04/10/16 Working as a freelance in the industry

• No matter how hard you work in the industry and how many qualifications you gain, kick starting a fully successful career in the industry is more difficult than it may firstly appear. It is one thing knowing how to act however to start your career, you must have the skills to build an acting career. This includes being clued up about publicising yourself through marketing, social media with the end goal of getting bookings for jobs.
• Technology has changed rapidly over the past decade; we now have the ability to edit together footage, allowing us to show off our best moments. In the past, a show reel was not seen as a vital part of an actors portfolio however now a days, allowing potential casting directors and employees to view your past works, showing off your talent in different lights. In the past a head shot was enough to demonstrate to casting directors your 'look' however this is no longer substantial when a show reel offers so much more.
• To gain as much experience as possible for a career in the industry, drama school is one of the best routes to go down. This gives you credibility for the future, showing you have taken your education to the highest level possible.

Personal goals and how to kick start my career today- 

Ways to stay connected and promote yourself-

 

Looking into three ways to promote yourself and kick start a career in the industry- 

1) Online presence (Instagram) – having public online presence is a vital element to have as a freelance performer. Online platforms allow you to self promote your talent to potential clients, contacts and all of your friends and family (your fan base too). If you get this part of self promotion correct, it could lead to gaining contacts, jobs and you can even be scouted if you're photos and information are in the right place at the right time. Instagram is one of the fastest growing forms of social media and is quickly becoming a favourite in the industry. It provides everyone with a free, quick and simple way of sharing photographs with everyone on the app. There are a few rules you must follow if you are to run a successful public Instagram account to promote and publicise  yourself to the industry and its clients. Firstly you must ensure you put all of your personal social media accounts on a private setting, meaning only the accounts you accept to follow you will be able to see the content. The reasoning for this is because you must be careful what you share with the online world. If for example you posted a controversial tweet a year ago about a topic a client maybe had a contrasting opinion on, this could jeopardise your chances of A) landing yourself a job and B) keeping your history clear with contacts in the future. You can share what you wish to however on a private setting therefore the two accounts won't get mixed up and confused. 

Following a large amount of Instagram accounts is a brilliant idea as it widens your chances of creating contacts as a larger amount of people are going to be able to see your content. Also the more accounts you follow, the larger the number of followers you will receive in return. The more people viewing your content the better, you never know who could see a photo and pass it on to another in the industry. For example when I created my Instagram account, I followed a wide range of accounts relating to the industry. This included; celebrity, television, actors, cancers, singers, models, fan pages, directors, photographers, high street brands, scouts, theatre companies, agencies and even food chain accounts. This broadens the range of people you may receive following you back. For example I have had follows from accounts such as; friends and family, photographers, fashion designers, fashion bloggers, independent clothing companies and scouts. The range puts you in a strong position for potential jobs.

2) Applying to be a runner on a set as work experience- as an actors having had experience of working in front of the camera is of course essential however the importance of knowing how everything works behind the scenes of a shoot is equally valuable to performers. This demonstrates to us what each member of the behind the scenes crew are looking for in the performers. This allows you to take a step back and take in this information and learn some tips too. You can apply to companies through work experience and they may be able to set you up with an upcoming shoot you are able to attend and be a runner for. This may simply include making tea and coffee for the vast and crew however you are able to take a different view on the set up. You could learn firstly how a director’s mind works, allowing you to perform efficiently in upcoming jobs you do as an actor. You will also get to appreciate the amount of time and effort camera operators and lighting crew put into the production. They never get enough credit for the work they do however this experience will allow you to appreciate what they do and will teach you to be patient on set. 

3) Staying connected to industry links you already have and creating new ones- This is one of the most important tips for an actor to take on board. The saying goes ‘sometimes it's not what you know, it's who you know’ and this couldn't be any more accurate for us in this competitive industry. Once working with a client, whether is be a low budget group of students for a student film or a large director from a nationally know company, sending a letter to them following up working with them is one of the bets ideas, as it ensure they remember you, in the letter (sent by email) I would include your email address, a thank you for accommodating and working with you, a compliment to their company and a subtle way of expressing to them that you would like to work with be again. This keeps you fresh in their minds so if any new projects come up with a role you would fit, they know you are reliable and have previously shown interest. Even if no jobs occur, if they are conversing with other industry employers, your name could be mentioned if you have made a positive impression from the outset and with reference to the email, they can easily put you in direct contact.