Category: Chris’ Career Stuff

  • Being On TV Does Not Make One Wealthy

    Being On TV Does Not Make One Wealthy

    Michael Schulman wrote an interesting piece for The New Yorker this week, in which he discusses the shaming of Geoffrey Owens for taking a job unrelated to acting. He points out that artists of all stripes buy time to work on their art by doing any manner of work, from bartending to tutoring. But because…

  • What It Means When Your Commercial Isn’t Airing

    What It Means When Your Commercial Isn’t Airing

    Recently I was chatting with a former student and she asked an interesting question. She shot a commercial, was paid for the session and a little usage, and then…nothing but holding fees. This happens quite a bit, but what does it mean? Here’s my explanation, but this answer only applies to union commercials shot under…

  • How I Track And Organize My Jobs

    How I Track And Organize My Jobs

    Back when I was teaching regularly, someone asked me how I kept records of all the jobs I worked…and I thought, “Doesn’t everyone do it the same way?” Apparently not. It’s easier to show you than tell you, so here’s a video:

  • EAR Prompters – The Basics For Actors

    EAR Prompters – The Basics For Actors

    What is an ear prompter and how does it work? It’s an amazing tool actors have been using for decades, and it allows you to deliver your lines word for word, without holding a script, and with no memorization. Producers love it because it allows them to change the script right there in the moment…

  • How Actors Work As Trade Show Presenters

    How Actors Work As Trade Show Presenters

    If you read Acting In Chicago, you know I do TV shows, commercials, VO and such, but I also work in other, more remote corners of the acting world. Being a trade show presenter falls into that category. It’s definitely not acting in the traditional sense, it’s more like hosting, but that doesn’t mean actors…

  • What Did I Do Before Becoming An Actor?

    What Did I Do Before Becoming An Actor?

    Everyone’s got a story about what they were doing before they started acting. What’s yours? I love a good story, so share in the comments below. Here’s my story. Feel free to read, or if you’d rather watch, I made a video of this post. Before I became an actor, I was in college prepping…