Lasso The Moon! Tips And Tricks To Stay In The Acting Loop

So you’ve gone to all those networking events, updated your contact list and kept everybody’s business cards snugly inside your wallet. Great. What now?

Staying in touch with new connections is the key to progressing in the business. In any industry but particularly so for acting, connections are the door to opportunities. Here are four tips to make it easier.

• Keep in touch with old acquaintances

Don’t be shy.

via GIPHY

All those “creative” friends you have on Facebook, even those who you only met once through friends of friends, are the people you want to stay in touch with. If they have an exhibition, a festival or a solo show, make sure you attend it, especially if it’s a paid show.

Yes, you want to make sure they remember you and keep you in mind if they ever have a project coming along. But most importantly you have to support your fellow artists. We are all in this together, and if the tables turn, you’d want them to do the same for you.

Digging deep into the human psyche, recent studies show that it is our emotions and not the personal significance of events that facilitate the creation of memory. Showing your support will go a long way.

• Meet performers after their shows

It’s worth it.

via GIPHY

This not only goes back to the previous point, it also gives you a chance to make new acquaintances. Hang around after the show and wait for the artist to come to the foyer. Introduce yourself to the artist, tell them how you found out about their work and what you thought of it.

As an artist yourself, you will surely know how important and precious criticism is. Although maybe go easy with the insults just after a performance…

On the flip-side, if it is you performing, be sure to make time to go out and speak to your audience. This is your chance to sell yourself, and it is a very important opportunity you can’t afford to miss. Actors are, to all intents and purposes, a product.

Even if you are tired, it’s important to show your audience that you appreciate them coming, but also to try and spread the word about your work. More people will remember the humble, charismatic actor than the I-don’t-have-time-for-you performer.

• Hand those business cards out like raffle tickets

Even if it’s awkward!

via GIPHY

We’ve spoken about this before, but business cards are, literary, your ticket to success. It’s the easiest way for those you meet to see your information and, more importantly, to tell that you are serious about your craft.

If you meet anybody in the business, even if it’s a two minute conversation, make sure you exchange business cards. If you ask for theirs, it’s more than likely they will accept to take yours.

It’s going to feel a little weird at first, pulling that whole lemme-just-give-you-my-details-even-though-you-haven’t-really-asked-for-them spiel. But you are your own product; if you don’t sell you, nobody will!

• Always work

Tired? No time for that.

via GIPHY

Finally, you must keep working. Besides your “normal job”, you have to find the time for your “creative” one. Write another paragraph of that play. Memorise a monologue and perform it in front of the mirror before going to bed. Straight after work, head to that audition.

At the end of the day, this industry is about survival of the fittest and how much you really want it. If you have an all-or-nothing approach, chances are you will make it. But you have to keep at it, even if it’s exhausting.

If you love what you’re doing, it’s all worth it in the end.

Inspiring Interns is an internship and graduate recruitment agency. To browse graduate jobs, click here. For senior digital and mobile jobs, please see Inspiring Search.