Acting is not a typical job, you’re gigging always have a time stamp on them, and so it’s critical to have a home base. An actor website should be a living-digital resume for your work and a place to highlight all the reasons why we should cast you. It’s a powerful way to collect useful information such as headshots, resume, press, photos, acting reels, etc. Having a database of ‘all things you’ is extremely helpful for any producer, casting agents, managers, etc. We’ll touch more on the things you should include on your site later, but first, let’s cover the setup.

Note: This is an in-depth guide on setting up your actor website and is broken down into two main parts, with steps in each.

PART 1: Setting up & Building Your Website. PART 2: What content you should include in your site.

Part 1: Setting Up & Building Your Actor Website

How do I even get started setting up my site anyway?

I’m sure many of you have said “I should really set up a website,” only to realize you have no idea where to get started. Well, that’s where I come in here. Many platforms make building your website a LOT easier. These platforms are known as “drag-and-drop” builders. Think of it as dragging a block of content onto a page, instead of coding it with numerous symbols and numbers. If you want an image somewhere specific on your site, drag the image block in place and upload your desired picture from your computer.

For this tutorial, we will be using the popular site builder WIX

A quick note: There are other sophisticated platforms out there such as WordPress, but they require more skill and attention. For a basic actor portfolio website, Wix offers everything you need, and it’s very easy to use. You will get your site set up much more quickly using a builder like WiX.

Building Your Actor Website Step 1: Choose A Website Builder And Signup

As mentioned, we will be using Wix as an example, and what I recommend for those with no previous web building experience. It’s also cheaper, $11 per month will give you access to your own unique domain name and remove all the Wix branding ads, so your site looks professional.

First, you will want to signup for an account at WIX HERE

Click the start now button and fill out the details for creating a new account. Next, a ‘create your website’ button may appear.

You then may be prompted to choose what kind of site you want. I recommend hitting the ‘Portfolio & CV’ tab.

Then click the choose a template button.

After this, you will be asked to choose your theme. Don’t worry, you can always change it later, but for this example, we will be using the ‘Actor & Model’ template. Any theme will do.

Choose the ‘Edit’ option. At this point, your site will load and be ready for editing. Now all you have to do is replace the content with your very own using the drag-and-drop editor. BUT first, there is another critical step. Keep your Wix window open as I explain step 2.

Step 2: Adding your personalized domain name to the website

With the Wix template open, click save in the upper right-hand corner. This will prompt another window.

Hit the ‘Connect your own customized domain’ tab and continue.

Then click the ‘Get a new domain’ tab.

The great news here is Wix has their own ability to sell you a custom domain name, and they’re cheap. You can choose a domain and connect it to your site all on the same platform.

This is the part where you pay for a premium hosting plan. This is a monthly fee for keeping your website online. No matter what platform you use, a hosting fee is always applied. Wix has some of the cheapest plans out there.

You will want to choose the ‘Combo,’ currently priced at $11/month if you pay a year in advance or $14.50 if you pay monthly.

The benefits of this plan, as opposed to the cheapest plan, are:

• Removal of Wix branding so your site looks professional
• The Combo plan also comes with a FREE domain for one year (for yearly plans only)
• 30 Minutes of video content which is essential for reels and any other video you might want to feature on your site.

Side-Step: Let’s take a second to talk about the importance of a domain name

Having your own domain name is crucial for completing a professional looking website. What is a domain name? A domain name is the URL (or web address) that your site lives on. IE: theatrenerds.com.

Wix offers a free URL, but it includes Wix in the title which doesn’t accomplish a professional look. Here are the examples of the two:

A free Wix URL: www.benbaileyaccount.wixsite.benbailey

VS.

Your own custom domain: benbailey.com

So what name should you choose? If you’re creating a personal brand site, I suggest keeping it simple and straightforward by using your first and last name, IE benbailey.com. What happens if your domain is already taken by someone else?

Here’s a few tips:

• Try using the first letter of your middle name (or maybe even your entire middle name depending on length and readability). IE benjbailey.com
• If the .com version is not available, choose the .org or .net version (.com is always best though).
• Avoid any unnecessary words at the end IE benjbaileyactor.com

Moving on: After you purchase your plan, the next step is securing your domain name. If you purchased the monthly plan, you will buy your domain. If you purchased the yearly plan, it comes with a free domain.

Search the desired domain name, and if it’s available, it will allow you to proceed. Click the ‘Get It’ button.

Next, you will either purchase your domain or receive it for free with your plan.

Note: they may ask you if you want private registration. It’s optional and not necessary for what we’re doing here.

When you’re done purchasing or connecting your domain, you will navigate back to the main dashboard and see that your site is there with the domain connected.

Step 3: Filling In The Content & Publishing

To make changes to your site click ‘Site Actions’ and then click ‘Edit.’

