How to Confidently Tell People You're an Actor

HERE'S WHAT HAPPENED

I started chatting with a barista one day when they inevitably became curious about my job.

Barista: So what is it you do exactly?

Gulp. Here it goes.

Me: I'm an actor.

Have you ever felt that weird feeling in your stomach when someone asks what you do?

"I work this part-time job during the day, and that part-time job at night. It pays the bills."

"Oh my full-time job is in corporate."

In this post, I'll show you how to confidently tell people you're an actor so you can stop feeling awkward when someone asks. Then we'll dig into three specific confidence roadblocks and how to address those verbatim.

CONFIDENT ACTOR TIP 1

I use a fact/question formula to confidently tell people I'm an actor.

State a fact about your acting career as it currently stands, then ask the listener a question related to your career.

We'll go over specific examples in a minute. But first, let's look at why this formula is so magical because I want you to use it every time someone asks you that question.

When you state a fact about your career, it portrays that you are fully self-aware and not just a dreamer. It will convey to the listener that you have a handle on the situation and don't need a career pep talk or life advice about getting a "real job."

When you ask the listener a question, it encourages them to think of an answer and become invested in your career by helping you take the next step. Let's look at three specific examples for clarity.

CONFIDENT ACTOR TIP 2

Maybe you're just getting started. Have you ever taken an acting class? Do you have a theatre degree? Try saying this:

"I'm an actor. I'm new to the area, so I'm just getting started. I have a theatre degree, but I need to find a good film acting coach in town. Do you know anyone?"

I made a clarifying statement about my career, then asked a question for help with my next move. This is also a great way to get personal clarity about your next step.

CONFIDENT ACTOR TIP 3

Maybe you already have an acting coach. If you're looking for a talent agent, try saying this:

"I'm an actor. I have a great acting coach, but I'm looking for a reputable talent agent now. Would you happen to have any references?"

They just might! You won't know unless you ask. I've also found that most people will start thinking really hard about whether or not they know anyone to see if they can help you. 

Have you considered that the food you eat impacts your confidence? I can help you fuel your body correctly as a Certified Nutrition Coach. Click here to start today for free.

CONFIDENT ACTOR TIP 4

Maybe you already have an acting coach, an agent, and legit resume credits to your name. Now it's time for you to set a strong career goal. When you start confidently telling people you're an actor, my personal experience shows that this question is almost always coming next:

"So what do you want to do with acting?"

Be ready to answer this!

"I would like to (fill-in-the-blank with an acting goal)."

Again, you will convey that you've taken this seriously and thought about your career as opposed to just dreaming about it.

My answer is, "I would like to book supporting roles in feature films."

I also know all the reasons why that's true for me right now. That goal can change, but if you close your eyes right now, where would you ideally be in your career if you could just snap your fingers and be there? That's your answer.

Write down your goal with pen and paper today. Write it on your bathroom mirror with a dry erase marker. Make a background for your computer or phone. Put it somewhere you can see it. 

TAKE ACTION

Use this statement/question formula the next time someone asks you what you do for a living.

I challenge you to confidently say, "I am an actor," for the next month every time someone asks about your work because the trick is to just start saying it.

I don't care if you have another job. Part of your answer needs to be, "...and I'm also an actor."

It. Will. Feel. Weird. It took me about a month of saying it to stop feeling weird. But can I tell you something? I don't even think twice about saying it now. It's so uneventful that I wish I would've started saying it sooner to get the weirdness over with. People think it's cool because I think it's cool. 

Comment below and share how you handle this question.