"The label you give yourself cannot impact external forces that are not motivated by your own psychology or influenced by a third party's pre-existing consciousness of you. We are all presented with reasons to struggle which come from completely external forces; to pretend that one is not struggling is either arrogance or an admission of defeat. To admit that one is struggling is a sign and a source of strength." - Evan A. Baker

Great Gifts for Actors

Want to Gift the Actor in Your Life?
Sometimes a loved one will ask him or herself, "What should I get my Struggling Actress friend/family member?" Here are some very useful tips, ranging in the super cheap to the pricey. And these are gifts your actor really needs!

Happy Gift Giving!


This is The Absolute BEST Monologue Book for Women!

It's a Monologue and Monologue-Technique Book All in One!

Break the Rules and Get the Part: Thirty Monologues for Women not only teaches how and why to break the outdated rules you were taught, but unlike other "story monologues," each one-minute monologue in this book is written with a clearly defined active and emotional arc in the present. Each comedic, serio-comedic, and dramatic monologue is followed by Helpful Direction: key points that highlight character objectives and intents, several ideas on which emotions to hit, and how and where to hit them, and multiple comedic and dramatic suggestions that heighten an actor's individuality and personal essence. Buy it here.

Also, I know the writer. ;)


Self Tapes! 

Actors today are asked to do self-tapes more than ever before. Give them an amazing Self Tape Studio they can easily set up at home. This kit is everything they need to record an amazing audition on their smartphone. 




With those fancy lights, they also need a Background Stand and Fabric Backdrop. These affordable ones ensure they'll always have a clean, professional background behind them.




Jewelry

You can remind the actress to break a leg on each audition with this

Anything and Everything














Amazon Gift Cards.
$100 bucks goes a long way!



Also handy? Starbucks Gift Cards. We do a lot of networking and meetings there. Tell them to register their gift card and to always reload it. Starbucks has a rewards program.

Actor Office Supplies


A Monochrome Laser Printer.
















We go through pages of sides for auditions, for classes, we print call sheets and maps. I have a very nice color ink jet printer, but buying ink over and over again was hurting my pocketbook. It felt like every two weeks I needed more ink, and I was practically searching under couch cushions to find enough money to keep purchasing them. I bought a laser printer (it was cheaper than buying the ink jet ink I needed!) and freaking LOVE it. I used to go to copy centers to print my resumes, but so few casting people are taking resumes anymore (commercials pretty much don't) so if I need to print my resume, I can do it at home, saving me a trip and money.
Buy here.


Printer Paper.
(See above.)


Highlighters
We go through them, and this clear view, multi-color pack makes me wish someone would gift them to me. A nice, thoughtful, and easy to afford gift.


Pens
We go through them. It'd be nice to get a bulk pack, and these are my absolute favorites! Another thoughtful, affordable gift.


A subscription to Entertainment Weekly.
It's research! And it helps us stay up to date on current pop culture trends, which is especially wonderful if our agent describes the new show we're going out on as "'Stranger Things' meets 'Formation'." We'll know exactly what they meant by having read this magazine!


And of course, TELL THE ACTOR IN YOUR LIFE ABOUT THIS BLOG.