🎭 VIBE CHECK: FAILED! The Do’s & Don’ts of Social Media for Actors (ACTORS! YOU ARE ENOUGH!!! PODCAST) - podcast episode cover

🎭 VIBE CHECK: FAILED! The Do’s & Don’ts of Social Media for Actors (ACTORS! YOU ARE ENOUGH!!! PODCAST)

May 15, 202558 minSeason 3Ep. 2
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Episode description

🎭 VIBE CHECK: FAILED! The Do’s & Don’ts of Social Media for Actors

In this episode, we’re getting real about how actors use (and abuse) social media. Whether you’re trying to land your next gig or just stay relevant, your online presence matters. So let’s break down what works—and what definitely doesn’t.


Here’s what we’re covering:

  • 🚫 Why comparing yourself to others online is a creativity killer

  • 🎭 Does your Instagram look like you’re an actor? (And should it?)

  • 📱 The ultimate social media Do’s and Don’ts for performers

  • 🕵️ How casting directors actually view your social profiles

  • 🔐 Should you open a private account for your personal opinions?

  • 📸 What not to post (and why some content is better left unseen)

  • 🚷 Mixing acting with everything else? Think again

  • 🎬 Are “verticals” the new industry trend—and are you on board?

  • 👀 How to avoid cringey CD feed moments

  • 💬 Why thoughtful engagement matters

  • 🎯 Targeting your content the right way

  • 💌 Instagram: the new actor’s postcard

  • 🤝 Facebook Groups = networking goldmines

  • 😬 Nobody wants to see your process... or your nudes

  • ⚠️ Social media is a tool—but it can also be a trap

  • 🖼️ Curate your Instagram like it’s an art gallery


Whether you’re just starting out or rebranding your digital self, this episode is your no-nonsense guide to building a smart, strategic, and scroll-stopping presence online.

🗓New episodes drop every Thursday!
👍Like | 💬Comment | 🔔 Subscribe
📢Share this with an actor who needs to hear it.

📞Coaching or Consultations: Call: 818-760-8501 Email: [email protected]

👇Got a topic or question? Drop it in the comments — we might cover it next!

Transcript

OK, we're good. Wow, such great response on the last podcast. I know it's awesome. So exciting, I thought. I mean, I was you hope it like is like helpful to people, but I'm just gotten some really sweet messages about like people feeling like the first time in their career they thought they are like thinking maybe I am enough. And I mean, that's what we want. That's the one of the, yeah. Yeah, you know, and a lot of people were like, I'm a newbie, and so these tips really helped

me, you know? Yeah. And, and like I told you before, I got 71 shares of it. The video was 2 minutes and 44 seconds on Instagram. Crazy. Crazy. So it's like striking A chord, you know, it's striking A chord. And that's what we that's what we're hoping that you know, since she is not easy. So anytime that you can feel supported and get insider information that will help you because a lot of stuff is gate kept, as we all know, right? So let's, let's change the narrative a little bit.

That's what we're here to do. Yeah. I mean, I wish I had me when I was. No, I wish I was. Had me when I was you. Yeah, I wish I had me when I was you. Yeah. Because it's like we we didn't have the Internet. We were faxing things. That's what we were doing. Oh my. Gosh, we were faxing things and so like. Dropping off. Dropping off. Hard copy tapes, couriers, Yeah, like not a Courier pigeon, but

but couriers. And so now, you know, there's just so many ways that people can can get in touch with each other. And yeah, Facebook wasn't even a thing back then, you know, so there Facebook and then there was. And then all of a sudden Instagram and Tik Tok's crazy. I'm not even on TikTok. I will refuse. Same. That's so funny. It's 'cause are we cool or what? Because I'm like, you know what, enough is enough. And honestly, like casting directors don't really ask for

that. They always ask for Instagram. So it's like we have limited time. So like, you know, but hey, I, I'm impressed with people that are content creators because it takes a lot of creativity and a lot of creativity to be like constantly coming up with stuff. But you know, even it's like, OK, we're on Instagram. We're like refusing other forms of social media. However, I will tell you that you don't want to leave social media on the table. If you're an actor, you don't

want to leave it on the table. It's a tool. It's a great tool. It should not be your main focus as an actor or actress. But why leave it on the table you know? Yeah, You know, The thing is, is that I remember, and this is going back. This is going back. Like when I was teaching in the theater, one of my students came in, he was up for this really big studio movie, and seeing him and somebody else, he gave it to the somebody that had more followers.

Yes, that is yeah, that I, I heard happening like fairly frequently, like a couple years ago. And then I feel like something shifted. And so a lot of people are a lot of you guys are still trying to build up your social media and you're trying to be an influencer on top of being an actor. And like, if that's what you feel like joyful and excited about doing, that's awesome. Like do it.

However, if you're, if it's like drudgery and it's stressing you out and it's still been making you feel like you're not enough because you're have to be on social media all the time and you're looking at everyone else and it looks like their their lives are amazing and they're killing it and. Your lives aren't amazing, guys. They're not It's it's it's all press. OK, I mean, but although when I say my life's amazing, it really is such it's.

Except. For lying, but a lot of people that you see are like I remember I went to have this client and I'm not going to say his name, but. But he. He made it into like People magazine or something because he was on the red carpet with Ava Longoria, right. And he was. And it said his name from 24. I remember the show 24 yeah, yeah. So I made it seem like he was like this thing, OK, Like I just bid on myself.

