I recently met an aspiring actress who was new to the area and new to acting. We got on the subject of agents, and she made the comment, “I thought once you had an agent, you had made it.” In other words, she thought having an agent allowed actors to just kick back and wait for the phone to ring off the hook with castings.

The truth is that regardless of your agent’s ambition and connections, an actor should never stop seeking out their own opportunities. In fact, you can have several agents and rarely receive a phone call. It is your job to be persistent and to keep your name and face in front of the people who matter.

When it comes to thinking of innovative ways to promote oneself, an effective tool I use to cure creative block is reading blogs and articles on the general subject of marketing and promotion. I have found that reading articles targeted at industries unrelated to entertainment and performing arts yields some interesting ideas for branding and strategic approaches when applied to an actor’s career. Business is business, and YOU are a brand.

The key is to stay motivated. A simple yet effective way to maintain a sense of progress is to make sure you always have something to look forward to. Whether it is a reply to a submission, a scheduled audition slot or perhaps even the first day of shooting a role that you’ve booked, responses require actions. No matter the size or significance, anticipating the results of actions you have taken gives you a constant sense of momentum and your career will undoubtedly continue to move forward.

Stay fresh in the minds of casting directors and producers with regular mailings. After submitting headshots and resumes along with brief, professional cover letters, follow up with photo cards detailing recent work you have done, and send “thank you” notes to those you have auditioned for. Send flyers for upcoming performances and offer free tickets. It is also a good idea to check in with your agent on a weekly basis by sending them an email letting them know your availability (and reminding them of your existence).

And finally, here is a fun trick that both stimulates motivation and garners powerful results. Make a list of 10 things you can do to promote yourself. As simple as it sounds, you may be quite surprised by the creative ideas you come up with and how quickly they begin to work when put into action.

Break a leg!