I’ve always said success isn’t about who you know, but who knows you. More specifically, what comes to mind when they think about you. The first impression that you leave when networking can make or break whatever future potential that relationship might have. I compiled this list of some common mistakes actors make when trying to expand their network, as well as suggestions for what you can do instead.
1. Collecting Names and Numbers
You’re at a gala and you see Angelina Jolie on the other side of the room. She’s an A-lister, so surely getting in her good graces will give your career a significant boost. You go out of your way to attend an award party because you heard Peter Dinklage is going to be there, and he holds tremendous starpower right now. Big names equal big opportunities, and the more the merrier, right? Wrong.
Instead:
Quality always trumps quantity. Only pursue meaningful relationships that are relevant to your acting career strategy and the ecosystem you’re trying to create around yourself. For example, aspiring comedy stars should focus on meeting people in or with connections to those circles. Robert De Niro can’t do much for you, but Melissa McCarthy could open plenty of doors for you.
Meeting a famous person solely for the sake of meeting a famous person is tantamount to getting their autograph. You walk away with bragging rights, kind of, but nothing meaningful.
2. Asking For Anything
The fastest way to get rejected is by going up to someone you barely know and asking if they have a role for you. Even if you know they’re looking for an actor with your brand, it’s never a good idea to initiate that conversation. The problem isn’t just that you’re coming off as desperate, it’s that you’re treating someone like a job board, not a human being. No one responds well to being dehumanized. If directors or producers are looking for someone to add to their next project, they’ll let you know…unless you leave a bad first impression, that is, in which case don’t expect to hear from them anytime soon.
Instead:
Get to know someone before asking for anything. Find some common ground, shared interests, and make actual conversation before anything work related is brought up. You can ask about what they’re working on and how their projects are going, but the moment you advertise availability or interest, you’re going to set off a red flag.
If you’re actively seeking out work, ask them for recommendations of people that you could try getting in touch with and a business card or two.
3. Unleashing Your Inner Fan
It’s one thing to express admiration for someone’s work, but gushing over them is a completely different story. It’s the antithesis of professionalism, and it’s something that industry members have to dodge and wade through every single day. Actors are normal people and the ‘star treatment’ gets really exhausting. The last thing they need is to get that kind of treatment from another actor or filmmaker.
Instead:
Talk to them like you would any other person. It’s really as simple as that. Appreciate their work, express your respect for their talent, but don’t ramble on about how they’re your favorite actor and which of their roles was your favorite. If you are going to make mention of their work, make it about them, not you. Compliments like ‘Your last performance was very compelling’ are always preferable to ‘I loved you in that movie!’.
4. Exclusively At Events
Networking opportunities for actors are everywhere, if you’re observant enough. Limiting yourself to red carpet events and high profile parties limits the types of people you’ll encounter and the conversations that you can have. Sometimes people are there just to have a good time; the last thing they want to talk about is work. And I know there are a handful who are only attending because it’s good press, they wouldn’t be there otherwise.
That’s not to say that you can’t connect with other actors and industry members at these big events. Just don’t expect people to be interested in networking simply because of where they are.
Instead:
You would be amazed at how naturally a conversation will unfold when you’re in a casual setting. Some of the best encounters you have will be in places like bars or cafes. The key is to just roll with it. Just because a conversation doesn’t center around gigs or resumes, that doesn’t mean it won’t lead to something later on. Leaving a good impression now is what prompts people to call you up and say ‘Hey, I don’t know if you remember me, we met in that cafe five years ago and you said you were interested in trying X. I think I’ve got something for you, are you interested?’.
Don’t forget to harness the power of social media either! Not every connection has to be made in person. LinkedIn alone is a goldmine of people who are literally looking to make connections with other actors as well as producers, directors, and agents.
Above all else, remember that these things take time. Cultivating meaningful industry relationships isn’t something that will happen overnight, so exercise a little patience.
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