Artist’s Resume. Do’s and Dont’s
Professional performers frequently can not help but feel a little weak when it comes to the process of auditioning and booking jobs. Certainly, folks from the outside think that actors have some say in creative aspects, but your input and personal preferences are quite insignificant in the process. So while you’re on your way to stardom, it’s smart to leverage the opportunities at hand.
The first area you have control as an actor is the way in which you represent yourself to casting directors and agents; this begins with a professional resume.
Don’t lie on your resume, but do, let’s say, polish it a little. The miraculous gray area! No one necessarily needs to know that community theaters are community theaters. If the name of the place is the Albuquerque Community Theatre, drop “community.” Next, eliminate credits for roles you couldn’t actually play in the professional world. If you played Ophelia when you were 17, just leave this fact out. Slightly tamper with school theater credits by using the name of its theater rather than the name of the school.
In the Training section, approach community college courses as independent classes, listing only the subjects and the instructors — voice, movement, etc. Include lectures and workshops you’ve attended since those provide training as well.
Of course, the savvy résumé reader knows how to spot slightly upscaled amateur or small-time credits. But removing the repeated stamps of “community” or “college” does help to reduce the impression that you’re an absolute rookie.
Next, remove indicating amateurish giveaways: Only children must list their height, weight, and birthday. There’s no need to mention hair and eye color. Also, please never include your home address or SSN (Yes, believe it or not, people do.) If you don’t have an agent or manager, it’s appropriate to list your website and email.
Don’t lie on your resume — that can easily backfire. If you do, be very careful; make sure you know all about the production with which you’re claiming to be associated, in case you’re asked. Or better yet: Don’t lie.
Be careful about being unrealistic about your age range. In the hopes of getting more work, many actors list a large age range. This doesn’t help the person reviewing your resume at all. It’s actually better to leave out your age range altogether and let them decide if you’re suitable for the part or not.
If you have no experience, go down to your local community theatre and ask to be in the chorus. Or volunteer to be in a student film. Or become a movie extra.
There’s no crime in being a newcomer. Absolutely everyone has been one at one point. Present whatever experience you have in its best light, and put yourself out there!
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