SAG-AFTRA: Are You Ready For 2016? New Mexico Local Board Member.

Are you ready for 2016?

Marc Comstock / SAG-AFTRA New Mexico Local Board Member

"New Year’s resolutions are more than just putting dreams and desires on paper. To achieve your goals, you must work out a plan. We can’t just expect to lose 10 pounds and not work out or eat right."

"The same can be said for our acting goals. Of course we all want to work more, but our profession requires more than just a desire to do that: We need auditions and opportunities. Since these opportunities can ebb and flow, what can we do in between to still feel like we are moving toward our goals? Simply put, be ready for when those opportunities come. Here are some proactive things you can do."

• "Meet with your agent. Make sure you are on the same page with headshots, identifying your “brand” and career goals."

• "Create. Write and shoot your own union projects — not only can we do this on our phones, SAG-AFTRA has contracts that work for all budgets. Here’s a link to the Production Center where you can view samples of all the contracts and watch tutorials on how to become signatory."

• "Further your education. Find a class that challenges you and pushes you. Keep flexing those muscles."

• "Get more involved in your union and use the resources it has to offer: Do you know about the live-streamed events through the SAG-AFTRA Foundation?"

• "Sign up for A Call to Arts, our union’s effort to mentor the next generation of storytellers through volunteerism and service."

• "Use local resources and keep up on the “biz” side of show business."

• "Time to quit fast-forwarding through those commercials and watch the work some of your peers are doing. This could be a big boost to our career paths. The timing is great because it also ties in with SAG-AFTRA’s Best in the Biz campaign to keep commercial work under SAG-AFTRA contracts. To find out more, visit Best in the Biz."

• "Meet with your fellow actors. Nothing’s better than chatting with your peers. We get what you are going through, we will keep you motivated and we love to brainstorm."

"These are just a few things you can do in 2016. So be ready and have a GREAT 2016!"