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Episode 356: The Importance of the Language of the Agents & the CD's

Acting Business Boot Camp

Release Date: 10/01/2025

Episode 374: Stop Lying To Yourself show art Episode 374: Stop Lying To Yourself

Acting Business Boot Camp

Self-Perception and the Stories We Call “Logic” Most actors don’t think they’re afraid. They think they’re being responsible. They say things like: It’s not the right time I need to be more prepared I don’t want to do it halfway I’ll reach out once things settle down Those sentences sound calm. Thoughtful. Adult. They also quietly keep you from moving. Fear doesn’t usually sound dramatic. It sounds reasonable. And that’s why it’s so effective. Why This Matters So Much Creative entrepreneurs live in nuance. Actors are trained to consider context, timing,...

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Episode 373: Interview with James Robbins show art Episode 373: Interview with James Robbins

Acting Business Boot Camp

In this episode of the Acting Business Bootcamp Podcast, I sit down with James Robbins to talk about listening to your inner voice, building resilience, and what happens when you stop ignoring the signals that something needs to change. James shares stories from his life as a climber and leadership coach, including what he’s learned from climbing mountains, facing fear, and doing hard things repeatedly. We talk about burnout, discernment, anxiety, and how these lessons apply directly to actors navigating uncertainty in their careers. This episode is about courage, self-trust, and...

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Episode 372: Underestimation, Overestimation, and Grounded Confidence show art Episode 372: Underestimation, Overestimation, and Grounded Confidence

Acting Business Boot Camp

Self-Perception and Where We Decide We Belong I want to talk about something we reference a lot in acting, but usually only vaguely. Self-perception. It sits at the center of almost every actor’s journey. It shapes how you talk about yourself, who you reach out to, what rooms you think you belong in, and how far you let yourself go. Most of the time, we don’t even notice it happening. Why This Matters So Much I was thinking about 10 Things I Hate About You and that line about being overwhelmed and underwhelmed, and asking if you can ever just be whelmed. It made me think about actors. We...

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Episode 371: Episode 371: "There is Nothing Going on in My Career"

Acting Business Boot Camp

I hear actors say this phrase all the time: “There’s nothing going on in my career.” And I want to be very clear, that idea is almost never true. In this episode of the Acting Business Bootcamp Podcast, I talk about why that belief shows up, how it distorts your perception, and what you should be measuring instead when things feel quiet. I also share why I reshaped my Weekly Accountability Group to focus just as much on time management as accountability. This episode is about structure, consistency, and staying engaged in your acting career even when results aren’t obvious yet....

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Episode 370: You Can’t Call Yourself a Professional Actor If Your Business Is Running Like a Hobby show art Episode 370: You Can’t Call Yourself a Professional Actor If Your Business Is Running Like a Hobby

Acting Business Boot Camp

The Part of the Business We Avoid I don’t know many actors who got into this work because they love paperwork. Money. Invoices. Contracts. Admin. I avoid this side of the business not because I think it’s beneath me, but because it makes me uncomfortable. It forces me to look closely. At numbers. At patterns. At choices I’ve postponed. And lately, I’ve been reminded how common that is. Why Admin Creates So Much Anxiety I’ve had several conversations recently with actors who are genuinely scared of the financial side of their career. Taxes coming up. Receipts scattered. Invoices...

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Episode 369: How Actors Actually Change Their Year show art Episode 369: How Actors Actually Change Their Year

Acting Business Boot Camp

Actors often think a new year will change things. New calendar, new energy, new motivation. But real change doesn’t come from dates. It comes from how you structure your choices, your habits, and your expectations. In this episode of the Acting Business Boot Camp Podcast, Peter Pamela Rose breaks down the five shifts that actually help actors change their year, not in a dramatic, overnight way, but in a grounded, sustainable way that builds real momentum. This conversation is about business, nervous system regulation, consistency, and self leadership. It’s about how actors move out of...

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Episode 368: Two Tabs, One Artist- Keeping Your Spicy Work Separate (and Safe) show art Episode 368: Two Tabs, One Artist- Keeping Your Spicy Work Separate (and Safe)

Acting Business Boot Camp

The Art of Keeping Things Separate This topic comes up more than people admit. Usually in a whisper. Or an email that starts with, “This might be a weird question…” It’s not weird. It’s just complicated. A lot of actors are working in NSFW or spicy spaces. Erotica audiobooks. Adult games. ASMR. OnlyFans. Patreon. Sensual storytelling. And at the same time, they’re booking e-learning, commercials, family-friendly narration, children’s content. The work itself isn’t the problem. The overlap is. So I want to talk about how to keep those worlds separate in a way that’s...

