Your Agent works tirelessly to land you auditions. They spend their ‘off hours’ submitting you and fellow actors on their roster to any and all projects you are a fit for. 

There are SO MANY factors to add in; location of filming, whether travel is required/compensated, age range, pay scale, your experience and of course your dedication level. Are you available full time, part time, or are you simply treating this as a hobby? (Another post on that another day!) 

For as diligent as you may be to respond to your emails and punctuality for auditions, we all know, being an actor means that you are self employed. You get to take charge of your own career as well. Did you know that you can self submit yourself to projects?! It is a tedious task that requires a certain level of time management and communication. 

New, inexperienced actors often make the mistake of self submitting to paid projects posted on social media sites. DO NOT DO THIS! Agents are given all breakdowns for all paid projects at least a week before they hit social media. If you are a fit for the project then you have already been submitted. Trumping your agent’s submission by double submitting will put you in a pile of self represented actors by casting. This will ensure that you are the LAST to get pulled in for the project. 

Actors also make the mistake of self submitting to Principal roles in union television series. This makes you look very very silly and unprofessional to the director. A certain resume, certain union credits and experience are needed to be submitted to union shows. If you do not have these specifications on your resume you are wasting the directors time by submitting yourself as you are NOT a fit or qualified for their specs. This is why you have an Agent, and Agent makes sure that you are submitted to projects that you will get called in for and that your reputation stays professional in the industry.

​There are ground rules to self submission though. Hardened and fast rules that MUST be heeded when doing so. 

1. It must be a non-paying role. 

  That means you can submit for student projects, and Indie films. You are
under contract with your agent, any monetary compensation is subject to
fees.

2. Check ALL details before doing so. 

  You wouldn’t want to submit for a project in another country without having
the proper documentation, nor would you want to make a poor choice that
may affect your reputation within the acting community.

3. Tell your Agent! 

  Communication is key. Make sure you are letting them know you have
upcoming auditions/bookings. It could affect the auditions you are able to
attend through your agent.

4. Scheduling

​  Don’t over book yourself. Organization and time management is absolutely
  CRUCIAL! Adding to your resume and experience is important, but not at
the cost of losing out on paying jobs.

Grow your experience and your dedication to your career, just remember that you have an Agent doing the same! Working on the same goals will only help to propel you further and faster.