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February 25th, 2010
I wanted to share an easy way to track your own online publicity. With Google Alerts, you’ll receive notification every time your name is published anywhere on the Internet.
- Go to http://www.google.com/alerts
- In the Search Terms, type you name and don’t forget to put it in quotations. I also suggest adding a keyword such as “actor” or “writer”, especially if you have a popular name.
- Select how often you’d like to be updated and how many alerts you’d like in each email.
- Choose where you’d like the email alerts to be sent or you can pull the RSS feed and view your alerts in your web browser whenever you want.
- If you every need to change the settings, visit http://www.google.com/alerts/manage.
It’s that simple!
Posted in Networking & Relationships, marketing for actors | No Comments »
February 17th, 2010
 A few weeks ago, I published an article about marketing to producers. Boy, did I get a lot of questions about this topic. The biggest question, by far, focused on how to effectively make phone calls. Whether you’re calling producers, casting directors, agents, or even friends, the phone can sometimes be an intimidating monster.
Let’s admit it, scary phone calls are never easy, but they are necessary if you want to elevate your career. So, this week I’d like to offer up four quick tips for conquering the telephone.
Be Clear
It’s essential that you know precisely WHY you are calling before you pick up the phone. You must convey your request in a clear way. Doing so allows whoever you’re calling to more easily help you because now they’ll actually know what the heck you really want.
Be sure to ask the real question. The real question cuts right to the chase. It may feel a little bold, but it’ll more than likely get you the answers you’re seeking. The real question may be: “Can we set up a meeting?” “Would you like to represent me?” or “How can I cultivate a relationship with you?”
If you’re calling to set up a meeting with a producer, ask for it. You might say something like this:
Hi, I’m Joe smith. I’m an actor committed to expanding my feature film career. I’m calling to set up a 10 minute meeting with (insert producer’s name) to find out what you’re currently working on and how we might collaborate.
If you’re calling a casting office, simply request an audition. You may say something like this:
Hi, this is Jane Johnson. I think I’m perfect for the role of (insert role here). What can I do to get an audition?
Be Confident
Don’t apologize. Whatever you do, don’t start your call with, “Sorry to bother you, but…” As terrified as you may feel on the phone, rest assured, you are not bothering anyone by calling. In fact, what you’re doing is providing them with the unique opportunity to meet you or work with you. By the way, last time I checked, you’re pretty talented and easy to work with.
Phone fear often exists because the results you get are immediate. When you make a call, you’re forced to accept whatever answer appears on the other end of the line. So, expect some people to say no and be cool with that.
Jessica, an actress and singer, challenged herself to make a scary phone call every day for a month. She called casting directors and producers to request auditions or meetings. By the end of 30 calls, Jessica landed three auditions and two producer meetings. She was thrilled. Sure, Jessica generated five fantastic opportunities through phone calls. But she also dealt with twenty-five noes in the process. Part of getting a yes involves accepting some noes along the way.
Before you make a phone call, give yourself a pep talk. Make a list of all the benefits you bring to the table. Take a deep breath and dial.
Be Concise
It’s easy to over explain or provide too much information when your adrenaline is pumping. Write a short script or identify the bullet points you want to address on the call. This script will help you convey your request in a simple way and allow the recipient of your request to easily understand how they can help you.
Remember, a confused mind says no. Beware of information overload. You do not have to provide details about your background, your motivation to call, or your skill set. Just quickly and simply ask for what you want and leave it at that.
Consider this easy phone call formula.
1. Who are you?
2. Who are you calling?
3. What do you want?
“This is Jane Jones calling for Susan Smith. I’m an actor & I’d like to schedule a meeting to discuss representation.”
When All Else Fails… Be Oprah!
When I’m faced with a scary phone call that really makes me nervous, I put on my Oprah persona. In my mind, Oprah Winfrey is the perfect caller. She’s professional, confident, and articulate. Who wouldn’t want to receive a call from the mighty O?
Who is your ideal phone caller? Is it Katie Couric, George Clooney, Donald Trump, or even President Obama? If you could hire anyone in the world to make calls on your behalf, who would it be?
With that person in mind, step into their shoes. Adopt their phone prowess while you develop your own confidence with the telephone. Now, you’ve infused some playful energy into what might otherwise be a terrifying experience.
PS: In my humble professional opinion, phone calls are the most effective marketing tool at your disposal. You’re paying for the minutes, so use ‘em wisely.
Here’s to many fruitful phone calls!
