entertainment industry coach Question 487: Is it appropriate to talk business at a 4th of July party?

It's not inappropriate, but I'd encourage you to build relationships on a personal level and if the person with whom you're speaking brings up business, then you can respond.

There are ways to share stories to let people know what you do and what you're looking for as far as work, without coming straight out and talking business.

Remember, if you build a strong relationship on a personal level at a party, it will open up the opportunity for a second conversation and then a third and so on. Eventually work will come up. As opposed to going straight for the "I am looking for work" conversation which tends to bring up peoples' walls.

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entertainment industry coach Question 486:I'm brainstorming ways to meet more people in the business in NYC, since I don't live in LA. Help

First you have to research the NYC market. Who lives there? Who works there? You can start by seeing if the NY Union branch offices have directories. Then research the local filmmaking organizations like IFP.org. They will have info on working NY residents. Once you have a target list of New Yorkers...

1. Social media: You have to decide what level of contact you want. LinkedIn is the more professional network you may find more executives to connect with there. Facebook is where the relationships are really happening in our industry (for now).

To make the most of social networking, you want to target the specific people whom you want to get to know. Instead of sending a lone "friend request," FB gives you the option to send a message with your request. Tell them a bit of your story; that you're a screenwriter in New York and would like to follow his/her posts to stay up to date on his/her work.

Once you are friends you can see the personal side. Does this person have kids? A sports passion? A hobby like photography? Anything you can connect to and comment on. That's how people get to know you. If they ask questions, answer them. If you are a Rangers fan and they are an Islanders fan stay away!!! Kidding... sort of.

2. Get mentors! I've written about this in my blog before so check the archives. Once you've built up your social network and know the people you have commonalities with and they would know who you are from Facebook (etc.), reach out for a business advice and guidance mentorship.

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 485: Is it possible to meet directors like Spielberg and Scorsese?

Of course it's possible. Depending on where you live, you may have to leave your area. Look, pretty much everyone is accessible in Hollywood. You can see directors speak at Q&As about their films, especially around award time. You can meet them at an awards show. You can get a job working for their company. You can work hard at your craft and business and get famous enough to be introduced. You can bump into them at the Century City Mall. You can buy a star map. Do you see where I'm going with this?

I can go on and on about ways to meet famous people you admire. But why do you want to meet them? What's your objective? Who would you be if you got the opportunity... a professional ready to have a colleague to colleague conversation or a blubbering fan?

Maybe I don't understand why you're asking the question so I'm not giving a very good answer.

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 484: do you answer questions about any other industry than entertainment?

Entertainment is my area of expertise. I've been told by Facebook followers and a few of my blog readers that even though they are not in the entertainment industry, many of the business strategies and advice on business and networking crosses over into their field.

Oddly enough, my old boss said that he read my book and lost 30 lbs by following my And Action tasks. He took the goal setting chapter and the maintaining motivation chapter and mixed in lessons from others that applied and lost weight. Not the intention I envisioned when I wrote the book, but a great result nonetheless.

So basically, you can ask me a question and if I have an answer I will tailor it to my entertainment peeps but the answer will still apply to you.

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 483: How do I get invited to movie screenings?

There are different kinds of movie screenings:

1. Movie premiers- usually you have to have worked on the movie, know someone who's worked on the movie, or win a radio promotion contest.

2. Union screenings- you have to know a member of the union and ask to be his/her plus one.

3. Academy screenings- again, you have to know a member and be his/her plus one.

4. Networking organizations- join the organization that has screenings and you can trade plus ones with people at the Unions and the Academy. Or know a member of the organization and be his/her plus one.

5. Q&A screenings at theaters- usually you just have to know about them and buy a ticket.

6. Film festival screenings- you have to buy passes to the festivals or individual screenings.

If I didn't mention any you were thinking of in particular, let me know.

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 482: How do I get work in this economy?!?!?

Wow.. lot's of punctuation. You get the work the same way you would in a great economy. The difference is the people you know may be out of work too, which means you have to target the people who are working. Sounds like it's time for you to start creating new relationships.