It's keeping it real here. It's like, Oh my God, he made it seem like he was this thing, but all he had was OK, let me just tell you what his role was. Yeah. The guy that came in to do the to do the truth serum, so he came in with the silver attache case, opened it up, pulled it out, hit it a little bit just so some of it would come out at the top and he'd say it's ready. I swear to God, he did that twice in two different episodes, the same dialogue, the same

thing. And so now he's recurring major network show, OK, and in the trade. So in the trades are saying as seen on 24 like he's got this big role. Right, right. That's exactly what they do. That's exactly how it's written, communicated because they because they're trying, they're trying, you know, they have a purpose in it. They're trying to, you know, as an actor, you're trying to do your own PR because unless you're a star, you don't have APR team. So this is what you do.

I don't have a problem with that. But my problem is, is that you guys are looking at people like him and feeling jealous. That's it. Like as if he's further along than you. He's not. All he said was it's ready. I mean, come on, Like, I'm sorry, you guys have had way more dialogue than that. And so now you're looking at him and he's showing up in all these magazines, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. And you're going, Oh my God, he's doing so much better than me and.

It's fun, absolutely. And here and even Even so much so that like, you know, a lot like this, this recent, a recent trend with social media is that if you you know, if you're I just was talking to manager about this the other day. He's like, Oh my gosh, when I first started, like if my client had like, you know, 10 lines, you know, or they are a small recurring, like I start thinking about pulling in like APR team, right. Let's take advantage of this.

And and he's like, you know, now with social media like you, you, it's like you don't even, you don't really even need, you need it to be you. Don't need it. You don't need. It right, you don't need it. It's really important how you position yourself on social media too, you know? I mean, my Instagram looks mostly like I'm the celebrity coach, which is true. Exactly it's I've. Made I've made 56 series

regulars, guys. So I have made celebrities, yeah, celebrities that have won absolutely, like the Critics Choice, Emmy. And so so that is true. That's real talk. And then, you know, I do put my acting stuff on there, but it's not really an acting site. OK. I I do think that if you're an actor and you want casting to find you, then it has to look like Instagram is just acting. Yeah, you, you don't want to like throw up on your Instagram page.

You want it to be like cohesive. You want it to have some people you know, need to look at and be like, they need to kind of look at it like really quickly because people's attention spans are so fast, right? And if you want, if you're talking about casting directors, looking on it, our directors, you know, they're even faster, they're moving even faster.

And so they, you want to be able to have people look at your look at your Instagram, like your social media and immediately know like, what is the essence of this person?

Like who would who this person? And so if you have, you know, we talked about a little bit about this in the last episode, but if you have like, you know, your direct, your director directorial debuts and your, and your, your latest script and then you're also doing acting in, I mean, your focus is it's OK to have a little bit of that, particularly if you're doing. Find a little bit, but if we don't, if we can't recognize what it is, right? Yeah.

I mean, we have to go. OK, well, what is it like? You see the stars, Yeah, they probably have publicists that that do their Instagram, but they have like all their movie posters, clips, interviews, layouts for different magazines. But for beginning actors, we want to see you on set. Yeah. And you know what? For the love of God, please do not go on like X or TikTok or somewhere and or the stories and be political. There's some that are being political that are actors and

and I don't want to put it down. I think it's great to have an opinion about and about religion, right? It can actually kick you out of a job. Remember the girl from from that, that that movie that she was the transgender girl and she said something when she was a a boy. She said something 10 years ago and, and during and then they just blackballed her. They blackballed her. She was. Oh, she was for an Oscar, yes. She was yes, yes, OK.

Why if I is my brain back in the movie this year, this year that's just happened. Yeah, but but that was 10 years ago that she wrote that political statement. 10 years ago. And and she's not even that person anymore, OK. Right. She was a boy, you know, so she's not even that person. So much has changed in this woman's life within the 10 years, and she's now held accountable for something she said 10 years ago. Right. Yeah, absolutely. Have to be careful guys.

You can think about like with Snow White. Oh my God, yeah. Horrible. It did terrible in the box office. Terrible. And real the consensus is that it's from like, spouting off political views. Yes, yes, and I'm, I'm not surprised. I don't think she's going to work again. I mean, I because they, I would be shocked because that was millions and millions and millions of dollars that that could have been millions of people watching.

But if you figured like 3/4 of the country voted Republican, right? Yeah. In the country are not going to go see that movie. 100% so like that. Was not a good idea. No, it was it was a not issue and and she learned she had to

learn the hard way. I think, I think that your people should be smart enough in this day and age to know like if you're going to do that, there's going to, you're gonna like isolate yourself in your work, you know, from, from groups of whole groups of people, whole populations of people. So it's like, you have to be really smart. And again, like you said, like we're, it's like you, it's OK to

it's you should have an opinion. I hope you have our, you know, some kind of conviction or thought. And if you want to post it, that's fine, but you have to know the effect that that's gonna have. Well, you're down the line. There. When you're up for a really big role, they're going to, they're gonna go through, they're gonna screen you. Oh. Absolutely. You are. I remember years ago when Disney was really in its in its prime. Disney and Nickelodeon.

Were, yeah. I had five kids on series at the same time during. That well, that's. So fun it was crazy. That's so fun, but. Not necessarily kids, but if the adults went in for series regulars for a Disney project, yeah, you had to screen there. Anything that was on the Internet, yes. See if it was Disney approved. 100% do that. Yeah. That's the other thing.

