We’re talking about the acting advice we used to give, fully believed, and would absolutely change or nuance now.

We break down why blanket advice ignores actor markets, how self-tapes and demo reels have shifted, what actually works when reaching out to agents and managers, and why productivity systems can become performative instead of helpful.

Plus our real-real: audition timing strategy, lighting choices, callbacks and avails that don’t book, booking the room, and redefining success when momentum looks different than expected.

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Timestamps:

00:00:00 Intro and why this episode is about being wrong

00:01:10 Why the internet struggles with nuance and growth

00:04:30 Blanket acting advice and why actor markets matter

00:08:20 The problem with one-size-fits-all career paths

00:10:00 Self-tapes vs real footage for demo reels

00:12:00 Reaching out to agents and managers in 2026

00:15:45 Productivity, scheduling, and acting career burnout

00:17:30 Performative productivity vs real progress

00:20:00 What an “ideal” actor schedule actually looks like

00:22:50 Why auditions shouldn’t define your identity as an actor

00:24:30 Letting go of systems that no longer serve you

00:28:10 Finding community and not doing this alone

00:33:00 Audition timing, lighting, and working with your real life

00:37:40 Callbacks, avails, and what booking the room means

00:41:10 Final thoughts and what’s coming next