Getting Jobs in Entertainment question 1187: I'd like to work on movies as a costume designer & don't know how to start.

The first place to start is at the union. IATSE Local 892 www.costumedesignersguild.com/ (Or Local 891 in Canada, with all of my new Canadian friends, I'm not sure where you're writing from) You can call and ask a member services representative any questions you can't find answers for on their site.

The second thing I would suggest is to order their magazine.

These two resources should give you a good amount of information to start. Eventually, I would have you pursue mentors, but for now get yourself a strong enough base of knowledge to show any mentor you should choose to pursue, that you're serious and have done some homework.

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

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Getting Jobs in Entertainment question 1186: How many years do I have to work as a loader before I can move up?

That depends on how many years film is around for you to load... oh, bad joke. Sorry. Seriously for you and for everyone who wonders about how long you have to work in a classification before you move, there's no standard answer. There's no rule book. It's time to move up when:

1. people are asking you to

2. you know enough people who are willing to hire you in the new classification

3. you are confident with your skills and ready (and have 1 or 2)

You can also look at demand. Do you want to be a big fish in a small pond and make a living working because the competition is slim? Or do you want to move up into a very competitive position? The other question is what is your ultimate goal? If you are trying to move up the ladder to be "politically correct" that model has been smashed. You're welcome to spend ten years in each classification working your way up the ranks the way the old schoolers did, but if ultimately you want to operate or DP, you have kids in high school making movies who will be light years ahead of you.

Just some stuff for you to ponder.

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

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Getting Jobs in Entertainment question 1185: What are those "techniques and etiquette" to get set or post house visits?

This is a follow up question from yesterday's blog. Let's start with the techniques:

1. Know the sets/post facilities you want to target

2. Ask your contacts if they can refer you to someone who works on the show/at the facility

3. If you can't get a referral, take a step back and focus on building you contact list/relationships first. It's important that you know enough people who "know, like, & trust" you and will therefore be willing to invite you to a set/facility or refer you to one.

4. When you do get a referral, call the referral within 48 hours to request the visit.

This leads nicely into setiquette or post house visit etiquette

1. Be clear on your objective for going; to "take the temperature" of the set/facility, in other words, know the atmosphere so should you be called to work, you are familiar with the way things work. OR in the case of a post house, you may literally want to know the room and be familiar with the equipment they use.

2. You are there to observe and when possible create new relationships. Use your judgement to decide how relaxed or how hectic the day is and either quietly stay out of the way, or politely introduce yourself to people when appropriate.

3. Remember, you are there to help them. When they need someone who does what you do, they want to call someone they know who knows their set/facility. By you giving them the opportunity to get to know you, you are making their job easier when they are stuck in a bind and all of their "regulars" are busy.

4. DO NOT politic for work. You're there to create relationships NOT steal the jobs of the people who are already working there, so don't go with the objective of getting work, go with the objective of building relationships, in order to be an asset to their team when they need someone.

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

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Getting Jobs in Entertainment question 1184: How do you do a "set visit" when you work in post?

You may not. You can, because you still have the opportunities to meet producers and directors who can potentially hire you for future projects or give you referrals to people at post facilities whom you want to meet.

This is one of those situations where I give advice on a strategy and you make it work for your classification. In other words, if I tell an actor or a costume designer to do a set visit, because that's where they do their work (on set), then you would ask yourself...

"where do I do my work?"

And when a little voice inside your head pops up and says, "at post houses like Todd-AO or Warner Brothers," then instead of a set visit, you would visit the post houses. You use the same techniques to get post house visits that you would use to get a set visit. You also use the same etiquette.

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

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Getting Jobs in Entertainment question 1183: How can I pursue my career as a movie still photographer?

Being a movie still photographer is a completely separate business of photography. Your marketing materials are different, your contacts are different, and you have no control over the lighting.

Start by understanding the purpose of your job: it's to create publicity photos. Therefore it's not about getting the most creative shots necessarily, it's about getting the shots that capture the emotion of the scene and will compel viewers to go to the theater.

In the beginning, you will most likely start on independent films and student films. You have to target directors and producers who make the films. Your goal here is to build your portfolio with set stills.

You should also research other Still Photographers by checking out their websites.

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

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Getting Jobs in Entertainment question 1182: I've been reading your blogs and there's so much to do I'm overwhelmed!

