This town is all about "connections" in many ways, a concept that has just been jumping out at me lately. Here are a couple examples.

I had new headshots taken about a year ago. (If you're interested, you can see them on my acting site under "headshots" of all things.) Though I like the shots, they don't jump off the page. You don't think "hmmm, I wonder what's going on behind the eyes...?" In short, they don't make a connection with the casting directors. I can say this with fair certainty because both my agent and I have been submitting them all over town with limited to moderate success.

Sidenote: My previous b&w headshots (that were taken a several years ago) succeeded in making these connections. One of my former agents mentioned that I started booking commercial auditions faster than anyone she'd ever seen. Unfortunately, those headshots are outdated.

In any case, both my agent and career coach have recommended that we try new photos. Because I really liked my previous photographer's overall work, I was going to return to him. I realized however that he and I didn't really connect and that factor played a hand in how comfortable I felt during my shoot. I was unsure of what to do until I met with a photographer that my career coach recommended. My choice became clear. The photographer has a direct, "east-coast" sensibility (which I like) and we hit it off right away. I felt like we were on the same page and, yes, made a connection. As a result, I don't feel nervous about our upcoming shoot in the least.

My wife and I were talking about how there are some actors who are auditioning constantly for episodics and commercials while others, who are just as talented, don't. Why? We know that there say 20 guest/co-star roles on any night of episodic primetime tv but less than half of those breakdowns are ever given to general agents or casting sites. How are the others filled? The answer to both questions is in the connections; connections some actors have with different CDs so that they ask for them specifically and connections different CDs have with certain agents. Is this unfair? Not really. If you had a job to be filled and you had little time, wouldn't you want to fill it with someone you already know and can depend on? Of course you would. It's all about…yeah, okay, you get it.

So anyway, the point of all this is that, once my schedule has opened up again (post-How I Learned to Drive), I'm going to really focus on getting out there more; taking classes and workshops with CDs, submitting in a focused way, and all that jazz. Cause if you aren't connected, you're at a distinct disadvantage!

I hear you on the disconnect that exists in this town of waaaaay toooo biiig a talent pool to draw from. It's the same dilemma I am facing now. However, I am so tired of paying to be seen. And honestly it didn't work out so well for me this last year. I met with more CDs whom I didn't pay to meet at a workshop just from postcards alone. I still didn't book anything... ;)

We shall have to meet, commiserate and drink copious amounts of beer, coffee, tea? Oh, and make solid strategy to attack this town head on.

Cheers.