Performer Safety Awareness - Part I
By Holdon Log, LLC

(Note: This article is Part One of a Six Part Series. Click here to read Part Two)

Did you know that it is "Performer Safety Awareness Month"? Ok, not really...but now that we have your attention, let's talk about some important issues concerning safety during the submission process, at auditions, and on the job!

Identity theft is huge. In fact, according to Pre-Paid Legal it's one of the fastest growing white-collar crimes in history. A window of opportunity for thieves to steal your identity is by way of your Social Security Number (SSN). With this in mind take note of the following...

Don't list your SSN on your resume!

Why?

Well, after a headshot is received it can sit in a casting office or at an agency where many strangers walk in and out unnoticed. This provides them with an opportunity to take your headshot/resume which has your SSN on it! Also, if your headshot doesn't get you called in for an audition or, after the role has been cast, your headshot will most likely wind up in the trash where "dumpster-divers" have access to your information. In either scenario, consider your identity threatened...

By the way, have you ever been called by an acting school who says, “a friend of yours (whose name they do not have, nor can release) referred you to their school”? If you have, most likely there was no “friend” who referred you and now these total strangers are soliciting you for their business…not to mention...they now know what you look like, they have your phone number and your SSN!!!

At an audition many sign-in sheets ask for your SSN.
Don't list it!

If you are a member of a Union, and it is a Union production, then list your Union ID number – NOT your SSN. If you are not a Union member, or this is not a Union production, then write “on file” or “upon request”. When you book the job, they will ask you for your SSN when they are getting your paperwork together or when you are about to sign your contract. If you list it on the sign-in sheet, most likely it will be discarded and then left available for those “wonderful” you guessed it, “dumpster-divers”!

Don't risk loosing your SSN card by keeping it
in your wallet or purse all the time.

If you must bring your SSN to a booking, then do so, but afterwards store it in a secure place like a strong box or safe where you keep other important passports, contracts, documents, etc. You might also prefer to make a photo copy of your SSN, Driver’s License, and Passport to bring with you to bookings rather than carrying the original (and often time-consuming-to-replace) documents.

Trash is trash; it just goes to some landfill, right?
Wrong!

Another important precaution to help prevent you from becoming a victim of Identity Theft is to destroy any documents before you toss them out, by shredding. If you don’t, once your trash is in a garbage can or dumpster, it’s fair game for anyone to go through. If you don’t have a shredder, consider using a permanent marker to cross-out your name, address, SSN, account numbers and anything else that could direct another person to your valuable, personal information. It’s always better to be safe than find out someone is using your contact information to obtain credit cards, loans, ID’s, etc.

Do you really want the entire world to know where you live?

Of course not! So, get a Post Office Box...do it today, do it this week...JUST DO IT! Make this a priority! Use a Post Office Box to have your paychecks mailed to, have it printed on your checks for your bank account, add the P.O. Box in your ActorTrack Contacts Section (or other contact database) and print a slew of return address labels to use for submissions. Also, use the P.O. Box as a return address when you print your headshot/promo postcards and do targeted mailings. Not only will this prevent people from knowing where you live, but you’ll have a better chance of knowing which addresses are out-of-date when they are returned to you. Then you can update your contacts database accordingly. Also, print the P.O. Box on your business cards or labels that you affix to the back of your business cards....this will give you the confidence and comfort to hand out your business cards freely!

Having a P.O. Box that you use strictly for business purposes is in most cases a tax deduction and in reality a safe, smart and affordable decision to make!

Back to the “dumpster-divers”...think about what happens to the envelopes that you submit your headshots and other materials to for representation consideration, auditions, memberships, etc. They are discarded and easy prey for people who you do not want to know where you live!

You can call me at…home.
Or, email me at cupcakebutt1980@home.com...Not!

First, let’s start with, “You can call me at...home.” Okay, acting for you is a business, right? So treat it that way and have a business line…a voicemail, and/or a cell phone, something that’s not tied to your physical address. Use this number on your resume, on your stationary, on your business cards and anywhere and everywhere that you post your information online. Make sure that your voicemail message is brief, states your name and is not backed with music (background music for your voicemail is considered in most circles very unprofessional!).

The next line reveals a lot, “Or, email me at cupcakebutt1980@home.com”. This type of e-mail address starting with “cupcakebutt” might imply the wrong image to others. The number that follows -“1980”, may be a giveaway into your age. Your email address should instead reflect that you are a professional. Sure it’s fine to have a “handle” email that’s reflective of your personality that you use for personal correspondences, but for business you should have something that’s reflective of your name (okay, a little boring, but professional!). So instead of “cupcakebutt1980@home.com”, a better e-mail may be “MarySmithActs@home.com”. This type of e-mail address is what you list on your resume, on your letterhead, on your business cards and anywhere and everywhere that you post your information online.

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Did we miss something? Feel free to email us at safety@HoldonLog.com and let us know some other safety ideas for Performer Safety Awareness.