Podcast Length: 7:59

There’s a saying I picked up over the years (I have no idea where its from) that states, “The definition of unhappiness is when reality does not meet expectation.”

If that’s true, and I happen to think it is, the more realistic your expectations, the more likely of being happy.

Great!

So, in the interest of managing your expectations about your acting and voiceover career, here are five common, initial assumptions many talent fall prey to that can and should be avoided:

1. My career should begin after 7 or 8 auditions. I figure I should be steadily booking jobs after that, right?

We all have a number in mind of how many auditions it takes before we start to land work on a regular basis. Most people assume it’s after just a handful of auditions, or after “one big break” sends you sailing through the goal posts, but, sadly, stats prove otherwise. It generally doesn’t take one big break. It usually takes a whole gaggle of big breaks. It also means you have to consistently deliver your very best with every audition.

It may not be what you want to hear, but regardless of your experience or skill level, it takes an average of 200 auditions before you might book a job. As bitter a pill as that may be to swallow, landing work after only a small handful of auditions has it’s own unexpected obstacles of expectation and assumptions. In fact, it may be worse.

Stats show that the talent who land work within the first 15 to 30 auditions typically assume the work will simply come to them from that point on without applying themselves any further. Unfortunately, they assume they don’t have to do much beyond what they’ve done already, and they basically shut down, waiting to be struck by lightning again. Which rarely does.

Auditioning is an art unto itself. It’s literally how we establish and further our reputations as professionals. But they take more than talent. They require persistence, because the best audition doesn’t necessarily book the job. One of them does.  

You have to make it your mission to deliver auditions that become as seamless as your sessions to create a successful career in this industry.

2. I’m already trained. They’ll tell me how to play it. I just want to book jobs. 

By assuming those most likely to hire you will “direct” you once you arrive at the session (or the audition for that matter) is probably one of the greatest rookie mistakes in the industry. The truth is until you make some dynamic (albeit appropriate) decisions with your performance that creates interest among those most likely to hire you, you aren’t likely to receive much direction prior to being hired.

And assuming, even if you are offered detailed direction, you’re able to deliver precisely what’s asked of you at a moment’s notice in the very next take, which isn’t very likely. In fact, even if you are given clear, concise direction, you’re still expected to deliver a creative, interesting performance that suits the project while including your own surprising, yet plausible take on the role, regardless of the genre.  

All of this requires you master the ability to self-direct as effortlessly as you’re able to apply any direction you may be given. Applying direction can only be achieved with practice. Suffice it to say, nothing in this business is immediately intuitive. Training takes time, attention and practice.

3. I’m a natural. I don’t need training. They’ll tell me how to play it during the session, right? (I just want to book jobs.) 

If you’re under the impression all you have to do is show up and talk, think again. No reputable talent agent, producer, or casting director will likely trust you ever again if your only process is winging it. Agents, producers and casting won’t risk their reputations on that. They’re counting on you making them look good, too. And no one looks good if you don’t continually prepare to deliver your best. Your job is to build trust and confidence so you become a talent people can count on.

4. Once I’m making money I’ll invest in professional training, headshots, voiceover demos, and promotion. 

Continually claiming, “This is the best I can do for now,” is an excuse and will only serve to frustrate you and anyone hoping to include you among a variety of suitable voiceover talent options during a casting.

Yes, training is costly. Save up and invest in yourself.

Yes, proper headshots and competitive voiceover demos are expensive. Do your homework. Shop around. Don’t settle with a local option simply because they’re close by, or with some company that came to your hometown Community College presenting themselves as “pros”. They aren’t. Far from it. Again, do your homework, save up and invest in yourself.

Without the proper tools and training, you won’t be able to align yourself with talent reps who will include you in opportunities that will honestly advance your career.

5. Once I have a talent agent I can relax.

Far too many talent let all the wheels fall off the wagon once they finally secure representation… from any one! Novice talent, like so many small business owners initially do, tend to assume their careers can run on autopilot at some point.

However, if you hope to reduce your failure rate by a significant margin it might help knowing your agent isn’t your publicist. They aren’t your manager either. In most cases, you are.

Talent agents have access to auditions you aren’t likely to have access to on your own.

Auditions are opportunities, and they’re your greatest form of promotion. They’re literally how you establish and further your reputation. And your reputation will inevitably become your brand. But the work never ends because you’re continually evolving as a talent, as is this incredible industry.

Certainly this industry is riddled with variables, not the least of which is YOU. Nothing remains static in this world. You’re either improving or declining, especially without challenging your skills and remaining in step with industry demands and advances.

Your wherewithal, your determination, your ability to commit and follow directions all factor into your ability to generate a proper income, and your rate of return on your initial and continued investment. Like all businesses, these factors require patience and persistence to master. Knowing what they are won’t prevent you from mistakes, but hopefully it puts these key components into perspective where you can own them and ideally master them. 

Copyright © 2022 by Kate McClanaghan. All Rights Reserved.