Buyouts, Showcases, Casting and the ART of acting...

“Touching one life at a time through the Arts”…

That’s my personal mission and that of our studio, Matlin Studio for the Arts. I once asked a child why he was taking my acting classes. His response, “I’m not here to get rich or famous. I’m here to have a good time.” From the mouths of babes, as they say. We should all be here to “have a good time”.

It has come to my attention on several occasions now that there is a growing amount of confusion, and in turn (sadly) a growing amount of negativity with regards to our local acting community. I have been asked by a few people to address some of the “issues” and give my perspective. Let me begin with the disclaimer that what I say is not written in stone nor do I profess to know the goals of every actor in our community. However, I will attempt to be as candid and straight forward as possible. If you’ve worked with me that will not come as a surprise. :)

As my students and actors I’ve worked with know, I love actors at every level. I could give you a litany of reasons why, but suffice to say, “Actors make a difference”. I have had the pleasure of working with actors for many years and have found that they are an intelligent and creative group of people.

I will first begin with the business question everyone seems to be asking. “Should I ever agree to a ‘buyout’?” Contrary to what has been circulating around the web, this is not a black and white issue. I do not believe that all buyouts are evil, nor do I believe we should agree to do them without researching the details. I will say, IF YOU HAVE AN AGENT YOU MUST NEVER AGREE TO A BUYOUT WITHOUT FIRST CONSULTING YOUR AGENT. However, should you decide that you would be willing to move forward after doing your research and consulting your agent, it is ultimately your choice as the “owner” of your career. Keep in mind that your agent works for you and not vice versa. Keep in mind too, though, that should you go against your agent’s wishes, you may be in the market for a new agent. The ideal relationship between agent and talent would be one of mutual respect.

For those of you who are not represented (Don’t have an agent), you are free to make decisions without having to consult an agent. Make sure the decision you make is a wise one. For instance, if you get the opportunity to do a commercial for ABC Bank and they want to pay you a “buyout” fee of $300 to use your images forever, you may want to think that over. In the future, if you have the opportunity to do a commercial for XYZ bank, you would be disqualified because you have essentially committed yourself FOREVER to ABC Bank. However, there are several things to consider.

Example: Golden Casino wants to pay me $350 to use my face in their ads in Florida. It’s a buyout for that state. Would I do it (personally)? Yes, indeed. As a matter of fact, my agent sent me out on the job and we were both in agreement and comfortable due to the geographic location. However, if I planned to move to Florida in the near future, I may have thought twice about it.

Example: AB Cola wants to use my face in their ads forever and buy me out for $500. I probably would not do it because I want to make sure I’m available if Coke or Pepsi come calling one day. (I’m still waiting on them to call :) )

Recently a casting call was put out by one of our local (and respected) casting directors (we’ll discuss casting in a moment) for a job in Phoenix that was for an “institute of higher learning” let’s just say. The audition was for a buyout of about $300. Again, if there are agents involved, you must consult your agents. I would NEVER agree to a buyout without doing this first. This is where we run into the gray areas. There are talent who are HAPPY to do this kind of work and they understand the way buyouts work. Some would rather NOT be represented by agents as they manage their careers well and get plenty of work on their own without paying commissions.

Regarding the recent posting: One person who spoke to me recently stated, “Name of School” is one of the biggest schools in the state. Who’s going to compete with them? Of course I’d do it! I’ve done these before, they’ve liked my work and they’ve called me back for other things.”
Downside, your image is used forever and you don’t make more money for it.
Upside, you may impress them and they may call you back again in the future.

Bottom line on buyouts – Do your homework! This is YOUR career. Research before jumping in with both feet either way. Always consult with your agent if you are represented. Ultimately, however, the choice is yours.

Let’s move on to casting agents. As actors, we are often intimidated at the thought of the ‘CASTING DIRECTOR’ and get the feeling that when we audition we are their adversary. Nothing could be further from the truth. Casting directors are “people gatherers” and they want you to get the job as much as you do.

Different casting directors run their business differently, much like actors. Different strokes for different folks. Here too, is where we often run into those pesky gray areas.

