Email has become ubiquitous, even your grandmother uses it…to send you pictures of puppies or cartoons of Maxine. Every day, millions of messages are sent by actors in response to audition notices, on a follow-up to a Biz-related email, or as a query concerning casting opportunities at some theatre, etc. Yet many actors fail to realize that this form of communication is also a new type of advertising and the place for it to happen is right below, “Sincerely, Sean Pratt.”
Your Electronic Resume
The concept is called an email signature. It’s been around for about 10 years or so and has only gotten more multifaceted over time, allowing for numerous options of self-promotion. There are many free software programs out there that can be downloaded for this purpose; Plaxo is one that comes readily to mind. These programs allow you to turn your email signature into an online, electronic resume that can be customized and easily updated as your wants and needs change.
Getting Started
Before listing the various information and links that could be integrated into your email signature, let’s start with the fact that you’ll need some kind of website to post the various links to. This does not mean you’ll have to create a fancy website first in order to get this particular piece of marketing up and running. Most cable providers now offer a DIY website option as part of your internet features; just log-on to their site to find out more about it. Though these sites will be pretty basic in their look and feel, they will at least allow you to post various pictures, files and video to the web for little or no cost.
Building Your Email Signature
Here are some options that you can include when creating your email signature.
- Your picture – This is the sanctum sanctorumof being an actor, “Nothing leaves your office without your picture on it!”
- Your name – That one’s pretty obvious but you’d be surprised how many actors forget it.
- Your contact info – Your email address (yes, I know it’s already in the message itself, but it can’t hurt…and maybe you have more than one), cell number, agency number and website address (if you’ve already spent the time and money to create one).
- Union Affiliations – Always a good thing to put out there.
- Basic Stats – Height, weight, hair color, eye color and voice range…if you sing.
- Resume – This must be posted to the website first so you can provide the link.
- Video demo link – For your film, TV and Video highlights.
- Audio demo link – For your voice-over work.
- IMDB listing link – Have you worked in film and television? Then showcase it!
Does this sound vaguely like giving someone your resume right before you audition for a part? Good, you’re catching on. Make sure the layout of the links are easy to read and understand – here, the font style and size are important. Now, will everyone take the time to browse this cornucopia of your advertising efforts? Absolutely not, but by offering them this option you’ll be giving them an opportunity to “audition” you sight unseen and you’ll also be making a statement about your level of professionalism.
For more information on Actor Marketing read: Actor Marketing 101 - Understanding The Basic Ideas of Self Promotion
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