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Archive for the ‘Networking & Relationships’ Category
Friday, July 2nd, 2010
 Kristine Oller, career strategist and author, was kind enough to share some fantastic information with the Thriving Artist Circle on how to be a Ninja Networker. She believes that the number one difference between those who build and sustain successful careers and those who don’t is communication. Kristine offered lots of great networking tips, and here are a few you can start applying to your career now.
- Put Yourself In Their Shoes
Before you approach a new industry contact for a meeting or assistance, take a moment to see things from their perspective and think about what their objections may be to meeting with you. They may be worried about protecting their time or the effort to pull together a lot of information for you. This action will help you communicate to your contact in a way that relieves their fears and lowers their defenses.
- Be Specific
I talk about this a lot, but when you’re asking for a meeting or for information, you need to be as specific as possible. How much time do you need, and what do you want to talk about? No one is a mind reader, and you don’t want to make your contact feel like they have to make a huge effort just to do you a favor.
- Stick to Your Schedule
If you ask for five minutes of time, don’t take more than five minutes of time. It’s great if your contact wants to extend the meeting’s length, but you should also be prepared for them to only give you what you have asked for.
- Practice Makes Perfect
These actions may not be comfortable for you, but you’d be surprised to know that the best communicators are not necessarily natural ones. They try and fail and try again. And with practice, you too can be a Ninja Networker.
If you want to know more about Kristine Oller, please visit her website at www.kristineoller.com.
If you’d like to listen to our call with Kristine and other experts like her, join us in the Thriving Artist Circle at www.thrivingartistcircle.com.
Tags: actors, communication, meetings, networking, thriving artist circle
Posted in Networking & Relationships, industry expert | No Comments »
Wednesday, May 26th, 2010
Let me first direct you to a FANTASTIC blog post from Ben Whitehair about his take on the 2010 LA City Casting Director Workshop laws. Even if you don’t read my two cents, his are worth at least a nickel.
Now, some quick thoughts on what you can do to make workshops work for you.
I think the new Los Angeles City laws regarding CD workshops serve smart & proactive actors in three ways…
1. If you are applying The Rule of Seven Workshop Strategy I’ve outlined at www.myauditionplan.com, you do not need to worry about whether or not CDs leave workshops with your headshot in hand. You’ll be seeing them consistently and becoming known in the room rather than remembered by your photo.
2. The new laws will eliminate aggressive sales tactics from workshop services. No more guilt trips or misleading emails exclaiming that you simply can’t miss an upcoming event.
3. The new laws will also weed out amateur actors who truly believe that they will become an overnight success simply by attending a workshop. The caliber of talent will be better in the room, which leaves a positive and lasting impression on the CDs (very good news for you).
What you can do…
1. Print 5×7 versions of your headshot and be sure to mail it to your target CD BEFORE you see them at a workshop. The cost for this is a regular postage stamp and you can include a quick note that states, “Looking forward to seeing you on Thursday night at Actors Connection.”
2. Print letterhead featuring your name and photo. You can share this with the CD as notepaper. Now the CD has your face and name along with notes all about you.
Posted in Networking & Relationships, Uncategorized, industry expert, marketing for actors | No Comments »
Thursday, April 22nd, 2010
 I hear, all too often, that the entertainment industry is “crazy” or “tough”. Sure, the business can be a challenge, but we must remember that the majority of people, projects, and companies are committed to the same thing – telling compelling stories. In my experience, MOST actors, agents, casting directors, and filmmakers are conscious, compassionate, and committed.
Colleen, one of my Career Cooperative Grads shared a fantastic article with me that I’m excited to pass on. Casting Director Mark Bennet (Hurt Locker) shares his insight on acting success, human compassion, and designing the life you want. It’s good stuff, so check it out here on talent manager Josh Rubenstein’s blog all about compassion in the entertainment industry.
Tags: build relationships, compassion, success
Posted in Networking & Relationships, psychology of the actor | No Comments »
Monday, April 19th, 2010
Here’s another quick tip from my book The Tao of Show Business to help you make your next business meeting a success.
