Working Actor Life

Everything we knew about this industry two years ago is probably already outdated...We are back after a week off because auditions came first, and that is exactly the point. This episode covers a big, busy week. We talk about redirects that feel like callbacks, a five-minute straight monologue callback tape, the reality of sustained audition volume without a booking, why levels in this industry are mostly a myth, the rise of vertical shorts, my manager search, and why everything you knew about this industry two years ago is probably already outdated.We also get into the case against AI demo reels, how to use an emotional map for long-form auditions, and why staying humble and staying a student is the only real survival strategy.

Timestamps

00:00:00 Intro, tech issues, we skipped last week, and why acting always comes first

00:01:30 The redirect that felt like a callback and what re-tapes actually signal

00:03:30 Essence over credits and why I did not get the redirect and was totally fine with it

00:06:00 My four auditions for two characters on the same new series

00:07:00 Sam's five-minute straight callback tape, 9 pages, one scene, full monologue

00:10:30 Using an emotional map and pinned sides, not cheating, it's smart prep

00:13:00 How many pages does The Pit film per day and what that tells you about your audition

00:14:30 Audition volume without a booking and when frustration starts to kick in

00:15:30 A series regular had to put a one-liner on tape and nobody is above self-taping in 2026

00:17:00 White Lotus, two co-stars, going up against a series reg, hope and perspective

00:18:30 Ground Up with Natalie, the podcast I sent Sam (linked)

00:19:00 Levels in acting and why we do not use them in TM and why they stunt your growth

00:22:00 What I learned from Sam and what Sam learned from me, it is not about credits

00:23:00 Vertical shorts are SAG now, Disney, YouTube, and why we are the beginners here

00:24:30 Your essence is your superpower even if you do not know what it is yet

00:25:00 Sam's new commercial agent and going back to in-person audition rooms

00:25:45 My manager search, Talent Link, cold submissions, referrals, and what actually worked

00:29:00 Thunderbolts was coming out and nobody responded, the industry is humbling

00:30:00 What our TM members have taught us about growth and staying open

00:32:00 Ego in the room vs ego about the outcome and how to use confidence correctly

00:33:30 Actors who make their own stuff and then steamroll everyone, Sam's lesson in humility

00:34:00 Do not hold us to what we said two years ago and do not hold yourself to it either

00:36:00 AI headshots and AI demo reels and why they look like shit and will not skip the line

00:39:00 The moral: nobody knows anything, let's play as a team

00:39:30 Our Working Actor Bootcamp is coming in April, join the waitlist below

Links

Join The Membership (TM)

Sam on Instagram

Gab on Instagram

Ground Up with Natalie

How We Approach Auditions Differently

What We Were Wrong About, our most popular episode

Doors to The Membership are opening soon. If you’re tired of spiraling alone after auditions, ⁠this is where we fix that!

What actually goes through our heads when the camera is rolling and nobody's watching? This episode, we pull back the curtain on the messy, unfiltered, very human

We take turns going deep on the real inner monologue behind the self-tape process, from imposter syndrome to beauty standards to full-blown existential crises.

We're talking:

• the thought that makes Gab question whether she should even be coaching
• why being "beautiful" in this industry isn't always the advantage people think it is
• the hidden time tax of hair and makeup — and why it makes Sam genuinely resentful
• second-guessing whether Atlanta actors are just fillers for bigger-market hires
• what self-sabotage actually sounds like mid-tape
• spiraling from one hard audition into "what am I doing with my life"
• whether you have to feel it "in your bones" to be a working actor
• the difference between doing this because you love it vs. because you're good at it
• how your cycle can affect your confidence (yes, we went there)
• what to do when the thought doesn't go away — and when to just tape anyway
• Sam's skincare journey update (and a truly unhinged Accutane detour)

Timestamps:00:00 what this episode is and why Gab came up with it02:00 the format: fly on the wall, ping pong style03:00 Gab's first thought: "how can I not know how to do this if I coach people?"05:00 walking away vs. pushing through...how Gab decides07:00 when being in your head can actually work for you on camera09:00 a membership win: booking after an audition they hated10:00 Sam's thought: resentment about hair and makeup prep time13:00 "being beautiful in this industry is not helpful" and why Sam stands by it14:00 Gab's second thought: are they just going to give this to someone from LA?16:00 self-sabotage disguised as logic17:00 spiraling into: what are we actually doing?19:00 acting as a drug, signing up again and again for the emotional toll21:00 synced cycles, spiral season, and the audition thoughts that come with it22:00 Sam's deepest fly-on-the-wall thought: is this as good as it gets?25:00 Gab's honest take: "I don't feel it in my bones that I'm supposed to be an actor"27:00 over-identifying as your job and what that costs you29:00 Sam's skincare update + the Accutane rabbit hole we did not plan for

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Doors to The Membership are opening soon. If you’re tired of spiraling alone after auditions, this is where we fix that!

