Advice

A Casting Director's Note to Actors: Stop Waiting for Permission

In order to succeed in Hollywood, you honestly do have to get yourself an MBA in marketing. The truth is you will probably spend 99 percent of your time pounding the pavement and 1 percent of your time doing what it is that you were born to do.

How to Survive—and Nail—Your Audition

Secret Agent Man wants you to impress the casting director, whether or not you book the job.

6 Books Every Actor Should Have on the Shelf

Between my Kindle and my bedside table, I have perused and read far too many books to list in one article. However, I’d like to recommend six “must haves” for aspiring and working actors alike.

How To Find the Perfect Day Job

Actors need to "get real" about what it actually takes to make it as an actor. I’ve waxed philosophic about training to the point of being an expert, and making a real commitment of time and energy. So, you can guess my position on day jobs.

How to Book Work Now!

This is not an easy time of year. For everyone. And because it's not easy, actors want answers. They want to know how to crack this code, to make it less painful, less traumatic, less ulcer-inducing.

The 10 Commandments of Being a Good Actor

Secret Agent Man returns from the Hollywood sign with actor lessons straight from the Gods of Hollywood.

Why Auditioning Is Not Acting

I truly believe auditioning is a separate animal from acting. Acting is what you get to do once you get the part. Auditioning is something else entirely.

The Secret to an Acting Career Is Not an Agent

It must be brutal knowing about all the roles you’d sell your mother to audition for but can’t, because casting directors are generally limiting themselves to “agent submissions only.”

Useful iPhone Apps for Singers

The recent explosion of smartphone apps has included a number of great tools for the singer. We have compiled a list of some of the best iPhone apps for helping vocalists stay in top performing shape.