO READ ENTIRE ARTICLE

Acting and Rejection – The first distinction you must make about success – and how to achieve it – is explained by David Zucker (Airplane, Ruthless People, Scary Movie). When asked to give his advice to people who want to succeed in show business, he said, "Quit now, you'll never make it.” CLICK HERE TO READ ENTIRE ARTICLE

Acting Nicely – I am often asked what I think is the most important characteristic of the successful actor. Usually I answer with one word. "Nice." You've heard the evidence of this, if you've spent any time in the industry. "He's such a charming guy." "She's just delightful." A "joy to work with." CLICK HERE TO READ ENTIRE ARTICLE

Acting Crazy – But these first 'duties' of the actor don't really tell the entire story – as any actor who has to handle a lot of props, rattle off technical jargon, or act opposite a rubber ball on a stick – can tell you. Similarly, casting directors have duties that aren't as obvious as their title may indicate. CLICK HERE TO READ ENTIRE ARTICLE

Acting Is Competitive ... Not! – Woody Allen is quoted as saying, "85% of success is showing up." My two cents? Showing up is crucial, but what really separates the successful actor from the wannabe is attitude. When I say attitude I mean what we think is true ... and therefore how we behave. Since acting is really just behavior we are getting paid for, it seems self-evident that attitude is pretty doggone important. CLICK HERE TO READ ENTIRE ARTICLE

Acting Advice – Actors are always asking me for 'acting tips' when I meet them. I try to explain that this is not really a business of 'tips' – but it's really a matter of large sprawling bits of knowledge. However, in order to help as much as I can, here are some really good tidbits of advice: CLICK HERE TO READ ENTIRE ARTICLE

Acting: A Confidence Game – If you've spent any time waiting to audition ... with dozens of other actors going in before you, you know what it is to feel the ebb and flow of that crucial feeling of confidence. Confidence is the actor's special need. We all know that it is the key to building a successful acting career. CLICK HERE TO READ ENTIRE ARTICLE

Acting On Your Own – Don't wait for THEM! THEY really, truly, sadly and unfortunately – don't know diddly squat about "putting on a show." They are Philistines. You could wait forever! Get out there and do it yourself! Technology has providentially given you the tools to successfully supply the public with entertainment. CLICK HERE TO READ ENTIRE ARTICLE

Acting: Landing Roles – One of the most familiar business principles around is K.I.S.S. – Keep It Simple Stupid. I'm sure you've heard it and wondered ... can I apply that to my acting business? The answer is 'yes' – you can apply the K.I.S.S. principle – after your business is up and running. But, until you've established exactly how your acting business is going to be marketed – K.I.S.S. is the cart before the horse. CLICK HERE TO READ ENTIRE ARTICLE

Acting: Door Keepers – Door-keepers are the actor's natural enemies. Do you believe that? That casting directors, agents, executives, and office personnel are often standing in your way? That your acting career would be far different if there weren't any door-keepers? If you do believe that, I've got some bad news for you ... CLICK HERE TO READ ENTIRE ARTICLE

Acting Like A Business – Too often we actors get so caught up in the sub-atomic details of our 'inner lives,' our insatiable desire to perform, the lengths to which we will go to satisfy that itch, our financial distress, and our recent lousy experiences with the business – that we tend to neglect our real interests. CLICK HERE TO READ ENTIRE ARTICLE

Acting and Baseball – " ... there's no crying in baseball." But there is crying in show business. "There's a broken heart for every light on Broadway," ain't just a cliché – it is the truth. And that goes double for Tinseltown. If you don't care about the outcome, the audience won't care either. CLICK HERE TO READ ENTIRE ARTICLE

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