 Be Interested and Be Interesting
You’re meeting with someone who just might end up working with you. In other words, you are about to embark on a relationship with this person. A relationship goes both ways, so be interested in the person across the desk from you. Find out about how they work, as well as what interests or insight they have. Allow them to talk and remember to be a great listener. Be open to sharing your personal experiences as well, so the two of you can truly get a feel for one another about and beyond the realm of acting.
Tags: build relationships, how to get an agent, managers and agents, networking
Posted in Networking & Relationships | No Comments »
Thursday, April 1st, 2010
 The plan seems simple: Audition. Land a national commercial. Make a lot of money. Increase your fame and gain more opportunities. However, on average, you will have fewer commercial bookings than actual auditions, so it is important to know how to maximize your time and relationships to increase your opportunities.
Here are 4 simple and inexpensive ways to increase your commercial auditions:
- Volunteer at casting offices
What better way to develop a relationship with casting directors than to work with them each week? Research casting offices you’d like to develop a relationship with and give them a call. Volunteer to be a session runner or camera operator. Casting directors will have an opportunity to view you as a person and not just another actor auditioning for a part, so you’ll be fresh in their mind when a part you’d be perfect for comes up. You’ll also gain valuable insight into the audition process.
- Drop by casting facilities
Casting facilities often have numerous commercial auditions running at once on any given day. Stop by and see what’s being cast. If you see a commercial that looks right for you, go in and ask if you can read without an appointment. Explain that you were just dropping off a head shot in the office but think you’d be right for the part. The worst they will say is no. Whether you decide to try once a week or twice a month, this simple technique has helped actors get more auditions 60% of the time.
- Expand your resume
SAG eligibility can be a big roadblock when auditioning for commercials. Are you receiving a lot of refusals because you aren’t SAG eligible yet? Did you know you might be eligible for SAG through their new media contracts? For more information, go to www.sag.org.
- Send ships that add value
Once you have built relationships with casting directors and commercial producers, you will want to maintain those ties. Follow the Rule of Seven and send out a marketing piece once a month to your target list. Add value to your message by including a recent good experience, sharing an article or story you think they would enjoy, sending a thank you note, or congratulating them on a recent accomplishment. You don’t have to break the bank to send an effective message; an e-mail or phone call can be more effective than just a resume.
Tags: audition, build relationships, commercials, increase opportunities
Posted in Networking & Relationships | No Comments »
Monday, March 22nd, 2010
I received a great success story today from L.A.-based actress Caroline W. that I wanted to pass on to you:
“So, I recently went to USC for an audition, spent hours preparing and driving and parking, only to find the filmmakers had a “snafu” and simply weren’t there, hadn’t left a note, and I didn’t have their phone number.
I vowed to never audition for USC again, or even go to their campus.
But, I WOULD still like to do a USC Film.
So that kind of leaves me between a rock and a hard place…
I had already submitted on some USC projects prior to my vow, so I got a call for another audition at USC. It looked good, but I knew I was still bitter about getting stood up, and would not be able to go to USC again without having a chip on my shoulder, (an attitude very unlikely to book anything).
So I called the filmmaker back, and basically said, as charmingly, professionally, and confidently as I could:
Hi [filmmaker],
I’m calling you back regarding [film], and am very interested in your project.
I get asked to audition for USC often, and basically, I’ve learned though doing many student films over the years, that the way I work best is, rather than auditioning–where I don’t get the chance to learn anything about you, your vision, or your approach–I meet with filmmakers (near the Hollywood area), and we get to know each other and talk a bit, (anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour, depending on both of us) and see if we are on the same page as far as your vision, and how I could see myself interpreting the character.
I understand this takes a bit of extra time, but I find that it can really pay off.
Take a second look at my website and my reel if you’d like, and if you feel I am a good fit, and it would be worth us meeting together, then great. You can even have auditions first, and if you don’t find someone really perfect and amazing, THEN we can meet.
The filmmaker seemed surprised, but impressed. I’d already made an impression before walking in the door!
I looked at the sticky on my desk that said: “Replace auditions with meetings and offers.”
