The show must go on, until it mustn’t. With theaters closed down, film shoots cancelled or postponed, and production halted, many actors have found themselves stuck at home, performing random bits of Shakespeare for the cat.
But your acting career doesn’t have to close down. There are plenty of ways to move your acting career forward, even through this global health crisis.
Use This Time To Focus On Your Online Presence
“Luckily, because so much of being an actor is driven by your social media presence, there’s still a lot you can do to grow your career, even during social distancing,” says Ryan Walker. Walker is founder and CEO of a social media consultancy called TSMA, which focuses on giving actors and entertainers the tools they need to build and maintain a successful social media presence.
Since the coronavirus pandemic has totally transformed how we’re working, Walker says he’s encouraging actors to take the opportunity to zero in on their online lives.
“Using social platforms to do live streaming sessions is one of the best ways to connect with your audience right now,” Walker says. “There are plenty of ways to keep monetizing and engaging audiences, so quarantine doesn’t mean your acting career has to come to a screeching halt.”
Begin With Research and Grow Your Network
Social media is more than just drumming up attention, though. It’s also about reaching out and building your network. And this is the perfect downtime to be researching and developing new networks that you want to build. TSMA recommends researching short films made in your area to find new or up-and-coming filmmakers. Find someone with a body of work you like, and reach out to them. See what they’re working on. Start a connection. You’re not imposing. Nobody’s that busy right now.
As you build new connections, have some fun with them. Swapping Instagram takeovers is a great way to cross pollinate your audiences, or collaborate on videos. “Don’t forget that social media isn’t just a professional tool. It can still be fun,” Walker reminds us, “and help you grow your career at the same time!”
This Is The Ideal Time To Get Educated
There are also plenty of online seminars, digital meet and greets, and Q&A sessions that can enrich your craft and keep you connected. Backstage, for example, has a new video series dedicated to supporting actors during quarantine.
TSMA also has an education partnership with SAG-AFTRA and Apple on mobile filmmaking. Don’t get too discouraged by the lack of available acting jobs right now. “Remember that it’s easier than ever to create content using your phone,” says Walker. “The rise of short-form video on Tik Tok and Instagram are arguably transforming the way filmmaking works. This is the best time to be taking advantage of your mobile capabilities. There’s incredible demand for fresh, creative content, and you don’t have to go through another filmmaker or producer to deliver it.”
Don’t Forget That Health Comes First
Above all, says Walker, remember that this too shall pass. Keeping a positive attitude requires good eating habits, personal care, and intentionally alternating restful down time with productive activity. “For an actor,” he notes, “this is a matter of keeping your instrument tuned.”
We don’t know what the acting world will look like on the other side of this pandemic. But it’s important to use the time that you have now for its best purposes, and not just for spontaneously foisting all those old soliloquies on the cat. Make this your time to shine!