It's like if you're gonna you, you talk about, you know, you could if you, if you really want to post stuff like you have a separate private account that's for like friends and family, but also in your public accounts, you also want to be thinking about like how you're presenting yourself. So we're not just talking about branding.

Like think about like maybe like maybe do some research on like styling, you know, if like most, most people can't afford, you know, if they're beginning or even middle like to get a full whole stylist. But you can like look up what's trending and you know what I mean? And you can, and you can kind of get an idea what are my colors, what it, what is my essence? What you know, what do I do want to be doing? Like monitoring. How do I want to be seen? How do I?

Want to be seen and so kind of like have that the consistent be consistent. But then also, you want to think about like, and I, and this is a little bit more for women than for men, but if you want to do like, really provocative stuff, you also have to know if you want to do that, that's fine. But you also have to know that that is that is going to be looked at by if you're up for a big role, they're going to look through. And if it's a family.

Yeah. And even even still, even though Disney shifted a lot, they still look at that. They still in fact. We're talking about the network also like like the This Is Us or a million, a million Little things or any of the family or like Virgin River, you know those family Hallmark Lifetime. You know, they're going to look at your social media and they're going to see how are you provocative. Absolutely.

And and and the and another thing to remember in another group that will look and even scrutinize a little bit more is faith-based films. That has become there's a huge increase in in both films and popularity with faith-based films. And so not everyone cares to, you know, to be a part of that, but there is a lot of people on my roster that do that, that want to be they want to be on the chosen. They've asked specifically are there any roles in the chosen fit this part or Angel Studios?

They've come out with some really big stuff. And so there's a lot of people, a lot of people that are, you know, feel like they want to be part of something that the whole family can see or that has a positive message in such a very it's a very a lot of darkness in our worlds. You know, in recent, I mean, it's always been some, but it's just seems to have increased in a lot of ways. It's just craziness and so hope you'll want that.

So if you're going to, if you want that, you really have to be mindful. What are you posting? Because like you said, well. I told the client client, she, she does these stories where she's like, it's like close up, you know, and she's like crying or you know, like, are you OK, you know? It was happening. And I really want to tell her you might want to stop doing that 'cause people are going to think you're unstable not and you're, it's just a moment that you're having.

But, you know, potentially somebody could look at that and say I can't hire this person because they're unstable and it's true. Right, right. But what are you, what's the message that you're giving? Yeah, that's a really good point. A lot of people or or post in their the hardest moments online and might not be the best place to post it.

You know if like. I think, I think like you said earlier then then open up a second account where you express yourself and don't give it your name, like give it like another name. Totally. Yeah, even if. You want to build an audience where you could express yourself and there are other people that relate to you. Yes, exactly. Understandable, but don't mix it with your acting. Exactly, Absolutely not, absolutely not. Don't mix your acting. And then I'm remembering what

you're saying earlier. Like, you know, the reason that you're trying to do your best with Instagram is because there is a place where there's a purpose in it, right? Like you want to be thinking about thoughtful and careful what you're posting, not not to be like paranoid about anything, but you're really wanting to make the most of what you're doing because casting directors are looking at it.

And there was a time when they were they were picking, you know, influencers and asking, are you an influencer? They did try that from from what they. Tried and it didn't work and so I'm OK with that. I'm OK with that. It didn't. Really work, but they are still using it. And this is something interesting.

We talked about verticals last time and like, like we're probably going to just keep coming back to that like on every episode at some point because it's just, it just is out there and, and continuing to like grow like every weekday. What time is it forecasting today? It's about 30 vertical. On the time we did this podcast,

I thought we did this seriously. So they, what has started to happen is it switched over to I, I've heard two casting directors that recently cast for a big role in a significant SAG project that they went to look at who is a vertical star right now and look at their look at their following on social media and they ended up choosing them. They end up choosing them because of that. This happened to a couple well.

Because it's trending and and and verticals are going to be like the new thing because they're shooting them now. They're not. They're in production. That's what about see and they will be far from it, yeah. Yeah, they're so they have a fan base. And so here they have OK, so they have a fan base and they actually know that they can act because I think what they were finding with the influencers were OK. They're not. It's like they're they can't act

like they're not. They have a following, but it's for not a reason of acting. You know, yeah. And they're like, Oh well, they must be a great actor because they're elite in a in a big vertical. Yeah, so they can just do some kind. Of they haven't, they haven't together, those vertical people, and then it's like clockwork. Oh, there's very that came. That came from Asia. That was a really good deal with that. Yeah, I was on a kick where I was watching all South Korean TV shows.

Yeah, Oh my God, why? Why does this not surprise me? I know, I know. But because it's like, it's got humor and it has drama. Yeah, they're just like them. So if you guys want to learn how to act for the verticals, watch the South Korean TV shows. That's a great tip, yeah. Because it's exactly the same kind of storyline. It's the same kind of drama, it's the same kind of humor. It's soapy, but it has like a a little wing to it.

Totally. Yeah, that's kind of, that's kind of the little bit of the formula, but it's, it's, yeah, if you're non union like this, could this can be a good gig? It it, it can't, it really can't. I'm seeing them, you know, I just thought I'm seeing them for like $1000 a day. There's some coming in for that now. And it's like, you know, 7 to 10 days and 800. So they're kind of going, they're kind of increasing in, in. Value. Yeah, yeah.

