Actors and Social Networks

I’ll be the first to admit that I probably don’t use social media as well as I should. The virtual world sometimes intimidates me, and I’d rather build relationships in real-life situations rather than online ones. That being said, I enjoy the online relationships I have and I continue to build my network through Twitter and Facebook.

Lately, I’ve been reminded of just how powerful social media is in the performing industry. Seriously, how did we do it ten years ago? Thanks to an RSS feed, I found about, submitted, and booked work on a national television network show, filming the next day. Awesome! The next day I got a message on Facebook from a casting assistant at a theater I have been trying to break into, asking me to come to callbacks for an invitation-only audition. Sweet! Why isn’t every actor on Facebook and Twitter?!

As great as these tools are, they can also so easily be used to our detriment. While we were filming on set, the director told us he had just fired a girl for tweeting about being on set, and anyone else doing the same thing would never again be welcome to work for the network. Scary.

Some things to think about as we interact through online networks:

– Grow existing and new relationships by interacting with others.

– Support others! If you want support, than give your friends that same support.

– Make sure your profiles are linked, or keep some continuity, like your user name, or profile pictures, so you can be easily identified.

– Think twice before you tweet or update your status. Would your update give someone a reason to not cast you or ask you to a callback?

– Wait to post information about casting. Things can change from casting to first rehearsals, and you can’t take back what’s already been put online and read by all 600+ of your Facebook friends.

– Be the kind of person you’d want to follow: encouraging, positive, passionate; what makes you unique?

Happy tweeting!