entertainment industry coach question 635: How do I create a "Brand" for my acting career?

This was asked by an actress but works for any classification. I get asked about branding a lot. After interviewing Diane Farr for my Mentor/Elite Program, she made a great point about finding your voice before branding yourself. Your "voice" becomes your brand. Diane 'looks like Barbie but talks like Ken.' That's quite a specific and visual brand, and it is clearly her voice in everything she's done, past and present; a host on Love Line, a series regular on many television shows as a beautiful and tough talking FBI Agent, Firefighter, & Cop, author of The Girl Code, article contributer to countless magazines & newspapers, and blogger.

Diane's voice is clear in everything she does, that's how she branded herself. Now, she has the talent and connections to play other roles, and write heart wrenching stories about drunk driving, but even then, there's always a little Diane in it, which is what makes her unique and in turn, fascinating to watch and read.

So if you want to brand yourself successfully, start by modeling people who have done it well.

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entertainment industry coach question 554: How do I get on tv, radio, in magazines, etc.?

This is a question asked after yesterday's blog.

The answer is you pitch yourself. Emailing pitches to reporters and producers. The pitches should pertain to what's current and your "brand's" twist on it. There has to be a hook and it has to be relevant.

Make sure you're pitching to the right reporters and producers. If you're a horror film director and you have a child in preschool, and want to pitch a story, "Scary Daddy, Spooks Preschool Parents," you wouldn't pitch it to Dateline, but the View might find it entertaining.

Also, if this is new for you, start with local stations and local publications. It takes research to find the right fit, but it's worth it.

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entertainment industry coach Question 493: I'm watching Kathy Griffin D List and can't blog because I'm laughing too hard!

I turned on the TV this morning and because my DVR was recording Top Chef last night, I woke up to Kathy Griffin, My Life on the D List. I've never seen it before. She is judging a a toddler pageant, and I am laughing my butt off, which is necessary after my Kettlebell class last night causing my butt to KILL!

So why am I blogging about this? There is a lot to learn from Kathy's brilliant branding. If you look at her IMDB page, she has 64 acting credits. I know her best from Suddenly Susan, where she seemed to hit a peak.

Now we all know that with longevity in an entertainment career there are peaks and valleys. I imagine from 2001-2005 when things slowed, she maintained her writing and her stand-up. Then she jumped on the Reality Show band wagon and made it work! She's starring, writing, and BRANDING herself as D-List, when clearly she's putting out there that she is in fact ready for A-List roles.

It's working. Already in season six, you can see that her acting credits are growing again, and they are A-List, her comedy is HYSTERICAL, and she is a very smart business woman.

Kudos to Kathy's life on the D-List; she's climbing another peak and her business smarts is A-List in my book!

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entertainment industry coach question 332: Do I need branding as director?

Yes, everyone in the entertainment industry needs branding. The difference between your branding and "Coke" or "Lexus" is that they are branding a product and advertising it in print and media.

You, are branding yourself and advertising it in a more personal way. Therefore, you want your branding to reflect the type of work you want to get. Here is a situation where you want to be specific. I know you can do multiple genres, but until you are a brand the way Quentin Tarantino is, let people know where you see yourself fitting in.

I have a great "guy" for this, by the way. Contact me at jessica@theGreenlightCoach.com

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

Question 89: How do I get my own national talk show? I have 18+ years as a clinical psychologist.

The person who asked this question has a great resume and is working on a self-help book. Working in a niche of the self-help industry myself, I know at least a dozen million-dollar speakers who are all trying to create their own shows. These speakers have best-selling books, large followings, and connections. While I have seen some as "guests" on other people's talk shows, I've yet to see any with their own show.

I tell you this, not to discourage you, just to give you some perspective on the challenges of getting a show on National TV, for a currently "unknown" person. Television may have more political hurdles than any medium since advertising has a lot to do with the decision making process. 

Here's how to get started:

1. Get mentors in the talk show world

2. Start building a following by creating a video blog

3. Check out local cable stations for a way in or "pay to play" air time

4. Finish that book so you'll be viewed as a bookable guest expert 

5. Get on a reality show, don't wind up with Bret Michaels or Flava Flav, and then create your own spin-off (I wish this one was a joke)

Learn the politics of the talk show world inside and out. Be very specific in your niche branding. Build BUILD BUILD relationships!  

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