I was thinking maybe I'm gonna go 54, do a whole bunch of them, and then go rejoin the union. Yeah, I mean, why not? What do you have to lose? You know what I'm saying? Except. They do shoot. They shoot very fast, guys. So it's like a soap opera. Yeah, very, very, very fast. And there's hardly any rehearsal. So it's just like a regular soap schedule. Yeah, I'll do a lot of pages in one day. And. It's like 30 second 3060 second like clips because it's because

it's social media, right? It's their vertical less than any vertical and so. Yeah, they literally didn't have platforms. They yeah, platforms that are people are buying like subscriptions. Yeah, yeah. And it's, and it's primarily like teenagers and maybe young adults. Yeah, they're, they're making, they're making the industry a lot of money. This is like this, I told one of my preferred way to watch entertainment. Yeah, I told one of my students she's non union.

She's very upscale, very upscale in her in her early 60s. And I'm like, Oh my God, you know what, if you're not doing these because she's she's saggy. So yeah, if they only white want white women that are elite, it shows up like the white woman, billionaire white woman, upscale white woman. Yes, have like a down and out woman that's white, that's like, you know, crawling on the floor like begging for money.

They're none of that, right? Every single one of the white women are supposed to be, really. Rich, some of the titles of these are listen, like when we're when we're talking about doing protocols, like even even myself as an agent, I'm not submitting to all them because some of them I just can't bring myself to. I just can't bring myself to do it like alpha wolf, pregnant CEOs, baby daddy, like, like I just can't, I just can't do it.

But some of them are like Christmas ones or like they're you know, or they're somewhere in between. And it's like, OK, well, this is this could be workable. You know one of them are hilarious, but. You do notice that every time that they have an older woman. That's why I said to her you would be working all the time. I mean all the time yes and take advantage of your sag E non union status. I mean you guys that are non union take advantage of it. Like. Go all out. We got off topic.

We have to go back. Yeah, go and follow on Instagram. Like like follow like Instagram like like vertical, like look at vertical watch, watch some verticals. You know, I began where this is. This applies to non union or ficor March riddles.

And then like, see who the actors are and then like, go follow them on Instagram, see what they're, see what they're doing with their Instagram. It's another thing about social media is that if you want people to see if you're going to put all this work in it, you want people to see it, right? Well, how do you show up on people's feet? You have to engage with other people. You have to engage, like be really targeted with, you're engaging with. Look, go, you know, go look at

casting directors. Don't ask casting stupid questions or make a stupid comment. And don't be needy. Oh my God, I'm needy. Don't. Guess OK, what does that look like? A. Really. Audition for your For your TV show. Like don't do that. Don't. Say that. Don't say that, OK? Trust, trust. If you make comments, intelligent comments, if you're sharing their their feed. Let's say they put out something and you share it on your story. Yeah, they want eyes on them

too, right? So share their story. I mean, share their feed, you know, do that. Or or comment don't message them on Instagram. Let leave that for your agent. If you don't have an agent, don't message them. Just comment something encouraging you spend. You know you should look at social media as part of your job. Like again, be be business minded and look at it as a job. Spend 10 to 15 minutes a day engaging with people that you want to see your profile, you want to they you want them to

see your feet. So like like you said, sharing is a great thing if they post something like inspirational comments. And just say, wow, you know, look at this. I really loved what so and so said here. It was inspiring. Yeah, yes, that's so good. It's perfect. That's what you don't. It doesn't have to be long, it just be short and sweet. That's perfect.

That's so perfect. And then when they do look at your feet, if it does it just show up and they do happen to see it. They might not, but you can also be connecting with other actors in the meantime. Well, it does show up. Like whenever you hit like or you make a comment, it shows up. They could see everybody doing everything so. For sure. It's called name recognition. If you're actually floats by somebody enough times, they think they know you already.

And so when your agent submits you or they happen to be casting something on Actor's Access and they see your name, yeah, they'll say that name looks familiar. Well, it's because you've been commenting on their. Yeah. It's a whole thing. Yeah, your name has been showing up, you know.

Absolutely. I, I've engaged with a few different casting directors and then when I, you know, have gone to do a pitch for them or, or they reached out, you know, for one of my actors something, it was like, it was like a friendly already a friendly e-mail because like, oh, we've been talking on social media a little bit, you know, so it was like, oh, it's just kind of, you know, it was a more natural connection. So it can be really effective. Yeah, I mean, years ago it was postcards.

OK, so now, now people don't want you to kill a tree. So if you send somebody a postcard, they'll be angry at you. They'll like throw a lot in the shirt or something. So like, don't do that. This is this is really true, really true. But Instagram has almost taken over where postcards left. Definitely. You know, like you, you could promote and it and you your reach is much bigger and it's doesn't cost it. I remember I used to be in the post office putting on the stamps, you know?

And like, honey, Oh my gosh, we used to set, we used to encourage our talent to send thank you cards after they've done an audition because it's just, it makes you stand out a little bit because most, most of our I. Think that's a really good thing to do, I think. I think if you can, however, so many people are working remotely now that and you don't you definitely don't want to send else try to find their house address. Don't do that. Don't don't do that.

But if you if they do have an offer. Don't do that. Please, if you do, don't tell them I'm representing you. But you can, you know, if there is an office that that's a great way to do it. But if you can't, you can. That might be something you you maybe could send on Instagram, like thank you for seeing me, you know, or, or or shout outs. To people. You shout outs like you can record like like like don't do the audio part of it, but you can.

