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Hollywood How-To Archives Index
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May20, 2008 - Subscriber An Acting Success Story - A Sale - A Reminder >> |
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Good Morning Subscriber - I hope you enjoy my 'controversial' thoughts for today. Some time ago I posted an old actor's joke to the many acting groups and forums I belong to. The joke goes like this: How many actors does it take to change a light bulb? 100. One to screw it in and 99 to sit around Starbucks saying, "I could have done that, if someone would only give me a break." The reason this is a funny joke is that it reveals an underlying truth - a truth about actors' attitudes. The joke caused many actors to react negatively. "That's not funny," was a common response. (I must admit that other actors were quick to defend the joke, saying that it was important to have a sense of humor about our dreams. Anyway, it caused a little stir. I posted the joke because the attitudes it reveals are so widespread among actors, that they have become the fodder for jokes. Look, the fact that one knows how to do a job is not sufficient grounds to be offered the job. And please don't wait for someone else to take action in order to have your dreams come to fruition. My friends, if you do, you'll be waiting a long time - like forever. There is a lot of grunt work involved in convincing others to hire you. If you don't do the grunt work, your avid aspirations will not suffice. "Could have done it" is no consolation for a dream neglected. Don't ignore the truth just because it's in a joke. On another subject, I have also made it clear, more than once, I think every actor should own a computer - it's helpful for keeping records, printing r?sum?s, sending emails, finding auditions ... and many other day-to-day chores. I've also urged all actors to get a web site. There are nay-sayers, who rail against the computer and all its works. One recently posted opinion stated that having a web site was of no help to an actor. The main point of the post was that casting directors were not out there, hiring actors off of websites. And no one was looking for actors' websites, in hopes of finding the "next big thing." There are two false assumptions here. 1), that casting directors hire actors - they don't. (Producers hire actors. Casting directors are the personnel office.) And 2), that the whole idea of a website is that folks will look for it. If you approach this website business with the "if you build it, they will come" idea - you will be sorely disappointed in your results. That's like putting a bumper sticker on a car in Calcutta and hoping that Steven Spielberg will eventually see it. A website is really an electronic brochure. It gives you "space" to promote the benefits of your product - in hopes of landing a contract for your services. Once you realize that your website is an opportunity to sell yourself - and you begin to use it to sell - you will start getting good results. It is worth doing your homework to learn how to sell with your website. There are lots of free guides about how to do that - out there on the digital highway. A couple of rules: Get your own domain name and server - HarrisonFord.com is oh so much better than the unfortunate (but free) "HarrisonFord-goodactor/Yahoo/Hollywood.net/hford.html (and you should probably use your own name instead of Harrison Ford, because that name's already being used.) Your own domain name is not expensive. It costs between 60 and 90 bucks a year to have space on a web server - and when you order from most companies, they will throw in the registration of your domain name for free. There are also sites that sell domain names. some for as little as $6.95 a year (when you buy ten years ... which isn't a bad idea if you are planning to stick with one name during your career.) Get professional help - there are thousands of people who do web design. Get one of them to help you. Again, it's not really expensive. One of your fellow SBHT subscribers is a NYC actor who has a website building business - you might do well to get in touch with her. Amy Russ runs the company called ActorWebs and she has some excellent solutions for the performer's website 'issue.' Since she's a fellow actor, she knows a lot about your needs. Drop by her site and check it out. http://www.actorwebs.com Next: Don't wait for people to find your site. Remember, this is an electronic brochure - and like all brochures you have to "hand it out." Put your web site address on your resume, on your headshots, on your cards and heck, even a bumper sticker on a car in Calcutta ... or LA, if that's closer. When you talk to casting directors, directors, producers, and other actors, mention of your website. Make it part of your schmooze. Think of your website as a 'silent salesman' who's at work 24/7/365 ... selling you. BTW, that's why it should be done professionally, there's no point in sending people to an amateur-ish site - it just makes you look, well, like an amateur. Just like color headshots are now the standard - a website is fast becoming a mandatory part of your marketing tools. If you're on the fence about color headshots and websites, wake up! Join the rest of us ... in the 21st century. Next time I think I'll deal with less controversial stuff - like the voucher system, web residuals and casting director workshops. ====================================================== DON'T FORGET THE MONEY THING Last week I reminded you about Miata Edoga, an actor here in LA who teaches actors and artists how to achieve more financial abundance. Several of our subscribers signed up for her series of tele-classes and the feed-back I've been getting is really amazing. I've also gotten a few emails from a bunch of you who missed the last free session. She has another series coming up - and you can check out her class for free by visiting the website of her company ... Abundance Bound. Just go to "Events And Classes" and look for the free tele- seminar - "The Power Of Prosperity" The next one is Thursday May 22 - from 4:00 to 5:15 (Pacific) If you have issues with financial things, Abundance Bound is pretty much the only place online where you can get everything an actor or artist needs to really get a handle on their finances. Be sure to look around on the site when you get there. You can grab a free audio download, "The Prosperous Artist" - and another free special report, "51 Ways To Achieve Prosperity" Here's the address: http://tinyurl.com/5e2qwy And, when you sign up for the free tele-seminar, be sure to use the drop down menu that asks about where you heard about Miata's class - you'll see my name there. ====================================================== COOL QUOTES FOR FORWARD PROGRESS "A movie camera is like having someone you have a crush on watching you from afar - you pretend it's not there." ~ Daryl Hannah "Acting is fun for me and it doesn't really matter how ... whether it's hard work or easy work, it's always fun." ~ Tommy Lee Jones "Oh, you hate your job? Why didn't you say so? There's a support group for that. It's called EVERYBODY, and they meet at the bar." ~ Drew Carey "You can only become truly accomplished at something you love. Don't make money your goal. Instead, pursue the things you love doing, and then do them so well that people can't take their eyes off you." ~ Maya Angelou ====================================================== Have a wonderful week and, as always ... Much Success, Bob You Must Act! The #1 Virtual Acting CAREER Course http://www.youmustact.com Headshot Secrets Revealed Marketing Your Acting Career In Pictures http://www.headshotsecrets.com Nail It! Delivering The Hypnotic Audition Taking Your Audition Skills to The Next Level http://www.hypnoticaudition.com Action! The Professional Actor's Workbook & Planner Get your business together and follow through. http://www.showbizhowto.com/action.html Bob Fraser Productions 3727 W. Magnolia Blvd. #180 Burbank, CA 91505, USA To unsubscribe or change subscriber options visit: http://www.aweber.com/z/r/?TIwc7CzMtMzsrBwMbGzstEa0zMxs7JwMjA== |
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| << May10, 2008 - Subscriber - DVD Progress Report and "Bundle" Sale Reminder |
May20, 2008 - Subscriber An Acting Success Story - A Sale - A Reminder >> |
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