entertainment industry coach question 757: I live in a small town and want to move to LA. What should I do?

Here's the advice I've given to people who have successfully made the move to Los Angeles:

1. Save enough money to survive for a year with no work/or be willing to get a survival job

2. Create relationships with people who live in LA, before moving out here

3. Have a strategy plan that includes the kind of work you want and how you plan to generate it

4. Research the "business side of the business" so you aren't shocked when you're not "discovered" within 30 days (or 30 months)

5. Choose a support team of friends & family, so during times of doubt, they can boost you back up

Because there are so many people who are interested in moving and survival jobs in LA, check out 2 of my Greenlight 101 Series books:

101 Tips on Moving to Los Angeles from a Small Town, by author, Jefferson Loftfield

and

101 Tips to Getting a Survival Job That Doesn't Suck, by author, Dawna Gonzales

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 complimentary 1-hour MP3 on The 5 Fastest Ways to Get Work In Entertainment

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

entertainment industry coach Question 510: Should a college student be in LA or stay in Vermont where there are no distractions?

The question read, "This question is for a friend I met on set yesterday. She is a 19 yr old just in town for the summer she is interested in staying here and transferring to La City College rather than going back to Bennington college in Vermont to complete her education. She has been out to LA the last couple summers doing extra work and taking classes. Last summer an agent told her to stay in town, but she decided to return to school. Do you think it's a better idea for her to study theatre in Vermont where there's no distractions or stay here and be closer to the action?"

Well, I didn't go to school in Vermont or LA, but I can tell you, no matter where you go to school, if you want to be distracted, there's always a way. So, let's leave distractions out of the equation. The bottom line is, does she want a college degree to fall back on or does she want to be in Los Angeles splitting between her studies and getting a jump on her acting career through networking? It's a really big decision, one that she will have to make by weighing the pros and cons. I can tell her that there are ways to create relationships from Vermont, it's different than creating them in LA. I'd have to know more about why she's torn, why it's not an obvious decision for her in order to coach her to come to her own decision.

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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 405: How do I go from being a big fish in a small pond to Los Angeles?

Strategically! Do some ground work in LA before making the move. If you’re doing well where you are, save your money and start building relationships with people who live in LA. If you move here cold, with no contacts, you’ll literally be starting from nothing and it can take 2-5 years to build up your career and that’s if you’re working strategically.

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 www.TheGreenlightCoach.com and get a great bonus 1-hour MP3 on creating powerful business partnerships when you do!

entertainment industry coach question 320: I moved out to LA 6 months ago and I'm homesick. Does this mean I'm on the wrong path?

Do you think it means you're on the wrong path? That's a question only you can answer. If you moved to LA to pursue a career in entertainment and you expected certain results within 6 months, and because you haven't achieved them, you're discouraged and homesick, it's understandable. BUT, you have to know the nature of the industry that you're pursuing. It could take a lifetime, there's no telling. So, YOU must decide if this is the path you want to follow.

I can give you tools and strategies for getting faster results, but ultimately, you have to decide if this is the business for you.

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

Question 201: What's the best time of year to move to LA to pursue a career in Hollywood?

Well, it's been a little hot this summer, but otherwise, the weather's always great so I say, anytime. But really, if you're asking me that question, I'm going to assume you're starting from scratch. Therefore, whenever you've saved up enough money to put down first and last month's rent and have enough left over to leave you enough time to find a job to cover your bills, the cost of any classes you'll need for your craft, the cost of joining networking organizations, and the cost of investing in learning how to run your business, it's time.

You're going to have to build relationships. The story about stepping off the bus and being discovered was in Bofinger-- but that's a movie, not real life. So be prepared to spend time growing your contacts and your business.

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

Question 96: Is it cool if I don't live in LA but have a friend moving out there, to ask my friend who lives there to make my friend feel at home?

Whoa... let me re-read that....

Okay, I think I get it. Yes, it's more than cool. You have a friend who is settled in LA. Ask him or her if you can give your friend his/her number to have someone to show them the ropes.  I've never turned that request down.  I remember how it felt to move out here knowing three people, two of whom left LA within a week of my arrival (the Northridge Earthquake hit 12 hours after my plane touched down). Having someone who can discuss neighborhoods, restaurants, the business, is a huge relief.  

Go for it!

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

Question 31: I live in a small town and want to move to LA. What should I do?

Here's the advice I've given to people who have successfully made the move to Los Angeles:

1. Save enough money to survive for a year with no work/or be willing to get a survival job

2. Create relationships with people who live in LA, before moving out here 

3. Have a strategy plan that includes the kind of work you want and how you plan to generate it

4. Research the "business side of the business" so you aren't shocked when you're not "discovered" within 30 days (or 30 months) 

5. Choose a support team of friends & family, so during times of doubt, they can boost you back up

Because there are so many people who are interested in moving and survival jobs in LA, check out 2 of my Greenlight 101 Series books:  

101 Tips on Moving to Los Angeles from a Small Town, by author, Jefferson Loftfield 

and

101 Tips to Getting a Survival Job That Doesn't Suck, by author, Dawna Gonzales

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