I think it's so awesome when I see talent, my talent posting like a little clip of their audition, but they just have music over it. You don't want to you don't want to post the actual audition because most of the time I'll. Be right. Never do it you have something playing over it I. Like that too, because it shows the look, the lighting looks great. And. And they could say they could just say something. Had a great opportunity today. Yeah. And girls you know and you could

say something cute. Totally. And then thank the casting director, yeah. Thank you for being so amazing to me, or thank you. Yeah, don't leave it on the table. Use it for use it for this, you guys it really it really is effective and. Should we do it? Don't leave it on the table mean. I think you need to tell everybody.

OK, so that means like if someone it's like that, that's an expression like if someone's giving you money and you don't take it, you're like leaving it on the table or or someone makes you an offer on a piece of paper and it's folded up and you have to pick it up to open it to see what it says, you know, like you, but you leave it on the table. It's like a waste. Like you're just not utilizing something that you really can be utilizing.

It's not going to make or break your career, but it can push it could push you over because you guys, the industry is so competitive as an actor, it's so competitive. So anything you can do to kind of push you over a little bit if they're, you know, if people are casting as deciding between you and one other person, like you're pinned or you're, you know, you're first avail like, and it's between you and like one other person, like there's little things that can push you

over the edge. And this is just one of those things, you know? Yeah. And I, I talk about it all the time when you're neck and neck. OK, so when you're neck and neck with somebody else, your followers actually could push you over the edge to get the job 'cause they're looking for a way to kick you out of the running. But neck and neck and the room is split on you. Yeah, room is split on the other person and they can't make a

decision. Then they might say, oh, OK, let's just go look at the Instagram. Yeah, absolutely. I. Do that you know? Definitely, and especially it's even it's so much more competitive right now than it it has been because there's so fewer jobs.

And so you need to be thinking of everything, the social media, thank you cards when you can even even like offering to, you know, I, I just had this happen a month ago that it was between the catheter told me it was between my talent and one of the person. They picked mine because they offered to drive to the to location as opposed to being like flown there like they, it was like 4. It was like, I don't know, maybe a six hour drive.

And they're like, they're like, I will, I'll you know, I'll drive and if you just want to pay my mileage instead of flying it because they were, they were offering flights. OK, look at that. Like that a little bit but hey I'll I got this covered. I all work local even if they are offering to pay. Hey I'll I can work local higher here. Yeah, you want an edge. You want to have a little bit of an edge on people, you know?

Yeah. I, I, I think Facebook is good too, because there's a lot of people. I mean, you guys, it's not just for grandmas, OK? I mean, it's amazing. Dating ourselves, however, it is still useful. Oh my God, It is really, really useful. There are some people that really like communicating on there, especially on the messenger on there. Yes, absolutely, really communicating on there and then and there's.

Groups. There's the TikTok, but if you're going to do TikTok, then do it because you want to be a content creator and build it really, really big and become like a TikTok person. But just to do like random stuff, it doesn't make it's. Just it's not worth it. Yeah. Then you're kind of all over the place. But group Facebook is also really good for groups as well. There's some great groups that you can only find on Facebook at this point.

So it's definitely where even if you're Gen. Z, it's, it's, it's not going to hurt you to get on there and get connected and into some groups. Yeah, I mean, one of my really good friends, Wendy Elaine Wright, she has TMFA. It's talent managers for actors. Yeah, he's got like a like 120,000 people that are on there. I mean, and people are always posting on there. There's always stuff going on on there. So that's a really good place to be.

Absolutely. And she has a special group called Hollywood's Winner's Circle. And so that's a really good place to be you guys. There's stuff to do, absolutely. And, you know, again, I go back to I didn't have any of this. I had to create things from scratch, you know? Yeah, there's so much stuff to do. Yes, you know, and and you could find out about it online exactly by it's like the new way to network. Oh, definitely. You know, and look for events online on Facebook.

They have events, yes, very events. Online they have. There's local film festivals. Oh. Please, please utilize this for OK, this is such a good thing you're bringing up because we all know that in the industry probably like half of success is like who you know, it's not just what you know. So where do you, how do you find the people you're supposed to know? You need to be networking.

I think that one of the things as we're talking about social media, like there's, it's it, it's such a blessing. And for so many reasons, there's like we're talking about now, we didn't have this, you know, in the past. But one of the things that is also happening is that people are not forgetting, not neither not learning or forgetting how to socialize with people. And they get like social anxiety now and it's like inhibiting people from networking.

There's nothing that replaces in person networking. Nothing. Well, that's why you got to look for those events, you know, go to those open mics, you know, be around if you, if you're, if you're a comedian and you don't want to do stand up, but you want to do sitcom, go to the open mics. You're going to meet a lot of comedy people. You know, you know, place yourself places. If you want to be a singer then then go to open mics and sing. Yes, go to films.

Find these things, go to film festivals and especially like like indie film makers, you know, you, you should be hanging out with directors, you know. Festival has has TVATV Film Festival coming up soon. The ports are really big apart from LA. Yeah, Newport's a really big festival. That's a good place to network. Yeah, yeah. For the.

Smaller ones, you know, we do respect for the smaller ones, but the bigger ones, like if you're in New York, you should be going to Tribeca. Yeah, absolutely, absolutely. Even if you just go for a day, even if you can just afford a day ticket or or an event, one of the events or something like just. Do it, we'll find out about it.

