Opening Up! Websites and Resumes, What You Need To Put Yourself Out There

We've said it once, and we'll say it again: showing up online as an actor is a non-negotiable!
Having an updated website and a current resume is crucial in today's audition landscape, and that's why we want to share with you our best advice for what you need on both and why.
Not sure what types of media to put on your website? We've got you covered. Can't decide which special skills to list on your resume? We've been there.
We want to help you build an online presence that you can be proud of, so consider this post your one-stop shop for everything you need to know about how to put your best foot forward online as an actor! Letâs get started!
There are usually two types of people when it comes to creating an online presenceâŠ
Those who don't want to be online: We hear youâand yet, we encourage you to do yourself the favor and create an online presence you're proud of, as opposed to being completely undiscoverable. There will be people out there who want to cast you, and they need to be able to find you. Having even just a one-page website for yourself as an actor is truly all you need.
Those who feel they donât have enough to get started: You may say you don't want to have an online presence unless you have multiple headshots, lifestyle shots, a dance reel, a singing reel, and a longer resume. But our advice has always been that done is better than perfect. The reality is that it doesn't need to be fancy; we just need to know who you are, how to get in touch with you, and have a couple of videos where we can see you doing the thing that you do.
Regardless of which category you fall under, there are three easy things you need on your website to get started:
- An email address that will reach you personally: If you have an agent, youâre welcome to list their contact information, but itâs important to also include an email that will reach you personally. Make sure itâs easily visible on both your website and your resume. If people need to get in touch with you about performance opportunities or have questions that could be beyond the scope of your agent, theyâll be glad they can email you directly.
- A downloadable headshot and resume: Having your headshot and resume on your website is a no-brainer, but please make sure we can also download them. This is crucial because it makes it easy to send them along to whoever is looking for themâespecially if someone wants to recommend you for a job and is forwarding them to the director đ
- Media, AKA images and video: Video is definitely the more important of the two, but whatever you include, make sure that itâs current. If youâve ever made a self-tape, this would be a great place to put it, so people can get a sense of who you are and what you do. But donât feel like you have to put up a full song if you donât love it! If thereâs even just a 20- or 30-second clip that you like, that's enough. As you continue to record more material, you can always trade it out.
If you want to dive deeper into the topic of website content and how to show up online, take a listen to episode 16 of our podcast (or read the blog post here). We do a deep dive into everything you need to know about your online presence as an actor, and itâs full of great information!
So, now that you have a websiteâwhat do you put on your resume? Here are some things to includeâŠ
- The basics: This should include your contact information, name, height, and a color headshot (often a small thumbnail placed in the upper corner). You donât have to include hair color and eye color, since we can see those in your headshot, and weight is also no longer needed as the industry moves toward more body inclusivity.
- Voice type: There is no real consensus on this one, because industry experts have differing opinions on the best terminology to use. Some people will list their range in notes, such as âA3 to G5.â Some will say âbaritenorâ or âsoprano/belter.â These all seem to work, so use the language that feels most comfortable for you and your voice. If you donât know your written range, your voice teacher can help you figure it out, or you can use a piano to find it yourself.
- A list of your past shows and roles: If you donât feel comfortable putting a label on your voice, this section will really come in handy. Based on the roles youâve played, someone can pretty easily determine your range and vocal styles. If you were Frank in Catch Me If You Can, you probably have high tenor notes, whereas if you were Glinda in Wicked, you likely have soprano/belt capabilities.
- The names of people you've worked with: This can be a good thing to list if you've done a show with a prominent director, music director, or choreographer, or if any of your teachers have been in the business for a while. You never know who might know them, and if someone you audition for reaches out to them, they could recommend you and share more about your talent.
The fifth thing to include is a big one: special skills. Let's break down what that actually meansâŠ
Special skills should always be included on your resume, especially when they could be applicable for a showâthings like being a tumbler, doing aerial work, having circus or stunt training, or being able to sword fight. Playing an instrument is also good to include, but make sure to be accurate about your skill level. A simple label such as âbeginner,â âintermediate,â or âadvancedâ will help gauge your abilities.
There isnât really a limit on what you can include in your special skills, but do remember to take it seriously. They donât need to know if you can burp the alphabetâand youâd be surprised how many resumes Cynthia has seen with that listed. We encourage you to think creatively about the unique talents you have to offer, like maybe you do an impression of a famous celebrity or youâre trained in stand up comedy. Sharing your special skills can be a fun way to highlight something interesting about yourself that we would never know otherwise, in addition to practical skills that could be utilized in a show, like instruments or acrobatics.
Whatever skills you include, make sure you're ready to demonstrate them and can do so at a very high level. Itâs okay to not have a super long list of special skills, so include whatâs important to you, and represent yourself the way you want to be seen.
You may be wondering if thereâs a difference between a student resume and a professional resumeâand the answer is yes!
When high school students are auditioning for colleges, their resumes will often include everything theyâve ever done, from middle school productions to shows they did as kids in children's theater. They might even include choral experience from school and church, or master classes and theatre camps they attended.
After you graduate college, we tend to let a lot of that go. As youâre entering the industry in New York, itâs okay to have a light resume. You may feel like you need a resume packed full of accomplishments, but weâve talked to several agents and casting folks over the years who find a lot of appeal in discovering new talent. They see a resume that isn't very padded and realize that they have the chance to give this performer their first big professional break, and thatâs exciting!
The reality is, when you're young and starting out in the business, you're not expected to have an extensive resume. Even if youâre older and just entering (or re-entering) the industry, people understand you've taken time to live your life, and padding your resume with things that arenât true will always come back to bite you.
Above all, with both resumes and websites, make sure that itâs clean, clear, and easy to read. You donât want someone to have to go on a word search just to find what roles youâve played or accomplishments youâve earned. Keep it simple, so they can glance over your resume or website and gather all the important information both quickly and easily.
And please, we implore you to proofread for your life! Make that resume pristineâmake sure all of your margins line up and your spelling is correct. Have a friend, family member, or mentor read through it, too; it can be easy to miss some simple mistakes when youâve been staring at it alone for hours.
We hope that we were able to offer some inspiration and direction for your website and resume! If you're interested in diving deeper into any of these topics, check out the Broadway Vocal Coach Podcast. You can also find us on Instagram and get involved in the conversationâweâd love to know what you think.
And if youâre a musical theatre performer, but youâre not sure what your next step should be, youâve come to the right place. Take our Quizâwe canât wait to hear your story and help you take the next step in your career!
đ Get the Wednesday newsletter people actually look forward to reading
It's amazing how we can weave a singing-related lesson into stories about overflowing toilets, postpartum photoshoots, or maid-of-honor wedding speeches. Now you're intrigued, right?!
We hate SPAM. Unsubscribe at any time.