5 Lessons on What it Takes to Be a Professional Actor
I earned my first paycheck when I was 6.
Over the years that followed, before I even graduated high school, I learned about what it meant to be a working professional from some amazing mentors & experiences.
After college, I had even more hard lessons about what it really means to be professional, respectful, and not an asshole, whether on set or in business.
The truth is, whether for your acting career or working on the business side of things - most of our training is centered on our skills, our talents. But the truth is...you could be the most talented person in the room and not know how to conduct yourself in a professional manner that helps you book more roles and get more opportunities.
So I thought today I’d share with you 5 of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned about professionalism and how to to show (and build) respect and trust.
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5 ways to be a professional actor
Do what you say you’re going to do.
And if you can’t, give ample notice & help find a solution. This applies to everything from agreeing to help read/tape another actor’s audition, to volunteering to help on a friend’s short film set, to bringing that book you mentioned letting someone borrow.
Don’t agree to do something if you know you can’t do it or don’t have the bandwidth for.
It can be so easy to either want to people please and overcommit yourself, or to simply not think through what you’re agreeing to before you agree to it. Either way, it really damages the trust others have for you, and could get you labeled as “flaky”, which doesn’t bode well for future opportunities. When life does get in the way, do your part to help find a great solution to the problem - it shows that you’re a team player!
Communicate & confirm everything.
That includes schedules, call times, timelines, what you need to prepare, who’s responsible for what, and so on.
Don’t assume anything. Especially in a business that is often subjective and deals with somewhat vague feelings, vibes, and so on, having clear communication is vital. Part of this means thinking ahead and anticipating the needs of your coworkers, potential for human error, always double check for any missing info you might need.
Confirming details with clear communication helps you build trust and respect with your agent, casting, crew on set, creative collaborators, and beyond!
Be clear, confirm intentions & timelines, and check in often.
Be first & early.
When submitting requested materials to your agent, to class or meetings, project completions, and on set. And even beyond that - be brave and go first in acting class, or make the first move to say hi to someone new. There is so much good that comes from being unafraid to give it a whirl and put yourself out there.
Being on time (or early) shows that you respect the people you’re meeting with, and they’ll respect you for that in return. Let your good intentions lead the way and it can open so many doors for you in this business.
Hold tight to your values - no matter what
Don’t assume that “the person in charge” knows how to or will be the most strategic, kind, respectful, or best in the room. Many times they are none of those things. You still need to be all those things.
This industry is known for folks with big egos and sometimes sketchy behavior. While obviously not everyone is like that, a healthy dose of realism and awareness is important to not only keep yourself safe, but to manage your expectations. The truth is, being the top dog or in any position of power, doesn’t always mean that you’re the best - at your job or being a human. And that can get frustrating for the rest of us.
Whether the people in charge around you are great role models or not, it’s important to hold tight to your values and standards of behavior. Show up as your best even if the rest of the group chooses not to. It will speak volumes about your character and the right people will notice.
own your boundaries
Saying no to an offer, or deciding to stop pursuing something/staying somewhere that isn’t right for you can actually be the best decision for everyone. Don’t feel ashamed & don’t look back. Similarly to number 4 - when the little voice inside of you tells you something isn’t right for you, follow it. Sure, some people will be disappointed in your answer, but as long as you let everyone know in a kind and clear way, they’ll understand, and likely respect you more for it.
Bonus — you can do all of the above things & then some…and folks will still be rude to you, unfair things will happen, and projects will fail. Don’t take it personally. Take a breath. Be kind anyway.
Basically, the saying, “people won’t always remember what you did, but they will remember how you made them feel” is truer than you might imagine. Being the best actor in a holistic sense also means being the best human. Let’s keep working on getting there together, okay?