After you’re done replacing the current content with your own, you are now ready to publish the site, so it’s live to the world! Click ‘Publish’ in the upper right-hand corner.

Note: You will want to save progress along the way by pushing the save button that always lives in the upper righthand corner

After publishing, you will then be able to view your website! Notice the custom domain appears as the web address (boxed in red).

Congratulations! You have now set up your very own actor website, setting you apart from 90% of the competition. If you read the entire post first, make sure to start from the beginning by singing up with WIX HERE

But how do I actually use the website builder to fill in my content?

Wix offers many tutorials on how to use their intuitive drag-and-drop builder. Even so, it may be a little daunting to get going. That’s why we are offering a more in-depth step-by-step videos series on setting up and building your entire site. We will cover the steps discussed here and show you how to replace the information offered in the template, with your own material. We will also cover things like customizing the colors and feel of the site.

Part 2: What Kind Of Content Should My Acting Site Have?

When it comes to the types of content you should have on the site, I like to keep it clean and simple. Think of this as a first impression to anyone who visits. Things should be simple and visually pleasing but offer enough to give someone an idea of who you are, what you do, and what you’re capable of doing.

Let’s break the necessities into 5 main sections. Each of these should be a tab on your sites navigation menu. In most cases, each tab will link to a separate page on your site.

Question: What’s should be on the home page?

Answer: You should make one of the following sections discussed into the home page. I suggest the ‘About Me’ section. You could even do a variety of things such as a bio, a few pictures, recent blog posts, and a video. Having a little of everything on the home page is kind of like an overture of your entire website.

Section 1. About Me or ‘Bio’

The bio section should be a more informal way to get to know you when compared to the resume section (next up). You want to make this more personable, including things like where you grew up, how you fell in love with performing, and some specific examples of projects you’ve been a part of.

A great example of this is Broadway vet Bret Shuford: https://www.bretshuford.com/bio

Bret does a great job mixing in personal details and professional accomplishments. He is also sure to link to things to help people who may be interested. In his bio alone he links to his YouTube channel, personal life coach brand, and his newsletter. This is a great utilization of getting what you can out of a single page.

Section 2. The Resume

Obviously, your resume page is the most important page on your site. Your resume page should include things downloadable headshots and a resume in PDF format. You also want to include a digital resume on the site itself, so it’s easy for producers and casting agents to skim and see if you’re a good fit. Then, they can use the download link to keep it on file.

Let’s take a look at Bret’s resume again here: https://www.bretshuford.com/actor

Bret makes it easy for someone to view his resume online or download it. He also includes a reel on his digital resume page which is a nice bonus of an online resume as opposed to a PDF alone.

RESOURCE: For more info on how to write an eye-catching actor resume GO HERE

Section 3. Video/Photos

Video: This one is pretty self-explanatory, but very important as well. Video is how the world consumes content, and video is a much better way to convey if you’re right for ‘the’ part. Video helps show your diversity and gets the casting team in the virtual audition room with you.

Even if you don’t have an official ‘Reel’ yet, just put whatever you have for now. Give them something to help get to know you as an actor. iPhones make great videos nowadays so no excuses.

I love the way Kim Greenberg organizes her videos HERE

Also, check out her entire site, it’s another GREAT example of a job well done.

Photos: As with video, photos help show you in action. They give a diverse perspective of the looks you can achieve and the characters you could potentially play. Let’s face it, looks have a lot to do with casting, and I don’t mean how attractive you are. Casting is a game of chemistry and having the perfect ‘Fit’ for a show. It’s like interior design… everyone has to ‘go with’ each other within the style of a show or job.

Photo tips: Try and include some lifestyle photos, headshots and photos of you in a production or on the job.

I love how Megan McGinnis organizes her projects into categories HERE

Pro Tip: You can put photos and videos under one category in your navigation menu by labeling it ‘Media’ and dropping those as categories underneath.

Section 4. Contact Section

Although your contact info will most likely be on the resume, having a dedicated section for it is recommended. Here you will include things like:

• Contact email (Phone not recommended)
• Agent Phone/Email (If Applicable)
• Where you are located: This doesn’t have to be the specific address, city and state would suffice.

Bret and Kim both have excellent contact page examples if you want to view them.

Section 5. News/Blog

While not entirely necessary, the news or blog section is a chance to brag about the projects you’ve done, and let people get to know you more. I’ve seen some actor websites with just news, some with just a blog, and others with both. It’s up to you, but I suggest having a blog too!

A blog will help you build loyal readers which is another term for fans! Letting someone in behind the scenes of your life can be a great way to create a personal brand of influence. Think about it; we love an inside scoop into people’s lives.

That’s A Wrap, Folks

You should think of your website as a tree with two different branches. One branch is for professional inquiries, and the other branch is for building a personal brand or fanbase. A blog can be an easy way to market yourself without feeling too… salesy. However, there is nothing wrong with self-promotion, but I’ll save that for another post.

