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How Actors Should Use Instagram – According to Casting Directors

By Marci Liroff

Photo Source: Margaux Quayle Cannon
In light of the pandemic, I am offering special pricing for my private coaching (remotely of course!) You can buy a steeply reduced package now and use it later (must be used before the end of 2020) Check out the info here.

With Instagram running lead on social media these days, let’s take a deep dive into how an actor can best use the platform.

There is much discussion and debate over whether to have just one account or to have a personal account (otherwise known as a “Finstagram,” or “Fake Instagram”) and a separate account for professional actor business. Whether you have one or multiple accounts all depends on what you want to share with the public. Some choose to keep their personal account private, for friends and family and not for public viewing, and have a second, public account for career- and industry-related posts. Or you can just do it all from one public account (like Reese Witherspoon and Demi Moore appear to do, for example).

First and foremost, social media is all about great content. So, what makes great content? That’s subjective, of course. I like to see a nice mix of work photos along with life photos. Not “lifestyle” photos like those sponsored posts you’d see on an influencer account; I mean real-life photos of friends, family, colleagues, and the kids (once they’re old enough and the family has agreed their image can be shared), behind-the-scenes photos (#BTS), images and perhaps quotes that move and inspire you, and things that are generally cool and uplifting to share with the public.

A good example of an actor who nails this balance is Lacey Chabert (@thereallacey) of “Mean Girls” and “Lost in Space” fame. Chabert consistently has an interesting IG feed filled with photos of herself on set, clips of projects she’s starring in, her baby girl, and her friends and family. It doesn’t feel like she’s trying to sell something to her followers—she’s just sharing a small peek into her life.

When it comes to engaging others on Instagram, I don’t like when someone tags me to get me to look at their feed.

Unless we have a relationship, don’t tag me; to be honest, I’ll just block you.

I also think it’s very strange (and stalkerish!) when someone likes about 100 of my photos all at once. Again, this is a lame attempt to get me to look at their feed, and there’s usually nothing worthwhile to see on the other end. Don’t do it. 

To gauge other casting pros’ opinions on Instagram etiquette for actors, I spoke with a few of my casting colleagues. Here’s what they had to say:

Rachel Imbriglio (“9-1-1,” “Light as a Feather”): “What they should not do is make an off-topic comment about themselves on a casting person’s IG posts. If they want to follow, great.”

Joy Dewing (“Rent” and “Kinky Boots” national tours): “Put your goddamn contact info on there! I’m not gonna slide into your DMs with an appointment!”

Cara Chute Rosenbaum (“American Crime Story,” “The Mindy Project”): “Be specific and purposeful about tagging. If you’re going to tag a CD in something, it should be content they can watch or a picture with info about the shows you’re in, how to reach you, etc.—not just photos of you hanging out looking cute. And make sure that the CD you are tagging is someone who engages with or allows themselves to be contacted or tagged on social media. If it’s a CD with a private account, respect that boundary!”

Tineka Becker (“X-Men: Apocalypse”): “Keep in mind that we often don’t have time to catch IG stories or live feeds before they disappear, so make sure you’re posting to your feed as well. I much prefer posts where I can see your personality (i.e., videos or candid photos of you experiencing life) as opposed to selfie after selfie after modeling shot after selfie.”

Make sure to check out my online course “How To Audition For Film and Television: Audition Bootcamp”. You can view it on your laptop or your mobile device and your subscription gives you lifetime viewing privileges for this course. I’ll be adding lectures throughout the year.

Warning: I grant permission to share my blog as written with no additions or deletions. Posting my blog is in no way an endorsement of another site unless you obtain my written consent.

What to Do With Your Free Time During Quarantine

By Marci Liroff

Photo Source: Shutterstock
In light of the pandemic, I am offering special pricing for my private coaching (remotely of course!) You can buy a steeply reduced package now and use it later (must be used before the end of 2020) Check out the info here.

You’ve done the 1,000 piece jigsaw puzzle. Your closets are organized and pristine. You’ve decluttered your home and donated the things you haven’t worn in years. Now what? At this point, I think we’ve all realized that we’re in this for the long haul. As actors and filmmakers, what does this mean for us? How can we stay creative and productive while working from home? Here’s a primer I’ve put together that will help you keep your mojo and your sanity.

Take care of yourself. First and foremost, we must be taking care of ourselves and of those we love. Our mental and physical health is the most important thing right now. What we’re dealing with is unprecedented. I’m not the expert here, and don’t pretend to be, but it’s OK if you don’t know what to do and if you feel lost. Please reach out to mental health professionals if you are finding the day-to-day more difficult than usual. Oh, and if you’re not already doing this, wear a mask whenever you go outside, do not gather in groups, social distance at least 6 feet (10 feet is even better), wash your hands often, and don’t touch your face!

Reconnect with yourself. It’s a great time to practice mindfulness and self-reflection. I found a great app called Calm where you can find guided meditations and sleep meditations. I have never meditated before, and it’s really helping. It’s also a good time to examine your life. Is this what you want to be doing coming out of the lock down? Now you have the gift of time on your hands to fully explore this. It’s the perfect time to journal. Get your feelings and thoughts down on paper so you don’t have to wrestle with them when you’re trying to sleep.

Give yourself the permission to hit the pause button. As artists, we are told that we must be pursuing our craft at all times. It is hard to get out of that mindset and just sit with ourselves and do nothing. At this point, we’re rewriting the playbook every day. Be kind to yourself.

Learn a new scene every day. Even without a global pandemic, I suggest this to actors to keep their minds stimulated and growing. There are plenty of free resources online to find good scenes.

