The Most Difficult Role For Any Actor To Play
by
Bob Fraser

I get hundreds of emails a week ... and most of
them are lovely. Many actors write to say thanks
for an article or a tip - and those letters are
a joy to receive.

However, I also get letters from some actors who
seem to think that I am the answer to all their
problems.

They KNOW I can help them achieve a career... if
only I would.

Some samples:

"Hey Bob, look at my new headshots online and
pick out the best one. When I win the Oscar for
best actor, I'll mention you."

"Please send me the names of the REAL agents who
are willing to make me into a movie star."

"I have an idea for a show I can star in. If you
get it to the right people, I'll split the profits
with you."

"I know I need a manager to get my career started.
Send me a list of good ones are, so I won't get
scammed."

Let us cut to the chase ...

NO ONE ELSE is going to make your dream a reality
FOR you.

The bottom line is (and always will be) this: If
you are unwilling to do the hard work - it just
isn't going to get done.

If you continue to believe that someone else is
going to come along and take the steps needed to
get you to the top FOR YOU - well, welcome to
Fantasyland.

Whatever you do, don't wait for me or `later.'

One of the first (and most important) things I talk
about in my acting career courses is the absolute
necessity of doing the legwork & homework yourself.

As long as you live in a world where someone else
is going to do the work it takes to get you going
in the acting business - you aren't going to move
forward. And you'll probably get hurt financially
or otherwise.

In fact, it is this 'help me' mindset that those
scammers are looking for.

When a scammer meets an actor who believes it is
possible for someone else to MAKE it happen - he
knows he's landed a sucker.

This belief in a one-step process (or a secret
"back door," or a short-cut, or an easier way)
is what gets most actors in trouble.

When you think all you have to do is 'convince'
an agent to represent you and you'll be on your
way - you're just asking for trouble. Scammers,
calling themselves "agents or managers" are ready
to pounce on any actor who thinks this way.

Real agents can't be "convinced." They make their
decisions based on their assessment of how much
money you can make as an actor. If you aren't
making any money, don't expect a legitimate agent
to be very interested - until you take the steps
yourself ... and start making money.

If you just up and move to Hollywood or New York
(Vancouver, Mumbai, Chicago, London, Rome, Sydney,
etc.) without a solid plan of action - in the hopes
that you will meet someone who will help you achieve
your dream - you are going to be an unhappy camper.

Scammers in these cities (and other major markets)
are always on the lookout for brand new, uninformed,
suckers. If you arrive in town with this mindset,
they will spot you, trap you, and take your money.
They're good at it. They've been doing it for years.

The absolute truth is that there are dozens of steps
(and a lot of them are difficult) that you MUST TAKE
ON YOUR OWN - if you ever expect to make your acting
career dreams a reality.

Here are just a few:

You must learn how to get a good picture.

This isn't a matter of finding a good photographer,
it's a matter of learning what you must do in front
of the camera to make a great picture happen ... no
matter who the photographer is.

You must learn the 'culture' of show business and
work within that reality.

Most actors think this will "come naturally" and
find themselves, five years later, still working
at a crummy job and trying to 'make it' in their
spare time.

You must take care of yourself - yourself.

90% of actors don't have a sugar daddy or a family
who will take care of them as they pursue their
dreams. Somehow, successful actors make it a point
to 'take care of business' by themselves.

If you need a 'keeper' to take care of your career
for you - then your prospects are dim.

You must also make a lot of decisions:

You will have to decide the budget for your business.

You will have to decide whether your new 'friends'
are for real - or out for your money.

You must decide what will make you the happiest.

... and I'm just skimming the surface.

If you think that you will get where you want to go
by finding other people who will do the hard part
for you - well, you will find it difficult (if not
impossible) to move forward in any meaningful way -
as long as you think that way.

The idea that your first order of business is to
find someone else to 'make it happen' for you ...
is a major mistake.

A MAJOR MISTAKE.

Correcting this mindset is the main reason I produce
my FREE newsletter, SHOW BIZ HOW-TO

Not to plug the newsletter too outrageously, if you
want to know what all the REAL STEPS you must take
to have a professional acting career - subscribe.

Did I mention it's free?

http://www.showbizhowto.com

And you really should take some time out of your busy
schedule to read the biographies of successful actors.
Almost every success story has the elements (steps)
that ACTUALLY lead to a career in show business.

You should read David Mamet's books - and K. Callen's
books - and Stanislavski - and Michael Shurtleff,
Allan Miller, Lee Strasberg, Judy Kerr, Bonnie
Gillespie, Mark Brandon, Michael J. Wallach ...

Well, it's a very long reading list.

In other words, there is lot of homework for you to do.

A dream without work to make it happen, remains a dream.

You can't spend a dime of the money you make in dreams.

Is it easy to do it all this work on your own?

NO.

Is there a shortcut?

NO.

Is there another way?

NO.

You MUST do "the hard part."

Agents, managers, connections, etc. are people who
will come along AFTER you have started succeeding
on your own.

There are 3 critical behaviors you MUST make into
habits ... in order to start being successful on
your own:

You must be willing to learn. = INFORMATION

You must be willing to work at it. = HARD WORK

You must be willing to stay at it. = TENACITY

You don't need an agent, a manager, a teacher, a
coach, a photographer, a friend, a lover, or a
sugar daddy to take these first steps on the way
to your destination.

In fact, if you wait for somebody else to do the
hard part for you, you'll be waiting a long time

... like forever.

If you want to be a professional actor - you must get
the information, do the hard work and be willing to
keep at it - ON YOUR OWN.

In other words, (outrageous plug follows) ...

YOU - MUST - ACT!

* * * *

Bob is an actor, writer, director, producer and
show-runner on such hits as Full House, Benson,
The Love Boat and others. He is also the author of
You Must Act! Virtual Career Mentoring on CD-ROM,
Nail It! - Delivering The Hypnotic Audition ...
and Headshot Secrets Revealed ... The Acting Career
Courses on Your Computer

He's been a regular columnist for NowCasting.com,
ActorsLife.com, and many other sites. He's also a
featured speaker at AFI, SAG Conservatory, Equity
Library Theatre, UCLA, USC, Actors Creative Network,
Film Industry Network, Women In Film, and many more.

You can subscribe to his free newsletter especially
designed for actors - Show Biz How-To - by going
here:

http://www.showbizhowto.com

Or visiting his blog - The Show Biz Blog

http://www.theshowbizblog.com

You can check out his acting career courses at the
following sites:

http://www.youmustact.com

http://www.hypnoticaudition.com

http://www.headshotsecrets.com

* * * *