We break down exactly how we prepped two very different auditions + why there is no one-size-fits-all method for working actors.

We’re talking:

- how to decide how much time an audition actually deserves

- indie film vs network tv prep differences

- when to immerse yourself in research and when to keep it simple

- memorization tricks that actually work for self tapes

- audition burnout and over-prepping

- why consistency with casting matters more than perfection

- how to stop “showing your work” in auditions

- the psychology behind relaxed auditions

- why not every tape needs 12 hours of backstory

- how to treat audition prep like a strategy, not a ritual

Timestamps:

00:00 why we’re keeping this intro short

02:00 sam’s indie film audition breakdown

05:30 reformatting messy sides and making bold choices

07:45 memorizing with repetition and passive listening

10:00 why taking breaks (and naps) actually helps

14:00 filming in stages and not forcing creativity

16:30 over-prepping vs strategic prep

20:00 gab’s “24th time auditioning for this show” mindset

22:00 how to prep when casting already knows you

24:00 why both approaches are valid

26:00 the biggest mistake actors make with audition prep

Follow + resources:

Join The Membership for coaching, live feedback, masterclasses, and real-time actor community support.

Follow Sam

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Last week we were on actor HIGHS: SEVEN auditions between the two of us. Voiceover sessions. Commercial callbacks. Zoom auditions with five-minute slots. Manager calls about new agents.This week? Nada.So let's break down the MENTAL hustle of staying in the game when the momentum spikes and then fades. Cause this is what we signed up for as working actors.⸻We’re talking: • What a 5-audition week actually looks like behind the scenes • 12-hour turnaround auditions and how to handle them • Auditioning at 6am for a major Netflix show • How to approach dummy sides when you have zero context • Using coaching to shape strong first takes • Why Zoom auditions are worth saying yes to • How to ask for time in the room without panicking • Commercial agent expansion and pitching yourself strategically • Direct-to-callback commercial auditions • The emotional crash after a big audition week • Your nervous system in context to actor life⸻Timestamps00:00 – Why we hit record immediately02:00 – Manager calls and commercial agent expansion06:00 – Five auditions in one week08:00 – 6am Tyler Perry audition for Netflix11:00 – Coaching choices and finding the comedy13:00 – The crash day after momentum15:00 – Audition flow vs emotional regulation21:00 – Taking the Zoom audition that scares you24:00 – 5-minute live audition breakdown27:00 – Asking for time in the room30:00 – Direct-to-callback KFC commercial33:00 – How many times is too many auditions for one brand35:00 – Meeting reps in person and relationship building39:00 – Why this industry is emotional whiplash⸻Links & Resources:Join The MembershipSam’s InstagramGab’s Instagram

If you’re only measuring your career by bookings, you’re going to feel like you’re failing.Booking signifiers are getting rarer. Callbacks, avails, pins, chemistry tests. They don’t show up the way they used to. This episode is about the new scoreboard.We break down what actually counts as success for working actors right now and how to recognize momentum and success metrics for yourself.⸻We’re talking: • Why traditional booking signifiers like callbacks, avails, chem tests, and producer sessions are happening less frequently • How industry contraction is changing what “success” looks like for working actors • What positive signifiers are and how casting feedback and agent feedback matter more than you think • Why getting more focused auditions from your agent or manager is a huge career marker • How to interpret audition rejection without spiraling • The difference between booking signifiers, positive signifiers, and momentum markers • Why feeling strong about your self-tape is a legitimate career win • How to build confidence when you’re not booking • Why comparing bookings on Instagram is distorting your perception of success • How intuition develops over time and why experienced actors trust their work more⸻Links:Check out all things Vas + Online actor here.

Take the free Actor Type Quiz⁠⁠Join the waitlist for The Membership⁠Sam’s IGGab’s IG

Timestamps:00:00 Why booking signifiers are disappearing03:00 Why agents may not tell you about avails or producer passes06:30 Positive signifiers: feedback from agents and casting09:00 Getting more aligned auditions from your reps12:00 Why agents can’t submit you for everything15:00 Momentum markers and feeling strong about your work18:00 Letting go after auditions instead of obsessing21:00 The four stages of competence and acting growth24:30 Confidence, intuition, and why actors get better with age27:00 Social media, comparison, and the “tape vs who booked it” trap30:00 Building long-term confidence without bookings32:00 The White Lotus near-booking and “onto the next” mindset

Managing losses without letting them define you will be the thing that makes this all do-able. So let's talk about the difference between a setback and a defeat and why your response to not booking matters more than the booking itself.

