The single most important quality an actor can possess is talent. Without it, you’re doomed to fail. But if talent’s a given, what separates successful actors from the ones who never catch a break? You might think the answer has something to do with appearance or the ability to network, but you’d be wrong. I’ve been at this game for over a decade now and I know for a fact that it all comes down to one quality and one quality alone.
Confidence.
To be clear, I’m not talking about cockiness. That comes from a place of arrogance, and nobody likes a cocky actor. True confidence is a totally different breed of cat. It emerges from within. It’s knowing exactly who you are and what really matters.
Here are some of the traits I’ve seen in successful performers who are truly confident:
1. They don’t make excuses.
I’ve never had a confident actor blame traffic for making them late to an audition. They own it because they’re in control of their lives. They know that being late was their fault, and once they’ve made a mistake like that, they never repeat it.
2. They don’t give up.
Confident actors don’t quit when the going gets tough. They know failure is just part of the learning process. And they understand there’s a lesson hidden in every setback. So when the brown stuff hits the fan, they don’t run home to cry. Instead, they figure out what exactly went wrong so they can handle the situation better next time.
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3. They don’t wait.
Why do people procrastinate? Beats me, but here’s what I do know. Confident actors don’t put things off. They get shit done. When I ask a confident actor to make a new reel or get a new headshot, they deliver in record time. I once told a client that casting directors were starting to notice his weight gain and that dude dropped 20 before I could hang up the phone.
Confident actors don’t know the meaning of the word procrastinate.
4. They don’t compare themselves to others.
Jeff Bezos is the owner of Amazon and he’s the second richest man in this country. The first is Bill Gates. Do you think Bezos spends his precious time comparing himself to the guy who created Microsoft? Hell, no! He’s too busy expanding his own empire to worry about nonsense like that.
Confident actors don’t waste time comparing themselves to other students in their class or wondering why other cast members on their show are making more money. That’s a time suck that goes nowhere fast. They know it makes more sense to focus on more important matters.
5. They don’t let a lack of money get in their way.
Confident actors never allow financial limitations to slow them down. They find ways to generate money when new headshots are needed. If they can’t afford to pay for class, they exchange their web design skills for a break on tuition. And if they don’t have enough cash on hand to produce a web series, confident actors team up with like-minded performers who can share the expense.
From an agent’s perspective, there’s nothing more enticing than a talented and confident actor. They make us see dollar signs. And that’s money in your pocket, too.
Ready to bring your confidence into the audition room? Check out our Los Angeles audition listings!
