Acting: Do It Yourself

By Bob Fraser

I get hundreds of emails every day ... and most of them are lovely. Many actors write to say thanks for an article or a tip – and those letters are a joy to receive. However, I also get letters from some actors who seem to think that I am the answer to all their problems. They know I can help them achieve a career ... if only I would.

Here's a typical letter (name and location changed):

Hey Bob, I can't buy your course right now. Maybe later. So, just tell me about all the acting schools. Where are the good ones? How much do they cost, etc? I live in Iowa and I don't think there are any good acting schools here. Who knows? I might even end up in Hollywood and we'll meet someday. Ha ha. Nancy

Here's my answer:

Dear Nancy,

You bring up two sorts of magical beliefs in your letter that I feel I must address. First, that 'later' and 'someday' are actual times – real places. Second, that someone you've never met can help you to achieve your goals – by doing your homework for you. It has been my observation that 'later' and 'someday' rarely happen when it comes to our dreams and that dreams only start coming true when you start taking action.

That’s why the title of my main acting career course is You Must Act! If I were to add one word to the title, that word would be 'now.' 

Getting right to the crux of the "help" idea: No one else is ever going to make your career a reality for you. The bottom line is (and always will be), if you are unwilling to take on the role of running your business – it just won’t get done.

If you continue to believe that someone else is going to come along and take the steps needed to get you to the top – well, you're not in Iowa anymore ... you're in Oz. 

Since you are sending me an email, I assume you have a working knowledge of the internet. A quick trip to Google and a search for 'acting school' plus 'Iowa' will get you a lot of results. Whatever you do, Nancy, don’t wait for me ... or 'someday.'

Much Success ...

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The main reason I am passing along this letter and my answer, is because I get a fair amount of mail with this sort of demand.

Some samples: "Here's the link to my online proof-sheet. Go look at my headshots and pick out the best one. When I win the Oscar, I'll be sure to mention you." "Please send me the names of the REAL agents who are willing to make me into a movie star. I'm very talented." "I have an idea for a show I can star in. If you get it to the right people ... I'll split the profits with you." "I need a manager to get my career started. Tell me who the good ones are, so I won't get scammed."

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.

It is this belief in a magical one-step process (or a short-cut, or a secret back door, or an easier way) – that gets most actors in trouble. In fact, it is precisely that mindset that all scammers are looking for. When a scammer meets an actor who believes it is possible for someone else to make it happen – he knows he's landed a sucker.

When you think all you have to do is "convince" an agent to represent you and you'll be on your way – you're just asking for trouble. Scammers, calling themselves "agents," are ready to pounce on any actor who thinks this way.

Real agents cannot be "convinced." They make all of their decisions based on their assessment of how much money you can make as an actor. If you aren't making any money – don't expect a legitimate agent to be very interested ... until you start to make money.

If you just up and move to Hollywood or New York (Vancouver, London, Sydney, Rome, etc.) without a solid plan of action – in the hope that you will meet someone who can help you achieve your dream – you are going to end up one un-happy camper. The scammers are looking for newly arrived, uninformed pigeons all the time. They will spot you, trap you, and take your money. They're good at it. They've been doing it for years.

The absolute truth is that there are MANY steps (and a lot of them are difficult) that YOU MUST TAKE ON YOUR OWN – if you ever expect to make your professional acting career a reality.

Here are just a few:

You must learn how to get a good headshot. This isn't a matter of finding a good photographer. It's mainly a matter of learning what you must do in front of the camera to make a great picture happen – no matter who the photographer is.

You must learn the 'culture' of show business – and work within that reality. Most actors believe this will "come naturally" and find themselves, five years later, still working at a crummy job and trying to 'make it' in their spare time.

You must take care of yourself – yourself. 90% of actors don't have a sugar daddy – or a family who will take care of them, as they pursue their dreams. Somehow, successful actors make it a point to 'take care of business' by themselves. If you need a 'keeper' to take care of your career for you – then your prospects are dim.

You must also make a lot of decisions: You will have to decide the budget for your business. You will have to decide whether your new 'friends' are for real – or out for your money. You must decide what acting niche will make you the happiest. Movie Star? Character Actor? Commercials? Television, Films, Theatre?

... and I'm just skimming the surface.

You should take some time out of your busy schedule to read the biographies of successful actors. Almost every one has the elements (steps) that lead to a successful career in show business. You should also read David Mamet's books about the business – and K. Callen's books – and Stanislavski – and Michael Shurtleff, Allan Miller, Lee Strasberg, Judy Kerr, Bonnie Gillespie, Uta Hagen, Mark Brandon, Michael J. Wallach ... well, it's a very long reading list.

In other words, there's lot of homework for you to do. A dream without work to make it happen, remains a dream. And I'm sure it's not news to you, but you can't spend a dime of the money you make in dreams.

Is it easy to do it all this work on your own? NO.

Is there a shortcut? NO.

Is there another way? NO.

You MUST take on the role yourself – and do "the hard part."

Agents, managers, connections, etc. are people who will come along AFTER you have started succeeding on your own.

There are 3 critical behaviors you MUST make into habits ... in order to start being successful on your own:

You must be willing to learn = INFORMATION

You must be willing to work at it = HARD WORK

You must be willing to stay at it = TENACITY

You don't need an agent, a manager, a teacher, a coach, a photographer, a friend, a lover, or a sugar daddy to take these first steps on the way to your destination. In fact, if you wait for somebody else to do the hard parts for you, you will be waiting a long time ... like forever.

If you want to be a professional actor – you must get the information, do the hard work, and be willing to keep at it – on your own.

In other words ... YOU MUST ACT!