entertainment industry coach question 257: Is it better to be with a small agent in a big agency or an aggressive agent in a smaller agency?

Every situation is different. I would start by asking your current contacts who know you, your body of work, and your networking skills, for their opinions.

Remember, you are a product that an agent is selling, but they get +10% for a reason. That reason is because you are still 100% responsible for your success. An agent is a part of YOUR team. When choosing between agents, who feels like the best fit for your team? What do you value in an agent relationship? Who do the agents you’re meeting with have relationships with? What are your expectations of what an agent should be doing for you.

Once you’ve answered the above questions for yourself, you’ll have a clear idea of the conversations you will have with the agents you meet. Then it will be more about the agent/client relationship and less about the agency.

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

Question 88: Is late 20's too late to join the party? see blog for detailed question

Actual Question: A friend has just moved out to LA from NYC and been offered a job at a great entertainment company but the pay (of course) is low. It's an assistant position with potential to grow but she's wondering if she should take it even though it's not exactly what she wants to do. She's late twenties so she's also worried that she's late to the party so to speak but knows she has to start at the bottom. What are your thoughts? 

You used the word "great" when describing the entertainment company. As a coach I deal with tools and strategies. My strategy for someone in her late twenties, who wants to break into the business, is to meet as many people as she can. Working at a great company gives her access to a lot of great people. If she has the tools to make something of these relationships, as opposed to simply sitting behind a desk for a year doing her job, she can really get into a great position. Then, in a year,  she can pursue exactly what she wants with 200 relationships in her rolodex. That's if she works smart. 

After working in development myself for 8 months as well as coaching clients who work for producers or agencies, I highly recommend this strategy. There are a lot of benefits. I could be more specific about the benefits if I knew what type of company it is.

For more tips and articles by top entertainment industry coach, The Greenlight Coach, visit www.thegreenlightcoachblog.com 

Question 55: Can one get a steady job in the entertainment industry?

Is any job really steady this day and age? For the most part, positions in the entertainment industry are freelance. There are some studio and agency jobs that are contract jobs, but the reality is, nothing is truly stable in this industry. 

Some people are fortunate enough to get on a series that lasts for ten years. They, unfortunately,  have their own set of complaints.

If you were a teacher or a janitor and had tenure, your union would protect your job. In the entertainment industry, a union protects your contract and safety. An entertainment union can not guarantee/secure a job for you. Basically, you are a business owner, so the success of your business depends on you. 

Knowing this, I suggest multiple streams of income.

for more tips and articles by entertainment industry coach, The Greenlight Coach, visit www.thegreenlightcoachblog.com