Today I sent out 6 headshots and resumes, with cover letters, to Casting Directors I have yet to audition for. I also sent out postcards to 28 Casting Directors I have either met, been referred to, or have already sent my headshot and resume#–updating them on what I’ve been up to recently (specificially the role I just landed in an indie film shooting in October#–I’ll provide more details as I can).

As I was preparing everything, it occurred to me that most people probably have no idea how much work this actually entails. My dad didn’t until he observed my preparing a submission packet one day. So I thought I would make some scans of the materials I’m sending out today, and share.

Actor Mailings

First of all, I didn’t name this post "Mail Merge" for nothing. There are a lot of Casting Directors out there, and keeping track of all of them can prove to be daunting. Every actor has a different way of doing it, but since I’m a computer guy I use a database. Every time I meet a Casting Director, I create a listing in my database:

“But I don’t want to do commercials; I want to do real acting…”

Let’s face it, none of us entertains the dream of becoming an actor so that we can land that late, great toothpaste commercial we saw on daytime television. That dream comes later, after we’ve been in the business for a year or so—then that toothpaste commercial is incredibly appealing. But when we first get into the business, we all dream of the big roles: the roles we see on great television programs, our favorite big-screen movies, and on the stage under the lights. But how do we get there, and what’s it really like?

The road to the big roles is different for every actor… some actors start out in the theater and find their way to the camera; others start out in commercials and find their way to regional theater. Your road will be impossible to determine, or plan, from the outset. But you can set long term and short term goals that will lead you towards good legit parts (that’s fancy actor lingo for “not a commercial”).

How does an actor in Springfield, MO find work? Is there enough work to create a career? Is anyone doing it? How do I start?

The answers come easier than you might think. It’s very easy to get caught up in the idea of working on big movies and television shows—the things we normally associate with the work of an actor. But when you live in a small market—and Springfield is a very small market—it’s easy to assume that since those types of projects happen infrequently, an actor must not be able to work. In reality, acting work is available—just not in the mediums you might think.

Acting, like any profession, involves a range of “levels”. If you were trying to become an architect, you wouldn’t assume the ability to jump in and design the next Guggenheim without first developing your skills on smaller projects—the same is true of an acting career. And as an architect, you wouldn’t assume the majority of jobs to be big-name projects: in fact, the majority of jobs are those you might take for granted (supermarkets, gas stations, small businesses). Again, acting is no different.

“Talent is as common as horsesh*t in a stable. The cultivation of it is extremely rare.” —Eric Morris

How many stars are discovered at the soda fountain? How many actors have waltzed into a career from modeling, singing, or stand-up comedy? Possibly too many to count! And how likely is this to happen to you?

There are many reasons to pursue training if you are considering a career as an actor, but perhaps the most basic is simple reality. Acting, like any other profession, consists of professionals and amateurs: the professional is consistent, disciplined, and effective—the amateur can be consistent, can be disciplined, and can be effective. If you were in charge who would you hire? Your odds of career success, in a business with long-shot odds to begin with, become much lower when you are not a professional. And the professional, for the most part, has undergone training.