One of the most important things you need to know as an actor is what your casting type is. If you are struggling to book auditions and roles, this is very possibly where you could be going wrong.
You need to be honest about who you are and where you fit into the industry. If you are marketing yourself as the action hero, but the rest of the world sees you as a sweet mum/dad, you will struggle.
So how do you know if you have got it nailed? I know you want to be able to apply for ALL the roles. You love acting and the challenge of playing a variety of roles excites you. Right?
But you are likely to end up wasting a lot of time and energy and becoming frustrated if you are going for the roles that you are not suitable for.
Here’s what I suggest:
You look in the mirror and you own every bit of what is staring back at you. Your eyes, your nose, your cheeks, and your lips. Every freckle, every wrinkle and every single imperfection because they are all part of what makes you YOU, and will be the reason that you are cast in the roles you are perfect for.
Write a list of the types of roles you can see yourself playing.
Ask other people in the industry, a mix of people you know and others you don’t, what roles along to mind when they think of you. This is more effective in person than by posting a headshot in social media groups, as your demeanour may not come across as well on an image, but both ways are worth doing.
Look at the word that came up most frequently. That is what you are most likely to be cast as and so, to book more work, your marketing materials should be in line with that- your main headshot, the first scene of your showreel, your colours and fonts.
This does not mean that you end up just doing one role. It makes you more likely to jump to the forefront of people’s mind when they are casting for that particular role, but it doesn’t exclude you from others.
Show yourself playing different characters in your showreel but the first scene, should be showing you as your main casting type.
Have a range of headshots and images, but your main headshot should be showing you as your main casting type.
This way, it’s clear who you are and where you fit into the industry but you are also demonstrating the other roles you are able to play.
Remember… Own your imperfections, they are part of your beauty, part of who you are, and will be part of why you will be cast!
You weren’t born to be ordinary… You were born to shine!
Eirian Cohen | “I help new actors to fly into the industry like silver bullets. What you believe, you will achieve” | Founder of Northern Star Acting and co-producer of ESG Media, LTD