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Episode 367: Utilize Invisible Guidance show art Episode 367: Utilize Invisible Guidance

Acting Business Boot Camp

Listening to Invisible Guidance I’ve been thinking a lot about how guidance shows up. Not in big dramatic flashes, but in the tiny whispers. The quiet nudges you feel before anything becomes a full blown lesson. And honestly, the more I look back on my own life, the more I see how often I missed the first whisper. When the Whisper Becomes a Shove I cannot tell you how many times I’ve thought, oh, I already learned this. Except I didn’t. Because the message comes back. And when I still don’t listen, it comes back again, a little louder each time. It’s not punishment. It’s just the...

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Episode 366: The Power of Yes show art Episode 366: The Power of Yes

Acting Business Boot Camp

The Word That Changes Everything I’ve been rereading Larry Moss’s The Intent to Live, and there’s a line that stopped me. He calls “yes” the most important word in acting. It sounds simple, but the more I sat with it, the more true it felt. Why We Default to No I notice how quickly I say no in my own mind. No, I’m not ready. No, someone else deserves that more. No, they’d never want me. It feels responsible. Really, it’s fear. Fear of being seen trying. Fear of messing up. Fear of stepping into something bigger than I’m used to. What “Yes” Actually Means I’m not...

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Episode 365: How to Handle Difficult Family Members Over the Holidays show art Episode 365: How to Handle Difficult Family Members Over the Holidays

Acting Business Boot Camp

Family gatherings can be beautiful. They can also feel like emotional landmines, especially when you’re an actor. One minute you’re passing the mashed potatoes. The next you’re answering a pointed question about your career from someone who hasn’t watched a show since 1998. In this week’s episode of the Acting Business Bootcamp Podcast, I talk about how to stay calm, centered, and grounded as you navigate family dynamics. These tools help you protect your energy so you can enjoy the holiday instead of getting swept up in other people’s anxieties. The Question Doesn’t Require a...

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More Episodes

Why Learning the “Language” Matters

Actors spend years honing their craft, but many miss one critical piece: learning how to communicate in the Language of the Agents and the Casting Directors. This isn’t just about vocabulary. It’s about aligning your training, business practices, and mindset so the industry sees you as the solution—not the problem.

As a casting director, I see it firsthand. Actors who know how to speak this language get representation, book roles, and build sustainable careers. Those who don’t? They’re quickly overlooked.

The Three Pillars of a Successful Acting Career

A thriving career rests on three equally important pillars:

  1. Training – Building your instrument as an actor so you know you’re good at your craft.

  2. Business – Getting your materials, schedule, and communication in order.

  3. Core Energy Work – Tackling mindset blocks like procrastination, perfectionism, and fear so you actually do what you know you need to do.

Neglect any one of these, and your career wobbles. Balance them, and everything starts to flow.

What Agents and Casting Directors Really Want

Casting directors are solution-oriented. They need actors who are:

  • Prepared, confident, and easy to direct

  • Clear and concise communicators (no long-winded emails)

  • Professional and drama-free

  • Confident in their abilities without needing validation

Agents and managers, on the other hand, prioritize placement and revenue. They want clients who understand their product (themselves as actors) and know where they fit in the market. They love actors who are:

  • Low-maintenance (professional, proactive, not needy)

  • Consistent with follow-ups (every 2 weeks if signed, every 3–4 weeks if freelancing)

  • Quick to respond (within 15 minutes when possible)

If you can show up as a reliable, confident professional who respects their time, you’ll stand out.

Bridging Art and Business

The “language” isn’t just about using terms like clips, reels, avail, or first refusal correctly. It’s about mirroring the way agents and casting directors think. Shift from actor-centric to project-centric. Instead of saying, I felt this choice worked for me, reframe to, I believe this choice serves the director’s vision.

That shift alone can make you the actor they trust.

A Weekly Practice That Works

In my Weekly Accountability Group for actors, we focus on all three pillars:

  • Training: What did you do to become a better actor this week?

  • Business: What actions did you take to move your career forward?

  • Core Energy Work: What mindset challenges came up, and how did you respond?

By setting intentions and following through week after week, actors create real momentum—and book more work.

Final Thoughts

The industry is full of talented actors. The ones who book consistently aren’t always the most gifted. They’re the ones who communicate well, respect the process, and show they’re confident, reliable professionals.

That’s the power of learning the Language of the Agents and the Casting Directors.


Resources Mentioned in This Episode