If I ever get murdered, and the cops search my place for clues, I just want them to know that looking at someone’s search history isn’t always a reliable indicator of their web habits. I mean, a small typo in the word “canal” and you’re in a whole different family of sites.And a website is something you’ll definitely need as an actor so that casting directors will have quick access to your headshots, résumé and reels. It’s nothing more than an electronic brochure which gives you the space to promote the benefits of your product.
If you’ve got the cash, by all means pay an expert to create one for you. But really, all you need is something clean and easily navigable. Casting directors just want to know you’ve got experience and skills. I don’t care how fancy it might look – if you haven’t got substance, all the body glitter ain’t gonna cover up the fact that you’re just not ready to strip on the main stage.
So do it yourself. Go Daddy, Google and Yahoo all have simple web-hosting sites. A friend recently sent me a link to Squarespace. It’s a cool tech/design company that allows you to build really good-looking websites with drag and drop, which they then host for you. The sites look awesome.
An Apple Store employee once told me that in the late 90s he took a rigorous, 12-week course on how to design websites, and thought as a result he’d be printing money. Fast forward to today and there are dozens of DIY websites in which you can create a pro-style page in minutes. Oh, nerds – will you ever win?
A couple of rules: 1) Get your own domain name. GeorgeClooney.com is a lot easier to recall and visit than GeorgeClooneyisareallygoodactor.com. Domain names are super cheap these days. 2) Don’t wait for people to visit your site. Put the web address on your résumé, your business cards and anything else you use to market yourself. Sell the shit out of it.
I’ll leave you with this: my friend Crazy Dennis is a stubborn guy who considers himself an actor but still hasn’t gotten around to creating a web page. He’s on LinkedIn, though. Yeah, LinkedIn... he might as well be dead.