Take online classes in your field. Several universities are offering free classes. Simply Google “free university classes” and you will find an abundance of them. Be bold and jump into an area you’ve always wanted to study. The SAG-AFTRA Foundation is also hosting free seminars from industry experts. Backstage Magazine has daily digital on-camera programming with casting directors, talent agents, acting coaches, and more as part of The Slate.

Exercise! I’ve never been a person who gets that amazing endorphin rush from exercising, but I’m now finding it crucial to work out every day. Even long walks (while wearing a mask and maintaining social-distance guidelines from others) are a life-saver. Just before lock down, I started taking Pilates classes and had started getting so much stronger. My good friend turned me on to this amazing Pilates trainer, Frank Zito, who is sharing his mat Pilates classes online – for free! Make sure you go through all of them (there are about 10 as of now)

Make online dates with friends and family. Isolation has brought out the social butterfly in me. I’m making Zoom dates with friends and family. Having virtual “cocktails” with groups of people is keeping me connected in a new way. It certainly doesn’t take the place of the real thing, but I’m so grateful we have such great technology.

Unplug for awhile. This one is key for me. I’m a news junkie, and at the end of the day I find my head about to explode from the horrible global news. I’ve made it a habit to cut down on my news stories and to unplug from everything at 6 p.m.

Read a book. It is great to have so much time to read. Novels, non-fiction, and self-help books are stacking up in my Kindle. Right now, I love being transported to another time and place.

Catch up on your shows. With the immense amount of content from streaming platforms, we’ve never had a better time to consume a variety of TV shows and movies. Study up on what’s out there!

Revisit an old hobby, or pick up a new one! I started playing the piano again. It’s been sitting in my dining room collecting dust for years. It’s amazing how the muscle memory of my brain remembered songs that I played when I was a child. I’ve also taken a deep dive into adult coloring books and I’m drawing mandalas. My friends are doing jigsaw puzzles.

Find time to volunteer. At this point, giving your time and energy to those in need will help you mentally. Some ideas are making masks and reaching out to elders in assisted living through video.

What are some of the things you’ve been doing to keep yourself creative, healthy, and sane?

Make sure to check out my online course “How To Audition For Film and Television: Audition Bootcamp”. You can view it on your laptop or your mobile device and your subscription gives you lifetime viewing privileges for this course. I’ll be adding lectures throughout the year.

Warning: I grant permission to share my blog as written with no additions or deletions. Posting my blog is in no way an endorsement of another site unless you obtain my written consent.

How to Practice Self-Care While Visiting Your Hometown This Holiday

Photo Source: Margaux Quayle Cannon

By Marci Liroff

Wow, it’s been quite awhile since I’ve blogged. Life has surely gotten away from me – but still not a good excuse. I’m grateful that you all have been here, reading my articles for years.

For those of you who aren’t aware, I’ve been coaching actors on their upcoming auditions and jobs. One-on-one private coaching is a critical part of auditioning and it’s always good to get another set of eyes on your performance before you take it into the room. Just reach out through email, (liroffcasting@sbcglobal.com) and we can set up a date and time to work together in person or through Skype or Facetime. I assist working actors only.

Here come the holidays. For some actors, family time triggers dread. You may be barraged by the litany of questions actors love, like, “What are you working on?” Trying to justify what you do to those who don’t quite “get it” is not only tiring, it can be psychologically traumatizing. For me, it wasn’t until my parents saw my name on the big screen that they finally had a modicum of understanding of what I do for a living.

I want to help you combat the psychological fatigue in these situations. Go into these gatherings from a secure emotional place. Of course, that’s easy to do when you’re working. But what about when you’re not working? How do you explain to someone who’s not in the business what your day-to-day life is and that you don’t get as many jobs as you have auditions?

You’ll have to quiet that vulture that sometimes crawls up on your shoulder to squawk at you. You know the one. The vulture that tells you you’re not talented and you’ll never get a job. The one that says you’re wasting your time. You’ve got to come to terms with your inner vulture before you can begin to deal with those around you. Self-doubt can be a killer—especially over the holidays. Remember that what you’ve chosen to do is be an artist, a storyteller. If earning a living was a quantifier for how talented you are, most famous artists would have never even picked up a paintbrush or a pen to write history’s greatest works.

Go back to the reason why you got into this in the first place. Spend a little time in that mental space and remember everything you get out of your chosen path, and own it. Yes, own it. These small changes in your mindset will help you deal with others, because if you feel comfortable about yourself and your choices, their opinions won’t matter as much.

Another issue over the holidays is feeling guilty about leaving Tinseltown (or your given acting market). Some say that a sure-fire way to get a job is to buy a plane ticket. Yet, we constantly feel the need to stay in town just in case we get an audition. With self-tapes becoming the norm, all you need is your cellphone and a willing scene partner. (Please don’t use your grandmother, unless she’s an actor!) There’s a great resource called WeRehearse, where you can find a reading partner and also record your audition on the site. All you need is a fast internet connection on both ends.

But let’s dig deeper: You have to get out and give yourself some downtime. If you’re not refilling your well of life experiences, you’re not living fully. Actors need to experience the good, the bad, and the ugly so that they can draw on them firsthand. You need to get out there and see your family and friends; unplug as much as possible. Identify what the important things are for you and plug into them. That could be as simple as volunteering your time, spending more time with your kids or pets, or helping your elderly parents.

From the bottom of my heart, I’m wishing you all a blessed holiday season!

Make sure to check out my online course “How To Audition For Film and Television: Audition Bootcamp”. You can view it on your laptop or your mobile device and your subscription gives you lifetime viewing privileges for this course. I’ll be adding lectures throughout the year.

Warning: I grant permission to share my blog as written with no additions or deletions. Posting my blog is in no way an endorsement of another site unless you obtain my written consent.)

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