I can’t force you to create your own actor website, but my goal here was to at least make it easier and to see the long-lasting benefits. It’s also a great way to document your journey as an actor and collect many memories of shows and gigs gone by.

Questions or comments? Leave them below and I’ll answer…

The post How To Setup, Build And Launch Your Personal Actor Website appeared first on Theatre Nerds.

Having these 5 things will put you ahead of 90% of your competition:

1. Website

As a producer, its alarming to me how many actors (even well-known) don’t have a website at all. Many who do have a site, haven’t updated it in a long time and the aesthetics echo the sentiment. A website is an actors home base, a portfolio of all the great work they have achieved. It should be a living resume that fans and potential employers can go to see how you shine. Think of it as your brands “audition” for people who have never personally watched you perform. A website can also display a level of importance and how serious you take your work.

Actors are busy trying to book auditions and get work, so a website may seem like a daunting task to take on. The important thing is to just get something up. Something is better than nothing. Odds are you know someone dabbling in web design, and if not, there are many platforms you can use to build a website without using code at all.

It can be overwhelming to know where to start, so I have highlighted some things below to help you get up and running. I also always recommend building your own site so you can update it without waiting for a developer. Also, developers are expensive and can hold your site somewhat hostage. It’s worth it to struggle a bit and teach yourself how to build it.

Click Here To Learn How To Setup, Build And Launch Your Personal Actor Website

If you are building your own site, I recommend:

For website hosting, we recommend Bluehost 

For Domains, we recommend Godaddy

For Web Platform we recommend WordPress which is available as a package with Bluehost

Wix is also recommended. It’s a user-friendly drag and drop builder that requires no coding or development experience. WordPress doesn’t require coding, but has more of a learning curve than the others. WordPress powers a large percentage of the sites online and is definitely a standard you should shoot for eventually.

2. Professional Resume

Auditioning and getting professional acting work is hard, so give casting directors every single reason possible to hire you. Present them with a clean, organized, and professionally put together resume of work. Don’t use crazy fonts or write short novels about each credit you list. Make it visually easy for directors to look at. Similar to a website, this is a birds eye view of how and why you may be qualified to get the part. Remember, it should only be 1 page that highlights your best work.

Resume format depends on certain factors, for a SAG example, GO HERE

Tip: Take the time to update your resume frequently. After you finish a job, add it on to avoid gaps between work.

Bonus: How To Write An Eye-Catching Acting Resume

3. Professional Headshots

Needless to say, looks and appearance are a big deal in the acting industry. A professional headshot is one of the best things you can have to give you an advantage at casting. Sorry folks, a great Instagram with a “sweet” filter does not cut it. A headshot should be viewed as an investment in your career; it’s a business expense. They are expensive and they are necessary, no way around it.

Casting directors will see dozens of people; don’t count on them to remember everything you did at auditions. When they review your resume and headshot for consideration, this is your chance to immediately tell them you are a professional and invest in your craft.

Bonus: 9 Hacks For Cheaper Headshots

4. Social Media Presence

Social media is an amazing way to get your brand and work out to people immediately. The more fans and followers we have, the more appealing we will be when it comes to being cast in a show. Why? Because producers are taking a risk and putting money into a show, so the pressure is on to sell tickets. With acting, our jobs only last as long as the run of the show, so we need to take steps to build our own unique audience. If we do, we can alert our loyal followers of the next project and immediately fill the seats, thus increasing exposure for the show. Take a look at Jeremy Jordan’s twitter account; he has 107,000 followers. (AKA free advertising platform)

Besides selling tickets and getting work, fans love to see what you are up to. Acting is an exciting life full of intrigue for those in other fields. They are hungry to hear about your experiences as a professional.

Tip: Don’t feel pressure to be on every social media platform, try picking one to focus on and be consistent with. I’d recommend Twitter or Instagram. Post often, even when it seems there is not much to post about. People are interested in your routines and love to hear about the little details.

Bonus: 5 Broadway Stars Who Are Crushing Twitter

5. Business Cards

I know what you’re thinking, why carry around these old dinosaurs in our pockets in 2017? The answer is you never know whom you will meet and where you will meet them. Connections and relationships are 9/10 of the theatre industry law, so be prepared at any given moment. If you meet a big time casting director or producer at a mixer or at the local Starbucks, giving them a business card can be your foot in the door, a way to leave a lasting mark with them on their busy day. It’s not a great feeling when someone asks you for a card and you don’t have one, I’ve been there before. You may not need them often, but you will thank the lucky stars when the time comes.

Tip: VistaPrint makes it easy to design your own business cards

Think of something else or have questions? I’d love to hear from you, just leave a reply below…

The post 5 Essential Things All Professional Actors Must Have appeared first on Theatre Nerds.

