entertainment industry coach question 626:How do I maintain my focus on my dream when I need a full time job to survive?

The statement that you need a full time job to support yourself tells me you are not able to make enough money to sustain yourself working in your "dream job." Being the case, something is missing; contacts, enough people who can hire you, skill level, union status, etc.

While you are working your full time job, you can spend two hours a day (either after work, on a lunch hour, etc.) filling what's missing. In other words, if you need more relationships, you can spend the next year creating relationships with 120 new people (that's 10 people/month). There are many ways to do this, and 10 is a low number EVEN with a full time job.

If the thought of this overwhelms you, schedule it out. Start with lower numbers at first until you get into a groove, and then adjust as necessary. The amount of time you have is equal to everyone else. The amount of energy you have to attend to your business in addition to your job is up to your level of motivation. How badly do you want your dream to come true?

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

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entertainment industry coach question 377: What's the difference between persistence and stalking?

Many people throw the word "stalking" around like it's funny. There's absolutely NOTHING funny about it. There are laws against it and it's extremely serious. If you were asking this question seriously, then you need to review the laws and seek professional help. Again, this is no joking matter to me!

If however, you meant the difference between persistence and being a pain in the ass, the answer comes down to the way you're contacting your contacts. Are you sharing new news, following up, asking a question or simply "checking in or telling them you're available?"

During conversations, are you listening or doing all of the talking? Are you coming from a place of desperation, frustration, or neediness?

As long as you are being strategic in your follow up/ relationship maintenance plan and always looking to create win/wins and ask for things your contacts can say YES to, you're most likely in good shape.

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

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

entertainment industry coach question 329: Do you believe that location is the key to success?

This was based on an email sent to me that said: "I wanted to get you opinion about the location of where you live in relation to achieving success. I am based in Ohio and have been mixing sound for over 10 years now. I have worked on several successful reality shows and programs, but yet I still struggle to get to the next step. Getting more calls, and just getting my name out there. I know it can't be true that just because I don't live in L.A. that I can't be known as a first call mixer. I have many friends in the business that don't live in L.A. and are traveling all the time."

You just answered your own question. If others are doing it, you can too. The key is not location, the key is the strength of your business relationships.

I'm curious what the "next step" is that you're asking about because that could potentially change my answer. If the next step is to be the first call mixer and these are traveling reality shows, it seems to me that as long as you have strong relationships with the people who do the hiring, and therefore, you're "top of mind," it doesn't matter where your home base is. It's when they're shooting a reality show in Los Angeles and don't want to pay per diem and such, for bringing someone in from out of town, that it becomes an issue.

My next FREE newsletter is all about evaluating the contacts you currently have. It will be going out tonight or tomorrow, so sign up at www.TheGreenlightCoach.com, and see where you stand with your current contacts.

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

question 181: I don't want to be friends with people I work with. I just want to be hired to do my job and have my friends separate. How do I do that?

I'm the wrong coach to ask this question because I'm not going to tell you how to do that. I'm going to tell you to change your attitude. I'm not saying you have to be best pals with the people you work with. You don't have to have family barbecues with them and spend your vacations together, but what's wrong with "work friends." For years I worked in offices, and while I didn't socialize with many of my fellow employees outside of the office, I was friends with them at work.

Everything in the entertainment industry takes a LONG time; development, pre-production, production, post. If people have to spend a lot of time together, they prefer to spend that time with people they like. Aren't you likable? If not, like I said, change your attitude. This sounds like a question with a built-in defense mechanism. Open yourself up to the possibility of working with people you like and who like you.

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

question 169: My biggest challenge is maintaining the relationships I've created once I get work. Any suggestions?

Sometimes, I save questions for when I'm in the perfect situation to answer them. It's 7:21am. No, I'm not usually up this early, especially when I'm on vacation (you substitute work). Yet, I know I have work to do to maintain my relationship with you. I've committed to blogging an answer to a question everyday. Therefore, I got up early this morning to do my work, before I go out and spend the day in wine country (you substitute on set ).

It's a decision you have to make. This blog will take me 15 minutes max, to write and post on Twitter and Facebook. What can you do in 15 minutes? You can call an East Coast contact (because it's 10:25 am there). You can email a contact and tell him/her that you're working and you wanted to make the time to see how his dog is feeling, if she got the job she'd been waiting to hear about, or if there's anything you can do to help him/her.

The BEST time to maintain relationships is when you're working because you're not calling to ask for work. So you can full-heartedly make it all about them.

The decision you make is what you have to look at. Are you deciding that you're too tired? Are you deciding you don't have time? Are you deciding that you choose to get immersed in your work and can't get in contact.

OR will you decide that you can find 15 minutes each day to reach out to someone? To get up 15 minutes earlier, reach out for 15 during a long "waiting-period" (you know what I'm talking about), find 15 minutes during lunch, and/or maybe even 15 minutes on your way home if it's a decent hour.

The choice is yours. You've got to decide what you're willing to commit to. My advice- commit to maintaining relationships while you're working (it's what all the cool kids do).

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

Question 73: Why should I go to the LA Film Fest if I don't have a project in it or know anyone who does?

Well, let me count the reasons:

1. You need to meet people!

2. It's an opportunity to research the filmmakers beforehand and craft specific questions for them in order to start a business relationship

3. You need to meet people!!

4. People always ask me where to meet first/second time directors- this is a great place

5. You need to meet people!!!

This film festival happens once a year. It is a gathering of industry people at all levels. It is your job to be there. 

If you were a toy manufacturer, you would attend toy conventions. Consider this YOUR convention. LAFilmFest.com

Don't know how to maximize your time at a film festival? Put your question or concern in the comments and I'll address it tomorrow...

For more tips and articles by top industry career coach, the Greenlight Coach, visit

www.thegreenlightcoachblog.com  

 

Question 39: Why is it important to BCC my mass emails?

Ah, GREAT question!!! And no doubt in response to my latest Facebook post. 

Let me start by explaining BCC (Blind CC) for those of you whom are unfamiliar with it. In an email that you are sending to more than one person, you have 3 choices of how to send it:

1. To: specifically to whom you're sending your email 

2. Cc: carbon copy- others whom it may relate to, so you feel they should read it

3: Bcc: blind carbon copy- NO ONE you send it to sees who else you sent it to. 

What happens if you send to more than one person via "To" or "Cc?" Everyone receiving that email now has all of the email addresses of your colleagues.   

In business, this has the potential to create privacy issues. If you violate someone's privacy they may become very ANGRY with you. This may cost you:

1. a relationship

2. jobs

3. money 

Be aware of proper email etiquette. Beware you "Reply-all" people. Bcc!!! I don't need everyone in the internet ether knowing my email addresses. Neither do your valued clients, business relationships, mentors, and friends. 

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