entertainment industry coach question 700:How important is my business card, some people don't have them.

I've blogged on business cards before, so what I'll say is, follow the advice I gave you for what to put on your business card, because it IS important to have one. The reason is because it's how people can contact you. It's one less hoop for them to jump through.

That said, you should only be handing out your card to someone with whom you've created a relationship. To just hand them out randomly, is pretty pointless. Take the time to connect with someone and have some conversation before giving out your card.

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entertainment industry coach question 617: Does an actor need a business card?

Yes! YEs!! YES!!!

I just held a raffle for my ebook at ActorFest. All the actors had to do, was put their business card in my green box and they had a chance of advancing their career by winning my ebook 101 Obstacles to Making It In the Entertainment Industry and How To Overcome Them.

Yet, only 20 actors/actresses had business cards. Three of them were disqualified from the raffle because they didn't have an email address on their card. You want to give people every opportunity to reach you. Being a seasoned career coach, I was prepared for this, so I brought index cards for them to write down their information.

If you want to be a professional actor, be professional. Professionals have business cards with their contact information.

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entertainment industry coach Question 412: How important is it for me to separate the different things I do (act, direct, produce, write, edit)?

It depends on the conversation you're having. If you're talking to a casting director whom you don't know very well, you want to present yourself as an actor. It's not important to them that you edit because that's not what they're hiring you for.

If you're talking to a producer as a writer/director, be careful about mentioning that you're an actor because the first thing they'll be concerned about is that you want to connect yourself to the project and it will be a deal breaker.

If you are talking to someone about partnering on an independent film that you've written, want to direct, and have a small acting role in, it would be advantages to mention that you edit because so many projects fall apart in post.

The bottom line is, you have to assess the circumstances and the relationship with the person, before revealing all of your hats.

Whatever you do, make sure you have separate marketing materials. Any business card that has all of those slashes can make someone think that you do a little of everything but don't have fabulous talent in one area.

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 335:How important is my business card, some people don't have them.

I've blogged on business cards before, so what I'll say is, follow the advice I gave you for what to put on your business card, because it IS important to have one. The reason is because it's how people can contact you. It's one less hoop for them to jump through.

That said, you should only be handing out your card to someone with whom you've created a relationship. To just hand them out randomly, is pretty pointless. Take the time to connect with someone and have some conversation before giving out your card.

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

entertainment industry coach question 228: Any advice for Showbiz Expo tomorrow?

Yes:

1. Meet lots of people (and by lots I mean set a goal for yourself before you go, and DON'T leave until you reach it... and feel free to surpass it.)

2. Represent yourself well (when meeting new people, stick to subjects that show you in your best light.)

3. Be curious (never judge a book by it's cover. Unless someone is TERRIBLY strange, give them the benefit of the doubt and listen to what they have to say.)

4. Be clear on what you need (should someone ask how they can help you, have an answer ... other than "I need work." Ask for something that someone just meeting you can say YES to.

5. Take notes on people's business cards so you'll remember who they are, and what to follow up with them about.

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

entertainment industry coach question 223: should my business card include my PO Box?

Entertainment industry business cards should include your:

1. name

2. Classification (only 1 unless you're a writer/director. There are a few other exceptions. The point is, if you write a list of different things you do, you will be seen as a jack of all trades instead of an expert who can be trusted. If you do various jobs, get separate business cards for each classification).

3. phone number

4. email address

5. website address (if you have one)

6. YES a PO Box address is fine. I do NOT recommend home addresses!

If you have a graphic for your branding, that's great.

NOTE: leave white space for people to write notes about you. If you have a two sided card, be sure one side is matte finish so people can write on it without a Sharpie.

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

question 209: You said something about a business card barrage at your speech. What were you talking about?

Ah yes, the "business card barrage." I was referring to the time at the end of an event or a Q &A, when the "guest(s) of honor" stays after to meet & greet. There is a large portion of the audience who hand the guest(s) their business card, sometimes without even a "hello."

It also happens at networking events, when certain people walk around the room and hand their card to every person, without an introduction. Now if someone was doing that with hundred dollar bills, it would be welcome. Business cards are another story. They are NOT a substitute for you. The purpose of a business card is so that a person can follow up with you AFTER you create a relationship. Handing someone a business card who doesn't know you serves no purpose. People have to know you, like you, and trust you before they'll hire you, so to hand them a card and walk away is like making a cold call, not to mention unprofessional.

Instead, focus on meeting a smaller number of people and spending time talking to them before exchanging cards.

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

Question 163: Yesterday you said to meet 100 people. How do you maintain all of those relationships?

Ah, great question! So you're at the DV Expo in September, you meet 300 people over the course of the 3 days, and from those, keep 100 cards because they are the people you "connected with." Now it's time to maintain the relationships. The key is to break it down into manageable chunks.

Here is a 7-step plan:

1. Take a few moments after meeting someone to write down personal notes on his/her card so you can easily remember what to refer back to.

2. Compose a general "nice to meet you" note.

3. Prioritize your business cards by people to whom you want to contact first.

4. Divide the follow up of 100 people by a 5 day work week (20/day) or 2 weeks (10/day) and divide the cards up accordingly into a neat piles of 20 or 10.

5. Plan the hour or two into your schedule for the week (or two)

6. During your scheduled time, personalize the general note for each person, based on your notes. This can be by email or in a greeting card*.

(*More personal, and my preferred choice, if there's a physical address on the business card. These can be bought in advance or even ordered with your name on them)

7. Send them out.

THE BIGGEST MISTAKE is asking for work or reminding them you're available in this note! Tempting as it may be, stop yourself. Create the relationship FIRST, work will follow.

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

Question 10: What 3 things should you do when you go to a networking event?

1. Set a goal for the number of new people you will meet

2. Spend time creating the relationship before asking for their card (getting their information is far more important than giving yours. Of course you should still give yours once you get theirs)

3. Put notes on the business card to remind you what they looked like and what you spoke about

For more tips and articles by The Greenlight Coach, visit www.theGreenlightCoachBlog.com