On Twitter and Facebook I notice tweets / messages all the time from actors saying things like “I’m too busy to market myself” or “It is my agents job to market me”.

I’m always left thinking that clearly these actors do not see themselves operating as a ‘business‘ and that maybe if they did, they may be able to push their careers on further.

So I thought i’d write a blog on setting goals.

Let’s explore being ‘too busy’.

You’re too busy with acting work?
Ok, ace, you’re doing really well with work ‘now’ and in this moment.
You’re achieving & hitting goals, brilliant. But what lies ahead and around the corner?
Is it not foolhardy to not plan ahead?

You cannot afford to lose the momentum you have worked so hard to achieve.
A successful business has a plan right?
A marketing, sales and business plan. Actors should too. Marketing yourself is just as important in the good times as it is in the bad. Have a plan. Set some firm and reachable goals. Think of yourself as ‘the number 1′ business.

If you are ‘too busy’ with everything else in your life: Your day job, your sofa time, your social life or other hobbies that you allow to get in the way of your acting career.. it’s really a good time to take a step back and ask yourself “why you are where you are now and not where you perhaps desire to be?”.

If you really want to reach a goal, for example, being an active working actor. You have to find a place for it in your daily life.

There really is no place for being “too busy” in this business.

Start with this. Ask yourself now
“what is my goal? & Where do I want to be?”

Are you an Actor who has said one of the following statements in the last year or so? :

“I need to complete my website first”.
“I need to update my showreel first”
“I need get new headshots before I can get out there.”

Two issues.
Firstly, money and time are always a factor, that’s a given.. But if you are really serious about your career, you will find a way to pay for your headshots, showreels and other marketing materials, right?

An actor can always find ways to pay for a masterclass or to pay for a fancy smart phone. So you can find a way to pay for these important career things too, if you make it a priority!

Secondly, You can still move forward while you are waiting for your materials to be done. You can still set goals & take steps towards achieving them.

If you keep waiting for things to be perfectly done, you will be waiting for the rest of your life.

If you do not set goals and aim for something meaningful, you will not HAVE a career to market.

*Click here for a useful website on Goal Setting from the Mindtool website.

Click here for another useful website on Goal Setting from the PBS website.

From the many questions asked to me by actors who attend the Actor Expo Tradeshow on a yearly basis, i’m frequented by the same question…

“How do I get people, agents or casting directors to view my facebook page
or website when there are so many actors out there?”

Here are a few suggestions to help you promote your website online:

Where to promote your website

• Social Networks

This is first and foremost: Have you got a blog (promote on there), Facebook (have you got a private profile or have you set up a ‘page’ – these are 2 different things, Twitter (please tell me you have a twitter profile started ‘even if you don’t get it yet’ – just create one in your name, LinkedIn (for professionals, a fantastic way to connect with agents, casting directors and producers, FourSquare (a great way to find out ‘where people are’ – imagine being being at a showcase and 5 casting directors are checked in with you! Great opportunity to Network right?) and any other places where you can interact with people online.

• Casting Websites

There are a ton of really good online casting websites now
IMDB, Actors Access, Spotlight, Casting call pro, Backstage, etc.. Keep looking around.

• Search Engines

Google, MSN, Yahoo, Bing, etc — make sure your website is listed in their databases – Tip: In Google type “add website to google” and follow the links.

• Printed Marketing Materials

Business Actor Postcards… Have you tried Vista Print? Cheap and quick marketing material

• Use Your Email Signature

Use this section which is automatically added to the bottom of each email you send to insert links to your Facebook page,website, blog, linked in. People will click on it and add you, thus promoting your website.

• Write a Newsletter

Have you considered writing a newsletter about what’s going on in your life? Write aboout Auditions you are going for, jobs you have been booked for, experiences on those jobs…. people love to forward a good newsletter on to friends.

These are just a few tips to help you get started on promoting yourself online as an Actor.

Run by the UK Academy of Television, Film & Theatre

Time: 11.45am – 12.30pm
Room 3
Level: Professional Actors | Beginners

What casting directors are really looking for when casting for television and
film.

This 30 minute seminar guides actors through the television and film audition process.

Looking at specific television and film audition techniques, you will learn how best to prepare for a
television or film casting and why it is important to avoid theatre acting.

Learn how the impact of your own personality can affect the outcome of your audition and why
character acting is to be avoided unless specifically stated.

Run by the UK Academy of Television, Film & Theatre, Carl Parker, (co-director & acting coach), has
trained with some of television’s leading professionals including David Shaw (BAFTA award-winning
casting director), Beverly Keogh (BAFTA award-winning casting director), Dorothy Andrews (casting
director), Mark Hudson (ITV & BBC), Kenny Glenaan (ITV-BBC director), Jeremiah Comey (Hollywood
director & acting coach) whilst also working with actors from ITV & BBC drama, Coronation Street,
Hollyoaks, Waterloo Road, Downton Abbey and Shameless.

BOOK IN NOW

Class Tutors: TBA

Time: 12.45pm – 13.30pm
Room 1
Level: Anyone

Want to know what all the fuss is about Twitter, Facebook and Linkedin?
Ever wanted to know why you should be on there and how to work it all out?

This is a quick start guide of everything you as an actor need to know to be a social networking butterfly.

BOOK IN NOW

Run by the UK Academy of Television, Film & Theatre

Time: 15.15pm – 15.55pm
Room 1
Level: Professional Actors | Beginners

This 30 – 45 minute ‘Taster’ class is designed to introduce actors to specific skills and techniques required for television and film acting.

During the talk, you will learn the differences between personality and character acting and why
realism is imperative for television and film.

During this discussion we will touch on world renowned acting techniques including Stanislavski,
Lee Strasberg, Sanford Meisner and Stella Adler and why these theatre practitioners and theatre
techniques are not all appropriate when it comes to creating realism for television and film.

Skills and techniques taught in this class have been established by leading professionals of the
television and film industry.

Run by the UK Academy of Television, Film & Theatre, Carl Parker, (co-director and acting coach), has trained with some of television’s leading professionals including David Shaw (BAFTA award-
winning casting director), Beverly Keogh (BAFTA award-winning casting director), Dorothy Andrews
(casting director), Mark Hudson (ITV & BBC), Kenny Glenaan (ITV-BBC Director), Jeremiah Comey
(Hollywood Coach and Director) while also working with actors from ITV & BBC drama, Coronation
Street, Hollyoaks, Waterloo Road, Downtown Abbey and Shameless

BOOK IN NOW