When Should Actors Take A Vacation?
This is a guest post written by Alex Collins.
Historically, our industry had a lull during the summer. After the chaos of pilot season and before the crush of episodic season, the period between mid-May and July 4th was usually slow for actors, especially in LA, and agencies often took that time to go to a skeleton crew and staff would go on vacation, recharge, and get out of the office.
Now, however, pilot season takes place all year, and shows are pitched, sold, cast, and produced all year long. So, the defined “seasons” no longer exist.
What is an actor to do? When should they take time? What if they miss an opportunity? How can you navigate the potential dangers of “booking out?”
First, relax. It's cool. Take a deep breath. Here's my recommendation on how to take advantage of your summer. Take a seat, pull out a notebook, and sharpen that number two pencil, because SUMMER SCHOOL is in session.
Second, let's set sound myths aside: Pilot season, while it still exists, takes on a very different life each year. Yes, pilots are made during that January to April time frame. But, they're also made in every month, also. In Atlanta and the SE, for example, there's not necessarily a discernible slow down for the summer. In fact, some years bring a bump during the summer as Tentpole and franchise films are in heavy production (Think Hunger Games, the F&F franchise, Black Panther, and literally every Marvel project).
With that in mind, when should an actor choose to take a vacation? Honestly, whenever you want.
Just communicate clearly, effectively, and in advance with your team, and they'll be fine with it. It's up to you if you decide to still be available to tape during your time off, but for me, I 100% book out, and I don't feel bad about it. I don't consider those missed opportunities, especially when I weigh them against the cost of my mental health and the better head space I'm in when I return my adventures.
Here's a few things you can do, whether that's during the summer, or whenever you decide to take time off (hint: Mid-December through the first full week of January is going to be the slowest time of year, too, so that's always an option).
It boils down to FOUR easily to remember elements: Reset, review, revise, and refresh.
Reset: Your mindset; give yourself a staycay, a vacay, a 48-hour social media detox; commit to “outside is free” for 7-days in a row; whatever. It doesn't have to cost money. Do something 100% unrelated to your career.
Review: Your skills-what can you make an effort to add? A brand new skill? A refresh on a skill you've let diminish?
Revise: Your materials. There's no excuse for not having an A+ package at all times.
Refresh: Your clips. Chase down footage you're waiting on, refresh the best way to package and present yourself.
What are your non-negotiables and must do's in order to be mentally, physically, and emotionally ready to return to auditioning and acting? When do you typically take time off? Let us know - shoot us a DM on IG.
