Telephone Etiquette: Do not ask some one
to wait while you put them on hold when talking, at least not for
more than a few seconds. If you do try to put some one hold, ask
them, don’t tell them. When actors or models would order me
to hold while they got back to another call, they would call me
back and some times would or would not apologize for the dropped
call. The call didn’t drop I would say, I hung up on you,
because you didn’t ask me to hold, you ordered me to, and I
could not hold. After their shock, those that would get it would
apologize, and those that didn’t, would not make it past
the first phone call, and probably went on to a few other dozen
agents and managers and ticked them off as well.
If you are doing a conference call, always announce to all
parties who else is on the line immediately. On your own
answering machine, do not have music. The first thing most agents
or managers I know of, including myself do when we hear music or
something else unprofessional on an answering machine, is hang
up. Even if I like the song, and most often I don’t, if I
wan’t to hear music, I’ll play it on my computer, not
on a phone call.
In Person Meetings:
If a person can not handle doing a face to face meeting, they do
not belong trying to work in the entertainment industry. The goal
of every business relationship should be at some point, a face to
face meeting. Most communication between two humans in front of
each other is non verbal, that is, through gestures, facial
expressions, eye movement, and the like. Learn to master comfort
in a business meeting, and you will begin to master your craft as
a model, actor, or musician, and also in getting what you want
from those that can help you.
Be on time. Being on time means, as I have stated before, be
early. Use a navigator or map quest and back up with a Thomas
Guide if need be. Never be late, and don’t bother asking an
agent, manager, producer, or casting for directions. Get the
address and figure it out yourself. You can ask if there is a
certain door you should go in, and if there is a drive on pass or
which gate if at a studio. Don’t bring other parties with
you with a drive on, or in an appointment, you are an adult, and
this is like a job interview, so lovers and friends stay home, or
wait in the car. If it’s a drive on, leave them outside of
the gate and don’t try to drive them on too unless the
person you are seeing offers, don’t ask for an extra
credential. When you show up early, don’t ask them to take
you early, sign in under your agent or managers name and let
reception know you are there. Other models or talent in the
waiting room may be your competition, so be careful what you say
to them, and you are better off just brining a book or your sides
to read.
When meeting, make eye contact, smile often, speak up, offer to
shake hands, and wait to be seated until the person you are
meeting sits or offers you to. Do not chew gum, or be eating or
drinking any thing in the meeting. One model I was interviewing,
came in my office with a soft drink, and spilled it on my carpet.
Bad move. Another was chewing gum, and asked me to throw it away
for her, trying to stick it in my hand. Another I caught sticking
her gum under my chair.
Treat the office of the person you are seeing as you would your
own home. On second thought, treat it better than you would your
own home! Keep answers brief, but long enough that they
don’t think you are too scared to talk. Never talk badly
about another agent or manager. Would you go in to a regular job
interview as say bad things about a former employer? Act the same
way as you would in that scenario. Don’t use bad language.
Be a professional. Dress the role you want.
(We shall continue this more in the next issue).
Bruce Edwin will answer any of your questions in this forum by
phone. Contact his office at 310-226-7176.
The Hollywood Sentinel, © 2009.
www.StarpowerManagementLLC.com