And...Action!

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

Sunday, August 28, 2011

Getting Jobs in Entertainment question 910: Should I pay people who are actors to manage me because they get the breakdowns?

It is illegal for actors to get the breakdowns. I have heard of groups of actors who formed legitimate management companies who pay for and receive the breakdowns legally. Whether they charge to represent you I don't know. I can't advise you to do anything illegal that affects someone's business/livelihood.

You have to do some more research and decide what risks you are willing to take for your career. Just know the guy from breakdown services is a very smart man and finds people who are stealing his product and you could potentially be sued.

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

Saturday, August 27, 2011

Getting Jobs in Entertainment question 909:Do you have to live out of a car to make it in Hollywood?

His question was longer but basically along the lines of "everyone who seems to make it has a rock bottom moment that gave them the determination to make it" time in their life.

Personally, I don't like terms like "everyone." Last I checked Julia Roberts never lived in her car. You have to believe in yourself and what you do. Some people are motivated by discomfort; it pushes them. But if you are motivated and live in a penthouse on the Wilshire Corridor, all power to you. Some of these stories are also what publicists call "spin."

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

Friday, August 26, 2011

Getting Jobs in Entertainment question 908:Do you think it is wise to send a letter congratulating someone who was recently promoted?

... even if that person doesn't know who you are? In such a letter, I would confine my remarks to their good fortune and not try to pitch or ask them for anything. Or is it weird?"

I don't think it's weird at all. I think it's a great idea, BECAUSE you added two very important points:

1. Do not pitch the person

2. Do not ask for anything

This is a congratulatory note. It gets your name in front of the person. It may even cause the person to Google you to see if he/she knows you from somewhere. Either way, your name is in front of the person so that someday down the line, when your name is in front of him/her again, there will be a familiarity.

These types of notes are relationship builders. There should be NO agenda attached. You will most likely never hear back from the person, but that's not the point.

I like the way you're thinking!

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

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Getting Jobs in Entertainment question 907:How do I figure out if I should pursue a career in entertainment?

Research, research, research! Millions of people have dreams of making it in the entertainment industry. The majority will never do more than dream. Like in every industry, there are pros and cons to the entertainment industry.

Here are some tips:

1. Write down what you want to do in the industry AND the expectations of what you think you'll be doing in that job.

2. Write down your expectations of what it will be like to work in entertainment; the time frame until you're working steadily, the hours worked, the pay scale, and everything else you imagine a career in entertainment to be.

3. Go on entertainment industry forums and get people's feedback on your expectations.

Now, people may be brutal if your expectations are completely unreasonable, but don't be discouraged. If you truly want to pursue your dream, get lots of opinions on others' experiences working in the business. If you are still discouraged, contact me, and we can discuss your particular situation. Remember, sometimes people have their own agenda for discouraging you. I will always encourage you, I'll be realistic and honest in an encouraging way.

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

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Getting Jobs in Entertainment question 906:What's the most embarassing job you've ever taken for supplemental income?

I've answered this before, but it's time again... I was saving this for my first David Letterman appearance, but I suppose I can give all of you "my insiders" the first audience. I had been in Los Angeles for two years working as a waitress and decided, "That's it! If I'm going to be working and not getting auditions, I may as well be working in a place where I'm meeting people in high places."

So, I got into the temp pool at MGM/UA and began creating relationships with all of the big wigs because I was on the top floor. After almost 6 months of developing relationships with people and discussing development, production, post, publicity, marketing, and even acting, the human resources woman told me she had a special job for me, where I'd get to meet everyone in the company. I was SO excited.

CUT TO:

EXT: MGM/UA OUTDOOR PARK AREA- DAY

Me in a stupid outfit, serving birthday cake for "Leo the Lion's" first birthday party. Yes, I put on a smile as the big execs that had treated me like an up and comer for 6 months, started barking orders about wanting an "end piece" or "just a sliver because she's on a diet," or "cut the piece from the center so I can have a piece of the Lion's head." I mean really! It was utterly humiliating.

The next week I found myself in a small windowless room with 3 other temps stuffing W2 forms. I came across Brad Pitt's in my pile and shoved it in my bra for the remainder of the day before mailing it off to his accountant (with a lipstick free kiss). I suppose that's the closest Brad Pitt will ever be to my boob.

Not the most educational blog entry, though I hope it amused you and will inspire you to share your least favorite "make-a-buck-jobs-to-survive" with this person who is clearly torn about a job he may potentially take.

