You know, I’ve been reflecting today. It’s Friday, and usually, I spend my weekends focused on my acting craft—working on auditions, improving my delivery, and staying sharp. Recently, I worked with an agency that asked me to submit a monologue. But after that, they kept pushing classes on me, telling me I needed more training. The thing is, I’ve already spent over $2,000 on acting and modeling courses, and I do this part-time.
It got me thinking about mentorship. When I was promoted to captain in the Army back in 1999 and became a company commander, mentored new lieutenants. In the Army, of course you’re not allowed to charge for mentoring—it’s part of your duty to help develop the next generation of leaders. I would never have thought to charge them, because that’s just how it works—you give back to ensure the future is strong. I believe the same should apply in acting. Seasoned actors or full time working Actors, those who’ve made it and have a name in the industry, should mentor and coach new actors for the future. After all, when you’re gone, the legacy you leave behind is through the people you’ve helped. That’s how you build something lasting.
I’m sharing this because my experience with that agency left me a bit disheartened. I wasn’t discouraged, but it made me question if some talent agencies are truly interested in developing actors or more focused on making money by selling courses. And let’s be honest—many new actors have already spent a lot on headshots, portfolio work, and courses including myself.
In the military, mentorship was about leadership, growth, and leaving behind something meaningful. It should be the same in this industry. Collaboration and helping each other is what makes us stronger, and the reward for that goes far beyond money.
Just some thoughts for the day. I hope many of you can relate....
Best,
Glenn Axelrod
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Yes, times have changed, and the business model is now about creating ongoing endless income streams through continuous improvement. I always know my goals and then look for, what is actually adding value to my life/writing abilities whether it is a person, a mentor, a YouTube, a website or a course. When I do this, I make significant leaps forward fast and see fast results.