9 Common Mistakes Made by Talent
1) Undermining the importance of the slate
You woke up, put together a well-thought-out outfit that would suit your character, you memorized your lines, you sat in traffic for a couple of hours, and now you are signing in at the casting office. You look around and see 10 people waiting ahead of you and you scroll the casting sheet and see 100 people were here earlier today. You sit down trying to ease your nerves, and now they are taking you in groups of 3 to audition together. You go in and they ask you to slate. You step in front of the camera smiling, state your name, height, turn profile left and right, and show the fronts and backs of your hands all while trying to be cool, calm, and collected. You sit down. Whew, sigh of relief. The next person goes. You watch the next person, but you’re not really paying attention because you’re trying to anticipate what to expect for the audition and trying to shake off the nerves and breathe. You do the audition. It’s a bit of a blur; you drive back home and sit in traffic.
How many of you, if you were honest with yourself, put so much time and attention into the audition, that you rush through the slate? I can’t tell you how many times I have been in the audition room with several other talent and have seen this part messed up. They get up there, blow through their name, and then rush through the rest of the slate. When you are nervous, you are likely to go faster in this process. Take your time. Breathe. Especially if your name is unique or complicated and/or if you have a foreign accent, slowly articulate your name. If you sit down and no one knows your name, you’ve missed out on an opportunity. Help the casting director and client remember you and stand out from the other 100 people they saw today by allowing them to clearly hear your name and see your beautiful smiling face! Every moment of the audition from when you walk in to when you walk out of the audition room matters so make each moment count!
2) Being unprepared
Actors: It’s always better to be over-prepared than under-prepared. If you have lines, make sure you have them memorized, and have done the character development before you show up to the audition. When the nerves kick in, the lines will come more naturally if they have become a muscle memory.
Models: Do not show up to a live event- whether it’s a runway show, promotional event, or fit session, without the proper undergarments and footwear. Having various nude, no-show undergarments and nude and black heels are an industry standard and it looks unprofessional if you are unprepared. Staff are usually running around trying to make sure everything will run smoothly for the event; the last thing you want to do is cause more stress for them. Ask your agent beforehand what the client would like you to bring and pack your bag the night before so you have peace of mind on the day of the show. Personally, these are the kinds of undergarments I have so I’m ready for anything:
3) Being slow to respond or unresponsive
When I made the transition to full-time acting and modeling, I decided to make a separate email account for all things acting and modeling-related. And I’m so glad I did. It’s easy to miss emails if you don’t have a separate email solely for your career, and with that being the primary form of communication between you and your agent, you must prioritize good communication with your agent(s). If you’re not easily reachable, your agents may de-prioritize you during submissions.
4) Letting hindrances keep you from submitting the self tape
When I think about some of the biggest jobs I have booked to date, I’m amazed at how many of them were not under the ideal circumstances- no tripod, lighting setup, or backdrop. Of course, the more put-together your setup can be, the better but what do you do if you are traveling? Use whatever you can- natural lighting from a window, a bedsheet as a backdrop, but don’t not submit because the conditions aren’t perfect. You never know when you are exactly the kind of person they are looking for. Don’t count yourself out before you’ve even begun.
5) Feeling obligated to sign contracts on set
This one stings a little for me because unfortunately I’ve had to learn the hard way. Please do not feel pressured to sign a contract on set, especially if it is long, hard to read, or if you have any reservations about signing it. It’s not you being “difficult” if you would like time to read it over and discuss it with your agent outside of the commotion of the set. It’s you looking out for your best interest because although your agent should have your back (and good agents will), no one will be more invested in you than you. I have signed contracts in good faith because I thought I didn’t have a reason to be on alert (got the job through my agent, my agent works with this client all the time, terms and rate were discussed beforehand, etc.) and then have been badly burned because the client intentionally or unintentionally took advantage of me. Sadly, actors are often the ones to be screwed over, especially in non-union projects. I’ve even had it happen where I auditioned for the job, booked the job, the terms were in black and white on Casting Networks, and then at the fitting- the contract says something completely different. DO NOT SIGN UNTIL YOUR RED FLAGS ARE RESOLVED. Mark it up if necessary. I’ve been really disappointed by how many people will decide on the unethical choice because it financially benefits them, and they feel like they can get away with it. Look at Taylor Swift for goodness sake- If it can happen to her, it could happen to you. Some of the most common red flags are discrepancies of length of usage (2 years versus in perpetuity which means forever) and the types of usage (social media versus broadcast). If the production team questions you about taking the contract home, don’t let that get to you; when in doubt, just be gracious, kind, and professional.
