I am constantly amazed at the belief systems of most
struggling actors. These belief systems seem to rely
and flourish on several false ideas that far too many
actors accept without question.

In fact the 'struggle' is generally a result of our
completely human ability to hold totally opposite
ideas - and that trick of the mind that allows us to
believe both of them are the truth.

Let me illustrate by pointing out five big lies that
many actors accept as truth - when they really should
know better.

BIG LIE #1

You simply MUST be talented, beautiful, young, and/or
lucky - in order to have a successful acting career.

This one is really off-base ... and almost everyone in
our business points out the truth on a regular basis.

Have you (or one of your friends) ever said that some
star seems to lack talent? Or that a very successful
performer is not even close to being a 'hottie?'

Of course - because it's the truth.

But, see, both ideas can't be true.

If talent were the issue, how could you explain a
Pauly Shore or Paris Hilton?

If it was all about beauty, where would that leave
Whoopi Goldberg or Jack Black?

The false idea of youthful success is way off base.
Way more actors succeed at forty than at twenty ...
that's just an indisputable fact.

And if it were all luck then The Biography Channel
would go off the air right now. I mean, how often
would you tune in to see a show that lasted just
long enough to point out "... her career was all
luck."

The truth is that actors who pay close attention to
their business, work hard, and remain tenacious are
often successful - despite any deficiency of looks,
talent, age, or luck.

BIG LIE #2

Acting is a very competitive business.

Again, clearly not the truth.

Sure, there are a lot of people who would LIKE to
act for a living - but very few of them are really
'competition.'

That idea assumes that everyone is equally good at
their job. We know that this is just not the case -
in any business.

(And, by the way, 95% of all start-up businesses
fail within the first 5 years. That's a statistic.
Since we're talking about acting as a business -
that statistic should always be kept in mind.)

Sure there are several hundred thousand people who
get their headshots taken, fill up their resumes
with unpaid 'work,' and call themselves actors ...
but - really - how many of them are pros?

As a producer I can tell you: Very few. In fact,
the number is about 5 percent.

The other 95 percent? Failed start-ups.

And acting itself is not a competitive endeavor - it
is a collaborative one. One might see that as a big
... in fact huge ... difference.

BIG LIE #3

"Networking" is the secret to success.

If this were the case then going to party after party
would be all you'd need to do to become a star.

People who love to party desperately WANT to believe
this is the truth. But it ain't.

Most working pros don't have a lot of time to party.
They're mostly too busy working on their business.

People who have time to party are usually unemployed.

The result of believing this lie, is the tendency to
LISTEN to advice from people at parties - who are,
generally speaking, no better off than you are.

This is clearly a flawed strategy. Because if you
listen to other actors who are also struggling, what
makes you believe you're getting good information?

It's like asking someone in the unemployment line how
to get a job. If they knew the answer to that, they
wouldn't be in line with you.

BIG LIE #4

Don't do extra work. It's a dead-end job that never
leads to any actual acting work.

This lie goes on to assure actors that they can find
real work in the want ads, on Craig's List, or as a
result of casting notices on the web.

If your definition of 'real work' includes showing up
and acting for no paycheck, then these might be good
'strategies.'

However, if you'd like to be paid for your time and
act for a living, then you'll have to truly accept
this simple reality ... you will probably have to
start somewhere near the bottom.

Extra work is where you start in the movies and TV.

And what about those people who are telling you to
avoid extra work ... what line are they standing in?

At this point many actors will argue that agents and
casting directors tell people to avoid extra work.
That's because casting doesn't see extra work as a
REAL acting job (and they're right, it isn't - you
can't put it on your resume).

And agents will tell you to avoid extra work for
one very good reason ... they can't take 10% of
THAT paycheck.

But ... extra work puts you on a set - where you
can learn the 'business' of making movies and TV
shows. It pays about the same as a minimum wage job
at a fast food joint - but instead of serving fries,
you're about five feet from where you want to be.

Bottom line: You will have to pay rent, make your
car payment and buy groceries, so why not get paid
to learn about the 'business' and be somewhere near
the 'action?'

The truth is that people who think they can skip the
bottom rung of a ladder are just plain dumb.

Oops! I meant to say 'intelligence challenged.'

BIG LIE #5

You can buy your way in.

This is the lie that every scammer in the world wants
you to believe.

This is the wrong-headed idea that causes actors to
choose acting teachers based on their reputation - as
opposed to their ability to help the actor learn.

It's what helps "Model and Actor Search" companies go
from mall to mall taking money from amateurs by selling
them headshot and resume 'services' and a chance to meet
with someone who claims to be a legitimate agent - or a
casting director from New York or Hollywood.

Come on! If someone is really an important agent or
casting director - why would they be at the mall in
Poughkeepsie or Peoria, chatting up anxious teen-agers
and clueless parents with cute five-year-olds?

Let's not even mention the "managers" and "agents" in
big production cities, who run headshot scams, taking
kick-backs from photographers and charging fees for
listing or 'office expenses.'

Or the acting 'academies' that are more interested in
your credit card information than your reasons for
pursuing an acting career.

If you think that money can get you 'in the door,' I
can guarantee that you will be hornswoggled out of your
money - and end up no closer to making it than you are
now.

By the way, these are just five of the big lies.

In reality, there are literally dozens.

Do yourself a huge favor - question everything you
are told is the truth about making it as an actor.

Also, take the time to do your due diligence -- do
research on anyone who is offering to help you.

Those who can give you good information won't mind
that you question them - and those who deal in BIG
LIES can never stand up under questioning.

And that's the truth.

Now ... question it.

* * * * *

Bob Fraser is a retired actor, writer, director and
executive producer (show runner) on such series as
Full House, Benson, The Love Boat, Columbo, Condo,
Wipeout, Midnight Caller ... and more.

He's been a lecturer at AFI, UCLA, USC, Denver U,
NYU, SAG Conservatory, Equity Library, Film Industry
Network, Women In Film, Actors Creative Network,
ActorSite, Universal, Disney, Paramount, and many
other venues

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(And don't forget to do your due diligence.)

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