Tags: confidence, marketing for actors, Oprah Winfrey, phone fear
Posted in marketing for actors, psychology of the actor | No Comments »
February 17th, 2010
Unlike casting directors, producers are not inundated with calls, headshots, postcards, and requests from actors. Yet, they’re the people who are ultimately in charge of hiring you. A producer’s job is to take meetings and make phone calls. So, I find they are so much more receptive to an actor’s marketing than a casting director.
I’ve met many casting directors who feel frustrated by the fact that at the end of a long casting process, the actor who gets the job is someone who has a relationship with the producer.
Now, this may sound very unfair but I think it’s really great news because all you have to do is build producer relationships and get on their short list. You can do that by applying a lot of the same strategies we just talked about with casting directors. Let me walk you through it.
Step 1
For television producers, identify the producers who work on the television shows that your target casting directors cast. Look for those producers who have multiple credits, such as Alan Ball. Not only is he the creator of True Blood, but he is also listed as a writer and director. When you select producers who wear multiple hats, it’s a safe bet that this person is quite involved in the day-to-day production of the series.
For film, simply identify the producers who work frequently with your dream directors or actors. A little bit of research will easily lead you to a solid target list of producers.
Step 2
Pick up the telephone and request a meeting. I’m considered to be a leading expert in marketing for actors and if I could only recommend one marketing touch, it would be a phone call. Phone calls are very scary. But they are also the least expensive and most effective way to get results quickly. Embrace the power of your telephone.
I have a student who has really embraced this strategy. She makes two or three calls a week. These calls generate about two or three meetings each month. So, this is a strategy that works. When it comes to the phone, you must be clear about what you want and brave enough to dial.
Step 3
Stay in touch with a monthly marketing campaign. This can be the same message you send to casting directors.
Step 4
Set up a Google alert for everybody on your target list. If you go to www.google.com/alerts, you can basically fill in specific search terms and Google will notify you whenever your search terms show up in the media.
Now, it’s tough to really know when a producer is about to begin production on a project, so you must let go of any need for immediate results. Remember, the key here is to get on their shortlist. Take your need for a job off the table. Your focus with producers is not about being cast in one particular role; your focus is about building a relationship that will last a lifetime.
Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment »
February 8th, 2010
 PART 3
In order to create, we all need three specific areas of support. We need people, systems, and environments to support what we’re creating. I was at the conference in November, and I saw billionaire entrepreneur Barbara Corcoran speak. Her key piece of advice was to create a system for anything and everything you do more than once. Most of you already have systems in place and you just don’t know it, so think about something you do on a regular basis for your acting career. I want you to then break that action down into small steps so that you can identify your system. Once you know your system, streamline it; make it a little easier to follow.
We must have an environment that supports us. I wrote the majority of my book at the Santa Monica Public Library because I was surrounded by people who were quietly working and free of distractions. So when it comes to your environment, do you have a clean, orderly space? Is there a specific place in your home dedicated for your acting career? Are you aware of when you’re at your best? Are there certain colors that you respond well to, certain foods or scents that really speak to you? Be sure that those items are in your work environment. This will support your mental health, but it will also make you more productive.
Lastly, we need people to support us. It’s been said that every top peak performer has six key people on their team. Six key people, and it doesn’t matter who’s on your team; they don’t all have to be industry experts. You could have a best friend or partner who’s really supportive. Just really pay attention to who you’re spending time with and make sure that those people are supportive and reflective of where it is you want to take your career. Now, if they’re not, I’m suggesting not suggesting ending friendships, but it’s time to now reach out and bring more people into your circle. Maybe step out of your comfort zone and start surrounding yourself with people who know more than you do and who are more successful than you are. This is how you get where it is you want to go.
Now take a look back at those goals that you identified in the beginning of this process and take some time to draw out a specific plan of action. What resources do you need in order to accomplish the goals that you’ve identified? What might be in your way and how can you overcome those obstacles?
I encourage every one of you to take some time to clean up behaviors or patterns that aren’t in line with where you want to go. Where in your life can you get complete and what will completion of afford you? From there, it’s time to build on your successes and create what’s next. You can do this easily by relying on your values and making decisions from that place. Now, the fun part comes with setting intentions for 2010.
Tags: get creative, support system, work environment
Posted in Goal Getting, Networking & Relationships, time management | No Comments »
February 5th, 2010
 Here’s some great insight from David Bohl.
Disappointment is a fact of life. It’s going to happen. How you deal with it, however, will greatly determine the effect disappointment has on your life, and the extent to which you can control that effect.
