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
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
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: "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
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
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)
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
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
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
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...
info_outlineIn this episode, I’m diving into one of the most important topics for any working actor today: self-tapes.
They’re no longer an occasional request or a pandemic workaround. Self-tapes are the audition room now. That means your setup, your mindset, and your energy have to communicate professionalism and confidence before you ever say a line.
After losing my voice for a few weeks (and getting some incredible help from Mandy Fisher, Rose Marie, and Taylor), I wanted to come back with something that felt useful and practical. Because here’s the truth: the actors who treat self-taping like an art form are the ones who keep booking.
Why Self-Tapes Matter More Than Ever
Casting directors aren’t inviting actors into offices the way they used to. Your self-tape is your first impression. It tells us who you are before we even watch the performance.
I’ve been watching this up close at home. My husband Jason decided to return to on-camera acting after years of working exclusively in voiceover. Within about six weeks, he recorded forty auditions and got seven offers. Seven.
He’s talented, yes—but what really made the difference was preparation, clarity, and confidence. Every tape looked professional, felt relaxed, and showed that he knew exactly who he was in the scene.
The Confidence You Can’t Fake
The camera doesn’t lie. It reads your nervous system, your self-belief, your energy. You can’t fake confidence.
That’s why mindset work is so powerful. It’s the foundation for everything I teach in The Weekly Adjustment. When you know you’re good—and you trust that knowing—it naturally shows up on camera.
Your Technical Foundation
You don’t need an expensive setup, but you do need consistency. A self-tape that looks clean and sounds professional instantly tells casting you take the work seriously.
Here’s what matters most:
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Lighting: Even, natural, and shadow-free.
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Background: Simple and neutral.
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Sound: Use an external mic and record in a quiet space.
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Framing: Keep your eyeline slightly off-camera.
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Test Everything: Always record a few seconds first to check your lighting and sound.
Think of your setup as part of your craft. When it’s dialed in, you can focus on performance instead of worrying about your gear.
If you want to make sure your setup is working for you, grab the free Acting Business Boot Camp Self-Tape Setup Guide. It includes the exact gear, lighting, and mic recommendations I share with my students.
The Reader That Makes or Breaks You
A good reader is calm, grounded, and patient. Their job is to support you, not steal the moment.
If you’re working alone, reader apps or pre-recorded lines can work, but you still need to feel connected. Acting is about relationship, and that connection needs to be alive—even when you’re the only one in the room.
One of the great things about the Acting Business Boot Camp community is that members can find readers in our private Facebook group. Having a reliable reader on call changes everything.
And if you’re a strong sight reader, a teleprompter app can help you stay present without losing time to memorization stress.
Presence Over Perfection
Stop chasing “perfect.” The camera rewards presence.
When I saw Art on Broadway recently, James Corden’s performance stood out because he fully committed. It wasn’t polished—it was alive. That kind of truth and energy is what makes casting directors pay attention.
Commitment always beats precision. Be real. Be fully in it. That’s what books.
Key Takeaways
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Self-tapes are your new audition room.
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Confidence and presence matter as much as acting skill.
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A clean, consistent setup is your professional edge.
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A supportive reader elevates your work.
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Presence and commitment are more powerful than perfection.
Resources Mentioned
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Free Self-Tape Setup Guide: Get Peter’s list of recommended lighting, sound, and gear to make your tapes stand out.
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The Weekly Adjustment: Ongoing mindset coaching for actors who want to build confidence, consistency, and energy that books.
Next week, in Part Two: Self-Tapes That Book – The Performance, Peter dives into choices, energy, and the details that make casting directors say, “That’s the one.”
Stay safe and treat yourself real well.