Believe In Abundance

I’ve been a working actress for over 30 years. I believe there will always be an abundance of work. I have a ‘knowing’ about that, an inner trust.

When I hear actors complain about the lack of work available, my response is “If that’s what you believe, that will be your experience.” Where thoughts go, energy flows.

Talent is important, but I’ve seen many talented actors fail because they don’t do the marketing that’s required. Think of yourself as a product. Then package and market it well.

You will succeed if you believe you will. Keep showing up.

Article contributed to "Making It In Entertainment" (title subject to change) by Jennifer Vaughn, author of "Making It In The Media."

Be Bold, Brag A Little!

Advice For Actors . . .

You have to want to be an actor with every fiber of your being. If you have any doubts, or think you need something to fall back on just in case the acting thing doesn't work out, do something else. There are too many dedicated & talented actors out there who want nothing else & will do anything to achieve their dream. I never wanted anything else & I knew I would be successful if I put all of myself into my acting career. I rallied my parents behind my dream & they became my biggest fans.

You are a product. Brand yourself & market your product well. Do at least one thing every day to move your acting career forward. Yes, even on the weekends.

When I moved from Iowa to NYC to become an actress, I worked as a waitress until I didn't have to anymore. The money I made was wisely invested in my career. The job was flexible & my manager was supportive. He always made sure I could go to my auditions, even if it meant being short a waiter. Find a way to make ends meet that fully support you.

Never second guess what the casting director, or director, are looking for. When you present yourself, don't be what you think they want you to be. Get comfortable in your own skin & be yourself.

You'll take a lot of different classes over the years, if you want to improve. Take the best from each class & create your own technique that works for you. There is no one method that is the correct way. Only you know what speaks to your heart & helps fuel you.

I was doing a new play in NYC at an off-Broadway theatre. At one of the rehearsals, the director told me to bang my fist on the table before saying my next line. I resisted, saying that it didn't make sense to me to bang my fist on the table for no apparent reason. Just do it, he insisted. So I did. Out poured a flood of tears & deep anger that I didn't even know were there. I never resisted after that. Always be willing to play. Allow yourself to be surprised.

A wise old actor once told me that all actors need to learn to "go fishing" in-between their acting jobs. Later in life, I understood the meaning of this statement. Enjoy all aspects of your life. Learn new things, take time to explore, be curious & adventurous. It will all be helpful for your acting. Real life makes you who you are.

Where thoughts go, energy flows. Make sure your thoughts are positive.

Surround yourself with supportive, loving friends. If they're not behind you 100%, they're not good for you.

Envision yourself succeeding. See it, feel it, breathe it in & out. You are everything you imagine yourself to be. Imagine yourself wildly successful!

Reporters who have never met you will write things about you that just aren't true. It happened to me while I was on Another World. It was upsetting at the time, but now I've learned that it's good to be talked about & that people will say whatever they want to say anyway. Don't dwell on it. Let it go. Pay attention to the good things that are being said about you. There will be far more positive comments. Enjoy them!

An actor friend of mine told me that he had trouble talking about his successes. He said it felt like he was bragging. No one is going to know what you've done unless you share it. When you have successes, share them with the world. Be bold. Brag a little!

Article contributed to "Actresses @ Work/Cautionary Tales from the Rank and File" by Molly Cheek and Debbie Zipp (not yet published).

Theatrical Demo Reel

To view more clips visit www.annemariehoward.com

Edited by Jim Legoy with clips from Nip/Tuck, Castle, Desperate Housewives, You Don't Mess With The Zohan, Criminal Minds, Close To Home, UNfabulous, The Weather Man, and Las Vegas.

Keep Showing Up!

“Keep showing up.”

That’s the best advice I’ve been given recently, and I’m passing it on.

When you’ve been kicking around as long as I have, sometimes the slumps weigh on you. Let’s face it, when you’re auditioning and not booking, it’s a drag. When you’re not getting appointments, it’s even worse. But when you’re cast in a good role . . . Well, that’s what keeps us all going, isn’t it?

