As an actor, plenty of opportunities may come your way and it's your job to accept as many of them as possible within the scope of what you and your reps have in mind for your career and you don't get ripped off. Therefore certain things you have to decline.
You can decline:
- unpaid work (if you're in a high enough tier)
- underpaid work (if you're in a high enough tier / negotiations haven't worked)
- work that isn't or underpaid that features something commercial, especially if negotiations haven't worked.
- you're sick and contagious or physically unable to do the requirements of the audition. No one wants to get sick.
- you've got a loved one who's been in an accident or passed away that you need to attend to. CDs & reps understand - go attend to your loved one. You may be able to do a self tape instead!
In an industry that's oversaturated with actors compared to jobs in the market out there, you'd really want to pick and choose carefully what you do decline as that decline can and will have consequences to them and in my career as an agent, I've seen a lot of actors not realise the impact these consequences their declines can have.
Especially when they're declining for what seemingly feels like an excuse:
- "I can't make it because of my day job" - what's more important? Your day job or your career? You can always get another job. You can't get another audition like this.
- "I've already got plans" - cancel your plans and get to the audition unless your plans are more important that your career.
- "That audition falls during the hoilday I booked months ago" - So you can afford a holiday but you can't afford to go to classes or get professional headshots and now you're going to decline an audition?
Let's explore what happens when you decline work or an opportunity:
You lose yourself an opportunity to land a job or representation: I've spoken to actors & performers (as I rep music theatre performers too) in passing whether it be at a restaurant or at the beach and I've told them to send me an email with their materials to consider for representation. 1 day, 1 week, 1 month goes by and still nothing. If they apply in the future, I won't be considering them for rep because this interaction, this first impression, will last and I'll remember that they didn't have the drive to go after an opportunity presented to them. And I don't want that to happen with an audition I've worked hard to get.
You lose yourself an opportunity to build a relationship or continue building your relationship with that particular CD, agent, manager, industry professional: This industry is all about who you know first and what you know second. A CD won't call you in if they don't know you or your work so you need to work hard for them to get to know who you are. If your materials are absolutely amazing and they don't know you, then yes, you will most likely get called in if they have the time to watch but they will usually go to the people they know first. BE one of those people. Meet them at networking events, at film festivals, at legit workshops or masterclasses that they teach or even send them material directly if their office allows it.
You may create a negative impression on that industry professional: I've seen an audition where the director of the show absolutely LOVED a dancer and told the choreographer he wants her in the show. The choreographer immediately said "I hired her for a job 4 years ago and she rocked up to rehearsals 2 hours late with a latte in hand. I'm not working with her ever again." You don't know how long people will remember both your mistakes and your achievements. While this example is extreme, it does happen and people do remember. Sure, a TVC CD may not blacklist you after 1 decline but if it becomes a habit, they will know you won't be reliable and they won't want you working with their client. The same can happen once you've gotten the job. A producer won't allow you to rock up late consistently to set or rehearsals without having a word with you before firing you. Always know people are watching and remembering what you're doing - be kind, courteous and professional and on time all the time.
You may create a negative impression of your representation on that industry professional: Your representation may have pitched, emailed and called a CD or producer numerous times to get you that audition and you've declined it. In this pitch, email and call, they've talked you up till kingdom come. And you've thrown that opportunity away. This has resulted in that agent or manager not being able to pitch you that hard in the future for a while with that particular CD because if they do so and you decline again, then that becomes a reputation not just for you but for that rep and no rep is going to let one of their talent ruin their reputation with someone in their network. Because as said earlier, this industry is about who you know - and that goes for your reps too. They have other talent on their books who they are willing to fight for who they know won't throw it away.
You seem unreliable, you don't take your job as an actor seriously & like you don't want your career: A lot of reps care for their actors and want them to work because if the actor gets paid, we get paid and therefore we can live. Actors need to understand that without them, we don't live and we know that without the auditions we get you, you don't book which means you don't get paid which means you don't live. Help us help you. Because if we want your careers more than you do, then you're in the wrong industry and we're wasting our time fighting for you. Be the actor that your rep WANTS to fight for. That KNOWS they can fight for.
CHECKLIST:
You can decline work - make sure it's for the right reasons.
Don't ever use an excuse to decline work.
If an opportunity arises, make sure you follow through with it. First impressions count.
This industry is who you know first, what you know second. Make sure these industry pros know who you are so you can show them what you've got!
You're representing not just yourself, but your rep too. Respect that.
People will remember you and what you've done and what you haven't done. Be mindful of this. People are watching and remembering.
Show your reps how much you want your career.