You know, I mean, it's because it's on social media and what's good, you know, Instagram, you could just put in a, a link, like just put in the search festivals and then all the festivals will come up and it'll tell you like who's who's launching when, which is good. Yeah, absolutely.

And you can even find Nish. You know, I have a a couple talent that they've they've done horror like that's their that's they they've feel like they're really good at it and they are good at it and that's kind of their interest and passion. And so there's even niche like events for stuff like that, you know, like so just looking out if. You want to do theater? I mean, there's a fringe film, there's a Fringe Festival. There's those I like.

A lot of my students do. A lot of those one woman, one man shows. Those are really great to go to, really inspiring. I think as an actor you just need to stay inspired. Inspired as much as you can. Definitely yes, because it's very easy to look at other people and get uninspired and feel like they're like better than you when it's yes. All the comparison. Told you it's not true. It's not, it's not true. It is not true at all. OK. And OK, I got to do a bitch fest here.

OK, here's my bitch. Let's hear it. Let's hear it. I did. I talked about this on Instagram, but it didn't get enough people eyeballs on it. So I'm going to say it again. Don't write how many auditions you had, how many callbacks you had, and how many pins and no bookings. Please don't tell us about how many auditions you had that you didn't book. Why would you announce that you're? More like, why would you announce that? Like don't do it. Don't do it. Please.

Like, save yourself. Yeah. It makes you look so bad. They're like, yeah. But Amy, I just, you know, want people to know that I'm just trying. Nobody wants to know about your process. People want to know about the result. Yeah, that's what, that's what social media is. That's what people are primarily looking for when they're on, when they're scrolling. Absolutely. Yes, and that's what any

generation is looking for. You're not going to go to a meeting and go, yeah, I have, I have 50 callbacks. That means you can't. Right. They're going to be like, I don't know if I want to, maybe this isn't the right, I don't think to have what it takes. You see, guys, do you see? Do you see how she was like? There's no way she would have signed you? No way, no way. No if your numbers are that way

also. Like like if you're here's another thing that I look out for on social media or even if I mean someone in person or even even what they, what they e-mail me. If someone is not, if they seem socially unaware, like I, I, I get I will be nervous about sending them on the set. Like if they don't have the wherewithal to understand like the etiquette in the business. What's socially appropriate to like be posting?

If people get like super personal, like even we're talking about this person sobbing or or they're or they're sharing their oversharing their process. Yeah, there's one guy. He looks naked all the time. It's like you wonder why nobody wants to work with you. It's like you're always like looking naked. Naked like what's? One thing to be like a model. Type. Yeah, sure. That's part of your brand. Like your brand, but in his it's not part of his brand. Trust me in that one because.

Yeah, that's just to me was like, oh, they're socially not quite engaged or aware and I don't know that. You can tell. You can tell, yeah. I mean even if you went out like if I was on the dating site and somebody didn't have an Instagram page, I would be as a SUS. Yes, I love that you know that Jen's yours. I only know that and that's that's the only reason. I know a few but my but I'm forbidden to use it around her so.

Why? Don't ever say talk like that again because I'm too old to be using those words, but I'm gonna use them. I'm gonna use them on the podcast. That'll be my. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Let them out. Let. Them out that's just us. OK, that's so good. OK, one thing I do want to say about if you don't have the social you're on Instagram. If you're younger, casting directors, directors, producers,

they're like this is SUS. OK, all joking aside, no, it really it really is like why don't they have one? If you're older, it's a little bit more like accepted understandable. So you really should have one and you should be engaging on it is treated as a business. You want to be on it every day, 10 to 15 minutes. Post it a few times a week. Use chat to like if you don't know what to write just asked it to write you like write prompts. If you don't know what to post, think about.

Think about. We'll talk about that in a second. However, what I wanted to say right now was that I do have a couple of talent that like they were, they were having mental health issues because of their Instagram usage. And they actually had to like cut themselves off because it became it like an actually true addiction. Yeah. I can understand that though. That's wait wait.

I do want to address that because I actually talked about this the other day in class, that because I had to ask somebody, oh, it was last night in after club. I had Donnie Mercado came in to talk about how to build a YouTube channel. Yeah. You represent Donnie. Yeah. Talking. About her YouTube channel, right? And we were talking about Instagram and I said to everybody, it's so important that that you look at Instagram like an art piece.

If you can look at it like an art piece, then it's it's coming from your soul, it's coming from your artistic self. It's not being from wondering if if somebody's going to like it because I asked everybody, I said, are you guys nervous about posting because you're not sure people would like it And they all raise their hand. So it's a big deal. And so I'm saying to all of you guys, it's not about other people when it comes to Instagram. It's about you creating your art piece on there.

And, and trust me there, sometimes I'll put something up and I'll be like, oh God, I wonder if this is and then I have to catch myself. Yes. Well, I'm putting it out there because I feel that I want to do this for me that I'm not. Yeah, I love that. I love that that is the healthiest way to be using Instagram because it really does get in your head. If you don't have like internal, those internal boundaries.

