Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Sean Dillingham. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Sean, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?
Here’s the advice I give actors all the time. You have to redefine with the phrase “making it” means. Most actors have this grandiose vision of what making it means. A big mansion, big cars, private jet, millions of dollars, your choice of Scripts, etc. etc., the fact of the matter is, if you’re able to go out and do stage, TV, commercials, movies, you’ve made it. If you’re earning your living, acting, traveling, and seeing the country, you’ve made it.
You’re not working in a cubicle you’re out doing what it is you love! And that is what it means to “make it”. I am in a position now where I can travel to country work with a variety of people on a variety of projects, and I couldn’t be happier. Acting as a gypsy lifestyle, you will be traveling and working in different locations, doing different Scripys, working with different people. You need to embrace that and enjoy it because that’s the journey. I get up every day seven days a week and I submit for projects. Even if I have two, three, four things on the calendar already, every day I keep submitting that way I do 4 to 5 projects a month. You have to stay busy and always submit.
You have to look at yourself as if you were a small business. How are you going to promote market and push and make that small business successful?
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I started doing theater in school and that snowballed into doing high school theater, community theater, semi professional theater, and then, when I was seen by an agent, I was able to make the jump into commercials, television, and movies.
In addition to being a full-time working actor, I am also able to teach at a studio. I run out of Scottsdale Arizona. So I teach when I have availability and I’m not on set.
How did you build your audience on social media?
I was lucky enough to be on several high profile television series. Brooklyn Nine-Nine, This is Us, Yellowstone, Better Call Saul and more. From that I was able to garner quite a social media following. I always try to make sure that I put out content that I believe people will enjoy. Clips from movies clips from TV shows clips from commercials.
Not only does it show people what I’m doing but it also says to the people that I’m connected to, hey look, I’m a working actor. I cannot tell you the times that I have posted some thing only to have another producer or Director get a hold of me and tell me how much they enjoyed that clip and I would be perfect for their next project. You always have to be showcasing yourself
And people want to work with an actor that is acting.
Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?
The value of family.
It’s vital to have a strong and resilient support system. There’s already enough people in this business telling you NO, but if you don’t have a family that supports you and has your back, it’s going to be an even tougher road.
You need the people around you that will help support you and encourage you and be proud of you to help make the journey a little easier.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.seandillingham.com / SD Acting Studio : https://www.seandillingham.com/classes
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seandillinghamactor
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheSeanDillingham
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ActorSeanDillingham
Image Credits
Sean Dillingham