In 2010, I went into production on a feature film titled Javatown, in which I cast Mr. Ben Whitehair. Ben’s not only an outstanding actor, he’s a fellow web kid, well-versed in the internet and has actually been marketing himself rather efficiently, without my help. Who knew?
So, clearly, I needed to pick his brain and learn whatever secrets he’s picked up while showcasing himself over the world wide web.
Kicking off with the hard-hitting stuff, who are you?
I am Ben Whitehair, and actor, entrepreneur, political enthusiast, hooligan, and changer of the world. I have a rather varied background that includes time as a cowboy (true story) and a computer builder, working for a member of Congress and multiple political campaigns, and starting two companies. I grew up in Colorado and graduated summa cum laude from the University of Colorado at Boulder. I currently live in Los Angles, spend most of my time pursuing my acting career and running my two companies.
It seems you're a Ben of all trades. Tell me a little more about your two companies. Do they tie into your acting career at all? Or are they just other interests you have?
My first company is called Tuition Specialists which I started in college with a couple very close friends. Our mission is to make quality education affordable for everyone, and right now we do that primarily by helping out-of-state students get in-state tuition. So far we've saved students and their families $8 million in the cost of their education. The greatest thing about the company is that it really showed me what it takes to start and run a business, which is exactly what you're doing as an actor. If you're an actor then you're an entrepreneur, and every single lesson of starting any company is directly related to getting your career as an actor started.
The other company is called Next Big Thing Design which is a web design company. I've always been a tech nerd (I started building computers when I was 12) and web design is just something I sort of picked up along the way. While I've done a couple websites for actors (including my own), I primarily work on websites for larger companies and organizations. Again, the skills and dedication needed to run a business like this has directly helped my acting career, as has the work on design and marketing, two crucial skills for actors. Both of the companies also bring in income while providing a flexible schedule, which is probably the single greatest thing any actor could work towards. I am certainly fortunate to have friends and colleagues who help me in these two companies which affords me the opportunity to pursue my dreams.
In the case of Javatown, your website was a crucial part of the casting process for me, as a director, as it showcased both your personality and professionalism. I know a lot of actors have websites that essentially serve as a virtual headshot and resume, but yours is a lot more than that. What is it, do you think, that sets your site apart? And have you had other experiences where your website and its content have caught the eye of other directors/producers?
I think in this day and age any actor really should have a website, if only to serve as a virtual headshot and resume (and demo reel!). It's the one place where you truly get to control how you present yourself to the rest of the world. The other issue is that at more top levels of the industry (TV shows, studio films, etc.) it's pretty unlikely that anyone will look at your website (they'll probably just go to IMDb).
With that said, a website can be an incredibly powerful tool. Two of the primary challenges for actors is to 1) Prove that they're professional, and 2) Demonstrate their true personality. For someone to cast you, they want to know exactly who they're casting, and that it will be a pleasurable experience to work with you. Having a website that truly presents your personality accomplishes part of that, and having a clean, professionally designed website goes the rest of the way.
So how DO you add personality to a website? I think it's a lot of little things: the language you use, the pictures you put up, the colors of the website, etc. They should all match your personality. I also have a very unique "About Me" page that I think demonstrates my sense of humor and a lot of my personality. There's no rule that says your biography has to be 3 paragraphs, broken down by where you grew up, that you started acting at an early age and really love it, and that you're seeking theatrical representation. Show some pizzaz! What actually separates you? People are probably not going to spend 2 minutes on your site (if that) so give them the goods up front!
As for the professional element, pretty much anyone knows the difference between a normal website and a professional-looking one, even if they couldn't tell you why they think that. I've actually been a professional web designer on the side for a few years so I suppose I had a bit of an advantage when I built my site. Because our industry has moved online to such a great extent, I would definitely recommend that actors look into eventually getting a professional web site (which will probably require some money). There are some free solutions that are also very professional, it just takes a bit more of your time to get them going.
I don't know that my website specifically has gotten me a job, but it's definitely been part of the decision on a number of occasions. More than that, the blog I co-write for (www.PlaybillsVsPayingbills.com) which I also have on my site has led to myriad professional relationships.
In addition to your website (which is feature rich and quite informative, already), you're very active on Facebook and Twitter. How have those tools assisted in networking? And do you think your activity through social media has helped maintain relationships with casting directors and/or other professionals in the industry?
I very much consider myself a social media guru, and both Facebook and Twitter have helped my career immensely. If someone would have told me that my blog and Twitter would be the two most useful things that I would do for my career, I would have laughed in their face...yet here I am.
As I look at it, it strikes me that the key to moving forward as an actor--or in any business for that matter--is building and maintaining relationships. Social media, then, is a perfect way to do both those things. It is also a great way to start building a fan base (a necessity to become a successful actor...or at least one who gets paid...), and to establish yourself as a leader, a thinker, and a non-crazy-person.
I will proffer, however, that the true power of social media is realized when you can take the relationships online, offline. That is why we created the LA Actors Tweetup (www.LAActorsTweetup.com), and why I continue to connect with people I know online for coffee, at The Actor's Network (www.actors-network.com), or anywhere I can. This is a people-based business and the more you can connect with people the better.
A little more specifically, I can say that Twitter was a first step in getting my first commercial agent, connecting with me casting directors who now call me in, and for myriad significant friendships. I also try to remember that social media is really an extension of myself, and a way to give others a glimpse into my life and how I think. I find that those who have the most success utilizing social media, are those who are adding value, connecting and sharing resources with others, and being themselves.
As someone who runs a web design company and is a self proclaimed social media guru, you’re clearly one who has a solid grasp on the technical aspects of operating the internet.
What would be some simple advice you’d offer to someone who may not be as tech savvy and might be stepping out onto mainstream social media for the first time in order to promote themselves?
As an overall strategy, I would recommend that actors be themselves, while remembering that this is still a business and you need to maintain a certain level of professionalism.
As for the actual technical aspects, Facebook and Twitter are pretty straightforward (twitter less so). Take a look at what other people are doing, spend your first few months on twitter just following people and seeing what they write and how they act. Remember that you're in this for the long haul, so there's no need to accost people. Just listen for a while. You can always respond to people and ALWAYS be thinking about how you're adding value. Don't worry about who or how many people follow or friend you. That will come in time, and the quality of interactions are far more important than the quantity.
I also always tell people that if you absolutely hate computers and the internet, it's not like you have to use social media as a tool to promote your career. There are certainly many other ways to do it. I'm a tech nerd, so it's very easy for me to fit social media in my life and leverage it properly.
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Ben Whitehair can be found at www.benwhitehair.com, his insight can be read at www.playbillsvspayingbills.com, and you can see him in action in the upcoming webseries It’s Always Greener.
He can also be found in this blogger's upcoming indie feature, Javatown.
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