And if you're walking around feeling like you're not enough, which all of us are, but you're not, you're not taking that, that next step to like deal with that, you know, and, and, you know, fight back against that. Or you have, or have the developed the right tools like you give your actors of like being able to like work process through that, then it's going to be it, it, it's going to affect you more than it really needs to. It, it, it you should not, you

know, it's a tool. You put limits on it. Set a timer. I have, you know, someone that I know has their friend gives their friend their password and he's like, OK, what I'm going to use, I'll let you know. And then you give it to me. But you'd cut me off after 20 minutes, you know, like it's because they need that. Yeah, I totally get that. I mean, if you're finding that you get you, you fall down the rabbit hole because that's the rabbit hole, you know? Yeah, it's okay to.

It's like anything like, like not eating cake at a party, you know? Yeah, exactly. There's there's there's different ways to deal with it. All that to say, there's ways to deal with like Instagram having an social media having a negative impact on you can use it like without it, it destroying you. There's there's ways to do it. But if you try those ways and you have you really did legitimately have like an issue like that's legitimately still is affecting your mental health,

you know, it's better. It's better not to have it's no, it's nothing's worth. Yeah, it's totally understandable. Yeah, most people look at. It is to look at it in terms of marketing. Exactly, and most people can do that and and if you can, you should that's kind of the the point. So what should you be putting on there? If you're like, OK, I'm going to do this, I'm ready to do this and you're like, well, I don't know what to post. You know every. Thursday I do throwback.

Thursday. I mean, you've, you've watched my throwback. Yes, and I, I love them. Oh my God. I'm like, look at you in this. What? What? OK, what was that? What was? Age of our lives. Oh, that's. So fun. That's so fun, yeah. I've done, I've done a lot of TV, you know, and so it was like, it's really fun to, to post it and say, do you recognize this? Like, do you know what show it is? And it's good to ask questions. I noticed that that that engaging with your audience is

really a big deal. Yeah. You know, like, So what time period do you think this is? Or do you know what happened to question? Yep, absolutely, absolutely. If you're an actor, you can you can even be posting clips of you in your in your acting classes. Someone take a little video. This is what this is what I learned today in in class again posting auditions if you anytime you go to any kind of event networking. Auditions without sound. Sound do not have the. Sound. Don't say what it was.

Don't say what it was you give the you give the CDA shout out thank you, but do not say what it was. Do not post anything identifying and obviously when you're on set. However, remember that when you're on set, you have to get permission to post to post it. You cannot just be. And in fact, sometimes they don't even they won't even let you have your camera out when you're on set. So you have to be checking hey can I take don't take any pictures on set unless you

unless. You've checked, You have to ask. Hey, I mean I'm doing this dubbing for HBO right now and they they literally give me some tape. Yeah. To put over the camera on my phone. Yeah, it they it's very. Over the camera and it goes all the way around. I must have signed like 5. Let's see where you're around. I'm like, why does it matter? They're like, oh, there's other

things, whatever. Yeah. And I, you know, even though I signed like I'm not going to take pictures, they want to make sure I didn't. Take. Oh, absolutely. Absolutely. There literally is somebody there handing it to you and watching you, yes, sit on your phone. Crazy. It's crazy. So and it's super. Yeah. I'm serious, you don't. Don't SAB it, don't risk it. You can ask and if they say you can or you can take a picture of this part or something, do it.

But you have to ask and if you can definitely remember to do it and post. It well, I will tell you this, there's some network shows that they do have a photographer on set. I got some great pictures back in the day when I did NCIS. They it was, there's always a photographer and and I got their name. Yeah, they sent me all the pictures they shot of me. That's awesome. That's. That. So great. We've like the most amazing freaking thing.

Oh my gosh, if you see someone taking pictures, that's such a great tip. If you see you're on sentence, you take pictures. Like if I know who they are, like hey, how do I? Go up to them say Oh my goodness, did you take any pictures of me and and definitely give them your your e-mail or your your phone number to say Oh my God, I would be so indebted to you if you can just shoot me over 1 picture. Yeah. So I'll send them all, you know, Ask for one, guys. Yeah, yes, yes. That's so good.

And then also behind the scenes, like if you, if you don't, if you, you know, whatever you can't, you can do like on your off days or you wouldn't. You know, if you're not on set, but you're just with the other actors. And and again, when you post it until it comes out, don't say what it is, but you can do like I had someone last fall who was in London doing a a major. Feature. And he's like, they were there for like over a month.

And so he got it was really fun. I told him, did you get behind the scenes stuff to interview his fellow actors and actresses? Just make your own behind the scenes stuff while you're there. And it was really fun. He went even went to take a step further and he got like a a disposable camera and he decided to do just for the look of it, to make it like retro and and he did a bunch of pictures and just super fun. Oh, I love that. Yeah, I can get really creative.

You want to you can post Yeah, they're back Thursday. There's there's so many themes again. You can look on chat is such a great resource. AI is is, you know, there's a lot of controversy. People do. What's your controversy? Go ahead. AI it's a big controversy but you can use it for good things and this is one of them. Good ideas for what you can post once you get a hold of like your, what you want your kind of your brand to be.

You can and just and you can type that in and and it'll just it'll get you, it can give you a whole schedule. So with hashtags, don't over hashtag, but you want to have some. You want to have some? Yeah. Like 7 to 10. But it's it's got to be relevant to what you're doing. Don't throw in a random one just because you want clicks, OK? Exactly, Yeah. I, I do want to say that I think that I, I know I was really pressing on, like only put acting stuff on there. I want to know about you too.

