Do Theater Actors Need A Big Social Media Presence?

00:00:00.000 | We had treadmill, federal government.

00:00:03.440 | What's our third question of the day here, Jesse?

00:00:06.200 | - Next question is from Meredith,

00:00:08.000 | and she says, "I'd love to reach a point in my career

00:00:10.900 | "where I no longer need social media

00:00:12.800 | "to raise awareness of my existence as a performer.

00:00:15.680 | "Until then, how do I intentionally use social media

00:00:18.540 | "in the meantime?"

00:00:20.440 | - Right, so I think what's relevant here

00:00:22.860 | is the demographic information on Meredith

00:00:25.240 | is she's a 27-year-old Broadway touring artist,

00:00:29.680 | which I take to mean she's in a touring company

00:00:31.480 | of a Broadway show.

00:00:33.480 | Meredith, I don't know the world of acting that well.

00:00:37.540 | I don't think for theater acting,

00:00:39.720 | social media is all that important for you.

00:00:42.180 | I don't think that's what's gonna make or break

00:00:45.520 | whether or not you get a role.

00:00:47.240 | I am assuming that's gonna come down much more

00:00:48.860 | to the qualities of your performance,

00:00:51.680 | the dancing, the singing, the stage presence,

00:00:56.000 | how versatile, how reliable you are.

00:00:57.700 | I think this is probably one of these industries

00:00:59.940 | where it's infected by the idea of social media

00:01:04.940 | because you are on stage,

00:01:06.780 | but that's probably more of a distraction than a help.

00:01:10.080 | I mean, I've definitely noticed that this year,

00:01:12.440 | my wife and I subscribed to the Kennedy Center,

00:01:15.440 | so we had a subscription at the Kennedy Center,

00:01:17.220 | so we went to see a lot of plays this year,

00:01:19.240 | and everyone in the playbill has their Instagram handles.

00:01:22.140 | And I guess there's some sense of like,

00:01:24.220 | "Oh, you should be on here.

00:01:25.220 | "I know there are some circumstances in movies

00:01:27.600 | "aimed at young people,

00:01:28.640 | "having a big social media presence

00:01:31.240 | "somehow helps if you're cast."

00:01:32.860 | I'm sure that's percolating down,

00:01:34.920 | but I can't imagine if you're a casting director

00:01:37.360 | for a touring company of a Broadway play

00:01:39.780 | that you're like, "Well, I mean,

00:01:41.020 | "how many followers does this people have on Instagram?"

00:01:43.540 | What you want is your play to work.

00:01:45.340 | So you really care about the actual attributes,

00:01:48.920 | acting or acting skills the person actually has.

00:01:52.640 | I mean, maybe I have that wrong,

00:01:53.760 | but my sense would be, Meredith, don't sweat that.

00:01:57.040 | Your sweat instead should be preserved for practicing

00:02:00.980 | and getting better at your craft.

00:02:02.640 | (upbeat music)

00:02:07.100 | (upbeat music)

00:02:09.680 | (upbeat music)

00:02:12.260 | (upbeat music)

Do Theater Actors Need A Big Social Media Presence?

Chapters