Actors and Networking
How Randomness and Chance Can be Used to Your Advantage
Currently, there are two excellent books out dealing with the concept of randomness; The Drunkard’s Walk, by Leonard Mlodinow and Fooled by Randomness, by Nassim Taleb. Both are very entertaining and informative. The authors dwell on the importance of understanding and accepting the idea of randomness, while at the same time figuring out ways to minimize the amount of chance that is present in our lives.
An Old Saw
This brings to mind that chestnut used so often in the Biz to describe a successful actor, “They were in the right place at the right time.” Most people use this phrase as a stand in for, “They were just lucky,” but there is much more going on than that. While there is an ingredient of luck, or chance, involved in an actor’s success, if you look at the three elements at play in the statement above, you might see how it is possible to manipulate them in your favor, using the concept of randomness. Those elements are – the actor, the location and the timing. Let’s look at each one.
Now You’re Here, Now You’re There
All too often an actor thinks that they must be physically present in a given location for fortune to smile on them – such as showing up at the audition. This is not necessarily so. Through the use of postcards, flyers, newsletters or just sending out your picture and resume – all elements of advertising – an actor can place themselves in front of the casting director, agent, producer, etc. In effect, they are present, but just in a different form. This is why staying in touch with your contacts is so important and integral to creating opportunities for work to find you!
Location, Location, Location
In addition, many actors think that being in “the right place” refers only to the audition or interview and, once again, that is simply too limiting. The acting classes you take, that opening night party, all those industry related events and even a late night actor get-together are all great places to be At any one of them, you might meet that certain someone who says, “Here’s my card. Send me your stuff.” In a word, it’s all about networking!
Timing is Everything
Finally, there is the element of time, or timing, and here is where it gets a bit tricky. Many actors lack the tenacity to keep putting themselves in the right place again and again. Yet, that is precisely what it takes in order for “the right time” to come along. You may have to audition ten times before you land a part at that theatre where you’ve wanted to perform. Ten times, you had to work full out to put yourself in the right place until, through chance, the right time came along and the director decided to hire you.
So to sum up, the more you advertise, network and stay proactive in your day-to-day efforts, as opposed to reactive, the more you generate those moments when randomness or chance will come along and create the opportunity for you to move up to the next rung on the ladder of success. Call it whatever you want – diversification, putting many irons in the fire or just throwing mud on a wall to see what sticks. The fact is that it works.
The Concept of Randomness
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