Actors – There’s an app for that

There are numerous applications for the phone that will make the actor’s life easier. Knowledge of these tools can increase the efficiency of learning the trade and improve marketing efforts. This article highlights what basic types of apps are available as well as the benefits and caveats of using them.

The life of an actor is in constant motion. With workshops, auditions, rehearsals, interviews and photo shoots, staying in touch and being prepared requires new tools. Phone apps have made life easier for the actor with readily available background information, apprenticeship programs, and job listings. When installed on your iPhone or Android, multitasking is possible.

Let’s say you have an audition for a role in a movie or television. You can display the credits of a director you are auditioning for or a list of films or clients represented by the casting director. Having this information readily available allows you to authenticate your listeners and have talking points that enliven the interview. The most frequent database is IMDb. In the pro version, it is possible to obtain contact information of these people for follow-up efforts.

Learning lines or rehearsing without a partner is another task actors face. There are numerous rehearsal or teleprompter apps that allow you to learn your lines in multiple ways; visually, orally or in peekaboo blackout mode. You can open your scripts directly from the email you receive them in, or work with PDF and Word files you get from your computer. In most applications, you can record your lines and play them back, watch the script scroll like a teleprompter, and fast-rewind or fast-forward to retrieve lines simply by scrolling the script. In some apps, it’s possible to add timestamps to break up longer passages into manageable times and, depending on the device, create “notes in the margins” regarding choices, appearance, or gestures. In more expensive applications, the announcer can audition for voice jobs from anywhere and email their auditions as MP3 files from anywhere to anyone. These rehearsal apps allow you to rehearse anywhere without a partner. Rehearsal 2 and Scene Partner are common apps in this category.

Some apps are informative, empowering and educating for those interested in pursuing a career in the film and television business. One of them is Actor Genie, whose website lists resources to keep track of what’s playing. These resources include audition and casting links like Actors Access, LA Casting, and Backstage Magazine.

Keeping track of appointments, events, and daily reminders in other to-do apps can do. With such an app, you can organize and keep track of auditions. You can also keep track of meetings, workshops, networking opportunities, and more. AuditionCal and iPerform are similar apps in this category and can help restore order to a chaotic life.

If you live in Los Angeles, you have to deal with freeway congestion and limited parking. The Sigalert app offers detailed freeway speed information along with reports on accidents, construction, and traffic jams. The Polis Assist app helps clear up difficult and confusing parking signs on a particular street. It will also alert you before your parking times expire and automatically check you at the end of your park so you can avoid parking tickets.

There are, of course, a multitude of apps available for actors and this article covers the most basic needs. Finding more apps or finding where to download them is a problem as most are only available for certain types of phones or their operating system. The three most common platforms are iPhone, Android and Windows. Apple Store/iTunes handles almost all apps for iPhone (iOS). Android apps are mostly found on Google Play. And Windows apps are available in the Microsoft Store/Windows Phone Store. Amazon Appstore is an alternative app store for the Android operating system.

When determining which apps are best for you, Google the general category and look at the selection of available apps and their specifications. For example, rehearsal applications or teleprompter is a category to help with dialogue memorization. Audition Appointment/Organizer/Calendar Apps is another category used to schedule and remind you of events. There are also apps that inform, empower and educate those seeking the business and trades/acting techniques. Make comparisons, read reviews, and watch installation and operation videos when available. Please note that certain apps are only available for certain operating systems, be it iOS or Android.

Pricing, benefits, and terms are also considerations. Costs can range from free to $0.99 up to $24.00. Benefits to consider are ease of operation, range of features, and relevance to your needs. Some free apps may require an update at a nominal cost. Most apps do not have an end date, although some may have an automatic monthly or yearly renewal. This is a topic to watch closely.

Another issue, does the app need an internet connection to be operational or does it work independently within the phone? When out of signal range, this can be a problem. The term “application” is a short term for “application software”. As such, mobile apps can pose a significant security risk, transferring unprotected sensitive data to the Internet without users’ knowledge and consent. Data theft is not just the loss of sensitive information, one can be vulnerable to cyber attacks or blackmail. Malicious software can access a device’s SMS messages, browsing history, or voicemail password.

When it comes to security, Apple approves iOS apps through a strict vetting process before listing them on the App Store, while Google’s Android Market app security simply involves warning the user that an app needs permissions to perform certain functions during installation. To avoid problems in the future, it is advisable to avoid third-party providers and instead opt for reputable outlets like the App Store, Google Play, and Microsoft Store.

By using apps or your phone in general, one can use a lot of minutes on their plan. One way to combat this problem is to look for locations with a wi-fi connection. Places like coffee shops, certain restaurants, or your local library can fill this need. Also, look online for Creative Spaces that offer free wi-fi. An added benefit, using wi-fi generally results in faster transaction speeds. It’s also best to disable data-sucking apps you don’t use often, as automatic updates can wreak havoc on your data usage. Update only when connected to wi-fi.

This article covers some of the benefits of acting apps. However, there are also several caveats about using these apps. The main one is the tendency to become obsessed with their characteristics and, therefore, neglect their main functions, in order to facilitate the improvement of the craft and the promotion of talents. Too often, users become infatuated with bells and whistles and forget that these are tools, not toys. Another caveat, these apps tend to inhibit personal interaction and instead promote digital encounters. Acting is a face-to-face occupation, whether it be networking, job hunting, or performing. While apps can ease this transition, they should never replace it. And finally there are the safety issues. Keep your mind and eyes on the task at hand, whether you’re getting into an elevator, crossing the street, or driving to your next audition. There’s an application for that. Is named turn off your phone.