Question 165: I'm interested in writing for sitcoms but I need a day job in LA before I move there. It's a Catch 22. I can't even get a PA job. Help!

Okay. The advantage of being a writer is that you can have any day job and write during your free time. So, you can relocate out here, get a job in your current profession, and maintain financial stability while building your contacts to get an "industry" job.

PA work isn't really the most direct job for a writer because production assistants tend to be focused on production work. Ideally, I'd recommend (in this order):

#1: Writers' assistant on a show. This is the "PA" of the pre-production world. Here you'll be delivering coffee and scripts, depending on the show you could be in the writers' room, and you'll be in a good position to create relationships.

#2: An assistant for a writer with a deal.

#3 An assistant/intern for a production company that produces television.

For these jobs, like most, you really need to know someone. That's why I suggest you focus on getting a livelihood job, building relationships, and then going after an industry job. ALL THE WHILE WRITING. Always be writing!

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

Question 164: Is sending someone you kinda know a birthday card brown nosing?

Is it your intention to "brown nose" or do you truly want the person to have a happy birthday? It's all about the intention. It's okay to send a card for the double purpose of sending wishes and staying on the radar. Personally, I love to get cards. It's always nice to be remembered, and while Facebook birthday wishes are easy to send, the extra effort in sending a card usually doesn't go unnoticed. The more personal the card, the better.

For more tips and articles by top entertainment industry 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 162: I hear you're the Keynote speaker at the DV Expo. Very cool! You know I'm a director, should I go?

Everyone in the entertainment industry should go! It's a Digital Video Expo which means, anyone who works directly with digital video, wants to work with someone who works with digital video, and/or wants to meet someone who works with digital video AND may know someone you want to meet, MUST BE THERE.

Not only will there be cool techie stuff to check out, there will be educational programming (including yours truly doing the keynote speech on "the business side of the business"and a breakout room on "the keys to success at a networking event.")

And of course, in my book, the number one reason to attend the DV Expo is because it is an opportunity to network with thousands of people. That means that you can potentially add 100 new contacts to your contact list. In question 157, I was asked the "minimum number of people one should know." I answered 100. I broke that number down over twelve months. You can meet them ALL in 1-3 days!

Get your butt to the DV Expo!

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

question 161: What do I do with the contacts I met at ITV Festival?

You follow up with them. It takes 3 conversations to create a relationship. You've met them once, now you have to have 2 substantial conversations (where you don't ask for work), over the next two months, in order to maintain the relationship.

Contact them regarding something you spoke about or ask for some business advice and guidance. If anyone asked you to send something to them, be sure to do it!

Keep notes on your contacts and conversations.

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

Question 160: I'm an actress and my boyfriend doesn't want me to kiss anyone in a scene. Is this normal?

I TOTALLY went through this when I graduated college and my boyfriend at the time didn’t want me to kiss guys during my scenes in acting class. Yes, it’s normal. No, it’s not realistic. You may get cast in a role where you have to kiss someone. It’s your job. If you’re kissing Brad Pitt, it’s one of the “perks” of your job. Kidding… no I’m not.. yes I am.. sort of…

You always hear actors say, “it’s not romantic/sexual at all. You’re surrounded by people… etc. etc.” Here’s the thing, I did a film where for weeks in rehearsal I was SO attracted to my co-star, I couldn’t wait for the scene where I got to kiss him! I think we did two takes and the kiss was as sexless as a high-five from a bag lady (yeah, I don’t know what that analogy means either, it’s late). The irony is, what the “significant others really should be worried about is the intimacy and attraction that can form between actors when they are playing parts where they are in love (or lust). The job of an actor is to really feel the feelings of love and the line between feelings can get blurred. So, the kiss should be the least of your boyfriend’s worries. But don’t tell him that, because that won’t help your cause. Trust is the key to a good relationship… I think. Who knows, that’s why I’m a career coach and not a relationship coach. Good luck with this one.

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

Question 159: How do I get someone who is working for free to get me the work faster?

You really have no leverage when you’re not paying someone. They are working for free which probably means they have other work to do to bring in an income. If you have a deadline, pre-frame that up front, discuss the schedule in detail, and be sure they can agree. Have a back-up person just in case.

You are not the only one with this question. The key is good communication and having back-up plans so you don’t get frustrated with a person who is trying to help you. You also have to know when it’s time to pull the project from the person and go to your back-up plan. If you wait until the very end, when there’s just a little to do, people can get very sensitive about sharing a credit. I repeat, good communication.

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

Question 158: what day of the week is best to call someone?

You’ll never know until you ask. And even if they tell you: “Thursday is best for me,” you may still catch them on a Thursday where everything is upside down. Call people when you think you’ll get them in and then ask them if it’s a good time for them to talk. If they say that it’s not, ask when a good time for you to call back will be.

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

question 157: what is the minimum number of people I should know?

why are you asking about minimums? It sounds like you want to meet as few people as possible. I always suggest a minimum of 100 people to my new clients who only know a few people. That works out to meeting less than 10 people per month over the course of one year. I encourage them to be strategic about who they meet, in other words, focus on meeting people who can hire you or know people who can hire you.

That said, I'd like to address the "wanting to meet as few as possible." There are so man GREAT people in our industry to meet. I know what you're thinking, I've heard it all. People in each classification have their schtick: Editors: we like to be alone in dark rooms. Camera: There's a reason we're behind the camera. Writers: we write so we don't have to talk to people. Actors: I'm fine when I'm in charater, but I don't want to meet people if I have to be myself. And on and on...

I've heard every classifications reasons for not enjoying meeting people including the old faithful "I'm shy." The bottom line is, it's necessary for your career, so instead of filling your head with reasons you don't wa"nt to meet people, ask yourself, "Who can I meet today, whose life I can change for the better?" Ask better questions and you'll get better results.

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

question 156: What's better: calling a person or emailing a person?

In earlier questions I talked about creating rapport and communication. I wrote that communication is broken down by: 7% the words you say, 38% the tonality with which you say them, and the rest of the 55% is your physiology. Therefore, the best way to communicate with someone is in person, then by telephone, and lastly by email (I'm sure you've had a situation where someone misunderstood an email because they couldn't "hear your tonality" and didn't realize you were making a joke).

That said, whenever possible, ask the person how they, specifically, like to be contacted.

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

Question 155: I got offered a job on location for a long time (6mths-yr). How do I work it out with my family?

First, congratulations on the job offer! Now you have what I refer to as an A-List problem. Some people relocate their family for the year and rent out their local place. If that's not an option for you, the alternative is to have your family come out to visit, you come home to visit when possible, Skype, and most of all... good communication.

1. Talk to other people in your classification who go on long location jobs and ask them what they did right and what they'd do differently.

2. Ask your wife and kids what their concerns are about you being gone for so long, so you can put their minds at ease.

3. Make a plan for a family (or spouse) vacation when you return*

*planning a vacation can sometimes be a work magnet. Let your family know this in advance so you set it up to be a win/win. If you go on vacation it will be great, if you get another job it will be great.

Location work can be a great strain on a family if there isn't good communication. There are plenty of other jobs in this country where a spouse/parent is on the road for long periods of time like truckers, fishermen, pilots, military, and cruise ship personnel. In those careers, the family knows what to expect. It's important that entertainment industry families know what to expect, as well.

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