Annabelle Fox – (directly contacted)
- What makes you and your work unique?
- I make sure I have a special connection with each character I get to play. I always appreciate an organic performance so I like to find the truth in each role too. I am a unique case because I am in a place where I am considered for young characters as well as leading ingenues! I embrace it all.
- Do you have a brand or artist statement?
- Defy type! Do what you love but don’t be too hungry. Set the bar high so you are proud of the work and the product.
- When you first started working, did you have a mission or vision?
- I’ve always wanted to bring joy to people through performance. It’s always been about that. I think the most exciting thing about theatre and live performance is that it evokes real emotion in the audience members. They take a journey with you! It comes with great responsibility.
- What were the first steps you took fresh out of college to get into the professional world?
- I was lucky to work for six months right out of school. During this time I self-submitted a lot. I would browse audition listings on websites like Playbill and Backstage and was vigilant about sending out cover letters and headshots to certain casting offices for shows I knew I was right for. These tactics paid off and I jumped into a Off Broadway Children’s Musical as soon as I got to the city. In addition I was able to acquire a few professional appointments! Within one year of being in the city I booked a tour and took my Equity card. This has been a gamechanger.
- Do you have career goals laid out for the next 5-10 years?
- I’ve been in the city for four years now. I initially gave myself five years to “book Broadway” but now watching my path and career unfold I’ve realized everyone’s path and plan is different. Do I think I could book Broadway in the next year? Definitely. Will I quit if I don’t? No. The next five to ten years are exciting to me and a little unknown but I am confident that they will be bright. I hope to perform the role of Abigail in my husband’s new folk musical at a great regional theatre, debut on Broadway, do a film, book a commercial, maybe start a family and get a dog!
- Seeing as you’re an actress who can play young characters, how do you successfully market yourself for those roles?
- I have specific headshots for younger roles so in self submissions I use these, dress younger/ apply little to no makeup in auditions, and sing songs that have a more youthful and bright sound.
- What opportunities are you always on the lookout for?
- I’m always looking for opportunities to collaborate with people. I love doing table reads of pilots, photo shoots, singing demos for friends, and taking class with major directors or casting directors. All of these networking events have led to other gigs and opportunities. It’s exciting to watch connections unfold.
- Did you look at someone else’s career to make a path for your own and if so, who/what was it?
- I’ve always admired Kristin Chenoweth. She has defied type. With a background in opera, she dipped her toes in Musical
Comedy, AND Tv/Film. In my opinion that’s the dream. I want to play the broad spectrum of roles: funny and sweet; intense and dark. It’s all intriguing to me!
- I’ve always admired Kristin Chenoweth. She has defied type. With a background in opera, she dipped her toes in Musical
- What networks or organizations do you belong to and which ones have helped you the most?
- I began with Backstage and then segued to Actors Access. I have found great success with this! I also have found success from researching seasons that I am right for, looking for the contact info, and sending an introductory email submission asking for an appointment for said role!
- How did you start actor meets coffee?
- I was in between contracts and was hungry for connection and inspiration. I asked myself what I loved in addition to performing… the answer was: coffee and people… Thus began my blog! My first guest was my best friend and the rest is history.
- How did you make the connections for each interviewee? Do you know them personally or did you meet them through networking?
- I made the connections via text and Instagram. Most people I knew personally, from the audition scene, or through my husband. Some I’ve been contacted by through Instagram which I find exciting since that means the blog is becoming more widely known!
- How often do you interview?
- I started off with interviews every week which became difficult to sustain with transcribing AND scheduling. Now I try to tackle two interviews a month!
- Do you find yourself learning new things you can implement into your own career by talking to others?
- I learn so many new things and am constantly inspired. It’s been reiterated time and time again that everybody’s path is different and you have to enjoy each moment of your journey. Transcribing the interviews is like therapy. Re-listening to the wise tidbits everybody has to share is so uplifting and encouraging. It’s a good reminder that what we’re doing is hard and SO brave.
- Is it hard to balance actor meets coffee and auditioning/performing?
- It is! It’s difficult to navigate everyone’s schedules. Everybody I have on the blog is an actor so come audition season we are all chickens with our heads cut off! It’s hard to make time. I find that I prioritize auditions and appointments but crave time to interview. It brings me so much joy. When the interviews can happen I feel so fulfilled and recharged. I’m like let’s do this!
Christopher Sanders – (directly contacted) https://www.christophersanders.net
- What makes you and your work unique?
- I believe anyone who makes a living as an artist is unique. For me, I guess I’m unique in the sense that this is a second career for me. I didn’t start singing until I was 26 years old and I left my other career at 29 and have never looked back. Being an artist you have the ability to move people emotionally and even make them think a little sometimes. Not many jobs do that.
- Do you have a brand or artist statement?
- Not really. My only statement would be: Life is too short to not love what you do for a living. It’s not worth doing a job for money if your miserable at it. It will spoil your life.
- When you first started working, did you have a mission or vision?
- Initially my mission was to go to Broadway. But being that I started so late and that I already had a family to take care of, I had to modify that mission. My mission for many years now has been to just be a working actor. Work is work. A stage is a stage. An audience is an audience. What zip code it’s in does not matter.
- Did you have career goals laid out for the next 5-10 years?
- No I didn’t. In this business, you really have to be in it for the long haul. An actors career ebbs and flows like the ocean. There’s an old saying. ” If you stick around the store long enough. They’ll start giving you stuff.” There’s a lot of truth in that statement in regards to a career as an actor.
- How are you connecting and building audiences and how do you market to them?
- I’ve known for a long time that my audience are the older generation. I go out of my way to talk to them after shows and I answer every fan mail letter I’ve received. I also created a website for people to keep up with what I am doing. The CD I recorded, I recorded with my older fans in mind. They would not like a CD of contemporary music from me. That’s why my album consist of classic Broadway material. It wasn’t necessarily the album I wanted to record, but it was the one I knew my followers would want.
- What opportunities are you always on the lookout for?
- I’m always looking to work for new theatre companies and new directors. I think it’s very easy for an actor to get comfortable at one theatre and not branch out. I’ve made it a point to work all over the world.
- Did you look at someone else’s career to make a path for your own and if so, what was it?
- I’m a huge George Hearn fan. He’s won two Tony Awards and had the most remarkable career. He always said of himself that he was just a Broadway hack, just a guy who liked to work and do his best. I had the opportunity to work with him twice in my career early on. His kindness and professionalism along with his incredible talent. were truly an inspiration to me. I try to carry on his work ethic in my career.
- How did you fund your work when you first started?
- I starved a lot. LOL. Took on little projects that I could make some money on in between shows etc. Believe me there were some rough times but I always managed to keep my head above the water.
- How did you initially get funding? What networks or organizations do you belong to and which ones have helped you the most?
- I think I answered the first question here in the last message. Except I will add that having very supportive parents who would throw a little money my way now and again was EXTREMELY helpful. Actors Equity has opened many doors for me as far as getting seen by the casting agencies. But to be honest, learning how to promote myself and network with people online has gotten me so much work. Who can advocate for me better than myself. I contact directors and casting people all the time with my material for a show they might be casting. True they don’t always call, but sometimes they do, And that opens even more doors and more opportunity. In fact the job I’m doing right now is a result of such blind submission.
