Have we met?
Is it possible that you did a scene for me during a workshop? Could it be that we talked after I saw you perform onstage? Or were the two of us introduced at some sort of social event?
Well, it doesn’t really matter how our paths crossed. What matters is that they did. And as a motivated reader of this column, you should follow up with every industry professional you meet. The best way to do that is by email.
How to Use Backstage to Network A well-crafted follow-up is a beautiful thing, but a lot of actors get it wrong. I can almost feel the flop sweat as I read their desperate emails. So, here are a few suggestions that will help you get it right:
- Stay short and sweet. This is not the time to tell me your life story. All I need are the basics about your career. You can also share a little personal stuff, but please don’t go into pitch mode. There’s no bigger turnoff than actors who go on and on about all the reasons their life cannot possibly continue unless I sign them. You’re off to a bad start if your submission sounds like you’re trying to sell me a used car.
- Give me the facts. Where are you based? Who’s your teacher? Do you have representation? And since this is a follow-up, please remind me how we met. I encounter a ton of actors, and my brain only has so much RAM.
- Use proper nouns. Telling me, “I just did a play” means nothing. However, “I just booked a supporting role in ‘Macbeth’ at the Antaeus Theatre Company” means something.
- Don’t pitch me crap. I’m always amused when actors try to get me excited about something that amounts to nothing. Telling me you had several callbacks for a mainstream casting director is intriguing. Telling me you booked a short film or some web thing is not. Always lead with your best and most recent accomplishment.
- Watch your language. No, I’m not talking about profanity. I mean you shouldn’t come across as an amateur by using the wrong words. For example, we have casting directors in this country, not casting agents. There are many other examples. See how many you can come up with. It’s fun!
- Show me what you look like. You should always paste your headshot in the body of your email. It’s the perfect visual reminder, and it gives me an immediate sense of who’s contacting me. Just keep the image small so it doesn’t overwhelm the text. And go with your best picture, the one everyone loves.
- Include a link to your website. Don’t have a website? Your Backstage profile will do! But do not include a link that forces me to download your material—I won’t. You can also attach a few pictures and a PDF of your résumé. The idea is to keep it simple and easy to navigate.
- Grab my attention. That’s where the subject line comes in. “Looking for representation” will not get me to open your email. “We met at Bob Smith’s workshop” will.
How to Network in the Entertainment Industry Follow-ups are a little easier than blind submissions because you’ve already met the person you’re contacting. That doesn’t guarantee a response, but it does increase the chances your email will get seen. And that, my friend, is half the battle.
This story originally appeared in the July 2 issue of Backstage Magazine. Subscribe here.
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