Part three of this mini-series on educating yourself as an actor has to do with the industry and the words people use to describe it. It is important that you know what the heck people are talking about when they are saying things with regards to your industry because there is no other way that you will know what is going on, what to expect out of situations, or how to prepare for really anything at all. There are certain words, phrases, and situations that you need to be familiar with in order to feel comfortable with anything the industry throws at you. Here are some examples:

           -Auditions: There are several different types of “auditions” and it is important you know what they are and what you should be expecting. An “open call” is hugely different from a “pre-read” and you should know how to prepare yourself for both. Make sure you are always looking out for this because it can be the difference between having an appointment for an audition, and waiting in a room for hours and hours to be seen. Not shining a bad light on any of these types of auditions, but it is important that you know exactly what you’re walking into.

           -Events: Who is “press” and what are “credentials.” You need to walk into any event feeling confident that you know what you are doing and where you need to be. Social events can be great networking opportunities for you at any stage in your career, so you have to know what is meant when someone says, “I’ll walk you,” or why you need to get a photo with someone who has a different style of career than you do.

           -Acting Terms: When you are performing on stage, as actors there are so many terms that you need to know to be able to be directed properly it’s not even funny. Some of these terms also apply directly for acting for film and television. There are also terms that you need to familiarize yourself with for the situations you’ll be in that involve paperwork. There are a lot of different ways to explain things when it comes to SAG, how money is paid, etc… so it is important you know what you are doing with regards to this!

     So there you have it. There are some of the main reasons you need to know the terminology of your career. It is mostly about taking care of yourself and making sure you feel comfortable in any given situation. There is no real way to make sure you will have work as an actor, or total and complete stability, or anything else, but there is a way that you can feel more in control of whatever career problem is thrown at you. Make sure you stay educated not only so that you are easier to work with for others, but also for you own sake!