We're covering:

• handling avail checks and callbacks that fall through
• managing audition rejection and disappointment
• why comparing your acting career to others keeps you stuck
• turning rejection into creative fuel
• processing casting director feedback (too young, too old, not right)
• self-care on a budget for actors between bookings
• creating your own content when the industry says no
• building resilience as a working actor
• why quitting acting might take more courage than staying

Take the free Actor Type Quiz⁠

⁠Join the waitlist for The Membership⁠

Sam’s IG

Gab’s IG

Timestamps:00:00:00 intro and why we're talking about losses00:01:05 hot take: if you can't handle small losses, bigger ones will break you00:03:04 the personalization trap and why bookings aren't about hustle00:03:32 why quitting might take more courage than staying00:05:00 Gab's January losses: avails, holds, and canceled plans00:08:03 how to tangibly process rejection and disappointment00:10:38 what to do when you're tight on funds00:14:21 Sam's losses: being too young and too old in the same week00:19:05 getting excited about a role you'll never audition for00:24:09 discovering what you're actually upset about00:27:11 two different approaches to handling losses00:30:21 being a creative who uses creativity instead of sitting on it00:31:34 Bad Bunny's Grammy win and taking your moment00:33:05 Super Bowl halftime shows and representation00:36:04 closing thoughts and what's next

How have our definitions of success have shifted over time? Trust in our reps. Financial breathing room. Free time. Staying in the work when things are quiet. And learning how to measure wins that no one else can see.

Let's get into:

• why success isn’t a single moment or milestone

• the different “buckets” that can make us feel successful at different times

• why auditions, trust, and consistency matter more than bookings

• how financial flexibility impacts creative freedom

• redefining success in an industry that no longer creates overnight stars

• the danger of waiting for one role to change everything

• the difference between being content, settling, and staying curious

• why free time used to feel lazy and now feels rich

• how to create our own victories when the industry won’t hand us any

• staying in the work without external validation

  
  

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.

Links:

Join The Membership

⁠⁠Sam on Instagram⁠⁠

⁠⁠Gab on Instagram⁠⁠

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

We're back to break down the current state of the acting industry after sitting in on a closed-door TM only “state of the union” style call with casting.

We share what we expected to hear going into the call, + what actually surprised us.

Then our real-life working actor moments, including callbacks, Zoom auditions, eating on camera, voiceover marathons, and the absolute chaos of trying to plan anything in this business and/or life.

⁠Join The Membership⁠⁠

⁠⁠Sam on Instagram⁠⁠

⁠⁠Gab on Instagram⁠

Timestamps:

00:00:00 Intro and why we’re calling this a “state of the union”

00:02:10 What we expected to hear vs what casting actually said

00:04:45 The 400 scripted shows number and why that messed with our heads

00:08:30 Why optimism doesn’t automatically mean fast momentum

00:11:50 Feeling closer to the work even when you’re not booking

00:14:30 Callback stories and what “on first refusal” actually feels like

00:18:20 Eating on camera, SAG rules, and why some auditions have to be in person

00:22:10 Zoom auditions, casting notes, and how to keep it conversational

00:27:40 Why none of our calendars make sense and never will

00:33:15 Voiceover runs, commercial callbacks, and overlapping timelines

00:40:10 What this year requires emotionally from working actors

00:47:30 Final thoughts and what we’ll report back on next episode

starting the year in person and doing something radical: caring less. we talk about why giving fewer f*cks is not laziness but can help you get further (technically also faster).

we are building a working actor system that works with your brain, setting real time boundaries, choosing habits that support it, and letting the rest go. and cause WHY NOT: backyard digging, hobbies that stay hobbies, and a brief but passionate ode to Real Housewives of Salt Lake City.

Timestamps:

00:04:45 the pressure to monetize everything

00:08:20 creative focus vs checking boxes

00:13:45 trusting your process and redefining progress

00:18:30 time and energy management that actually works

00:23:00 setting boundaries around workdays and days off

00:27:00 hobbies that are not allowed to make money

00:30:45 digging in the yard as a metaphor (and a lifestyle)

00:34:45 reality tv, boundaries, and knowing when to log off

00:36:00 final thoughts on systems, creativity, and the year ahead

⁠Join The Membership⁠

⁠Sam on Instagram⁠

⁠Gab on Instagram⁠