Pride Words: What Are They and How Can They Help Your Acting Career?

5/6/2020

Strength...

Compassion...

Pride...

These three simple (but powerful) words helped my client Tyrone L. Robinson book his first ever Broadway role as King Agnarr in Disney's Frozen.

What are Pride Words?

Imagine getting booked solid with acting work, and loving every character you played.

What if you no longer felt pigeonholed in the industry – but instead had a brand that opened up MORE opportunities to you?

That's what Pride Words are all about.

For years, actors would email me asking how to find their brand without getting boxed in or typecast.

I was always at a loss because the more specific you are, the fewer roles you'd be able to play, right?

Well, whenever I would cast my own films, I noticed HUGE differences in performance level between actors who LOVED the characters they were auditioning for and ones who DISLIKED their characters.

I realized that the only way to do well in an audition was to love your character.

But how do you do that when the industry sometimes forces you to play characters you don't enjoy?

Well, in 2019 I finally discovered a process that could do just that: help actors LOVE the characters they were auditioning for, even if there were playing a character they'd normally dislike.

The process worked repeatedly for every actor I took through it.

So what was it that made the biggest difference?

Adding three Pride Words into their brand.

We'll get into how to find your Pride Words in a bit, but first...

What Can Pride Words Do for Me?

Pride Words: Focused, Confident, and Caring

I believe that every actor has three Pride Words, and whether you know them or not, these words are controlling you at an unconscious level.

The key to booking more work is becoming consciously aware of what they are.

When you know your three Pride Words, you can use them in everything – from your auditions to your headshot sessions, and even when you're working on set.

My client Tyrone focused on them right before going into his big Broadway audition, and told me later that his Pride Words were what helped him the most.

Why? Because he felt so grounded and confident in himself when he focused on them!

I've actually helped actors use their Pride Words during headshot sessions to capture extremely interesting expressions like this:

Pride Words: Patient, Compassionate, and Strong

What I love most about that headshot is the way it keeps your eyes focused on her. Her eyes are so captivating that it becomes hard to look away! And that's of course what you want in a great headshot.

Your Pride Words can make a HUGE difference in how grounded you feel, which leads to being more relaxed and confident during stressful times.

Focusing on your Pride Words can also cause near-instant better performance in auditions.

By simply closing his eyes for a moment and focusing on each of his three Pride Words one by one, Tyrone was able to give one of the best performances in his life, and he booked his first ever Broadway role!

And you can do the same once you know YOUR Pride Words (they're different for every actor).

Try This Out and See For Yourself:

Take these steps for an immediate, noticeable difference in the quality of your performance by using your Pride Words:

Set up your smartphone right now and record yourself performing a monologue you enjoy. It doesn't matter which monologue it is, as long as you enjoy it. Also, don't worry about where you are, as long as you can see and hear yourself clearly.
After you've recorded one take, think hard – what are three personality traits about yourself that you're proud of? Just come up with three words that describe you and make you feel really good. They don't have to be perfect – just pick three words. Write them down on a sheet of paper.
Now, close your eyes and focus on each word. Really imagine and feel each word one by one – get the three words flowing through your body.
Now, while you're still feeling those words, record your monologue again. Don't take too much time to set up because you need to have those words fully present in you right as you start to perform.
Finally, watch the two recordings. Play each one back, and notice if there are any differences. I'm willing to bet that you're going to see more calm and confidence in your second performance where you used your Pride Words.

Casting directors WILL notice that difference. And those three words you picked might not even be your true Pride Words.

So How Do I Find My True Pride Words?

Great question.

The process of finding your Pride Words is actually part of my larger branding process, but there is a shortened three-step version of it you can use right here:

Think of someone you know personally and admire deeply. Take a few minutes to come up with someone specific.
Once you decide on someone, ask yourself – what three personality traits about them do you admire most? Force yourself to come up with three.
Those three words are your Pride Words!

Of course, these Pride Words are simply your surface level words. I have a much more in-depth video on this in my mini-course called The Practical Performer. The video shows you how to find your true Pride Words, plus how to use them to create a powerful acting Brand.

Want to Go Deeper?

I highly recommend you consider my mini course called The Practical Performer.

It's been taken by over 500 actors and will show you how to start booking more work by thinking strategically.

Here are just a few of the things you'll learn:

9-Steps to Find a Brand You’re Proud Of - one that will inspire and excite you and help you do your absolute best work in every audition
The Biggest Difference Between Successful Actors and Those Who Stay Stuck - learn why some actors spring forward in their career quickly and others just seem to stay at the same level for years
The Actor's Journey – the exact twelve steps successful actors take to go from brand new in the industry to booking consistent work and raising their day rates higher and higher
Industry-Standard Headshots, Footage, and Resume - what it means to have them and exactly how to get them
The Seven Key Strategies to Finding Paid Work - the most effective ways to get booked for auditions and how to turn those opportunities into a steady stream of new work
Secrets to a Great Cover Letter – including a sample word-for-word cover letter that has worked for many of my clients, plus tips to make it your own
And much more...

To learn more about the course and sign up, click the button below:

The Practical Performer