So apart from Claire...and Victoria.... nobody else dares to give their examples to the first three actors who were asking for advice? Chickens!!!
Claire gives makes very good points.
Spelling: I find it a nightmare myself...and rely on a spellchecker much of the time. As an employer though - I put much more importance on the letter content, attached pic and reel and the overall presentation, than an oversight on the spelling if I am honest....but I take the point it should all checked and be spelt correctly. Mind you - I've seen plenty of spelling errors from CD's and agents who I would like to impress!
I think profiles, and general CV's/credits are the real issue in most cases. I would rather see one or two credits, and everything well presented and honest than a long list of "I've been in the following 10,000 jobs as The Doorman, The passer-by!" That just smacks of desperation and CV Padding.
I think Directors, agents, CD's employers….we all want you to be fantastic, but we also need to feel we can trust you if we don't know you, and also get to know something about you that would make us say "Hmmm… interesting, lets see them!" This can be virtually anything, but it has to be something that splits you apart from everyone else of your type. Something which proves you know what you are about.
What about in the example I gave you: A variety of parts….?
Dear ……,
I would be keen to have the opportunity of a short meeting, and finding out more about the plays, and the characters for which I might be suitable. I am free all of next week, would Wed 15th at 11am be suitable? If not, perhaps there maybe another more agreeable time to suit you?
This is classic "closing the deal" positive approach. It's not begging, nor does it appear desperate, it's saying: I'm a pro, and I am going to suggest we have a quick chat, to see if I might be suitable for an audition, ….at this time and date. It might also tempt them to say: That is not a good time - but another time might be?
Of course they might deem it as pushy…..but hells bells ….that's what marketing is, and I don't think it's that pushy anyway. If you do not hear back….you don't hear back. Move on…give it a week or two….and then call …unless they have said no calls.
Actors who just tell me the classic: "I love acting, I'd be really good because I work hard and get on well with everyone" does not impress me at all….I would expect nothing less from a professional actor…. Nah...I want to see reasons to meet/audition "YOU"!!! What will YOU bring to a role, that others can't or might not bring?
It's what I call honest - genuine - marketing. If it ain't good enough…well…OK…that's life. You won't win 'em all! Move on….improve or re-evaluate and so on.
If the part and play "is" known to you, then do your research on the part and the whole play. Put a few brief thoughts in your application letter. The director will be very pleased to see you understand the piece, rather than just being desperate for a job or a CV credit.
There are no set rules, every situation, part, every play, are of course all different, but you have to show you are more than able to meet the challenge, that you fit the brief, and that you are really worthwhile seeing.
You are a brand, that's all we are as actors….a "business" brand! Now all we have to do is split our brand apart from similar brands.
Look at the APPLE story! Ipads....complete white elephant, a good netbook is much more use. However, because it's Apple....it's flat, its sleek, its DIFFERENT and trendy. Very very clever marketing! APPLE make you feel like you MUST have one...you MUST need one.
It's not easy….it's really hard, because there are so many similar brands available……but who ever thought this business would be easy, because they are very good at what they do?
Acting is the easy bit….it's the build up that's hard!