Bob Fraser is an actor, writer, director and producer on the classic TV series Full House, Benson, The Love Boat - and others. Subscribe to Bob's free e-zine for performers, Show Biz How-To, by going here: http://www.showbizhowto.com Contact Bob at: bobfraser@youmustact.com
One of the questions I get asked frequently relates to something that most actors face in their interviews with agents and casting directors.
Here's how a typical letter reads;
Dear Bob,
I met with an agent yesterday and the first thing she said was "Tell me about yourself." So I told her what my credits were, where I went to school, people I knew in the business and so on. She didn't really listen. She said she'd let me know. I already know. She's not interested. What did I do wrong?"
Q: What do I say when they say, 'Tell me about yourself?'
Me: Whatever you do, do not recite your resume, where you went to school, and so on. Always keep in mind the kind of work you want to do ... story telling.
In the case of an agent, you are interviewing a prospective salesperson for your business. It's your job to convince a thoroughly professional salesperson (an agent) that representing your product (you) is going to produce a lot of income.
The agent's income depends on finding, representing and selling the best storytellers he can find. An agent learns quickly how to spot the 'comers' and ignore the 'wannabes.'
The deciding factor is simple: "Is this actor a good story teller?"
An observable reality is that an agent can't tell if you are a good storyteller unless she sees you telling a story. That opening gambit, "tell me about yourself" is an agent's way of saying, 'tell me a story.' If you don't comply with this request, agents become like five year olds; 'tell me a story, tell me a story, tell me a story.'
These repetitive requests come in the guise of, "I see you went to Carnegie Tech." "So, you're from Connecticut." "Oh, you worked with Burt Reynolds."
When you hear this kind of thing it's just the agent trying to get the 'test drive' started. They want you to tell them a story.
Okay, now that you know what's really going on, it's time to discover what your response should be the next time you hear those words, "Tell me about yourself."
What you should do is ... TELL A STORY.
Go through your real life experiences and start creating narratives about yourself. If you have to bend the truth a bit to keep the interest up, then so be it. Fiction is our business. (Don't make up credits or relationships.)
For instance, let us suppose that you have only one credit in a community theater production of "Sally Of The Sawdust" and you only had two lines as Cannonball Bill. The beginning of your story might be something along these lines:
"Well, I made my first entrance on to a stage in an unusual way - I was shot from a cannon." (This is what we in the fiction business call a "grabber.")
Now spin out a story where there's a little suspense, a little joke, a little pay-off of some kind;
"One night we had an understudy who was supposed to say one line after I got shot onto the stage. He was supposed to say. 'Hark I hear the cannon roar!' He was pretty nervous because he'd never been on stage before. Anyway, when I got shot out of the cannon with a large bang, the understudy was startled and he said, 'What the hell was that?'"
Don't forget the drama! This is a scene you are painting for the agent. Play it.
Tell a story. A beginning. (The grabber) A middle. (An interesting thing happened) And then the end.
Tell a story that keeps the agent interested in the outcome and you'll go a long ways toward convincing the agent that you are a 'comer.'
By the way, when I say "create a narrative," I'm not talking about lying - I'm talking about taking the stories in your own experiences and making them memorable. Dramatic! Hilarious! Exciting! Suspenseful!
Now practice telling your stories in such a way that the agent can't wait to hear the next line. Believe me, once you "hook" an agent with a well-told story, you will get what you came for ... representation. In other words, sell the salesman.
The same advice goes for casting directors. They are the personnel department of the company you hope to work for. The same idea applies.
Tell a story.
1. Get several good stories in your repertoire.
2. Practice telling them.
This is basic, bottom-line preparation. If you don't have stories to tell, you are going to suffer through a lot of needless rejection.
So the next time you hear, "Tell me about yourself." you know all you have to do is be prepared to tell a story. Make it a good story, practice telling it, listen for the cue line and go. Your positive results will soar.
One more thing ... you can observe how other actors and performers "tell stories, by tuning in to the celebrity interview shows. Some are good at it and some are not so good. (I'm sure you'll see the difference.) But they're all trying ... to 'tell me a story.'
- Related Videos
- Related Articles
- Ask / Related Q&A
- The Ins And Outs Of Being An Actor Or Actress
- How Do They Choose The Best Actors; 5 Steps to Awarding the Oscars
- How They Choose The Best Actors
- How Do You Become A Good Actor or Actress
- The Academy Awards Recognises Best Actor In Acting
- Budding Actors, Overwhelming Performance!
- Hollywood Actresses Pictures
- You Are The Actor or Actress Of Your Own Story




Grow cocaine
By: Dominic Ericsson | 27/12/2009The history of cocaine growing and use, Step by step how to grow guide attached.
Careers in Accountancy
By: Andri Irawan | 27/12/2009There are a lot of different careers in the accountancy field. It ranges from bookkeeping, auditing, until you reach the position of financial officer. As the position title goes higher, you can expect higher salaries. However, in order to achieve these positions and professional designations, you need to get an accountancy degree.
Overeducated but Misemployed
By: Alvin Dionaldo | 27/12/2009We have been taught that in order to be successful, we need to work hard in school. It may be true but is it the only way to true success?
Benefits of Working at Home
By: Jason Kay | 27/12/2009If you are one of the lucky ones that have been able to run a successful business from home then you know the many benefits of working at home, but if you are considering starting your own home business they may not be so familiar. Working from home means more...
Resume Writing Tips for the Stay at Home Moms
By: Jason Kay | 27/12/2009Resume writing for women who are stay at home moms and are looking to re-enter the workforce can be a tricky deal. Being a stay at home mom is a wonderful thing and all women who decide to do that should be commended, but now comes the challenge of writing...
Compare Resume Writers to Find the Best
By: Jason Kay | 27/12/2009Writing a resume is sometimes easier said than done and many times individuals finds themselves comparing resume writers in an attempt to find the best one for their situation. This is an extremely smart move as a solid resume is the key to winning the position you desire in today's...
Cover Letters That Annoy HR
By: Holly Wright | 27/12/2009Right now, there are thousands of cover letters en route to the trashcan. They're being thrown out for the deadly sin of annoying the HR Manager. You may not think that the HR Manager's opinion matters given your skills and abilities, but when it comes to getting your foot in...
StudentScholarships.org - Becoming a Teacher
By: Drew Backley | 27/12/2009It is a personal outlook that is affected by many individual factors such as an individual's geographic location, skill, ability, role models, self esteem, and age. My personal dream job can be defined as a profession that not only do I feel I would be good at, but also something that I enjoy doing. Even more than that, something I am truly passionate about - teaching.
How To Be A 110% Professional Actor
By: Bob Fraser | 04/04/2008 | CareersWhat it actually takes to have a successful acting career.
The 7 Big Steps Of Show Biz Success
By: Bob Fraser | 21/03/2008 | CareersQuotes from actors about succeeding in your acting career.
How To Avoid Acting Career Potholes
By: Bob Fraser | 20/03/2008 | CareersWhy actors frequently find it difficult to progress in their careers.