Stumble it!Network, Network, Network!
Networking in acting is king! The more jobs you get through people who have either worked with you in the past or who have seen your work the better it is. In my opinion you need to build a fan base and keep it growing. Every Fan is great and should be highly appreciated; however, if some of your fans are directors and producers and people who have the power to give you acting gigs then you are going to move forward quickly. My advice to any actor starting out is to always think of the future when you are on any set. Do not make the mistake of thinking that you can just do what you want and be late and mess around because you think that the current gig is just small beans. Always treat every set as if your future depended upon it, because it does. Word gets around very fast, and a lot of producers, directors and actors will end up meeting each other in the local area. The film world truly is a small community even in places like LA and New York; people of like-minds and with similar interests congregate together. If you behaved poorly it will get around and you will wonder why you are not getting any jobs. However, if you gain a reputation as someone who is professional, courteous, and fun you may find gigs coming to you with out any effort. This has just happened to me recently and I am very happy that people seem to appreciate me. An actress I worked with in the past is now taking on the role of a producer and she called me out of the blue and asked me to be in her next production because she really liked my acting ability and more importantly my professional manner. I can’t talk about the production yet because it is still being developed. But the implication is huge; I got a gig without ever auditioning or knowing that the job existed; it is a great feeling. This is not the first time something like this happened, but every time it does I feel great. Networking is king.
‘Tis all for now (feeling a little under the weather today, got more stuff to talk about but not feeling up to writing it).
Donald, thanks for sharing all these stories. I used to act and reading these takes me back to my brief glory days. Hope you feel better and keep sharing these moments. Not enough people know what it takes to practice this craft. Break a leg.
Comment by Ricardo — March 9, 2006 @ 1:38 am
Ahhh the power of networking. It’s always a good thing when you have directors or producers as your fans. That means you are doing a good job in your craft and you are also enjoyable to work with. Never underestimate it. You never know who knows who and who knows who where.
Comment by awalker — March 14, 2006 @ 4:18 pm
[…] 4) Always be professional no matter how lousy the conditions are, and even if the director and crew seem inept, stay professional. Word gets around, and that nervous unconfident director may be the next Peter Jackson ten years from now, and having him remember you as a positive thing in his early life is a good thing, he may just bring you along for the ride. Also, he may recommend you to other directors who are really good. And also the film community is very small so if you act like a diva and complain and are difficult other directors may be steered away from you. Also you can get gigs through other actors, so if you are a pain in the behind, you may not get recommend from them either. I have two (1 and 2) real example of me getting gigs twice through other actors who liked to work with me and found me professional. […]
Pingback by Donald Foley - An actor’s Journey » Film Connection Interview (redux) — September 23, 2006 @ 1:22 pm
[…] Well I know I am repeating myself by saying networking is king in the business of acting but I need to say it again because I just got two new gigs without having to go looking for them. That’s right they called me and O’ what a feeling. The first is a student short film called “Caught” and the other is an independent short called “Paulie”. I discussed networking here. […]
Pingback by Donald Foley - An actor’s Journey » Two new gigs! — November 14, 2006 @ 10:22 am
This is the one skill I find I really am lacking in… That’s one of my goals for 2007, sharpen up this skill, build my network and kick this career into high gear!
Ok, that’s like three goals. But who’s counting.
Comment by jonathan — January 23, 2007 @ 6:33 pm
[…] After a very dry summer with not much going on I am happy to report that this fall is heating up for me very nicely. Already this fall I have played the lead in two student short films. I am directing a short play for SlamBoston! at the BCA. And I just had an audition for a small role in a feature film. Also that sitcom that I have been talking about for so long (here, here, and here) is set to shoot the last week of November. So lots going on. […]
Pingback by Donald Foley - An actor’s Journey » Some quick updates — November 5, 2007 @ 10:54 pm