Waveland Press - Carl Menninger, Lori Hammel

With the increasing cost of tuition and the challenges of finding work in an overcrowded marketplace, actors need to be well equipped to enter the business and succeed artistically and financially. Minding the Edge is an empowering guidebook that helps actors to think like CEOs. It presents down-to-earth yet potent strategies for “making it” in the entertainment industry.

The principle “If you seek fulfillment, success will come” is foundational to the authors’ sensible and sensitive advice on how to create a plan to cope with the volatility of an acting career. A series of interactive exercises and discussion questions motivate readers to explore personal feelings, understand present circumstances while preparing for future ones, and maintain a positive mental approach to the business. Quotations from professional actors, writers, directors, and others in the field, as well as anecdotes from the authors’ own lives, reinforce essential concepts in the book, inspire readers to be proactive, and cultivate a positive mental approach to achieving fulfillment and success.

Minding the Edge has been used as a supplemental text in audition and capstone courses as well as in classes designed to teach actors how to cope with the business side of the industry.

“. . . a thought-provoking and self-determining guide to a career. It covers the spiritual aspect of an otherwise harsh and businesslike job market. I will find this book extremely useful for my senior showcase class.” — Bradley Vieth, University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point

“The students loved it. It was a wonderful experience for them and triggered many great conversations in class at a time when they were both excited and frightened about their future and launching into the next phase of their lives and ultimately their careers. I certainly would have loved to have had your book when I was working professionally. It would have been something I would have gone back to again and again, as I hope my students will.” — Kaitlin Hopkins, Texas State University

“A very fine text. It is full of solid advice, well-written, and nicely organized.” — Richard Warner, University of Virginia

“Great approach. It begins with a personal look at the reasons for devoting one’s life to an extremely crowded field where the day-to-day work is seeking the opportunity to act, followed by very practical ideas for how to proceed in a career where you are the CEO of the business of being a paid actor. Excellent workbook for any artist seeking long-term success.” — Sheriden Thomas, Tufts University

“Thank you so much for sending this fine, practical book. I greatly enjoyed doing the exercises. I will heartily recommend it to my professional colleagues.” — Daniel Scott, Moraine Valley Community College

“Excellent source for planning a professional career in acting. Highly recommended.” — Alfred Rossi, Los Angeles City College

“This book fills a long-time gap in theatre education. I am excited to use it for my senior capstone course. Concise, well written, and a great read. Very affordable.” — Lonnie Wilburn, South Dakota State University

“Extremely insightful, practical, and useful for the serious actor in training. I will highly recommend the book as an important resource.” Julio Matos, City College of New York

“Minding the Edge offers not just helpful career advice on how to approach the difficult venture of becoming a successful actor in today’s entertainment industry, but also offers an overall mindset and philosophy needed to successfully approach the entertainment industry from an actor’s standpoint. This actor’s how-to guide doesn't focus so much on audition techniques and acting strategies, but more so on how to handle the life of an actor while off-screen, or off-stage; it offers advice on what the right balanced outlook should be while approaching acting as both a craft and a business.” — Erik Seastrand, WME Talent and Literary Agency

Introduction
1. A Different Kind of "How To": Mind-Set Makes the Difference
2. You the Actor . . . You the Person: Defining Motivation and Fulfillment
3. The Disciplined Actor: Taking Control
4. Disciplined Thought: It's How You Spin It
5. Invasion of the Neg-a-Tors: Rising above Negativity
6. Disciplined Action: Follow-Through
7. The 80-Year Plan: When Timelines Become "Dead Lines"
8. Focus Your Actions: Being of Service
9. You at Work: Bring Your A-Game
10. The Circle of Work: The Ongoing Process
11. Getting Work: Know What You're Selling
12. Networking: Building Relationships
13. Freaking Out: Managing Your Anxiety
14. Office Mates: Building Your Team
15. Make It Work: Setting It All in Motion
16. Our Final Thoughts: The Ball's in Your Court