I’d been staring at it for a few weeks and just letting the idea seep into my brain. (Getting stood up was a blessing in disguise!)
I felt so empowered. I felt kind of like a movie star who doesn’t have to audition. They just “take meetings.”
Their work speaks for itself, and I believe mine does as well — but NOW, I am actually BEHAVING as if my work speaks for itself, not just having the thought privately. I’m saving myself a ton of time (and frustration and gas and heartache)!”
Tags: audition, confidence, networking
Posted in Networking & Relationships | No Comments »
Thursday, 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 »
Monday, 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 »
Tuesday, September 29th, 2009
 Landing a meeting with a prospective agent requires a lot of footwork. Most actors know the basic steps to getting a meeting, but few set themselves up for success in the meeting itself. Here are some simple tips that will help you master your agent meetings from start to finish.
Before You Arrive
What’s In It For Them? The hard part is over. You have the meeting. Be confident knowing that this agent actually wants to meet you, wants to like you, and wants to work with you. They wouldn’t take the meeting if they didn’t feel that way. Your job isn’t to convince them to like you. Rather, it is to confidently share who you are, what you’re up to, and what excites you about your career.
Think about your strengths. What qualities do you possess that separate you from the pack? What’s your booking ratio? How proactive are you? How will they benefit from working with you? What industry relationships do you have that this agent can utilize to open even more doors.
Know Your Stuff. Knowledge is power, so arm yourself with plenty of it. As soon as you’ve set the appointment, it’s time to do your research. Hit up IMDB PRO to find our more about the person you’re about to meet. Know a little about their background. Find out who they often work with and what actors they represent. Ask your trusted friends and colleagues for insight and advice. You just might be surprised by what you’ll learn when you simply Google the agent’s name along with the word “complaint”.
Remember, as important as research is, not every agent will be a fit for every actor out there. So, take complaints and rave reviews with a grain of salt.
Set Your Intention. Before you meet with anyone, it’s essential to identify your precise intention. What do you really want to gain from this meeting? If you’re meeting with an agent, is your goal to sign a contract? Or, do you just want to find out if this agent might be a good match for you?
With a clear purpose in mind, you can confidently navigate the conversation and accomplish your goal. If you don’t know exactly what you want to gain from your meeting, how on earth can you expect to gain anything?
After you get there
Be Interested. Don’t be fooled into believing that you are there to talk about you. The best way to have a great meeting is to actually focus more on the person with whom you’re meeting than on yourself. Ask questions. Notice your environment. If you see a photo of a dog on their desk, ask about the dog.
Be Interesting. Engage this person in authentic conversation. Don’t apologize or downplay who you are and what you’re excited about. Talk about what you love most about acting. Avoid providing yes or no answers.
Ask Uncommon Questions. The point of this meeting is to discover whether or not you want to pursue a working relationship with the potential agent. What information do you need in order to make that decision? Some of my favorite agent-meeting questions include:
“What do you think separates your successful clients from the others?”
“What can I do as an actor to make your job easier?”
“Describe a great agent-actor relationship.”
“What about a bad one?”
“What key steps can I take to start booking jobs?”
“How do you prefer to communicate with your clients?”
“What’s one thing you feel actors should do that they don’t?”
These open-ended questions will spark a dynamic dialogue and illustrate a lot about your future agent’s work practices and preferences. They’ll also impress whomever you meet with because most actors rely on asking obvious and generic questions such as “how many clients do you have of my type?”
Set Up the Follow Up. This crucial step will save you hours of waiting and wondering. Before you leave the room, be certain that you know exactly what to expect next. It’s easy to assume that if this agent is interested in working with you, that they’ll tell you so. Not true. The only way you will know whether or not this agent wants to represent you is to ask them. So just go ahead and ask the real question. That way you’ll know exactly how and when to follow up. You might ask, “So, would you like to work together?” or, “What’s our next step?”
Tags: actors, how to get an agent, talent agents
Posted in Networking & Relationships | No Comments »
Wednesday, September 2nd, 2009
We’ve all heard the old line in this business, “It’s all about who you know.” I believe that it’s less about who you know and more about how well you know them. One key to success is powerful relationships. So, here are eight simple tips to help you strengthen your professional relationships.