These days I am on the receiving end of many similar emails. I am sure that many of them are from talented, passionate and hard working individuals. But often, it is difficult to see that because they first impression they make is less than desirable.

I realize there really isn’t a class on this, but its something every young and aspiring actor/theatre professional should know. Heck, it is something every young professional needs to figure out. How you represent yourself in first encounters, even through email, has a HUGE impact on how you are received, and the kinds of opportunities you will find open to you. I cannot underestimate the value of taking the time to make sure that you show yourself in the best possible light right from the start. So, I’ve mined my own experiences, working in the theater world and the business world more generally, and came up with a few key tips to help those of you who might be just starting out. If you do these things below, you will separate yourself out from the crowd, and more importantly, could get a life-changing email in response.

1. Keep It Brief

Professionals are busy…well…being professionals. The last thing they want to do is sift through their inbox everyday reading short stories from people they have never met. Cold emailing is tough, and the key is to only hit the points most necessary to make your case. Go ahead and skip the part about how you have been doing theatre all your life, how this would be an amazing opportunity, etc. Make precise points about why you are emailing, and what you are expecting from this dialogue. The first email should be no longer than 2 or at most 3 paragraphs long. Even though this is an email, you should edit and proof read, much like a school paper or cover letter. This will ensure you say as much as you can, in as few words as possible.

2. Keep It Professional

For the sake of being “cute” do not forgo proper English. Write a clear-concise email that displays professionalism and a respect for the time of the producers, directors, or professional to whom you are writing. Skip the emojis for now, a “winky” face maybe acceptable, only after a correspondence has been established. Remember this is your first “audition”, and they have never met you to see how you are charming, cute, and professional all at the same time. Its difficult to make cute and comedic translate via email, especially to a stranger who doesn’t know you. Because of this, let the first thing they see be your ability to communicate in a business-like manner.

3. Don’t Start With What You Want

We know you want something, (unless you are an adoring fan or a harsh critic just telling us your opinion) but don’t come out of the gate asking for something in the first sentence.

I can’t tell you how many emails I get that start with…”How do I become a professional actor”, or “How can I work on Broadway”, or “Can you get me a job.” And these are seriously the opening lines, not even an introduction, sometimes not even their name until the end. Hey we are humans, and we want to feel like more than a stepping-stone for your career.

If you want an email back, try politely introducing yourself, then talking about why you chose to email us specifically. Mentioning a specific work, project, or piece they worked on will automatically give you points.

4. Keep It Confident

Confidence is an amazing asset to have in life, and is a skill that can be developed. Avoid apologizing for the email in any way. Don’t give them an out by saying if they are too busy you understand. If they really are too busy, you don’t need to mention it, they will simply not respond. Go into it like you respectfully deserve to be in the conversation. And if you do go into it, go prepared. Be thoughtful with every sentence you write. Confidence shows us you can handle high-stakes situations and have an ability to come through in the end.

5. Show You Mean Business

There’s a fine line between selling yourself and coming across as…frankly… a tool. Master the art of showing how serious you are and how much work you are willing to put in, without spamming your points. In other words, back up what you are telling me you can do. There is nothing wrong with letting us know you work hard and can grind things out until they succeed. Hard work is rare, especially when that means taking a risk, so do your best to tell us why you will be different than the 5 emails we got from others that day. If I see this in someone, it tells me they could provide value in my career as well. An email back is an investment, and the more confidence you give us the more we are willing to make that investment.

BONUS: I Got An Email Back, Now What?%@!

Great, you must have made a good impression and peaked their curiosity. Read their response carefully and respond accordingly. The 5 rules above still apply, with the exception of developing a specific voice for the correspondence.

If they answer your question and it is an abrupt no, then politely tell them thank you for their time, avoid getting angry and saying something that could burn the bridge later. You never know if/when your paths will cross again, and they could have your email filed for future opportunity.

If their answer gives permission for further dialogue, then proceed, still treading lightly for the first few backs and fourths. It’s important not to overburden their time and resources. The relationship is most important, so respect all areas of it. If you can add value in any way, offer your ideas, help, or resources. Overall just show them you are an investment that will bring return in some form.

Likewise, support their ventures in anyway possible; share their content on Facebook, take a course or seminar they offer, and put your “skin in the game.” Show them you really want to learn and are willing to put in the resources and effort.

Lastly, if you have taken a risk by sending an email to a professional you admire, congratulations. The crazy thing is that you are in the minority. Many people freeze, and chicken out. Just remember most of the time you have nothing to lose, so take the chance, you just may end up taking a meeting in a Tony Award winning producers office.

Have a question, comment, or story? I’d love to hear from you, just leave a reply below or email ben@theatrenerds.com

The post A Producers Advice On How To Get An Email Back From A Producer appeared first on Theatre Nerds.