Here's the thing, it takes time to build new relationships. Getting work from new people is not a quick fix/silver bullet technique. In order to maintain stability in an unstable industry, it's important to recognize that people in the entertainment industry need supplemental, parallel, and/or passive income streams. If you are in serious financial trouble, it may be in your best interest to find work to bring in income rather than using all of your time building new relationships.

The biggest myth in this industry is that you are somehow a "failure" if you make money at anything other than your craft. This is not true! Financial stability will make it easier for you to find work doing your craft in the future.

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 481: How do I choose the right mentor in the field I wish to use my craft? What field do I really want to work?

Every mentor is the "right" mentor because there's something to learn from everyone.

Now, choosing which field you really want to work in requires some soul searching. Keep in mind that if you choose several mentors in each field of interest to interview, it will assist you in your decision making process.

Instead of getting stuck in "who's the right mentor?" write down the different fields of interest. The under each field write down the names of 5 people whom you have some connection to. Then contact each one to ask for an informational interview. Explain that you are unsure of which production field to commit to fully since you've worked in each area, and would like to get their input on your decision making process. Share whatever concerns you have about each field and get their feedback.

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 480: Can I be a screenwriter if I don't live in Los Angeles?

In my opinion, it's probably the easiest classification to be, if you don't live in Los Angeles. Why? Because you can master your craft and build your script collection while living in a cheaper city/town, not get beaten down by the rejection that so many experience, be close to family & friends, and even have a fulfilling job as you write. You can also build mentor relationships from afar via email, phone, and/or social media.

Once you have a number of great quality scripts, and relationships that you've been nurturing, then you can plan a business trip to LA to take meetings.

The key is to never stop writing, because you always want to be current and you always want to be growing as a writer.

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 479: What is the difference between networking and schmoozing?

Technically, the difference is the meaning you choose to put on the words. But because I'm a coach who loves doing seminars on successful networking, my two cents are:

While reality TV and scripted TV are both types of television, they are completely different genres.

Similarly, schmoozing and networking are both ways to meet people, they are simply two different "attitudes". Networking is a professional attitude whereas schmoozing can be interpreted as either playful or sleazy depending on the person doing the schmoozing and his or her intention.

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 478: What is a good way to start my stand up career?

Taking stand-up comedy and improv classes. In LA, the big names are Groundlings & ACME, in Chicago there's Second City. You're from NY, so you want to find out the top training schools/classes. Do your research on NY comedians to see where they trained. Google them or check them out on Wikipedia or IMDB.

Stand up is part talent and part craft. You may have the talent to make people laugh, and you want to develop the craft of designing comedy sets for yourself. Or you may not have the talent to make people laugh, but don't let that discourage you. Comedy has a lot to do with timing, rhythm, and writing. All of those are skills which can be developed.

The second thing you should do is go to as many comedy shows as you can and watch from the perspective of:

1. How is the comedian creating rapport with the audience (or if he/she is not, why not?)

2. Which jokes are working and why?

3. Listen for "the music" in the delivery. Each comedian has his/her own style/tempo/music in delivery.

4. Break down the jokes. Some comedians tell quick one-liners. Some tell stories.

The third task I would recommend is study the masters like George Carlin, Richard Pryor, Whoopie Goldberg, Billy Crystal, Robin Williams. And then compare them to the contemporary comedians you admire.

The goal is to find your own unique voice while studying the good habits of successful people and staying current with the trends.

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 477: Really? A Miley Cyrus song as a blog? Isn't that just lazy?

Who are you Seth Meyers and Amy Poehler on SNL? Don't be a hater! If the song doesn't speak to you, let the lesson speak to you. Music is an extremely powerful anchor. By finding songs, such as The Climb, or Drive by Incubus ( a favorite auditory anchor for me), and the always inspiring Eye of the Tiger, you can turn a bad day or a rejection around by reminding yourself that others have felt what you're feeling, so much so, they wrote a song about it. Listening to your own personally designed motivational playlist is a very powerful tool.

I for one- big fan of Hannah Montana. Had more than one client working on it, and did more than one set visit, and found everyone involved to be wonderful. So keep climbing Miley!!!!

ps, I'm listening to The Climb as I write this. Another good one for Risk Taking is "Live Like You Were Dying" by Tim McGraw

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

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