I'm 43 years old. I know a few directors whom I think would welcome a protege. Am I too old to ask them to mentor me? I don't want to make a fool of myself!
The answer is: No, as long as you have more to learn, you're never too old. The question is, what are you asking for. You want to be really clear:
1. What does the mentorship entail? (business advice & guidance? Craft advice? Shadowing?)
2. You want to set a time frame, so the mentor is clear that this isn't endless ( 3 conversations, 3 set visits, etc)
3. Explain why you've chosen him/her over all other directors. It's prestigious to be asked to be a mentor. Let the people whom you're asking know, where you are, where you want to be, and what you want to learn from them in order to reach your goals.
Preparation + Professionalism never = fool
Last tip, when seeking mentors, go after at least 5 at a time. The reasoning behind this is: if the first 4 say no, but the 5th one says YES, screw the rest! (was that harsh?) To heck with the rest! But you never would have gotten to the yes, if you started with the 1st, got a no, and got discouraged.
For more tips and articles by top entertainment industry career coach, The Greenlight Coach, visit www.TheGreenlightCoachBlog.com
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