I was watching an episode of 30 Rock in which some members of the cast became aware that the NBC news division (as all news divisions do) had created obituary packages on them, so they could be first to get out the retrospective of their lives, just editing in a bit about the how and when of their deaths. Creepy, sure, but the ensuing comedy gave me an idea for this week’s column.

When Tracy Jordan (played by Tracy Morgan) sees his obit, he realizes that he doesn’t like the buffoonery that he’s going to be remembered for, per that package, and is encouraged by Jack Donaghy (Alec Baldwin) to “change the headline.”

What a great idea! As actors in this industry, there may be times you get remembered for the gig you — looking back at it — wish you hadn’t taken. You get pigeonholed in the role that is least on-brand for where your career is headed. You pop on the radar of TMZ not for the hot red carpet experience you hoped, but for the DUI experience you had after the red carpet that night.

What do you do about that? Change the headline.

I talked in Self-Management for Actors about Michael Chiklis and how he had become known for his comb-over schlubby self in the days of The Commish and Daddio, and then reinvented himself — changed his headline — by cutting weight, adding muscle, shaving what was left of his hair off, and becoming a very real candidate for a totally different role in his career trajectory: Vic Mackey in The Shield.

Had some bad auditions? Change the headline. Get into a great audition class and work through the kinks, then find a way back into the offices that weren’t responding to your work so the buyers can re-learn who you are.

Drank too much at a networking event? Change the headline. Find a way to get in front of those potential buyers at a daytime event, a networking breakfast, a Q&A not held at a bar.

All your top Google hits are links to the movie you wish everyone would forget? Change the headline. Produce your own short vid that showcases you exactly the way you want the industry to cast you. Get it out there. Make it how folks think of you.

If you can’t figure out creative ways to change the headline for yourself, consider hiring a publicist for a short term, to help place articles about you, to help get you interviewed by the right people about the right things, to change your spin. Depending on the tier you currently occupy and where you’re headed, that could be smart money and the most effective use of your time.

Bonnie Gillespie is living her dreams by helping others figure out how to live theirs. Wanna work with Bon? Start here. Thanks!

Originally published by Actors Access at http://more.showfax.com/columns/avoice/archives/001309.html. Please support the many wonderful resources provided by the Breakdown Services family. This posting is the author’s personal archive.