I received the following blast of tweets over at The Twitter, from ArielM32.

If I don’t have a website, is it appropriate to email a Dropbox link to my headshot/resumé if I want to avoid attachments?

Thanks!! Just graduated with a BFA and your book is everything I wish I learned in school! Thank you for the great insight.

ArielM32, thank you! 🙂 I’m so glad Self-Management for Actors has been a helpful guide for you. More and more colleges are putting the book on their required reading lists for business of acting courses, which makes me thrilled, because it’s essential that actors understand not only their craft but also how to navigate the business elements of a creative pursuit.

I think, for actors who want to email their materials to casting directors, agents, managers, directors, producers, etc., without using attachments, the BEST option is to include a link to the files hosted at a very well-known site (and not use those handy TinyURL or bit.ly type link-shorteners, because folks who don’t know you may not click the link in case it’s linking to a nefarious site). So, a link to your IMDb profile, to your Actors Access profile, to your YouTube channel, etc., is going to be the best option, if you’re an actor who doesn’t have a dedicated website.

Sure, Dropbox is a safe place, as are any of those YouSendIt type FTP-via-email sites and services. BUT! You’re counting on the recipient to do several more steps than are likely to happen, assuming she doesn’t know you and isn’t expecting your email.

There’s opening the message (which may automatically be routed to a sub-folder due to the fact that your email address doesn’t match an address in the recipient’s contacts file), being interested enough in what you say in the message that they’re feeling compelled to click on ANY link in the email, and if it’s a Dropbox link, there’s the whole “do they have an account” issue (and if they do, is it affiliated with the email address to which you sent the message or some other address they prefer to use), and if they DON’T have an account, having to sign up for one. Then they’re to click on a link to initiate the download, which will then store files on their computer. While the download is taking place, maybe they’re doing a few other things, and we have to hope they remember to go back and open the files from their download storage space, remember that they’re affiliated with your great email, and then be excited enough to fish that email back out and reply to you to get you in the door.

Phew! That’s a lot of steps, especially when compared to how easy a “click on my IMDb page” or “here’s my Actors Access link” might be.

Next, about the drop-offs! This is where Your Show Bible is essential. Start finding out — first hand if you can — who’s open to drop-offs and who’s not. Track that info. Ask around at communities like Hollywood Happy Hour and check your Google Alerts to read interviews with folks you’re targeting, to find out what they’ve said they like or dislike, already.

Be in the game for the long haul and track that info, then act on it. Or, just get out there and try! And don’t get discouraged if someone says, “No drop-offs.” Just add that data to Your Show Bible and soldier on!

Keep me posted on how things go for you, post-BFA. 🙂

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/001445.html. Please support the many wonderful resources provided by the Breakdown Services family. This posting is the author’s personal archive.