It’s Called Show Business, Not Show Friends

Just because you can "ACT", doesn’t mean you know how to be an "ACTOR".

One of the biggest misconceptions new actors have when entering the entertainment industry is believing that TALENT alone will carry them. If they just get REPRESENTATION, that’ll be enough. ‘Talent’ and ‘representation’ aren’t enough to carry you through a career.

In today’s industry, it is no longer enough to be “just the talent.” The artist must also be the CEO and entrepreneur of their own product, taking ownership, especially at the beginning of their career.

That means understanding contracts.
Understanding unions.
Understanding representation.
Understanding networking.
Understanding professionalism.
Understanding how the business side of the industry functions.

Understanding what it takes to carry a project (theatre & film) through to the finish line. Idea, to concept development, to development, to packaging, financing, to reproduction, to rehearsals, to production, to technical rehearsals, to previews, opening night, post production, marketing, publicity, distribution/exhibition, to legacy and future life.

Whether you realize it or not, you are operating a business that is a piece of that machine. So here’s the question? Are you running the business, or is the business running you?

The Business Behind the Art

The entertainment industry attracts dreamers. That’s not a bad thing. In fact, dreaming is often what gets us started. We watch our favorite television shows, movies, Broadway productions, concerts, and performances, and think:

“I want to do that.”

As Marilyn Monroe famously said:

“Dreaming about being an actor is more exciting than being one.”

What she understood was that the reality of a career is often less glamorous than the fantasy. A professional career requires preparation, discipline, sacrifice, patience, and business acumen. And that’s where many artists struggle. They’re eager to get into the business. Eager to get representation. Eager to join the union. But they don’t fully understand what those things actually mean. There is a price not everyone is willing to pay.

The Price they sacrifice :

• Stability

• Time

• Comfort

• Ego

• Immediate gratification

• Relationship relationships

• Privacy

• “Just the talent.”

• Fantasy

The real price of a thriving career and show business is often consistency when nobody’s watching, discipline when motivation disappears, ownership when others make excuses, Faith when the results haven’t arrived yet, and the willingness to keep showing up long after most people quit.

So ask yourself, ‘Why do you want to be in your business?’ Is it to be famous, a celebrity, rich, or do you want to be an actor (artist)? Whichever your answer, it’s OK, as long as you understand what it requires in the process.

Your Union Is More Than a Membership Card

Many performers view joining a union as a finish line. In reality, it’s the beginning of a new responsibility. Whether you’re a member of SAG-AFTRA, AEA, AGMA, or another professional union, the purpose of that organization is to protect its workers. Your union exists to advocate for fair wages, safe working conditions, healthcare benefits, pension contributions, workplace protections, and professional standards.

Yet, surprisingly, few performers take the time to understand how their union properly functions. They pay dues. They carry the card. But they don’t read the handbook. They don’t stay informed about industry changes. They don’t attend meetings. They don’t understand their rights. And by doing so, they leave themselves vulnerable.

Read Your Contracts

One of the fastest ways to protect yourself as an artist is to read your contracts. DON’T skim. Read them. Understand them. Ask questions. Seek clarification. Know what you’re agreeing to before you sign. I once had a colleague working on a union television project.

They were hired for a specific role and a specific set of responsibilities. As production continued, they were repeatedly asked to perform duties outside the scope of what they had been contracted to do. Their time increased. Their workload increased. Their responsibilities increased. Their compensation did not. Fortunately, they understood enough about their contract to recognize something wasn’t right. They contacted their representation. Their representation contacted the union. The union stepped in.

Production was required to compensate the performers appropriately and bring the situation back into compliance. Had that performer not understood their contract—or known their rights—the outcome could have been very different. Applied knowledge protected them.

Business Matters. Relationships Developed Within Business, Matter More.

Can you build genuine friendships in this industry? Absolutely. Some of the most meaningful relationships in my life have come from working in entertainment. But you must understand the difference between friendship and business. This industry is filled with wonderful people. It’s also filled with difficult people. Some individuals will support your growth.

Others will compete with it. Some relationships will last decades. Others will disappear the moment the project ends. Healthy discernment is critical. You must learn how to separate personal feelings from professional decisions. While friendships may develop, your career cannot depend on friendships. Your career must be built on professionalism. AGAIN- ‘it’s called show business, not show charity’- Michael Bennett

Be Roy and Walt Disney

I often tell artists: ‘Until you have the Roy to your Walt Disney, you have to be both.’ Walt Disney was the visionary. Roy Disney understood the business. Many artists spend years developing their talent while neglecting the business side entirely. But until you have a manager, agent, attorney, accountant, or team helping carry that load, you must learn enough about the business to protect yourself.

And even after you build a team, that responsibility never completely goes away. Whilst this next statement warrants further discussion, ‘let me cook’ as the kids say- your representation works for you. Your union works for you. Your collaborators work with you. But no one will ever care about your career more than you.

Final Thoughts

The purpose of this blog, this podcast, and the Business Literacy for the Artist community on TikTok is simple: Build the infrastructure they need so they can have the careers they want!

If there’s one lesson I wish someone had drilled into me when I was first starting out, it’s this: Except the business for what it is, and place it where it belongs! Prepare for what you’ll inherit and not what you’re living.

Artists who understand that are the ones most likely to build careers that last. OWNERSHIP, STRATEGY, and LONGEVITY are what will give you the career you’ve dreamed of. Because at the end of the day, it’s called Show Business, not Show Friends.