A Unique Acting Tip
For Aspiring Actors

Here's a little acting tip for those of you who are looking for a career in the theater. You don’t have to be an aspiring actor or actress to become a mystery shopper. However, mystery shopping can be a good place to practice your skills as an actor. Plus, you can make some money on the side.

Many mystery shop assignments I've received over the years required me to have a story ready or a part to play. I've had several bank shops where I had to portray a person who had $50,000 to invest. I had an envelope in my hand that suggested I had just inherited a lot of money. I had to evaluate a banker to see if they give me good advice on how to invest my inheritance into a money market account.

Mystery shops have many specific requirements that you have to follow to get paid. For most assignments, you will not be asked your name or address. However, new home builders will ask you to fill out a card with your contact information. They will store this information in their computer network for all of their properties to view. You can’t use your real name, address, and background for every location, because you will be spotted as a shopper.

This is where the performer in you can come out. You play a different person for every different location. You can put some improvisational skills to work.

The key to these locations is to see how the sales agent does in their presentation to sell you a home.

Now, you don't go off acting like Scarlett O'Hara or Stanley Kowalski and make a big dramatic scene during your visit. But, you have an opportunity to play someone that you are not.

Here are a couple of rules to follow.

Make sure the name is not too complicated to remember. One of the biggest fears I had about using a different name was the possibility of forgetting it during a visit. I always wrote down my fake name, address, and phone number on a piece of paper and took it with me. I only used it discreetly if I forgot it. There were a few times that I walked up to the sales person, extended my hand, and accidentally said my real first name. When that happened, I made sure I used my made-up last name.

I forgot my name completely during a new home shop. It was a video mystery shop and I introduced myself as Fred Simpson to the agent. I was not asked to fill out a card before the demonstration, so the agent only heard my name once. After a few minutes, I forgot both first and last name. While the agent was telling me about all the features and benefits of living there, I was trying to remember what name I told this sales agent. I left the slip of paper with my fake name, address and phone number in my car.

The agent forgot my name as well. She eventually asked for it again and I just gave a first name. I said Frank. The agent seemed a little puzzled at first, but went on with her presentation. I think she knew that wasn't the name I gave earlier. She had some problems of her own. She struggled through her presentation and could not remember everything from her training. The shop ended smoothly and I did get paid for. I was lucky, because I could have had a deduction from my payment or not get paid at all.

In addition to using a different name, you’ll have to change your story. These sales agents will ask you questions about your family, where you work, what your hobbies are, and what you look for in a new home. You can’t walk into every location with the same story. These sales agents know that there are mystery shoppers out there and the agents do call one another. If someone comes in with the same story at every location, the agent may be tipped off that this person is a mystery shopper. They may tell the other agent to be on the lookout for this person.

You have to change your contact information. The computer will pick up addresses and see who from that location has visited before. Most of the time, you can give a fake phone number. There are some mystery shop companies that will provide you with phone numbers to use.

Apartment shops will also ask you to fill out a card. You can change your story and address with apartments, but not so much your name. You will more than likely be asked for your driver's license. One requirement for an apartment shop is if a sales consultant asks you to see an apartment, you must say yes. At that point, you'll be asked for your driver's license, which mystery shop companies don't want you to fake. Using the same name here is not a big problem. But, there are a couple of creative things you can do. You can use a fake nickname for yourself. Your name may be Joseph, but people call you "Skip" or "JJ" to differentiate your real name. Women can do the same, or say the last name was a maiden name.

Again, you don't have to be an actor to do mystery shopping. Likewise, mystery shopping is not a prerequisite to become an actor. It's simply an opportunity to portray someone you're not for a short period of time -- and make some money while you're at it.