Comments on: Being a consultant is like being an actor

By: John Whalen

John Whalen — Wed, 13 May 2009 00:10:30 +0000

I agree Whitney. I had a colleague that describes what we do as “performance art” when we're providing recommendations on the fly and evangelizing User Experience. I always thought that was apt.

Nice to meet you at REDUX-DC.

By: AJ Kandy

AJ Kandy — Tue, 12 May 2009 17:58:14 +0000

The analogy is mostly apt, and I'd say it's as true for any creative professional, maybe more so for people who have to work in groups (musicians, filmmakers). I'd add that there is no single path to success, but as in the theatre it is important to constantly exercise your listening skills, ability to absorb new information, occasionally put yourself in new and uncomfortable positions, always empathize, always be asking questions…and of course, learn to improvise. After all, isn't half of consulting learning what happens when the script falls apart?

By: kevinprentiss

kevinprentiss — Tue, 12 May 2009 12:56:07 +0000

Another similarity is the aspirational nature of self expression. The source material (client) matters, but the juice from acting and consulting comes from the special spin that you get to put on the source material. The best actors and consultants own the material, they make it theirs.

Both actors and consultants pay for the possibility of self expression with all the risks you list in your post. With the higher risk comes the possibility of bigger rewards - in both cases, it's fame and the money that comes with it. You just might get the huge recognition you deserve for your work.

The alternative is to live someone else's vision, with lower risk and proportional reward.

There is always tension between the client and the consultant. Hopefully this can be healthy creative tension. Same with actors, writers, and directors.

Great post. Definitely matches my experience.

By: MarketCopywriter

MarketCopywriter — Tue, 12 May 2009 12:52:53 +0000

Hi Whitney:

I follow you on Twitter and saw your link to this great post, a subject dear to my heart. I was an actor for a decade before having a family and starting 2nd career as a freelance copywriter (aka "consultant")

Everything you share is so very true. I especially like # 8.

I find my foundational acting training helps me again and again specifically when I write copy. I use a form of sense memory when constructing narrative.

And I've come to see I unconsciously use something like Uta Hagen's "substitution." It helps me develop empathy for reader/customers, understand their core desires and pain points ("motivation") and speak conversationally through copy.

Also, just as I did as an actor when preparing for a role, I research and prepare exhaustively before thinking about putting fingers to key board.