We all want to be working, all the time. So we keep showing up. We make the effort. We put ourselves out there over & over again. We hone our craft.

We’re prepared. We’ve learned our lines & thought a lot about the audition material, maybe even hired a coach. We’ve found the part of ourselves that resonates with the character. We go to our auditions dressed how our character would dress, not in costume, but owning the role. We give it our best shot.

Then, after the audition, we let it go.

It’s okay to acknowledge ways you could improve the next time, but don’t beat yourself up if you don’t feel you nailed it. It’s a waste of time & energy that’s much better spent moving forward.

Market yourself. Network. Send out your material. Build a website. Too many actors forget this part. They think if they have an agent or manager, it will be done for them. Not true.

Learn how to brand yourself. Take classes. Utilize Facebook, Twitter & other social network sites. Send picture postcards. Create e-mail blasts to announce appearances. Make sure your accounts with LA Casting, Actors Access, Casting Frontier, and other casting sites, are up-to-date.

See theatre. It’s a great place to learn & be inspired. Even better, do theatre. It’s a great place to learn your craft. For me, the stage feels like home because it’s where I started out.

When I hear other actors complain about the lack of work available, my response is, “If that’s what you believe, that will be your experience.” Where thoughts go, energy flows.

However, that’s not my experience. I’ve been a working actress for over 30 years and I believe there will always be an abundance of work. I have a ‘knowing’ about that, an inner trust. And I trust that the next job will come, and the next one, and the next one . . .

Why? Because I keep showing up.

Anne Marie Howard is regularly seen guest starring on TV. She’s also spotted frequently in feature films & has appeared in hundreds of commercials. Her career began onstage in Ottumwa, Iowa at the age of 4 in the musical, Carousel. She studied acting in NYC at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, Neighborhood Playhouse & with Stella Adler. Well-known for playing Nicole Love on Another World & Kimberly Brady on Days of Our Lives, Anne Marie is currently recurring on Make It Or Break It. Check out her website at www.annemariehoward.com.

Article published in "Hollywood Dailies: Behind the Reel" by Travis Britton.

One Line on the Sopranos - Erik Weiner

To Woman Over 40

I hear my fellow actors say that there’s no work for women over 40, but that’s only true if you believe it. Choose not to. Your mind is a powerful tool. Use it to work for you, not against you. I’m 50 and am working now more than ever. It’s more rewarding work, too. The roles are deeper, more realized, with a lot more substance. I get to infuse my roles with the wisdom that years of experience bring. And I find that there’s no more fear. I’m completely willing to go places I’ve never gone before because I trust myself. I’m confident in my abilities and have a desire to share all that I’ve learned. I love getting older. It’s all in your mind anyway. I plan to grow old gracefully. I’m allowing myself to be my age and play roles that are my age. No need to look or act younger. I’ve already played those parts. I’m at home in my own skin and I want to share the beauty of that with others. Young women need good role models. Especially when they’re looking at magazines with emaciated, surgically enhanced bodies and faces. We need to embrace the beauty of the cycle of life.

Advice To Actors

If you don’t want to be an actor with all your heart, mind, body and soul, then do something else. This is a challenging business. You have to really want it. You’ll need to devote yourself 100% to being the best you can be. This industry is filled with talent and you need to find a way to stand out from the crowd. Take classes, take care of yourself, eat right & exercise daily, invest wisely in your career with professional photos & a strong resume. When you find a good manager or agent to represent you, continue networking and marketing yourself. Promote yourself. Create a good database and send out updates about what you’re doing & where your work can be seen. Talent is important, but I’ve seen many talented actors fail because they don’t do the marketing that’s required. You’re a product. Make sure that you advertise & promote it well. Keep believing in yourself. There will be many rejections, but persevere. Be well prepared & show up at your appointments on time. Do your best in the audition room, walk out confidently , then let it go. Focus on what’s next. It’s not good to dwell on the past or beat yourself up. Learn from your mistakes. You will succeed if you believe you will. Be bold, daring and courageous. Trust your instincts. Make strong choices. Take risks. Dream big, and live your dream!