6) Disregarding social media
The number of times I’ve tried to connect with fellow actors on set and they said, “I have Instagram, but I’m not really on it”! This is a massive disservice to you as the talent. I’ll tell you why:
You don’t have to be obsessed with social media or on it all the time or posting all the time to take advantage of social media. When I started acting at 13 years old, my acting coaches would tell me, “Out of sight, out of mind” as a way to remind me to update my headshots regularly and mail them in to my agent so that they would remember me and continue to submit me for various projects. Oh how the industry has changed! You can now post a new headshot from the comfort of your home in seconds, and it can be seen by not just your agent(s), but casting directors, crew, friends, and potential clients! That’s an invaluable resource as a freelancer. People want to see what you are doing, what new projects you’re working on, the hustle of being in the industry, and you are more likely to book if people perceive you as a working professional and you are more likely to find clients of your own this way. Do not underestimate the power of networking. And that’s truly what it is!
7) Not tracking your stats
"Treat this like a hobby, and it will pay you like a hobby. Treat it like a career, and it will pay you like a career.”
In a profession that is full of “no’s”, it is so easy to be discouraged in the ebbs and flows and feel like you are not making any progress. How would you know if you are actually improving if you don’t track anything? Not only will that help when tax season rolls around, but it will help you emotionally and practically. If you were concerned about the number of auditions you were getting from your agent, it’s so much more powerful of a statement to say, “I’ve noticed the number of auditions I’ve been getting this year as decreased by 48%” than saying, “I feel like I’m not getting as many auditions right now.” One person is invested in their career, and the other comes off lazy and unengaged.
Statistics I like to track for my career include: # of auditions, # of self tapes, # of bookings (with a breakdown of acting versus modeling bookings), monthly income (with a breakdown of how much I’m making from each agency and on my own), success rate (% of auditions that I end up booking), # of holds, releases, and bookings from holds, and # of direct bookings.
8) Seeing others as your competition
From “The Final Show” - Shot & Directed by Julian Morales. Featuring (from left to right) Veronika Dresko, yours truly (Julie Berry), Keon Gaynor, and Jessica Tanir
Ooo does this one sting a little bit?! In a profession where you are constantly compared to those around you, it’s easy to fall into the trap of comparing yourself to others. Although it can be a good exercise to learn from other talent and see what you can improve, I think many of us would say more often than not- this has become an unhealthy practice and takes you into a dark headspace. It’s good to dig deep into your “why” and what makes you unique in this industry for multiple reasons- to help you persevere when circumstances don’t go your way and to embrace your individuality and make you stand out in the crowd.
Why do you want to be an actor and/or model? What do you have to offer the industry that’s different than other talent? What is your “special sauce”?
If you have a deep-rooted compelling reason to be in this industry and truly believe you have something special and unique to offer it, then you should be able to more easily come to terms with when those “no’s” do come because you realize that you did the best you could do (or you didn’t but now you know what to work on), and that there was nothing else you could do to be casted. It was out of your control. You just weren’t what they were looking for, but you will be for something else!
You have a place in this industry, and no one else will be able to get in the way of what was meant for you. Other peoples’ success is not a threat to yours. Learn how to applaud other people in their wins and be humble enough to realize that there is so much to learn from others. If we can help and learn from each other, we will inevitably grow in our craft and mutually benefit because we will likely be more bookable and because building rapport goes a long way in networking.
This “competition” mentality is also particularly unhealthy as an actor. If you simply “copy” another actor because they are achieving some level of success, how is that authentic acting? How are you bringing something interesting and unique to the character? How can you possibly stand out in a casting with 100 other actors if you are merely just copying someone else?
Instead, help one another. This industry doesn’t need more toxic mindsets. It doesn’t need more people who are full of themselves and only care about “#1”. It needs hardworking, talented individuals who are leaders in their community in the way they treat and show up for other people. That is what will transform the entertainment industry, our culture, and the hearts of the people in it.
9) Letting obstacles get in the way of your dreams
Lastly, you may have heard the saying: “Anything worth having is worth working for.” Don’t give up on your dreams. I’m amazed at how many wildly successful actors were at the end of their rope and almost threw in the towel, before they landed their life-changing role. I’m convinced that each person has been given a calling (or multiple callings) that is unique to them and is worth the fight. It’s not easy to be in this industry. The rejection that constantly comes no matter how “big” you are in it. You are not alone. Keep fighting the good fight. I’m rooting for you!
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