Disappointment is a factor of two things: Your expectations and perceptions of an event, and the actual resolution of that event. One of the key point about disappointment is that it is based on comparative, rather than objective, results. Our disappointment isn’t based on what happened, so much as how what happened compares to what could have happened. For example, winning ten thousand dollars can either be a positive event or a disappointment, depending on what the maximum prize amount was. If the grand prize was ten thousand, we’ll be ecstatic. If it was five million, we might well be somewhat pleased at winning something, but disappointed not to have won more.
Therefore, the key to dealing effectively disappointment lies less in controlling the events as it does with managing your expectations. This is not to say that you should go around sporting a pessimistic outlook in the hopes of avoiding disappointment. For one thing, it won’t work. Even your worst fears can sometimes be blown out of the water by reality. And for another, it’s a miserable way to live even if you do manage to get lucky.
No, managing expectations is more about being realistic about what is likely to happen, being proactive about risk reduction and viewing the end results on their own merits, rather than in comparison to arbitrary possibilities.
1. Set your sights realistically. By all means, hope for the best – you never know, it could happen. But don’t plan on it. Take an objective look at the bell curve of likely results and accept the fact that the options that make up the central hump are many times more likely to happen than those occurring on either end. It will be up to you to decide if less-than-best-case scenarios are worth your while to pursue.
2. Proactively reduce risk. Once you know what you want, and what you’re likely to get, you can take steps to tip the balance in your favor. You can do this either by reducing the risk of a negative result, or increasing the likelihood of a positive one, or both.
Reducing risk is a three-step process: First, you must gather enough information to adequately understand the various risks inherent in the decision or action. Second, you must assess the likelihood of each risk occurring, and decide which risks you can or are willing to address. Third, you must determine what, if anything, can be done to eliminate or minimize each risk that you have chosen to address and make a plan of action for doing so.
3. View results objectively and subjectively, rather than comparatively. When the situation does resolve, try to look at the results on their own merits (either objectively, by virtue of clinical gains and losses, or subjectively, based on how well the results actually serve your needs) rather than by comparing them to what could have, but didn’t, happen. No, you may not have won five million dollars. But you did win ten thousand, and that’s nothing to sneeze at.
Focusing on what you “lost” is pointless. For one thing, you can’t lose what you never had. And for another, fretting over it not only won’t make it any more likely to happen, but it will ruin any joy you could have received from what you did get. Enjoy your gains, deal with any real losses and move on.
Lifestyle Mentor, Personal Coach, Author, Educator, and Entrepreneur, David B. Bohl is the creator of Slow Down FAST. To learn more about this step-by-step strategy for Living YOUR Life YOUR way, and to sign up for his 9 FREE Tips for Finding Happiness in a Fast-Paced World, free teleseminars, free Special Report, free bi-monthly ezine and more, go to: http://www.SlowDownFAST.com
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
February 1st, 2010
 PART 2
The second phase of this process is clearing out. It is time to create some space in your life for all the new, good things to happen in the new year ahead. Sometimes clearing out can bring up a lot of emotion because we’re literally digging up old issues and situations when we’re clearing out.
To begin, think of one to three specific, measurable goals that you would like to accomplish by the end of 2010. These goals are not written in stone but just for the purpose of this exercise, go ahead and jot down one to three specific goals.
After you have your goals in mind, it’s really important to look at how to congruent your life today is with what you want to create. Are your actions contributing to your desires?
For example, I have a coaching client; she has a very extensive résumé, a lot of television credits, costars and guest stars primarily. Her goal is to break into that series regular round, and it has eluded her for years. When we took a look at her career, we found that she was saying yes to every single job opportunity that came paid or not paid, and there was not a spare moment in her career for the next level, which would be series regular. She had to actually start saying no to things in order to create the space for the series regular roles to land. This action is really scary because we’re stepping out of what’s familiar and stepping into a place of trust.
Take a look at your goals and identify what specific habits or actions you take that are not inline with those goals. Think about environments you are in that don’t support the results you’re trying to generate. What do you need to do, say, or who do you need to be in order to eliminate those actions? The key to creation is identifying your successes so that you can honor them and build on them, but more importantly, so that you can identify what habits, beliefs, and patterns work for you and apply them to what’s not working.
Posted in Goal Getting, balance, visualization & creation | No Comments »
January 25th, 2010
 PART 1
With the beginning of a new year, I’d like to talk about this word completion. I had a career coach named Suzanne Lyons years ago who instilled this concept in me. Suzanne basically shared that as human beings, we often avoid a feeling of completion because it takes us into uncharted territory and if we’re not complete in our lives, it’s easy to get stuck in our stories and easy to avoid a high level of accountability. For artists in particular, it’s essential that we tap into a feeling of completion in order to be able to create everything we’re capable of.
