Ethics and Etiquette in the Entertainment Industry
The entertainment industry is a world unto itself, with its own unwritten rules of behavior. It's also surprisingly small - a place where word travels fast and where an actor who violates the industry's code of conduct can quickly find his acting career affected with a reputation as "rude," "unreliable," "difficult," or, worst of all, "a diva."
And make no mistake about it: A bad reputation is nearly impossible to shake and can kill a career before it has even begun. In show business, people often work intimately together for long hours with millions of dollars at stake. They want to be absolutely certain the actors they're hiring are honest, pleasant, reliable, hard-working, and professional.
For newcomers especially, abiding by show business etiquette and ethics is vital if you expect to sustain an acting career. Don't give them any excuse to hire somebody else. As talented as you may be, no actor is irreplaceable.
In 1962, Marilyn Monroe - the most famous actress in the world at the time-was fired from the film Something's Got to Give for her continual tardiness. Think about that: If they were willing to fire the most famous actress in the world, do you think they'll have any qualms about firing you?
You've got to play by the rules of the entertainment industry. But before you can play by the rules, you've got to know what they are.
LINKS
Presenting Yourself to the Industry
Know the image you're projecting.
Cover Letter and Submission Etiquette
Actors who regularly submit their headshots and resumes may want to think twice before they prepare their next cover letter.
Mass Mailing Etiquette
When sending resumes to a talent agency, should I send just one resume or one to every agent listed at that agency?
On-Set Etiquette
The golden rule is being polite — even when they're not polite to you.
The Do's and Don'ts of Finding and Working with an Agent
We examine the intricate choreography of that most complicated dance, the agent/actor relationship.
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