Acting Business Boot Camp

Self-Perception and Where We Decide We Belong I want to talk about something we reference a lot in acting, but usually only vaguely. Self-perception. It sits at the center of almost every actor's journey. It shapes how you talk about yourself, who you reach out to, what rooms you think you belong in, and how far you let yourself go. Most of the time, we don't even notice it happening. Why This Mat...

I hear actors say this phrase all the time: "There's nothing going on in my career." And I want to be very clear, that idea is almost never true. In this episode of the  Acting Business Bootcamp Podcast , I talk about why that belief shows up, how it distorts your perception, and what you should be measuring instead when things feel quiet. I also share why I reshaped my Weekly Accountability Group...

The Part of the Business We Avoid I don't know many actors who got into this work because they love paperwork. Money. Invoices. Contracts. Admin. I avoid this side of the business not because I think it's beneath me, but because it makes me uncomfortable. It forces me to look closely. At numbers. At patterns. At choices I've postponed. And lately, I've been reminded how common that is. Why Admin C...

Actors often think a new year will change things. New calendar, new energy, new motivation. But real change doesn't come from dates. It comes from how you structure your choices, your habits, and your expectations. In this episode of the Acting Business Boot Camp Podcast, Peter Pamela Rose breaks down the five shifts that actually help actors change their year, not in a dramatic, overnight way, bu...

The Art of Keeping Things Separate This topic comes up more than people admit. Usually in a whisper. Or an email that starts with, "This might be a weird question…" It's not weird. It's just complicated. A lot of actors are working in NSFW or spicy spaces. Erotica audiobooks. Adult games. ASMR. OnlyFans. Patreon. Sensual storytelling. And at the same time, they're booking e-learning, commercials,...

Listening to Invisible Guidance I've been thinking a lot about how guidance shows up. Not in big dramatic flashes, but in the tiny whispers. The quiet nudges you feel before anything becomes a full blown lesson. And honestly, the more I look back on my own life, the more I see how often I missed the first whisper. When the Whisper Becomes a Shove I cannot tell you how many times I've thought, oh,...

The Word That Changes Everything I've been rereading Larry Moss's  The Intent to Live , and there's a line that stopped me. He calls "yes" the most important word in acting. It sounds simple, but the more I sat with it, the more true it felt. Why We Default to No I notice how quickly I say no in my own mind. No, I'm not ready. No, someone else deserves that more. No, they'd never want me. It feels...

Family gatherings can be beautiful. They can also feel like emotional landmines, especially when you're an actor. One minute you're passing the mashed potatoes. The next you're answering a pointed question about your career from someone who hasn't watched a show since 1998. In this week's episode of the Acting Business Bootcamp Podcast, I talk about how to stay calm, centered, and grounded as you...

Actors often wait for motivation. We hope a burst of inspiration will get us moving, keep us consistent, or push us to the next level. But real growth rarely starts with motivation. It starts with one small choice. In this episode of the Acting Business Bootcamp Podcast, I talk about the simple cycle that has changed my life many times over. Choice. Habit. Love. It's a framework you can use in you...

Why Slow Is the New Secret Weapon for Actors The entertainment industry glorifies hustle. Fast auditions, faster turnarounds, constant pressure to keep up. But what if slowing down is the real secret to booking more roles and building a lasting career? In this episode of the  Acting Business Bootcamp Podcast , I talk about  the power of slow  and why being intentional, grounded, and patient can ma...

The Irony of Paid Transparency I saw a post the other day that made me stop mid-scroll. An actor—let's call him  Workshop Guy —was going viral for saying he was "tired of gatekeeping in the industry." He wanted to break down the walls, create transparency, build community… all that good stuff. And then, at the end of his video, came the link. A $200 workshop. I laughed out loud. Because, honestly,...

The Heart Behind a Great Self-Tape I'll be honest—I couldn't even remember how I start my podcast today. "Hello, I hope you had a great week?" That sounds right. Anyway, welcome back to  Self-Tapes That Book, Part Two. Last week we talked about tech and mindset, about creating a space that supports your confidence instead of draining it. The kind of space that makes you feel like you just slipped...

