Everything is Virtual These Days

Remember when virtual reality was the newest coolest thing! Well the reality of everything going virtual is really hitting us now. It's not necessarily a bad thing. I honestly don't mind how easy it makes life now. Before you had to get all dressed up, walk to the train, maybe make a transfer or two just to get to a long line at a casting that you may or may not be seen at. Now all you have to do is submit your headshot on casting sites such as castingnetworks.com, or actor access.com and wait for them to send you your audition instructions if you are selected. From there you maybe put on a little bit of rouge so you don't looked flushed on camera. Perhaps add a top that relates to the character and bam you're ready. I invested in a new iPhone, tripod stand, LED light, and a microphone so I can look and sound great whenever I have to do my own self tapes from home. They aren't expecting it to look as professional as the casting director did when you went in person. But they don't really want selfies either. They really just want to see that you look like your headshot and what you sound like in person. Most of the time they want the audition back same day now since you don't have drop everything you were doing and you can easily get it done from your house. The turn around times have really changed. You certainly don't want to wait to get it in last minute either. By the time the deadline roles around the role may already be cast by someone who got it in right away. So get to it now. Before you at least got a days notice before your castings. Which was still a little extreme but hey if you want to make it in this business you have to do what you have to do right. Anyway there are little tricks to getting your material in right away. Say there are lines, don't worry about memorizing them, just tape them to the wall in front of you or to the bottom of your camera. It's way better then looking down at a piece of paper in your hands. They don't expect you to be off book. If you have someone as wonderful as my husband to be your camera man and read the other lines for you even better. If not zoom a friend, email them the other lines, then record it. Makes for the perfect audition tape. In fact lots of calls back are even done on zoom if they really like you. They want to get a feel for your personality on those calls. Be sure to log on with the same energy you would have if you were walking in the room to meet a very important casting director for the first time for the role of your life time. Once you are done with all your videos always leave a nice message in the body of your email. Keep it short and sweet including your name, the role, links to your website for more info, how to contact you, and thank them for the opportunity. If you just upload an image numbered 06fy67.png they will never know who you are or what it is for and move on to the next person. Always, always make sure to airdrop or download your files from your phone onto your computer so you can rename them. That will put you on the top of their list, especially if your name begins with an A. Just kidding. All these tricks of the trade and many many more can all be found in my new book coming soon titled "How to Make it on a Dime". Been taking the time to write it for you all through out this all pandemic. Thought this would all end a while ago, it's looking like it's the new norm though. At least we can all take the time to learn and grow as we go now. Oh but if you really can't wait to read my book till it comes out, you can always hop on http://goinfiniscape.com/ with me and take some fun improv classes amongst many other fun virtual experiences and I'll teach you everything you need to know about acting. Happy New Year everyone, stay safe.