Completion essentially means being at peace with how things are. You don’t need to fix it, improve it, or dwell on it, but how do you know if you’re complete? You feel satisfied; you’re looking forward, not backward, and the feeling in your stomach is a feeling of excitement and perhaps gratitude versus regret. What completion allows for essentially is rebirth. When we are complete, it allows for creation. When we’re not complete, there’s no room for something new, and we’re bringing baggage along with us.
Start by considering where in your life or in your career you feel incomplete, and write that down. Perhaps you have an agent that you’re uncomfortable calling. Perhaps you have some regret about dropping the ball on a project. Where in your life do you experience guilt, regret, or hesitation? That’s probably a sign that you’re incomplete in that area.
Next, think about what action can you take or what decision can you make in order to get complete. Create a realistic strategy by getting back to basics. Remember, you can always do extra credit, but this way, your goal is manageable and not overwhelming.
Finally, and this is where completion comes in, I want you to decide today that you are exactly where you need to be. Every setback thus far is water under the bridge; it no longer exists. In the past, you may have struggled, but today, moving forward, you start your action plan with a clean slate. Just remember that this is an ongoing process and you can decide for yourself when you’re complete and when you’re not complete.
Be sure to check out Part Two of this series next week.
Posted in Goal Getting, balance | No Comments »
January 21st, 2010
One of the most common complaints I hear from actors involves finding the right representation. Snagging a solid agent or manager can be tricky, time consuming, and expensive. A lot of actors experience the old catch-22: “I need an agent to get work and I need work to land an agent”. What’s an actor to do?
Whether you feel like you don’t have enough time or money to grab the attention of an agent, or you question whether or not you’re ready for representation, you can begin planting seeds with prospective agents easily and inexpensively. All you need to do is commit to these small steps.
Apply a Laser Beam Focus
I’m a big believer in “doing less more often”, so narrow your agent list to a manageable target group of about 10 agencies. Ask for recommendations from fellow actors and any industry connections, such as casting directors, producers, acting coaches, etc. Do you have a peer with representation whose career you admire? Research their agency. The Hollywood Creative Directory, available as a reference book in many libraries, and IMDB Pro are good resources to help locate names and contact information for anyone in the industry. Don’t forget to plug in to online forums such as the Hollywood Happy Hour Yahoo Group. You will be amazed by how easily you can access up to date information about any agent you may be researching.
Reach Out On the Cheap
People often think good marketing costs money, but there are numerous effective ways to get in touch with agents without breaking the bank. You might market to your target agents by emailing, calling the office, sending a fax, dropping off a headshot, or asking a friend to make a referral call on your behalf. Not only are each of these steps free or inexpensive, but they’re also highly effective.
Remember, you don’t have to knock an agent’s socks off with your fancy marketing package. You’re better off applying the Rule of Seven and sending out small, inexpensive touches on a regular basis.
Make It Personal
I’d say the most effective way to secure good representation (other than booking great work) is to rely on referrals. Think about who you know that might be willing to recommend you to their agent. Do you have a teacher or friend who could provide a solid recommendation? If so, ask them to lend a hand in your agent search process.
If you can’t get any referrals, then be your own best referrer. Show up to your prospective agent’s office and drop off your materials. Ask for a meeting and share why any agent would benefit from working with you.
Tags: managers and agents, rule of seven
Posted in marketing for actors | 1 Comment »
January 20th, 2010
With a new year under way, I thought it might be a great time to get back to basics. So, lemme give you a quick reminder of what I feel is the number one marketing rule every actor must know. It’s called The Rule of Seven, and it’ll change your life.
I work with an actor named Becky who has been pursuing an acting career for three years. Currently, she’s got a handful of indie film credits on her resume as well as a couple of co-starring roles on television. Becky has worked with a couple of ineffective agents and cultivated a handful of relationships, but she can’t seem to figure out why her big break eludes her.
There is a simple reason why Becky is not where she wants to be. She hasn’t been consistent in any of her marketing or relationship-building attempts. She’s tried dozens of things at one time or another and met a handful of people, but never followed up and never developed a solid marketing strategy. Becky is a dabbler.
I can relate to Becky. During the first few years of my business, I was so eager to get the word out and to become successful that I was willing to try anything. And I did try just about everything. I would advertise here and there, but never really see immediate results. So, I’d change my strategy and try something else. I would join a networking organization, but not meet the right people right away. So, I’d quit and move on to another networking organization. I was all over the place.
