As an actor, have you ever considered how important it is to generate return business? It may seem like the booking is what it’s all about, but that just isn’t the case.
The majority of my casting jobs come from either former employers or referrals from former employers. I do get some jobs from random sources, but I still rely a lot on return business. And if you are like most actors, it’s the same with you.
I always check an actor’s résumé for return business. Is the same director listed multiple times? Of course, it helps even more if that director is Ron Howard or Clint Eastwood. Many directors like to use a lot of the same actors over the years, and it’s an automatic sign that the actor in question is not only talented, but also easy on production.
Actors who do not play well with others or are not easy during production rarely work twice for the same producer or director. As a matter of fact, it is unfortunately possible for an actor to burn a bunch of bridges with one job. I’ve seen actors on a film behave in such a way that nobody would ever work with them again. That includes the producers, the director, and myself.
However, actors who are great to work with and are talented will work forever. I’ve heard so many stories about producers and directors who have looked for roles for certain actors because they enjoyed working with them in the past.
So how do you ensure return business?
Step #1: Book the first job. Easier said than done, but once you book the first job you have something to build upon. Even a small part can be a foundation for a lot of other jobs down the road.
Step #2: Be amazing to work with on the set. Don’t complain unless someone is behaving inappropriately or putting you in danger. And if you do complain about something, do it through the reps. Your agent will call me and I will speak to the producers. This gives you a buffer, and we don’t know to what degree you are unhappy or how much of it is the agent—better for you and it will still be addressed by us.
Step #3: Stay on our radar. Follow up with everyone you worked with on the set. Some will have jobs again in a week and some will have them in six months. It doesn’t matter. Accepting the longterm nature of this business means you value people who will hire you again at any point in the future. Make sure we always know how to reach you. So if you change reps, it’s up to you to update us.
Not everyone will be accessible in the same way. So adapt to their modes of communication and you will get the best results. Use email, Facebook, Instagram, or the good old-fashioned phone to stay in touch.
Step #4: Support every project that you do. Show up to any festivals, screenings, or events where you can show producers that you understand the Hollywood machine. You must be available to promote. It benefits us. It benefits you. You have to have jobs that allow you out for these things, not just the days you work. Look at all the press stars have to do and decide if this is something you are comfortable with right now. Also, support every project on social media. Like it, share posts, and tweet about it—at the very least.
Step #5: Stay in class. The best actors are constantly training until they are booking so much film and television work that they cannot be in class. I want to know that the actors I hire are working out every week. Why hire an actor who hasn’t performed in three months? Keep your instrument tuned.
Your job isn’t over the day you work on one of my sets. If you want to work on more of them, it’s actually just beginning.
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and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Backstage or its staff.
