Get Your $hit Together

Posted on 22. Jan, 2010 by sethcaskey.

watch on your iPhone

Don’t forget the basics.

Getting to your workshop prepared, not only alleviate stress for you, but allows you to show a CD that you are an actor who is ready to work.

Following is a partial list of things to have ready to go before showing up to your next workshop.

1. Headshot
2. Resume (attached and paper trimmed)
3. Link to demo reel (most CDs prefer links to DVDs)
4. Contact information (representation & personal) *some agents and mangers may disagree with putting your personal contact information on a resume. I like to put mine, so that in the event a CD can’t reach my representation, they have a way to contact me directly. This is a personal choice, and you should talk to your representation to see how they feel about it.
5. Misc. marketing materials
6. Postcard of where a CD can see your upcoming work
7. Business cards
8. Pens/Pencils/Highlighter
9. Snacks/Bottled water

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Overcoming Amateur Anguish

Posted on 29. Apr, 2009 by sethcaskey.

What is an expert? Well, Webster defines expert as:

one with the special skill or knowledge representing mastery of a particular subject.

So I have to admit that it’s taken me a little while to write this post because I’m practicing what I preach with this one. I’ll be the first to admit that when I think about positioning myself as an expert it creates a bit of anxiety.

For me, the word expert carries with it a connotation that I know everything there is to know about a certain subject, that I am professionally trained and have all the qualifications and accreditations to back me up.

Well that’s just crap. And I’ve realized that once I stop seeing myself as the perpetual student and accept that I’m never going to know everything – I’m suddenly aware of ALOT that I do know that I take for granted.

When I first stated this blog, I certialny did not feel like a master. I was meeting with @lkr and she looked me straight in the eyes and in way that only she can kick your ass and you don’t even know it – she said:

“You’ve got this Seth. You know a lot more than you think you do. Don’t be afraid to talk about it, and don’t be afraid to admit if there’s something that you don’t know, you can always learn it.”

Well, I just watched her Creating Fame webinar, and this statement sealed the deal:

“What’s valuable to your audience may seem very, very simple to you.” Laura Roeder

What does this all mean Corky?
(from Waiting for Guffman, a highly quotable, must see movie for all actors)

It means that while interning this week in a well-known episodic casting office, and experiencing first-hand some of the completely unprofessional things that actors do to market themselves to potential “buyers” – I realized that I know ALOT about what to do and what NOT to do as an actor. Stuff that I feel is “very, very simple.”

Why not take advantage of something that seems pretty obvious and simple to me – and share with actors some strategies that they can use to position themselves more professionally in the eyes of the industry – both online and off. So that’s what we’re going to be doing from here on out. First up: resumes

So how can you overcome amateur anguish?

Trust yourself. Know this for sure, you know ALOT more about SOMETHING than you think you do. Ask yourself what that is, start creating content, build a community of fans and see what happens.

Believe in yourself. Another great quote from @lkr’s webinar is, “You are already famous in [your fans, readers, etc.] eyes.” When you’ve created a community of listeners – realize that they want to listen to what you have to say. Others people believe in you, so should you.

Just do it. Today. Now.

Seth

PS – And watch this.

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