Marketing Yourself
When you’re an actor, you know acting definitely isn’t the only part of your job description. Beyond auditioning, memorizing lines, maintaining your appearance, networking, delving into other creative opportunities, and being a normal human being, one of the biggest aspects of keeping your career afloat is maintaining your presence in the industry and marketing yourself.
When we say ‘marketing’, we mean that in the broader sense. Here are 3 things to consider when it comes to marketing yourself and maintaining your image within the acting world:
- HEADSHOTS: Make sure your headshots are up-to-date! We can’t stress this enough. Headshots aren’t just nice looking pictures to remind casting directors what you look like. Your headshots function as your lasting impression and your business card. They give a glimpse at what you look like through a lens, they show off your unique features, and portray how you present yourself. Having a variety of looks showcases how dynamic you are as an actor. You can portray many different types of roles and you know how to position your body in front of a camera. Having a variety of media to showcase your work, your look, and your activity is so incredibly important for self-branding and marketing. Your headshots showcase your money maker – your FACE! Your talent speaks for itself, but make sure that your headshots are an accurate representation of your quality, your range, and your aesthetic.
- SOCIAL MEDIA: Got a lot going on in your life? Got some snippets of shows you’ve worked on? Funny opinions on pop culture or current events? Share it! Maintaining a consistent social media presence is fantastic for self-branding and networking, as it has become the single most influential tool that helps make unknowns into well-knowns. As it goes with most things, the more you put into your online presence, the more you get out of it. Staying a part of conversations relevant to you and your career is part of the gig. Following and contributing to hashtags that matter to you such as #actorslife, #casting #igotbooked, #setlife, and #actor are powerful and instantaneous ways for you to connect with other fellow creatives in the industry. Beyond that, being an active social media user adds to your overall clout and relevance. It’s a great platform for you to show who you are and follow all things industry-related.
- PERSONAL WEBSITE: Much like your headshots, your website is your digital calling card — every important detail should be readily available for those who are looking to learn more about you as an actor. Your resume, reels, IMDb links, biography, stills, headshots, and contact information should all be here, represented in a clean and easily navigable manner. Say somebody stumbles upon your reel and wants to know more about your repertoire – there should be a one-stop site for them to find everything they need to know about you as an actor. This is an absolute necessity in this digital age we live in. Think of it as an investment. This is your business card! The information you make available here may just help you book your next gig.