Casting Director Jenny Rawdin on how to promote yourself everyday
By Jenny Rawdin
As an actor or model, you should always be prepared to promote yourself. Remember: You are your #1 tool to self-promotion. So be sure to:
- Always be prepared verbally: Know how to speak to your talent and articulate your acting experience.
- Always look polished & presentable: Look like you are ready to go to work on-set.
- Always have your headshot on hand, a resume, or at least a business card with contact information.
Even if you are out at a social event with friends, you should always be on your best behavior and in top form. Why? Well, you just never know who you’re going to meet. This is especially true in my hometown, NYC…
As a New Yorker, I always keep in mind that I never know who I might run into at any given time! It is the beauty of New York, especially in the casting industry. So, when I recently partook in an annual street event in NYC, I was not surprised that I met new talent, and reconnected with past actors I’ve worked with.
For the past 29 years, NYC has allowed the public to take part in an amazing event called The Museum Mile Festival. For the first time, I took advantage if this free, fun, artistic night filled with street performances and dazzling acts. I bumped into many people I knew and met a whole group of new talents, just like you InstantCasters! From this one night, I met so many new actors that I can potentially cast in my upcoming projects.
The Museum Mile night began at 104th Street and 5th Avenue, which is the backdrop to many Gossip Girl shoots and several scenes from Across the Universe. Here, I took in some great live music and even drew with some crazy colored street chalk to leave my mark on the event!
Then I made my way down to NYC’s famous Metropolitan Museum of Art. On my way, I ran into a character type actor dressed as a tree who was there to promote his new business. Then, I ran into Andrea Feczko, a great girl who I had cast once last summer on MTV. She was there to promote herself to the Travel Channel!
Andrea is currently building her own reel and doing her own personal blog! She was a very prepared and persistent person. She even emailed both me and my friend that very night to remind us of whom she was and that she was so happy to see both of us.
Just as I pointed out in the tips in the beginning, the most important thing for you as an actor is to always be prepared. There are networking opportunities everywhere you look! Andrea especially loved the Museum Mile Festival because she was “meeting so many different artists!"
My favorite stop of the night was the Guggenheim Museum. One event that really stood out was an award show held by Hugo Boss for new designers. There was a great crowd, and I bumped into a couple of people I have previously cast and worked with! It’s always fun to chat and catch up with people I have worked with and cast: it’s a fantastic chance for them to let me know what they have been working on in the past few months.
I think these brief surprise meeting benefits both the casting person and the actor. When you are both in a casual environment, you’re free to talk about anything; and even though you cannot plan these meetings, always keep your eyes open.
It is so important to attend event like these and market yourself at them. For instance, if you are interested in fashion and beauty try to attend fashion and beauty events and market yourself to people that look open and interested in your suggestions. Always be prepared to promote yourself verbally, practice in front of the mirror with a suit or an evening gown, for instance.
As actors and models, you must always be open to unexpected networking opportunities. You never know who you might run into at any moment!
Jenny Rawdin - MTV Casting Director. Jenny has been casting actors, singers, dancers, and models for MTV's Total Request Live, the hit pop-culture-driven video countdown show. She also works on MTV Specials and MTV events and has been working in the film and television industry in New York City for six years.
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