Should I sign up on a casting website? Should I pay to attend a showcase?
Again, YOU are in charge of YOUR career. There are some situations where questions have come up as to whether or not talent should become paid members on a website for casting. This is your choice to make after doing your homework. The talent can either be paid members or not. They are not required to pay to audition through the casting director. I will say that you should NEVER be asked to pay to audition. However, if talent wishes to be a paid member, they will have their own website through the company and the opportunity to post details that will be made available for producers and directors to see. I have spoken to a couple of directors who find this quite useful in finding talent for their projects. IT IS NOT REQUIRED that you become a paying member, however. You will STILL qualify to audition simply by submitting your information to the casting director by becoming a non-paid member. There has been a lot of “misinformation” on this topic recently. Again, my suggestion would be to RESEARCH and do your homework. Ultimately, you are in charge of your career. Not the casting director. Not your agent. Having said that, you should strive to work “in partnership” with agents and casting directors, keeping an open and positive line of communication. For the record, the process of signing up for casting websites and paying to do so has been going on in LA for some time. Technology is definitely moving forward and our state needs to keep up.

Showcases are another issue that people have questions about. I again defer to the talent and how much they wish to spend to get themselves ‘seen’ either in or out of state by way of a showcase. I will say the chances of getting an agent or work as a result of a showcase has been quite low historically. If you are thinking that participating in a showcase will guaranty you an LA agent, think again. It has happened, but it is very rare.

Part of the process involves training to do the showcase, however. Being a life long learner myself, I always suggest that actors get as much training as possible from as many reputable instructors as possible. Although casting directors are not “teachers”, there is much that can be learned from them with regards to their niche in this business. I personally have participated in a showcase for agents in the LA area. I have no intention of moving, but I chose to have the “experience” in order to share it with my students. I do not recommend showcases for the purpose of acquiring LA agents. Having said that, it’s the actor’s call and each person is different. I would never want to limit anyone in pursuit of their dreams.

For actors who are definitely moving, it may not be a bad idea if your move is already in motion. However, if you think that your ship will come in as a result of participating in a showcase, you will probably be stuck at the airport while that ship docks and sails again. I will say that the networking and camaraderie I experienced was worth the one time shot for me personally. However, my situation is slightly different. I often pursue further training out of state to keep my skills as an instructor honed. Typically, I would recommend that local talent find local instructors who fit their needs for training. The valley has quite a few reputable coaches and it’s great to get different perspectives. The only caveat would be to beware of overpriced classes that deliver little. There are an abundance of scams out there that charge a bundle and deliver little. Shop around. Do your research!!!

Be aware of all the information that is flying your way. Take time to research and contemplate why something is being circulated. Is it in the best interest of the actor? Is it in the best interest of the agent? Is it in the best interest of the casting director? Keep in mind that it really is okay to make money in all these areas; talent, casting directors and talent agencies. However, if you, as the talent, are being told that all is black and white and there is no other way, take the time to find out for yourselves if that is REALLY the case. Remember, this craft is truly wonderful and the business can be as well. Always do your own homework and do what is best for you and your career. Remember too, there are people who might have something to gain by dispensing their “educated” and occasionally “biased dictates” disguised as advice. If they are in a position to earn an income from talent, whether it is an agent, casting person or even an instructor or coach, you need to RESEARCH. You must ask questions to various people in the industry if you are to get an educated answer…YOUR educated answer.

Bottom Line: Each of us is in the business for our own reasons. However, those actors who are in it for the sake of pursuing their passion for the arts are the actors I enjoy working with the most. I always tell my students that if they come to me with the goals of making big money and becoming rich and famous, they have probably come to the wrong place. I want to teach actors who come to the studio to feed their flame of desire for the craft. IF actors make money as a result of pursing their passion, that’s fantastic! The true artist doesn’t make art for money. Money is a bonus and by product of the pursuit of their craft. I am also of the belief that many actors simply want to work. If they choose to work for “x” amount, it is their prerogative. It is the way our society works. Each actor/talent should have the final say in his or her career. And as I’ve echoed throughout this article, DO YOUR RESEARCH. Keep an open mind and know that anything your mind can conceive and believe it can achieve. I wish you greatness and a career full of discovery and joy! If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Linda Waymire, PhD
Executive Director
Matlin Studio for the Arts
(602) 402.7740
algproductions@cox.net
www.matlinstudio.com

"A bird doesn't sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song." ...Maya Angelou