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

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Getting Jobs in Entertainment question 905: How do I research the new fall line up?

First, let me say I am SOOO excited for all of the comedies coming out this season!

Second, you research them in a number of ways, the cheapest, and most direct way, is to go directly to the sites and look under "shows":

http://beta.abc.go.com/

http://www.nbc.com/

http://www.fox.com/

http://www.cwtv.com/

http://www.cbs.com/

Then there are the numerous cable networks that have original content. To name a few:

Lifetime, TNT, A&E, HBO, Showtime, Disney, Nickelodeon, Sci Fi, USA, and check out

http://www.google.com/Top/Arts/Television/Networks/Cable/ for a longer list.

Monday, August 22, 2011

Getting Jobs in Entertainment question 904:What does it mean when a casting director says, "great job" and then doesn't give you a call back?

It means different things from different casting directors. YOUR job as an actor/actress, is to go in prepared, and do the best audition you can do. An audition is a job. Your acting in front of people, right? So you're doing your job. Treat an audition with as much respect and hard work as you would if you booked the job you're auditioning for. Show up on time, do your job, then leave and let it go. If someone say's "Great," then great. If they don't call you in, it doesn't mean you weren't great. It could mean you get called in 7 years later, for a part that you're perfect for. You just don't know. Sorry...

Analyzing what people mean is futile. Even if you asked, you have no guarantee that they'll tell you truthfully what they meant. Confidence must come from within you, NOT others' opinions of you.

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

Sunday, August 21, 2011

Getting Jobs in Entertainment question 903:How do you answer the question: "What are you working on?" when you're not working on anything?

My sister works in ad sales. There are some days that she sells an ad space. Let's equate those days to the days that you are working on a job. The rest of the days, if her boss were to ask her, "What are you working on?" her answer would be all of the appointments she's making, the new business she's working on breaking, the relationships with clients she's developing. I could go on and on about everything my sister is doing when she's not on "the" call getting the news that a client is buying ad space.

So, what do you mean "you're not working on anything"? If you aren't doing business when you're not on a "job" then you're not working right. If you are working right, then you can answer the question based on what you're working on. People know this is a freelance industry. They don't expect you to be on a project at all times. But if you're not confident about what to do when you're not on a job, then you should get coaching, because you can be "working" all of the time.

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

Saturday, August 20, 2011

Getting Jobs in Entertainment question 902:What's the most professional way to let all of my contact know I've changed my contact info?

It depends on if you want to spend money or not. You can have cards/postcards made up with your personal logo (if you have one) and/or the new contact information. Then mail it out to everyone. It's just like those "We've moved" cards you get from your friends when they move to a new house. The reason why this may be worth the added expense, is because people will hold on to the card until they change it in their address book.

The free way to do it PROFESSIONALLY, is to send it out by email BCC ( did I say BCC? Because if I didn't: BCC!!!). People tend to do this when they change only their email address. I am one of those people who is guilty of not updating these when I get them, putting them in an inbox file titled "updated contact info," and forgetting all about them. That's why I prefer the aforementioned card, because I will save it until I add it. But that may just be me.

With email, you also run the risk of it disappearing into the email ether, but we run that risk everyday...

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

Friday, August 19, 2011

Getting Jobs in Entertainment question 901:I want to take a year off to make money but everyone says that I'll be starting over when I come back.True?

Who am I to argue with "Everyone?" I'm me, so I will. The reason many (not "all": notice I'm putting the huge generalizations in quotes, so you can recognize when you're using that language) people have trouble breaking back into the industry after they've been out for a year or more, is because they don't maintain their relationships.

They usually leave the business for a stable job, not expecting to return, only to find a few years later that their calling is still tugging at them, and their contacts have dried up. Or they leave for personal reasons like an illness, an ill spouse or child, to take care of an aging parent, relocation for any of the previous reasons, and other less common reasons.

Obviously, if it's the personal reasons, it's usually the last thing on a person's mind to be maintaining relationships, so when he/she comes back it is a lot like starting over, but not quite.

In your case, however, you want to make money, create some savings, and come back. That's really no different than people who have side jobs, it just sounds like you're committing mentally to a specific, high-pay job as opposed to a side job, where people feel half in and half out.

What this all means to you is, you work, make your money, save, AND continue to maintain your relationships, obtain mentors, and go to networking events (if you're job is local). If it's not, and your contacts ask you why you moved, tell them it is for personal reasons, and you will be back. If you stay put, and get offered a job while maintaining your relationships, you can always ask for time off or quit (unless you've signed a contract).