PARANOIA: There are so many people out there
telling actors, models, and entertainers shocking horror stories
about agencies and managers and the like, that most models and
talent are terrified, like most of the rest of the world about
bad news, thinking that cons and sharks are around every corner
just waiting to screw them over. While there are many scams, not
all are.
Give who you are meeting the benefit of the doubt. If you would
not tell a potential employer you are scared of them doing
something you don’t like, don’t tell an agent or
manager. Keep your paranoia to yourself. It will not help you to
express it. If you are too paranoid of the industry, stay out of
it. If you feel too scared to sign and don’t trust who you
meet, then go with your gut instinct and don’t. If you feel
it’s all good, then take the plunge after thoughtful
examination.
SCHOOLS: You do not need to go to school to be a
model or a musician, though it does help for bands or musicians
to know music theory and songwriting. Models should not waste
money on modeling schools, and instead, invest in being grounded
and professional. Actors need training in the technique of
acting, and any person pursuing entertainment should take classes
in business and marketing, as every entertainer is in business
for themselves, and must market themselves until they get a team
to do it for them.
The best acting schools will teach the three year program of
Stanislavski, which is the foundation of all acting. All methods
derived from this style. There are no shortcuts to the three
years. There are few great schools out there, with many trying to
make up their own style, which generally produce few stars. Find
the most respected actors on the planet, and you will find that
most of them studied Shakespeare and Stanislavski.
Some acting and music conservatories make their students sign a
contract that actually forbids their students from signing with
an agent or manager. The reason for this, is that they fear that
if that students signs with representation and gets work, they
will feel that they no longer need the school, and then decide to
quit, losing the school business and money. Why would anyone in
their right mind sign a contract stopping their opportunities for
one to three years? That is insanity. I am all for great
training, but remember, standards for acting ability are at an
all time low. If you can make money at your craft while training,
why not do it?
AGENTS & MANAGERS: The best way to get an agent
or manager is to meet them in a more social setting, at one of the
hot spots that they go to. If you “do lunch” as they
say in this business, you can often meet some of the people you
need that are essential to your career, in a more casual setting,
rather than having to try get past the gatekeeper, or a rude
secretary or assistant. Most of my business partnerships were
created by a meeting that started face to face. Two meetings I
had in two different nightclubs for example, led me to over 50 or
more other business contacts, where deals are still happening. In
this business, it’s all about the lunch. After you
establish a professional connection, get the business card, and
do a meeting in the office.
PUBLICITY: Any great manager or agent will
instruct their clients on how to get publicity, which is a must
for anyone to become a star. Publicists specialize in this, and
today, it is very easy to do a worldwide publicity campaign for
yourself, for virtually nothing, online, until you can afford to
pay for a publicist to be added to your team.
ENTERTAINMENT ATTORNEY: Most artists do not need
entertainment attorneys until they are more established in their
career, or have a big offer. Eventually however, if you succeed
greatly, you will need an entertainment attorney.
PERSONAL MANAGER: I am more and more a fan of
personal managers, and life coaches for my clients. The
entertainment industry can be very overwhelming, and sometimes it
is a challenge just to face the next day when that next
multi-million dollar deal that could have made you an overnight
star fell through. It can be a roller coaster of the greatest
highs, and the lowest lows, and it is essential to have a team
around you that is supportive, grounded, and will see you
through, when times are great, and when they are tough. A great
talent manager will help an artist build their entire team of all
of the above.
Don’t miss more advice back here in the next issue, and be
sure to check out more free advice in the archives in our back
issues if you have not.
Bruce Edwin is CEO of Starpower Management,
LLC. Tel: 310-226-7176
© 2010, The Hollywood Sentinel.
www.BruceEdwin.com