All tradesmen and tradeswomen carry a toolbox. Your trade will determine the type of tools required. A mechanic, for instance, will require wrenches and sockets; an electrician requires marettes and non-conductive hand tools. While as an Actor, you may use a less physical type of tool, your online tools and presence are just as vital to your career.

Your actors’ toolbox should allow you to have crucial bits of information readily at yours or your agent’s disposal. These are just guidelines! Discuss with your agent what they require of you, or go one step further and dig through your welcome packages and past correspondence to see what they have already requested.

Actors Access Profile – www.actorsaccess.com Some MAJOR key points, make sure to link your representation to your profile, or all your work will be for naught. Choose one of your photos and set it to ‘default’, otherwise it may not show on your profile. Complete all aspects of your Profile, Resume, Slate Shot, Size Card, and any other media if you have it.

Casting Workbook Profile – www.castingworkbook.com follow the same guidelines as Actors Access. The difference with this site, is how you update your resume. Casting Workbook requires a pdf version of your resume whereas Actors Access builds it for you.

Professional Headshots – Your business calling card if you will. Anyone can take a picture, it takes an industry professional to make a 420p thumbnail a work of art. Choosing your photographer and by extension the photos rendered could make or break your attractiveness to casting.

The following are pieces of information that your Agent needs to have on hand. Make sure you have everything updated!

SIN – It allows you to work legally in Canada. Don’t have one?! APPLY ASAP. Children included! Everyone who works in Canada is required to have a Social Insurance Number. Why does your agent need it? They are the one who set up everything between you and Production; make sure they have everything they need so that there are no last minute mistakes. Production waits for no one, you could even be passed over for a project if you do not have one readily available.

Valid Mailing Address- Production will take months to re-issue lost cheques if the mailing addresses are not correct. Your Agent will forward your cheques to you if they are payable to you direct. Your information MUST be up to date.

Passport – For most of the same reasoning you need your SIN, and you wouldn’t want to miss an opportunity because you didn’t have the foresight to apply before you needed it. There are lots of gigs that fly you to other countries to shoot.

CAVCO – Canadian Audio-Visual Certification Office Personnel Number. It is a federal tax credit program the CRA. It is free to apply, click here. This is becoming a requirement for most Canadian Content productions, as it circumnavigates a lot of red tape for production.

It is crucial for parents of actors to update their children’s sizes consistently. Agents do not know your children’s sizes as they change and they cannot have their time wasted with incorrect submissions.The quality of your tools will directly impact your ability to even secure an audition. Make sure all your profiles are complete and up to date. Check them regularly, and add to them just as often!