News, Views and Ideas should not be left alone. In good company they may grow to astound! Be brave but try not to stray from the truth unless you declare your whims to be inspired by the wind!
When Muhammad Ali was asked if he liked training, he replied: "I hated every minute of training, but I said to myself, ‘Don’t quit, suffer now, and live the rest of your life as a champion.’" Ali prepared for his fights by pushing himself, no matter how much it hurt. That's what every to
So You Want To Be A Performer? If you've come to this BLOG, it's probably safe to assume that you're interested in what this business is all about. You've always dreamed of being an actor, perhaps. Maybe you dream of becoming a professional singer? A dancer? Why haven't you tried it yet? What&#
Advice for Anyone Considering a Career in the Performing Arts. Make sure you love it, because this is really hard work. This is a really tough industry. Make sure that you love what you do - that you’re not coming into this business just because you want to be famous, or because you want to prove
What is a Key to Success?
A key to success in any field is to love what you do first and find a way to thrive in it. This business is way too hard for anyone who’s coming out here for any other reason other than that they just love being a performer. Love breathing life into a character,
Performers Must Make Compromises and Sacrifices
The life of an actor, singer, dancer, etc. is absolutely remarkable, and the experiences that we are able to have in our lives and in our careers are unparalleled! Working in the entertainment industry offers men and women the opportunity to live a lif
Jobs: Be Prepared for Instability
Unless you’re a celebrity who is working all of the time, the life of an entertainer can be very unstable in terms of employment. It should not be minimized how difficult this can become at times, financially (and emotionally.) Are you the type
Performing is Expensive!
Pursuing Performance as a career is a very expensive endeavor. Remember, as a Performer you are your own boss (which is awesome!), but it’s important to learn how to be smart with your money.
There are expenses for acting-, singing- and dance classes, head
Financially Speaking: Is it Worth it?
The potential to earn very good money as a Performer is certainly a reality! However, with only a small percentage of entertainers making lots of money, is it worth pursuing Performance Art - even with all of the financial uncertainty?&
This is a Business
Performing is an incredible form of art and creative work! And although it’s a lot of fun, if you’re pursuing performance as a career, then you must learn the business side of our industry in addition to the creative, artistic side. This is a business; it's no
Have a thick skin
If this is what you want, never give up. Be prepared to leave your ego at the door. Listen to the director when he makes adjustments, and always give it your best shot. The rest is out of your control. Move on quickly with bad news. If this is what you want t
Not Giving Up
Not booking work is one of the reasons why too many performers end up giving up their dreams far too soon. You cannot ever give up. You must push through the hard times and keep moving forward. Be a go-getter with a very strong work ethic. As in all walks in life: If y
ACTING: Know Your Character
It is crucial that you know how your character is going to help “serve the overall story.” Why did the writer write your character? Obviously there’s strong value, but how does that character serve the overall story? There is an ongoing story
ACTING: Is There Such a Thing as “Soap Opera Technique?”
There is this archaic myth that there is some kind of soap acting or soap technique. Acting is acting.
Working on the set of a soap opera is extremely helpful, even as a background artist!
The soaps a
What Does a Talent Agent Do? A lot of people know that they need to get an Agent, but few know exactly what an Agent will do for them. An Agent's job is to utilize his/her contacts and inside information in a way that gets you gigs. This is really one of the main reasons you should get an Agent -- t
Should You Wait For an Agent to Start Your Career? Don't let not having an agent keep you from starting your career. The search for an Agent is secondary to your getting out there and making a name for yourself first. Besides, an Agent will be much more inclined to represent someone that he/she believes
How Do You Get an Agent to Notice You?
Upcoming Performers often complain they can't get an Agent and yet, when you study what they've done over the past year or two, they can't point to any one event where an Agent might have actually shown up! You can't get an Agent by sitting on your co
How to Get an Agent Agents are an important part of your potential success in the creative realm, but they aren't the end all be all. That said, how do you go about getting one? Talent Agents usually find their clients in one of three ways: 1) they are referrals from other people; 2) they are people they
How do I present myself to an Agent? NOTE: One thing you need to be aware of however is that you will likely just have ONE chance to make an impression on an Agent. They are very busy people who aren't likely to give you a couple of chances to impress them. Does the Agent seem disinterested in you?&
Should I gain as much information about the agent as possible before hand? Here are 3 important questions that you should always ask: 1) What is the Business Plan? Goal setting and goal planning is extremely important. Typically, the first question that you should ask is, “Wh
What Will Happen In a Meeting with a Talent Agent?
