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TAKE 5:
Constantly Learning
Leon Acord, Los Angeles
EMPLOYMENT OTIONS
May. 21-27, 2009
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This month, I took actor Bobby Reed’s wonderfully exhaustive “Marketing for Actors” workshop. Bobby works constantly, so even though I’m pretty good at marketing myself, I signed up immediately. I mean, when the pope offers communion, you take it!
His five-hour class was inspiring. He discussed how to track every show-business contact you make, “stalk” projects you’re interested in, promote yourself when you have nothing to promote, ensure CDs always remember you, and many other topics.
When he asked me how many auditions I’d had in 2009, I confessed I’ve been focusing solely on co-producing and acting in Carved in Stone this year. Bobby said he never felt the need to produce his own projects; he’s happy to be “just an employee.” And because he’s employed so often, that makes sense for him.
Alas, it seems that every five years or so, I need to stir things up and become my own boss. It began in 1992 with a featurette, OUT. A character I created in acting class became an obsession, and led to my first lead role on film – which I had the youthful bravado, or stupidity, to write and direct , as well. In 1997, I wrote and performed a one-man show, Last Sunday in June, for the challenge of playing multiple characters on stage, at Theatre Rhinoceros. Jeffrey Hartgraves directed that one; he then wrote Carved in Stone, the 2002 San Francisco stage comedy I co-produced because it provided me the dream role of “Quentin Crisp.” And now, in 2009, I’m at it again, with the June 19 LA premiere of Carved in Stone at Theatre Asylum.
I joked with Bobby that producing gives me the “illusion of control” over my career. It’s usually to play a type of role, or to work in a medium or genre I’d never get cast in otherwise; or to stay busy during a slump. I encourage every actor with a strong constitution and an ability to multi-task to try it, at least once. With today’s technology, it’s never been easier or more cost-effective.
Thanks to online casting, we had a plethora of submissions from which to choose. Clips of the SF production on YouTube have whetted our audiences’ appetite — and will be joined soon by a new commercial, shot very cheaply with a digital camera. We already have a fan page on Facebook, and plan to use its very cost-effective advertising that allows targeting users who’ve listed the writers portrayed in our show as their “favorites.” PayPal allows us to accept credit cards for tickets on our website, www.CarvedInStoneThePlay.com. Setting up said website was a breeze with Network Solutions. And one can “comparison shop” for everything from postcard printers to wigs! My co-producer/partner Laurence Whiting now says we need our own Twitter page!
But he’ll have to do all the tweeting. I’ll be in rehearsals by the time this issue hits the stands, and very happy to be “just an employee” again.
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