11 Jun You’re Not A Number: Keeping Your Identity in a Sea of Faces.
Don’t sell yourself short, you’re pretty awesome. If you didn’t think so, you probably wouldn’t have the confidence to pursue a career in entertainment. If you don’t think so, you probably should ask yourself why you’d like a career in entertainment, because it requires an enormous amount of motivation, stamina, and will power. All of that is based on you and what you have to offer.
We are all unique snowflakes, but whether you’ve been in the industry a minute or years, you’ll begin to notice that everyone starts falling into categories, looks, and stereotypes. This isn’t personal. It’s about casting. Parts are written for a character, but to fit that character, there has to be a general group of people that fall into those guidelines.
Even if you come here with things that are so uniquely you, after some time, even the most interesting, beautiful, and talented models and actors get advice to make themselves more marketable. This generally equals toning down or enhancing some personality or physical characteristic that makes them distinct.
It’s an odd duality. Be interesting, eccentric, quirky, memorable, but also… be like everyone else. It’s hard to keep your identity as a person in perspective with so many opinions about your appearance and behavior.
Things to remember on your path to marketability:
Bring Your Personality With You
Though you’re going to casting calls with people that most likely look just like you, be yourself. Don’t get caught up in what everyone else is doing, wearing, or exuding. It’s easy to try to fit in. It takes courage to be yourself especially when you’re in a room full of people that look so similar to you. Remember that no one person brings the same experience, perspective, or talent to the table. No one else can be what you are. It may be necessary to dress a certain way for auditions, roles, or events, but what people will remember most is what your personality and energy. Don’t give that up in an effort to fit into a category.
Exhibit Flare Where It’s Allowed
Your choices on set, in an audition room, or at events is all uniquely yours, but there are other areas where you can let your memorable side shine. Take a look at your promotional materials. Does your website look distinctive? Does it have your voice? When you send out postcards, make sure they stand out in a pile of other cards. Use colors and text fonts that pop. Write a personal note on the back. Many actors simply slap a mailing label on a postcard and toss it in the mail. Personalize yours! Decision makers are people too. They’ll appreciate your extra efforts.
Don’t Compare
This can be a hard one to do in life as well as throughout your career, but making a conscious effort not to compare yourself to others is essential to remembering your individuality. Appreciate your strengths, accept your faults, and as the old saying goes, change what can be changed, but allow that which cannot. There’s a fine line between selling yourself as a product and actually believing you are one. You are a human being, and this business may be a bit about fitting into certain categories, it’s more about bringing into the light what is distinctly you.
Don’t be afraid to show your personality not only in the audition room and in life, but in how you market yourself to decision makers. We here at BunkerLA can help you create attention grabbing marketing materials with that added personal touch.