#7 - Actor Websites - An Interview with Tom Lapke from Two Cats Web Design
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Acting Successfully with Michelle Dyer
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Actor Websites – An Interview with Tom Lapke – Two Cats Web Design Tom Lapke –
- Actors Launchpad partnered with Reel Arc:
- Programs classes, workshops, and social events linking up actors with agents, managers, CDs, industry professionals to help actors further their reels
- Reel Arc: Produces reels. If you don’t have a lot of great footage yet, Interview you, then write, direct, produce scene that is indistinguishable from a TV show or movie for your demo reel.
- Started Audition Update when he was an actor as a resource he needed himself. A few years later, it was purchased by Backstage. Worked at Backstage as Director of Education and Events after it bought audition update
- Two Cats Web Design: A side hustle web design business, specializing in but not limited to websites for Actors
- Tom works with CDs and managers every day, and the things they can’t say in front of actors he does.
- Do actors need a website?
- Everything is digital. Casting Directors look for these when they are considering you. When they don’t know you, they’ll Google you. You want to be in charge of what they see, so create it.
- YourName.com
- Why? SEO: One of the ways Google searches is part of the domain name, so you want your content to be what comes up first. You want to populate the internet with current information that is tagged to you and that supports your career and your type.
- When you’re a professional, you’re starting a business. You’re the CEO, but what you’re selling is your art, and the same rules of business apply to you; any successful company controls their presence and their brand.
- What should be on your website? (Must-haves):
- Headshot (should have more than one)
- Resume (read on the site AND downloadable)
- Reel (video, or audio)
- Contact Page (probably the most important thing
- Contact form
- Your contact information
- Representation’s contact information
- Some people don’t like contact forms - they want to see the email actually sent out.
- TIP: Build in protection: put in contact information, take a picture of that, remove the text, then put in the image so bots scanning for spamming can’t grab it.
- Website can-haves:
- If you’re a singer or voiceover artist, should have high-quality sound files/professional quality recorded videos of your voice
- If you’re a model, have your modeling pics
- Bio page (no one reads them)
- How do you craft your unique personality without a bio?
- Great headshots (your friend with a camera isn’t a photographer)
- Great Reel
- Great design elements on the website
- Side Hustle: Don’t brand your side hustle on your actor website. They are separate and do not belong together.
- Should you post regular, dated updates on my news?
- Yes, as it shows you working. But, it’s a double edged sword - if it’s interesting and regular, it shows what you’re up to. If it’s not, it shows you don’t work. Keeps it current!
- Should you spend money on a designer or self-design?
- If you can do it, do! Wix, Squarespace, Weebly, Wordpress.
- What should you spend? How do you judge a quote?
- For a 5 page website $500. Or less is reasonable
- What are things actors should know in advance of talking with a designer?
- Understand who you are and what you want your visuals to be.
- Know that it’s utilitarian
- Make sure your website is mobile optimized.
- Recognize that you’re selling passively - there’s no “buy now” button. But - HAVE YOUR CONTACT INFO SO THEY CAN.
- Don’t pay a retainer for a designer, just on an update basis.
- Open the Podcast in iTunes – Acting Successfully with Michelle Dyer –
- Click on “Ratings and Reviews”
- “Write a Review”
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#15 - Finances for Actors - Part 7 (Emergency Fund), Part 8 (Retirement) & Part 9 (Debt)
Emergency Fund:
An emergency fund is money that you put into an account in case of a rainy day.
Actors – this is not money you use from one job to the next – it’s money kept for true emergencies.
I like setting up an emergency fund in a money market account (that’s liquid – aka can sell at any time) that doesn’t show up on my online banking, so it’s out of sight and I’m less tempted to spend it.
Experts recommend saving 6-12 months of expenses in your Emergency Fund.
**Disclaimer: I (Michelle Dyer) am not a financial advisor, please contact one. The views expressed are strictly my own and do not reflect my employer.**
Retirement:
“Retirement?! Why do I need to be thinking about retirement in my 20’s? I’m just barely getting by now!”
Check outmy blog post on Compound Interest.
…and my favoriteJP Morgan Compound Interest Chart
The earlier you start saving, the better off you will be.
Your future self will thank you!
Debt:
Items Referenced:
- Book –The Total Money Makeover – Dave Ramsey
- Workshops –The Actors Fund
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#14 - Finances for Actors - Part 5 (Monthly Budget) & Part 6 (Compound Interest)
The dreaded “B” word.
Budget:
For some reason I shrivel up at the word budget.
I associate it with restriction, which I associate with losing weight – it’s just not a pleasant thing for me.
But, we do need to know where we are, before we achieve where we’re going.
So – here are my tips on discovering how much goes in and out each month (yes, even on an inconsistent actors’ salary).
If you have more money going out than in each month there are only two solutions
- Spend Less, or
- Make More
Which one works best for you?
Compound Interest:
Check.
Out.
This.
Chart.
*This*is why I do what I do.
https://www.businessinsider.com/compound-interest-chart-march-2016-2016-3
**Disclaimer: I (Michelle Dyer) am not a financial advisor, please contact one. The views expressed are strictly my own and do not reflect my employer.**
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#13 - Finances for Actors - Part 3 (Financial Basics) & Part 4 (Finances & Feelings)
**Disclaimer: I (Michelle Dyer) am not a financial advisor, please contact one. The views in this video are strictly my own and do not reflect my employer.**
This audio is taken from a series of videos I made on YouTube called Finances for Actors - the playlist can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7SaDpSM3GOH0lDaEuEvEvSv_VDps0bs7
https://MichelleDyer.com
https://SurvivalJobsForActors.com
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#12 - Finances for Actors - Part 1 (Intro) & Part 2 (Goals)
**Disclaimer: I (Michelle Dyer) am not a financial advisor, please contact one. The views in this podcast are strictly my own and do not reflect my employer.**
Since they don't teach the basics of a financial education in school, instead of being frustrated & just complaining, I made some YouTube videos. Well, I wanted to bring that info to the podcast. So click Here if you want to check out the Playlist on YouTube.
Like I mentioned above, I am not a financial advisor, but I did learn a lot from these authors and books listed below. If you're interested in more info, definitely check them out.
·Suze Orman – The Money Book for the Young, Fabulous & Broke
·David Bach – The Automatic Millionaire
·Tony Robbins – Unshakeable: Your Financial Freedom Playbook
Thanks for listening and be sure to rate and review the podcast to let me know what you think! Thanks so much!
~Michelle
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Affiliate disclaimer - the Amazon.com links above are my Amazon Associates links. Don't have your own Amazon Associates account? Dude! You could be missing out! Check it out here ---> Amazon Associates
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#11 - Finances for Actors - An Interview with Clayton Howe
**Disclaimer: I (Michelle Dyer) am not a financial advisor, please contact one. The views in this video are strictly my own and do not reflect my employer.**
In this interview with Clayton Howe, we talk about his path in managing his finances as an actor.
For more information on Clayton Howe:
- Podcast: Entertainment x
- Social: @InClayNation
The books we discussed:
- The Automatic Millionaire - by David Bach
- Unshakeable: Your Financial Freedom Playbook - by Tony Robbins
https://MichelleDyer.com
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