You know, like I worked with Rachel Brosnahan. I played her mom in a movie and started following her because it's like, and I like to see where she's going, who her family is, you. Know people are interested in that, yeah. I mean, like, who's your boyfriend? You know? Like, I think that's interesting. It is interesting. That's why people. Bought on it. Keep it. Keep it like it's like your own little reality show. Yeah. And a good place for that is in

stories. So on your grids, like keep that more like a little bit more professional, if you will, but stories are such a great place to do that little your own life reality, you know, thing. Look at that. Let's celebrate your life, celebrate your life on Instagram. How did it happen? What was I doing? I don't. Yeah. I don't know, maybe it felt your joy. Yeah. Exactly. That's hilarious. Yeah. So that's those are those are

always. Yeah. And then also on your on your profile, it's OK to write some of the TV shows you've been on. You know, you could have them. I see a lot of actors doing that. Yeah, definitely OK to ask AI to write it for you. And so you just tell them you're an actor and you know, and that these are the shows I've been on and what's the best profile for me? Yeah, that's a great idea.

Every time I use AI though, I, I, I do want to remind you to like read it and make sure you personalize it because like we were talking about earlier, everyone knows you can tell now when something's like AI and it's, it's still a very useful tool, but you just, you want to like adjust it to like what's your voice, you know, what's your, what is it like? Be engaged with what you don't just like, copy it. Like, yeah. You can actually rewrite it.

It's just there guidance and also you know I I use this thing called Linktree. Yeah, Linktree is great. Thanks for bringing that up. Yeah, Linktree is really great. You could put your IMDb profile in there. You could put your Actors Access profile in there. Go to my Linktree. I have my classes and my courses in there and my books in there. And so it's a really good place. And this podcast is the. 1st. Is the first thing that comes up. Yeah, there's that.

Rateling tree is awesome, yeah, it's so good. Yeah, I think those are, you know, those are like really the those are really I think we kind of talked about like the key things that you want to. Yeah, let me, Let me. Look at your AI list that you sent me. Yeah, you went over for this. Yeah, this. Is it was the first thing. It's the first thing you you said I got your AI list about. Yeah, how could you? Tell algorithms. Yeah, this is good. Yeah. And just to just to sum it up,

guys, do me a favor. Don't put anything on there that that hasn't been like coach approved. You know, a lot of people are doing this self tape may you know, and I don't have a problem with that. But I mean, I again, I'm all about if you're going to put something up, just know that yeah, you could take it down, but it's up now. Now it's in the universe forever. So if you think that you're acting is not at a place where you're still like working things

through. Yeah. I don't know about you, but I wouldn't put it anywhere. I agree. I absolutely agree. Yeah, You don't want to be again, it you're kind of, it's kind of like talking about processing, like you don't want to process your stuff on social media unless, unless if you want to put it on a personal private page just to show like that's different. Yeah, there's a lot of people that made a self tape made page. Fantastic. I'd love that you did that. I think that's the only way to

do that. Yeah, that's good. It's almost like Pinterest where you're just your stuff up and trying it out, but don't try anything out on your main page. Yes, I and I love that like go talk to someone first. Like like especially when it fits your acting, talk to your coach like make sure because you know not only is it going to affect your own reputation, but then it's like, what about your coach and your agent or manager like? Please, yeah, please take my name off your resume.

I've actually asked people to do that. I'm like, you'll make my intensive so you don't get to have me on your resume. Yeah. Oh, that's, I mean, yeah, seriously. That means you, you just, you know, learn the basics. You're not really doing the technique, so you want to name anything or your name on me. Yeah, exactly. OK, so where can people go to find your? Yeah, guys, by the way, if you like what we're doing, make sure

you subscribe. If we're on YouTube, which is, you know, if you're watching us, then we're on YouTube. But if you're listening to us, follow the podcast and please share it with your actor friends. Share, share, share. I think it's great for other people to to become empowered by information. Information is power. You know, it's really great. Make a comment, maybe. Maybe write what you might want us to talk about. That's a great idea, absolutely. How? And I would love some topics.

Be our AI if you will. Exactly. And and and honestly, yeah, share how if it's impacted you share it. We've gotten some couple too already this week, the day the podcast came out, two really long, really sweet messages from people about how it was impactful. And so it's like, it's just not just, it's helpful information, but it, it really can help change your mindset and your kind of how you're walking around in life because it, your mindset is everything.

And if you're, if you're going up to an audition and you're feeling like you're not enough, it's, it's no matter how much you try to fake it, it's going to come through. So get, you know, we want you to be here. We want you to get more confident. We want you to get, you know, use the resources and ideas we're talking about to make you more confident and just start showing up like that because you are enough. Yeah. I love that.

That was really good. Guys. If you're listening to this podcast, I don't care what year it is, you can DM me on Instagram. Definitely follow both of us on Instagram and tell them your Instagram handle. Yes. Oh yeah, my Instagram handle is my gosh, what is my Instagram? You, you like caught me on the spot. It's your agent, JTA. Agent Ophelia. Yes, but you have underscores though.

I do have underscores JT under score agent under score Ophelia and I I got like I had to pause for a second because I do have also have a private account for my dolphin. I'm like, what is it? JTA under score agent under score Ophelia. There it is there it is and I'm at Amy Linden everywhere, pretty much YouTube here, Facebook, but if you DM me on Instagram and say hey bitch, give me that discount, I'll give a discount on my online Udemy course and it's. You have to say it that way.

You have to say it that way. You have to say, hey, bitch, give me that discount, all right? Love you guys. Bye bye.

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