I call that an A-List problem. Most people have no idea what to do, and continue to do the same 3-5 things over and over with disappointing results. Now YOU are filled with ideas and action plans. That's GREAT! Feeling overwhelmed... not great.

Here are some tips:

1. Make a list of all of your ideas/actions

2. Analyze which ideas/actions will get you the results you want in the shortest time

3. Prioritize your ideas/actions in the order of quickest results to long-term seed planting

4. Chunk out your days for 1 week on a calendar. Schedule a specific number of hours for quick result actions and a shorter amount of time to plant seeds.

5. See if using a schedule works for you and if so, do it again next week.

You are a business so it's important to treat your time the way you would if you worked in an office, with the knowledge that you have the freedom to come and go as you please.

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

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Getting Jobs in Entertainment question 1181: How are people with no talent working and I'm not?

Ah yes, the harsh question of the frustrated entertainment professional. Sometimes talent isn't enough... hey, that would make a good book subtitle- oh, that's right, it already is... Mine.

Listen, the bottom line is that talent is certainly important, though as you can clearly see, it's not a prerequisite. Plenty of people who are (how do I say this nicely?) sub-par, work consistently because they are well connected.

This is an industry of who you know and who knows you. So if you're not working you don't know the right people, and the only one in control of that, is YOU.

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

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Getting Jobs in Entertainment question 1180: Can someone with no connections in the industry make it as a director?

Someone with no industry connections can make it in any classification. If you have talent, drive, and a willingness to learn how to run your business like a business, then absolutely.

I know that's a really short answer, but the fact is, the answer is yes. If you have more questions about how to make it, start by reading this blog from question 1. Then as questions pop up for you, send them my way. Happy to help.

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

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Getting Jobs in Entertainment question 1179: If I had a paranormal experience, is this a story I should share?

I know the person who asked this, and I know he's referring to the story-telling exercise I do in my 5 Keys to YOUR Success at a Networking Event and in the Interview section of my Greenlight Your Career Bootcamp.

The answer is, you would share this if it is appropriate to the material you are interviewing for, if it has to do with paranormal activity, and you would share it in a way that is professional as opposed to weird. Practice it on some confidantes before using it in an interview.

If you're at a networking event, as with any story, know you audience, and know why you're telling the story. How is this story going to help the people you're telling it to connect to you on a deeper level, or what will they learn about you that will make them want to hire you?

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

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Getting Jobs in Entertainment question 1178: Do I have to send a cover letter with a resume?

Unless it's someone who knows you really well and says, "Hey, send me over your resume," then YES you must have a cover letter. And more than that, the cover letter should make you stand out from the rest of the pile.

Preferably, you want to have a referral name that will be recognized automatically getting yours pulled from the pile. But if you don't, there is a art to crafting a cover letter that stands out.

Otherwise, you're just one of hundreds of people sending in your cold resume with a standard cover letter. Odds are the amount of time you're putting into sending these is not paying off in the same way that spending less time on focused work would.

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!

Getting Jobs in Entertainment question 1177: Help I'm at a party right now and I want to approach an actor without seeming like a fan.

I feel like I can hear you whispering. Okay, pretend I'm one of those bugs in your ear talking you through this. Walk over to the actor and ask either 1. how did he come to be here? 2. If he's having a good time? 3. If he knows if there is a secret 2nd bathroom.

Work with me here, I don't know the logistics, so go with whatever doesn't seem obvious. The third should make him laugh because everyone knows that it's a pain to stand on line waiting for the bathroom at a party and there's always the bathroom no one is privy to.

Then, if he's friendly, acknowledge him and either 1. tell him what you do in the industry 2. even if he's a film actor, ask if he's looking forward to season 2 of Suits (or if he is a she, ask if she thought the season finale of Grey's Anatomy jumped the shark) 3. Tell him you consider this a rare opportunity that you don't want to miss and seeing as he is as successful as he is, you know he understands, then ask him, if he could give you most impacting lesson he has had in the industry that you could learn from.

Wherever the conversation goes, it should somehow lead to #3 before the conversation ends. Then thank him for his time and say that you're going to take his advice and follow up with him in the future to let him know how he helped you. Then shake his hand, look him in the eyes and say, "so remember me, my name is ____ and I look forward to telling you about my success."

Good luck. This blog will self-destruct in 60 seconds.... no it won't.

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!