Show the Agent Who You Are
An Agent has called you in for a meeting because he or she is interested in you and possibly looking to add you to their client roster. What happens in your meeting will depend on the agency, the type of repres
Maintaining a Good Business Relationship with Your Agent Once you’ve met with, and made the decision to join a particular Agent who appears to be a good “fit” for you, you must build and maintain a favorable business relationship. The most successful partnerships occur when both parties are
Is it Time to Leave Your Talent Agent? Your relationship with your Talent Agent is comparable to dating. You may have some rough times that you’ll have to work through together. On the other hand, sometimes no matter how hard you both try to make things work; it just doesn't work out in the end.&nb
How to Obtain Auditions Without a Talent Agent There are many ways that you can obtain auditions until you find an Agent who will help you secure more opportunities. Being your own Agent is very important, and it can be very effective in advancing your Performing career. In fact, you should ALWAYS act
How to … Create a great high definition video to launch your career or product by using your smartphone or tablet. The beauty behind this is that you have a high-end ever-present recording device at your disposal that allows you to capture impromptu footage anywhere at any time. This series will
1. Get the lighting right Proper lighting could make or break video imaging. If you get it right, you would be amazed at the image quality you can get. Don’t be afraid to play around. Trial and error is the best teacher! Smartphones have small image sensors and lenses, and therefore you need as much lig
AUDITIONS: Be You
Embracing your individuality and being true to yourself is a recipe for success in all areas of life. This principle of course applies to acting and entertainment. Standing out as a Performer in the entertainment industry is achieved by being honest with yourself about who you are.&
AUDITIONS: Know Your Type
Only audition for what you are truly appropriate for. This may seem completely obvious; there are lots of Performers who do not read the entire casting notices (“breakdowns”), and they submit to projects for which they are not the right type. Doing t
AUDITIONS: You are Called to Audition
Once you are called in to audition, be sure to use all of the training that you acquire from classes, and remember to be you in the audition. It’s hard because Performers go through so much. You always have to pull yourself up, because the business k
AUDITIONS: Commercials
Acting is acting, but in commercial acting, you don’t have a long time to develop a character. The audition process in commercial work is quite fast, and usually there are not many second chances. So you have to be on your game the minute you walk in. In commercial
AUDITIONS: Letting Go.
During your audition, always do the best job that you can do, and try not to question yourself or your choices! And after your audition is over, Let it go. (This is hard to do for many of us!) If you feel you did a bad job in an audition – do not draw at
AUDITIONS: Owning the Room
What does it mean to “own the room”? A lot of performers interpret ‘owning the room’ as meaning that you have to go in there and dominate. That’s not what you want to do. It really boils down to owning who you ARE in the room.
AUDITIONS: No Drama! (At Least, Not Your Drama!) It can be difficult for Performers to walk into an audition and leave everything that they are dealing with in the outside world at the door. However, you must learn to set aside your feelings and get the job done. Picture yourself leaving a backpa
AUDITIONS: Know the Show
Equally important when you go in for an audition is that you know the show or series that you’re auditioning for. You’re a guest artist or co-star, stepping into somebody else’s world that already has a fan following, so you need to know the show.
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AUDITIONS: Dealing with Nerves
Performing and being nervous unfortunately can go hand-in-hand for many, and this is especially true in an audition. When you audition, you should remember that the director or choreographer is always on your side. They WANT you to be good and book the job.
Art causes people to look a little closer. To look closer at the social issues, at other people and their emotions, at the environment that surround them, and the everyday objects and life forms around them. It helps them see what is there but not easily perceived. The artist brings out that which cannot be seen or fel
Art causes people to look a little closer. To look closer at the social issues, at other people and their emotions, at the environment that surround them, and the everyday objects and life forms around them. It helps them see what is there but not easily perceived. The artist brings out that which cannot be seen or fel
