And...Action!

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

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Getting Jobs in Entertainment question 865:I want to get back into production after 10 years. What's the best way?

Because I know this person, I know he has transferrable skills from the career he's had over the past decade. Based on that, here's my advice: take meetings with at least 3 people you're still connected to in the "biz" and discuss...

1. What you want to do in production?

2. Based on your past production jobs and the skills you have now, where they think you fit in?

3. How to market your skills from past and present to make you an enticing package to someone who's hiring. In other words, how do your skills from your job now, give you a unique perspective, tied in with your past set experience, to make you the best person for the job.

Once you and your 3 advisors have come up with a plan of action, ask them for referrals to other people who can help you. Also, get back in touch with your old contacts. If they are no longer in the biz, ask if they can refer you to people they know who are.

You may need my advice on your resume, so feel free to ask. Your corporate resume is not going to translate in the world of the "creatives."

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

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Getting Jobs in Entertainment question 864:I work an 8 to 5 job, which I feel blessed to have. But, it doesn't give me much room to go on auditions.

This question continues... "Should I quit? Others suggested I quit and look for something, but I'm not sure if this is the best choice. What do you think? I know it is a loaded question, and one that's hard to answer with little information and in an email."

It is one of those questions that I can't answer for you. However, I can give you some things to ponder over as you make your decision:

1. Do you have enough contacts that should you quit your job, you'd generate your desired number of auditions?

2. Do you have enough money saved to leave your job without another source of income?

3. The best way to get another job is through people you already know. Can't you send out an email and pursue a flexible day job while still at your current job (on your two 15-minute breaks and your 1 hour lunch break)?

4. Have you gotten yourself into the habit of spending one-hour on your career while in your current job? If not, I suggest getting into the habit first to prove to yourself that you have the discipline to go after your career with consistency.

There is nothing wrong with sticking with a reliable day-job if you're not positioned for success in your craft yet.

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

Monday, July 11, 2011

Getting Jobs in Entertainment question 863:I'm frustrated by the limited amount of jobs relative to the people who want them. What to do?

What to do? Get an advantage. Every time I survey people in the industry to see what they're doing to generate work, I get the same 3-5 answers. There is SOOOO much more you can be doing that most people "competing" with you have no clue about. Your competition narrows tremendously when you start working in a different way than the masses. If you keep doing the same things over and over expecting different results, that's the definition of...

So, start doing things differently. If you don't know how, you have to reach out to people who are already successful. They know what works, what doesn't work, what will get you where you want to go faster, and what leads are dead ends. And of course, you always have me : )

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

Sunday, July 10, 2011

Getting Jobs in Entertainment question 862:How do I sell myself while avoiding sounding overconfident or too experienced?

First of all, the language in this question concerns me. Believe it or not, it makes you sound like you're not confident and don't have enough experience. Why? Because a confident experienced person would never ask a question like this. To me, over-confident reads, "I act cocky to appear confident even though I'm not." Too experiencedreads, "I'm applying for jobs I'm overqualified for, but I need the work."

Secondly, I'm going to re-work the question to read:

I have years of experience. How do I sell myself to people with less experience without seeming overqualified?

There are very specific strategies I use to coach my clients in this situation. In fact, I like to address every job opportunity with them separately. So, for the sake of the readers, I'll give you some general guidelines:

1. Imagine why the person hiring you would object to your experience.

2. Create a positive counter conversation for any objection you imagine. In other words, show the person how your experience makes you an asset to them in a way they never considered.

3. Re-consider how much you choose to share about your experience if it really is hindering you.

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

Saturday, July 9, 2011

Getting Jobs in Entertainment question 861: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.

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

Friday, July 8, 2011

Getting Jobs in Entertainment question 860:Do you think email is as effective as an actual snailmail letter?

Snail mail is more personal and more effective, AND you know it doesn't disappear into internet ether, or spam filters. That said, a personal email address is better than sending to an agent or production company. Although what you can do if the only address you have is an agent or production company (and a personal email address), send to both, and write in the email, "I sent a hardcopy to your agent (or production company) incase for some reason this email doesn't get through."

When sending to an email address, be sure you have a compelling subject line if the person doesn't know you or vaguely knows you like:

1. Referred by your friend Joe Splicer

2. We met at the Guild mixer last February

3. We worked together on ____________

4. Because I love your work on _____ I'm seeking your advice

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

Thursday, July 7, 2011

Getting Jobs in Entertainment question 859:how do I make the most of a trip to LA?

The question continued: "I'm trying to plan a trip to LA this summer to work on contacts and push the movie my production company made."

Most people plan a trip to LA, by figuring out how many airline points they have, where they're going to stay, and how much they have to save up to eat. Once they arrive, they try and figure out where to meet people.

Before you even consider the logistics of taking a trip LA, create a plan for your trip. Who do you want to meet? What companies do you want to screen your movie for? Have a target list. Once you have your target list, if you realize you have no idea how to get to any of the people or companies on the list, you have a lot more work to do before booking a trip.

If it's not necessary to you to be so specific about who you're meeting, at least research networking events and film festivals. If you can't fill your calendar with at least 5 events in a week, it's time to do more work before booking a trip.

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

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Getting Jobs in Entertainment question 858:what do I do when a stranger in my FB friends asks me about help with representation?

This happens a lot. A person whom you don't know either from Facebook (or other social media), someone from your union or acting class, or someone who you do know but don't know his/her work, asks you to connect him/her with an agent.

Now the person who asked this particular question, is referring to an actress who is a FB friend and a complete stranger. So consider this:

There is a difference between recommending, referring, and passing something of interest to you along.

Therefore, here are some options:

1. When you are recommending you are putting your name on the line basically telling the agent that you believe in this person. You can't do that with a stranger.

2. Referring someone is less of a trust issue and more of a relationship situation. You're saying to the agent that you can't speak for the person's work, but as for being a "person" you think very highly of them.

3. Passing along something of interest to you, is seeing a headshot (that you know truly looks like the person) that makes you say, "Wow!" You can pass that along to an agent friend, being clear that you don't personally know the person, but thought it was a great headshot. If the agent agrees, perhaps something will come of it.

4. Do nothing. This is a cold call and poor work practice. Why should you put your reputation on the line?

#4 Ouch! I'm mean! But, in my defense I'm not trying to be mean. I'm trying to demonstrate to readers that this is most likely what's going on in the peoples' heads whom they're sending cold emails to. This way, if they get no responses they'll know why. And if they get 1 or more responses they can feel especially psyched, because clearly something made people go out on a limb for them.