The trouble was I was touching the surface of a lot of different avenues without ever really taking consistent and persistent action toward the success I yearned for. I too, was a dabbler.
In order to truly become successful and enjoy your journey to acting success without going broke or crazy, you must do less more often. You must target fewer people more frequently in order to see real results. You must focus on fewer projects more regularly so you can finish what you start.
Rule number one for every actor and creative entrepreneur is this– DO LESS STUFF MORE OFTEN. Release the pressure of needing to do everything and replace it with a few specific and consistent actions. Send out consistent and specific ships on a regular basis so you can garner accurate and measurable results.
Successful advertisers understand an essential rule in marketing called The Rule of Seven. Basically, the average consumer won’t absorb an advertiser’s message until they’ve received it seven to a dozen times over the course of a few months. This is why Coca Cola spends over 85% of their money on advertising and why you often see the same Geico commercial three times in one hour. That’s just the rule of seven working its magic on you.
Bed Bath and Beyond masters The Rule of Seven. Boy, if I had a dollar for every one of those blue 20% off coupons I’ve received! Even though I often roll my eyes when I retrieve the mail and see yet another coupon, I’ll be honest with you, every time I need to buy some house wares, curtains, fans etc., I remember those coupons and happily make my way over to Bed Bath and Beyond. Though I don’t use every coupon, (I mean, really, who could?), I think of Bed Bath and Beyond first when I need something. Pssst… guys, if the Bed Bath and Beyond analogy doesn’t work for you… how about Guitar Center?
If you want to become known in this business, stop trying to meet everyone and focus on a specific short list of target people and market to them consistently. That’s how you become remembered. That’s The Rule of Seven. Embrace it. It’ll make your marketing easy and even enjoyable.
I met an actor named Josh who had been trying to break into the commercial world for over two years. Josh had done his research and created a large list of commercial agents and casting directors along with a list of commercial advertising agencies. After his research was complete, Josh mailed a very handsome marketing package to all 260 people on his list.
Then, he waited. And he waited. Nine months later, Josh still lacked a single response and he was feeling really down. The trouble is that Josh did only one touch. He spent a lot of money mailing off one package to an enormous list of people and did nothing more. Josh assumed that the quality of his marketing package outweighed the quantity of his marketing touches. Josh was wrong.
So, I shared the Rule of Seven with Josh. I explained that marketing is a process rather than a single event. If Josh really wanted to see results, he had to trim his target list and market to the same people consistently for months. One beautiful marketing package to 265 people will not have the same impact as seven simple marketing touches.
Josh took my advice and ran with it. He cut his target list in half and devised a simple marketing plan to touch his target list twice per month. Josh mailed postcards, made phone calls, faxed, emailed, and had a lot of fun. Guess what… he also produced great results. In less than six months, Josh signed with a great agent, met with two advertising execs, and booked his first national commercial. Pretty cool, huh?
Tags: rule of seven
Posted in marketing for actors | 4 Comments »
December 16th, 2009
Step One: Purchase a large poster board in whatever color you like. Also pick up a glue stick and a pair of scissors while you’re at it.
Step Two: Gather an assortment of old magazines, pictures, catalogs, and snap shots. You can even print out dynamic or meaningful words that inspire you.
Step Three: Take some time and create a space where you can relax and have fun. Creating your Vision Board should be a fun and fulfilling experience. Feel free to pour yourself a beverage, light a candle, or play some music that speaks to you. Now relax, breathe deeply, close your eyes, and imagine the goal you wish to achieve.
Step Four: With your vision clearly defined in your mind, explore how each area of your life and career is impacted by this vision.
Step Five: Now open your eyes and begin to flip through the magazines. Tear out any pictures, words, phrases, and thoughts that inspire you. Don’t think about it too much. Simply go through the magazines and remove anything that grabs your attention and inspires you.
Step Six: Take your time. Give yourself a few hours or an evening to do this project. After you feel you’ve reached a stopping point, use the scissors and cut out the words and images you’ve selected.
Step Seven: After you have cut out the pictures, phrases, and other meaningful images, glue or paste them on your poster board. Reserve space on your board for each area of the Artist Wheel and be sure to place a picture of yourself (one you love to look at) in the center of the board. You can find an Artist Wheel in the Tao of Show Business Workbook.
Step Eight: Once your board is completed, put it in a place that you can look at it often. As you concentrate on these visual images, inhale the sensation of having exactly what you want.
Posted in Goal Getting, psychology of the actor, visualization & creation | 1 Comment »
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