07/27/2018
8 Reasons Your Talent Agent/Manager may drop you
1. Lack of talent. You may think this is a no brainer, but I sit in on casting sessions and auditions and I am stunned by how bad some people are. Some actors may think they are more talented than they actually are. You've seen it on American Idol. Yes that's real...some people are really that bad. One time I was in the casting room of a NBC Singing show and 1/2 the people they were auditioning could not sing. Make sure you are really talented and get the training you need. You are going to be competing with great talent. You don't need to compare yourself, but you do need to be your best, at the top of your game. If you aren't, go do something else. If you are serious about succeeding, get yourself the best training you can. Develop your talent thoroughly and you will be noticed.
2.Lack of preparation. Actors try to wing it in auditions and don't understand the importance of intensive and continual acting training. Having poor audition skills will stop you from getting anywhere. You may be able to act, but auditioning is an entirely different skill set. Don't waste your time trying to get into the audition room if you don't know how to work the room once you get in there. Poor impressions on casting directors are hard to erase. Train, train, train. If you haven't you are not likely to book. Check out AMY LYNDON's Actor Tool Box to learn how to BOOK. https://theactorstoolbox.net/
3. Missing opportunities, not showing up. Actors skip auditions and say no to opportunities that could lead them to new contacts and potential work. In the beginning, no job is too small for actors who really want to get ahead, gain experience and make contacts. Some actors won't go to auditions they feel are beneath them. What!! Really? Casting Directors work on all kinds of projects. They may be casting a student film at the same time they are casting a big budget feature. You may not be right for a specific project. But believe me, they will remember if you are good. Each good impression on a Casting Director is you getting ahead. You need any and every project you can get for experience, strengthening your skills, making contacts, getting footage and being paid at times. An actor acts. If that isn't you, maybe acting isn't your calling afterall so go do something else. Don't sabotage yourself. You have talent, the world wants to see it and enjoy it. Stay positive and keep doing your best.
4. Can't handle the rejection. Some actors take rejection personally and run away back to where they came from or into another line of work. Rejection is 90% of this business. Get used to it. While pursuing acting, fill your life with fun, friends, sports, concerts, prayer anything that validates and fulfills you. Don't wait for this business to do it. I suggest you read the "Four Agreements" by Don Miguel Ruiz to learn all about taking things personally- and how NOT to do it.
5. Can't take direction or be managed. Some actors are "know-it-alls" and can't take direction from those wiser and more experienced than they are, which results in missing opportunities that managers and agents are trying to give them. Other actors get these chances instead. You are better than this!
6. Can't figure out to how to make money to survive and pay for their acting expenses. Some come to LA broke without saving up money before coming. Some actors won't or don't realize they may have to work two jobs to be able to put money aside for acting expenses which are about $8,000 per year. College costs money and starting an acting business costs money. That's the price of doing business. You are an adult now, figure it out or someone else will.
7. Won't spend money on great Headshots, Demo Reels, Business Cards, Acting Classes, Online Casting profiles, uploadig Media, New Headshots when you need them, so they don't have the tools to compete and succeed. Some actors spend years trying to get by with the least they can. Usually due to shortage of money, stubborness or sometimes they just don't realize how important these tools are and how good the tools have to be in order to compete with prepared, working actors who have been here for years and years and have their materials in order. Recently an actor who has been dragging behind on getting me his marketing materials told me he only had $75 left each month after his bills were paid. I asked him, "what are you making a week?" He said, "$350." "What!!!! I cried." Why the hell is he still at the job? He has been there two years. Did he come to Hollywood to work as an accountant or be an actor? And on top of that, he could only audition after 3:00pm when he got off of work. I told him get another job, or I would not be working with him anymore. I hate to say that because he is so flipping talented. But talented people who don't make it in Hollywood are a dime a dozen. Don't be one of these. You are capable of so much. Give it all you've got and don't let your media hurt you.
8. Lack of understanding about how the business works. This is certainly one of the biggest reasons. Actors, you are the CEO of your own company. If you don't understand how your business works you are doomed to fail, no matter how talented you are. GO to every show business seminar you can. Read industry books endlessly. I have been in this business since 1990 and I never stop reading. Every day I read industry blogs, watch videos, takes courses, read autobiographies, study movies, attend showcases, talk with agents and managers, teach, educate -live and breathe this business. Knowledge is power! -TMFA