In this episode, I'm diving into one of the most important topics for any working actor today: self-tapes. They're no longer an occasional request or a pandemic workaround. Self-tapes  are  the audition room now. That means your setup, your mindset, and your energy have to communicate professionalism and confidence before you ever say a line. After losing my voice for a few weeks (and getting some...

Voiceover is a beautiful and rewarding field. But if you're not protecting your  energy, creativity, and finances , it will eat you alive before you ever find your footing. I've seen too many talented actors get burned out because they thought VO was just about having a "great voice." It isn't. It's a craft and a business rolled into one. And if any of those three pillars is running on empty, your...

In this episode, I talk about mottos. Those little slogans or mantras that can actually keep you going in a business that is often messy, unpredictable, and overwhelming. A motto is not just decoration. It's a tool. It helps you: Stay grounded when the industry feels chaotic. Filter choices and make better decisions. Communicate your identity and values quickly. Build momentum through small daily...

Why Learning the "Language" Matters Actors spend years honing their craft, but many miss one critical piece: learning how to communicate in the L anguage of the Agents and the Casting Directors . This isn't just about vocabulary. It's about aligning your training, business practices, and mindset so the industry sees you as the solution—not the problem. As a casting director, I see it firsthand. Ac...

Hey there, it's Mandy Fisher. Welcome back to the  Acting Business Boot Camp Podcast . I've been in the voiceover world for over 20 years, and if there's one thing I repeat over and over, it's this:  all voiceover is character work. Yes, even that five-second toothpaste ad. Even the audiobook that goes on for twelve hours. Even the one-liner in a loop group session. If I don't believe in the chara...

This week's episode is all about documentary narration. Voiceover actor  Paula Tiso  joins me to share her journey from sketch comedy in Los Angeles to working steadily in promos, radio imaging, true crime, and documentary series. We talk about training, the shift from "perky" reads to grounded storytelling, and what it really takes to support a story with your voice. About Paula: Paula Tiso is a...

Today's episode is called  "Your Audition Superpower."  We're talking about what really makes an audition competitive, not just good. Because in a crowded industry, good auditions disappear. Competitive ones get remembered. Whether you're stepping into the booth, walking into the room, or recording a self-tape at home, these five elements can transform how casting directors see you. Why "Audition...

This week's episode is all about  doing the damn thing . Inspired by Jen Sincero's  You Are a Badass , we explore how to move from wishful thinking into real, consistent action. Because let's face it: Epiphanies are useless without execution. Self-help without follow-through is shelf-help. Trying to be an actor isn't the same as being one. From Passive Habits to Active Action Many actors fall into...

Okay actors, here it is—your end-of-summer pep talk. I don't know how we got here so fast, but summer's basically over and it's time to stop stalling. Time to get your act together. In this episode, I'm giving it to you straight. Yes, I even drop a few swear words, because honestly, sometimes that's what it takes to shake things up. I'll share the story of Bowie the cat (our very cautious little h...

When I Froze on "Three Takes" I'll be honest, the first time a casting director asked me for three takes in the same vibe, my brain short-circuited. The first one felt okay. The second? I made it louder. The third? I whispered and hoped for divine intervention. Sound familiar? If you've been there, you're not alone. No one really teaches us how to do this. We just… guess. But over the years, I've...

Most actors treat their careers like a guessing game. Send a few emails. Hope someone notices. Post on Instagram. Cross your fingers. But what if you could  know  what's working? What if you had the exact information to make better choices, save time, and book more work? That is what tracking data does for you, and yes, it is way less boring than it sounds. Why Most Actors Avoid Tracking (and Why...

If you've ever gotten an email offering $850 for 45 minutes of voice work and thought,  huh, that sounds… generous —you're not alone. Today I'm walking you through one of the most common and dangerous traps voice actors fall into:  the voiceover scam. Let's talk about how to recognize one, why we fall for them, and how to protect yourself. These Scams Are Getting Smarter I've seen  so many  of the...

In this solo episode, Peter gets deeply personal about a challenging week—and the powerful mindset shift that came from it. After getting emotionally "twisted," Peter turned to her most trusted tools: journaling, meditation, and coaching. What started as a spiral led to a breakthrough realization: Your mind is your world. And your world is your mind. When you're in your fear-based thought system,...