Getting Jobs in Entertainment question 1074:How do I artfully turn down work with someone I'd like to work with again later?

Because I can't ask you why you're turning down the work, if you want to work with this person, I'll address this question based on two possibilities. If it's some other reason, put it in the comments section and I'll answer based on your actual reason.

1. You are already working. In this case, be honest. Work is good. It means you're "in demand." Tell the person that you'd really like to work with them in the future. Then, offer one of your trusted contacts to fill the position. This way, when the next job comes up, if the person calls your trusted contact again, he/she can tell the person to offer you the job first. If the person only wants your trusted contact, be happy. Wouldn't you rather you contact get the job than a stranger? And now that your contact is booked, if he/she gets a call for work, you will be recommended.

2. You don't like the current job being offered. So, you don't like what the person has to offer but still want to be considered for other jobs in the future. Tell the person you're working and follow the steps of #1. If your integrity meter is flying off the charts right now because you think I'm telling you to lie, I'M NOT! Just because you're not working on a show doesn't mean you don't have work to do on the business side. Trust me, there is always work to be done. In the past I've assigned my Greenlight Intensive Group "the Rule of Five" five business actions to take each day of the month. They are working!

PS Happy Valentines Day to you my special reader!

www.theGreenlightCoach.com FIND ME

www.twitter.com/GreenlightCoach FOLLOW ME

www.facebook.com/TheGreenlightCoach LIKE ME

www.TheGreenlightMentorProgram.com JOIN ME

For more tips and articles by top entertainment industry career coach, The Greenlight Coach, visitwww.TheGreenlightCoachBlog.com

To stay current on The Greenlight Coach's speaking engagements, recommendations, and work success articles, sign up for her free newsletter at the top of the page and get a great bonus 1-hour MP3 on creating powerful business partnerships when you do!

Getting Jobs in Entertainment question 912: How do I get back into conversations with people I've been out of touch with?

People are busy. Unless this was a lifelong friend who tried to stay in touch with you and you didn't respond, he/she is not sitting around wondering why you haven't called.

Simply get back in touch. Something made you think of this person, so call and say, "You crossed my mind and it's been such a long time I wanted to reconnect."

If the reason he came to mind is because you saw he is working on a new show, don't ask for work. Thats a turn off. Your connections already have established work relationships. You have to rebuild yours with these people. No matter how badly you need the work, you can really turn a person off if you call them after 3 years and say, Hey, I see you've got a new project. I'm available."

www.theGreenlightCoach.com FIND ME

www.twitter.com/GreenlightCoach FOLLOW ME

www.TheGreenlightMentorProgram.com JOIN ME

For more tips and articles by top entertainment industry career coach, The Greenlight Coach, visitwww.TheGreenlightCoachBlog.com

To stay current on The Greenlight Coach's speaking engagements, recommendations, and work success articles, sign up for her free newsletter at the top of the page and get a great bonus 1-hour MP3 on creating powerful business partnerships when you do!

entertainment industry coach question 560: What if you don't want the friend around because he's a "liability"?

This was in response to yesterday's blog. Okay, that's another can of worms. You are going to have to evaluate how important this friend is in your life. For example, you said he is a "couples" friend, and your wife loves his wife. You are going to have to tell him that you are being forced to hire other people. Or, if he knows that's not true, you will have to explain to him that you have another person who you have a better working relationship with and that you really want to keep your friendship and work separate.

The bottom line is.. again, if he's a true friend, he will have to get over his own "stuff" and be supportive of you. If he can't do that, you and your wife may have to find another couple to hang out with.

www.theGreenlightCoach.com FIND ME

www.twitter.com/GreenlightCoach FOLLOW ME

www.TheGreenlightMentorProgram.com JOIN ME

For more tips and articles by top entertainment industry career coach, The Greenlight Coach, visitwww.TheGreenlightCoachBlog.com

To stay current on The Greenlight Coach's speaking engagements, recommendations, and work success articles, sign up for her free newsletter at the top of the page and get a great bonus 1-hour MP3 on creating powerful business partnerships when you do!

entertainment industry coach Question 492: when asking questions of filmmakers at screenings, what's a smart way 2 get their contact info to follow up

If you know who's going to be at the Q&A beforehand, do your research and see if you can find their contact info before. If you can't find it or don't know who's going to be there, then DO NOT ask in front of the whole room. Instead, after, if they stay to meet and greet, thank them for answering your question, tell them you plan to implement their advice and then ask if their contact information is listed on their Guild's website because you'd like to follow up with them about your results or to contact them if you have questions in the future. If they say no, (that it's not listed at the Guild), have a notepad ready, perhaps they'll see it and offer up contact information or you may have to ask if it's okay to follow up and ask how they'd like to be contacted.

Be as discreet as possible so people around you don't start asking for the same information, putting the person in an uncomfortable situation.

www.theGreenlightCoach.com FIND ME

www.twitter.com/GreenlightCoach FOLLOW ME

www.TheGreenlightMentorProgram.com JOIN ME

For more tips and articles by top entertainment industry career coach, The Greenlight Coach, visitwww.TheGreenlightCoachBlog.com

To stay current on The Greenlight Coach's speaking engagements, recommendations, and work success articles, sign up for her free newsletter at the top of the page and get a great bonus 1-hour MP3 on creating powerful business partnerships when you do!