1. Add value.
Be willing to help others. Listen well. Go see your friends’ shows. Show up on time and stay through the end. Send thank you cards. Remember birthdays. Offer help and support. Tell others about a great book you’re reading or a fantastic restaurant you enjoyed. Participate because you want to, not because you have to. Share your ideas, resources and time. The Tao of Show Business involves a natural flow, so if you are unwilling to give things away, you actually block the natural flow of things. How can you expect people to help you when you don’t first help others? Don’t be the person who only contacts others when you need a favor. Stay in consistent communication so asking for help is no big deal, and receiving it is easy. Add value and increase the value of your day-to-day life.
2. Be authentic.
Stop worrying about what casting directors or agents are looking for. They’re looking for you, so just be yourself. Be authentically you, so that you will easily find your people. Be you and make everyone’s job a little easier. My client, Justine, got fired from her fourth agent in about four years. Not because she couldn’t act or even because her résumé was weak. Justine left the wrong impression with her agents every time she met with a new one. You see, Justine is really quirky and kinda clumsy. She’s adorably neurotic and very marketable. Yet Justine figured the best way to take an agent meeting was to arrive all buttoned up and proper. That’s what she did and agents got the message, so these same people continued to send her out on auditions for uptight professional types; the opposite of who Justine really is. It’s no wonder she couldn’t keep an agent. Justine wasn’t her authentic self and therefore wasn’t making the right match. As soon as she allowed herself to be her true self, she found the right agent who found the right auditions and Justine started booking like crazy. Be authentically you. Nobody else does you like you do!
3. Embrace the power of teamwork.
Share your passion and talent with the people in your life and encourage them to do the same. John Paul Getty once said that he would rather have 1% of the effort of 100 men than 100% of his own effort. You do not have to take this journey on your own. You can enlist the support, feedback and resources of others to make things happen more efficiently and effectively. Force yourself to ask for help and be the first to offer it. Be willing to ask questions and open to receiving honest, constructive feedback. Connect people together. What better way to strengthen your team than to connect your people together! Think about the people you know and identify who they should know and why. Make introductions to support the Collaborators in your life and tie your separate circles together while you’re at it.
4. Expect nothing.
As cool as it would be to control everyone around you, that’s just not the way it works. You can only control your own actions, so let go of any expectations you may have about who should do what and how things should all go. Don’t keep score. Be responsible for your own needs and wants. Focus on you and do the things that inspire you or make you feel good. Take action because you want to, not because you have to. Release your need to be in charge and be open to any possibility. Surprise yourself.
5. Listen more and talk less.
The best conversationalists are those people who listen more than they speak. Pay attention to what’s going on. Observe others and learn from their successes as well as their mistakes. Make others feel appreciated because you listen to what they have to say. Even if you’ve heard it all before, always bring new ears and eyes to every situation in order to learn. That’s how you get better.
6. Follow up and follow through.
Stay in touch. Don’t leave things unfinished and be mindful enough not to over-commit. Do what you say you will and communicate openly. Be honest. Don’t be flakey. Show up when you say you will. Answer your phone and return phone calls quickly. Actively participate in your career and keep your word.
7. Turn your complaints into requests.
Stop moaning and make change. If your scene partner isn’t pulling her weight, don’t complain about it. Look for creative solutions and constructive ways to create new results, encourage new behaviors, or completely change your relationship. Crying won’t get you anywhere, so be a part of the solution rather than the problem. If you cannot turn your complaint into a request, you have nothing to complain about.
8. Be cool.
The only power to be had exists in the present moment. Don’t worry about what happened last week, about what you forgot to do, or where you dropped the ball. Stop worrying about the future, wondering about whether or not you’ll get that callback or if your agent is really working hard on your behalf. You cannot change the past and you can’t predict the future, so just be cool and stay present.
Tags: actor, actors, add value, be authentic, networking
Posted in Networking & Relationships | No Comments »
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