Sometimes we stop asking because we fear our persistence will be seen as an annoyance. We think that if we keep insisting they will get tired maybe even to the point of “dropping” us, so we get frustrated thinking they arent taking us seriously. But here is the truth; you are just as responsible as they are for this vicious cycle. If when you dont get a reply you merely let it go, thinking well, I will find out eventually. Then you are giving the message, through your actions, that its OK for them NOT to answer you.

If on the other hand you insist (without ever becoming offensive or insulting) they will get the message, again through your actions, that you are someone who has to be answered. Someone who demands a response. The easiest way to do this? To simply hit the RESEND button. Your agent hasnt gotten back to you in over 2 hours responding to your question? Simply take the last email you sent with the question and click resend. Its been 4 hours? Simply Simply hit RESEND again.

Not only will you get a response if you keep doing this, but you will prevent future uncertainty (which is a cause for major stress and frustration in most actors). From now on the thoughts in their mind will be more along the lines of: “We better answer this because he will not just forget”.

And heres the funny part. All those worries about whether or not they would be annoyed by your persistence will vanish as soon as you get an answer and see the results of your assertiveness. Keep in mind that every successful filmmaker or actor WAS annoying until he could afford to pay someone to be annoying for him. And no one will think of your persistence as annoying when you are making them money, or when you are winning awards on a stage. All they will know is that moment.

Leaving a decent phone message seems like it would be a no-brainer, right? Unfortunately, not always. All too often Mr. Mumbles, Ms. Fast-Talker, and Mrs. Nocontactinfo leave messages. Yet the difference between a good message and a bad one might mean landing that next role or not. Casting directors and agents wont always be available, they are busy people if they are doing their job right, so its YOUR job to make sure you are understood and make it easier on them.

Here are some phone “dos”:

Slow down.

It’s true that no one wants to listen to a five-minute phone message, but there’s no need to leave a fast-talking voicemail. Slow down and speak clearly. Nothing is more frustrating than having to listen to a voicemail four or five times to understand the message… Or, as I often have to do, have someone else listen to it to see if they can understand what the person is saying (they usually have the same luck I have).

Explain why you’re calling.

I receive a ton of messages from people who simply leave their name and number. When I call them back, it turns out I’m not the person that can help. If they had left the specifics in their voicemail, they wouldn’t have wasted my time or their time with a call back that didn’t solve anything. Be specific.

Leave complete information.

For two days in a row I received a voicemail from a woman who left her first name and company but no phone number. I tried calling the general company line and asking for her but without a last name the large company could not help me. She ending up getting a hold of my secretary and leaving an angry message that I never got back to her. Trust me, I would have if she left the appropriate information.

Also, don’t assume that the person you’re calling has your information, even if you spoken to them before. It’s always appreciated when you leave a call back number; it saves the recipient from having to look up your number.

Repeat. Repeat again.

Say your name and phone number and then say it again. You should say your information at least twice, if not three times.

This is part of a 2 post series that deals with networking for those of you that… dont feel as comfortable doing it. Many actors are introverts. Many artists are introverts. But sadly the most recognized and working ones are usually the ones who overcome such obstacle (because lets face it, in this business, it IS and obstacle).

Are you an introvert?

• Does a crowded room of people overwhelm you?
• Do you feel drained after interacting with a lot of people?
• Would you rather be at home rehearsing a scene than at an event?

If you answered yes, you’re probably an introvert.

Being an introvert is different than being shy.Introverts would rather be alone because that’s how they can become energized, not because they’re scared to interact with others. Introverts don’t necessarily dislike socializing, they just generally prefer to be alone or with a small group. Al Pacino has confessed several times to being an extremely introverted and even shy person.

Why you should network

Since introverts prefer solitary activity, it can sometimes be difficult to convince yourself that you need to get out of the house and network. But, you do. (And, online networking doesn’t count in this case.)

Benefits to in-person networking:

• Learn from people you might otherwise not have met. In general, introverts enjoy learning. There’s a whole world of people to learn from out there and networking is a great way to meet them.
• Make connections with people who can help you. You could meet people who can help you find your next role, hook you up with a producer for the screenplay you’ve written, get you an interview with a great agent. You never know who you’ll meet when you’re at an event.
• Make connections with people you can help. Everybody loves to help other people – including introverts. You have a talent and probably a connection that can help someone else, and when you do, you’ll feel great about it. In this business you have to help others and here at BREAKALEGG we strongly support actors who do.

Where to start

If you’ve been avoiding networking – or attending any kind of social event, premiers… – because you don’t see the value or haven’t felt comfortable with it, follow these suggestions:

Use the buddy system
If you’re going to a networking event and you won’t know a lot of people, ask a friend to join you. It’s even better if your friend is an extrovert and can introduce you to a lot of people or is already in show-business. (We’ll talk about what to say once you meet these new people in Part 2.)

Downsides to the buddy system:

• You could neglect to network with anyone except for your friend.
• Your friend could totally ditch you and leave unprepared to go out on your own.

Pick a sit down
Sit down dinners and lunches make it a lot easier to network. All you have to do is find an open seat and introduce yourself to the people on either side of you.

Downsides to sit downs:

• You could pick a table where everyone else knows each other and totally leaves you out of the conversation no matter how hard you try.
• If you don’t know your dinner etiquette, you might turn people off. (Hint: Follow others, you’ll be fine.

Other networking tips

Give people something to talk about
Wear something memorable. Try a great necklace or brooch. You don’t have to go overboard, but people will talk to you if you stand out a little bit.

Get a drink
I’m not necessarily advocating for alcohol, but a drink in hand helps you seem more a part of the party. And, you might be able to strike up a conversation with the person behind you at the bar. Maybe its a Shirley Temple but the effect is the same.

Find someone alone
Walking into a crowded party where everyone else is talking can be a bit overwhelming. After you get your drink, scour the place for another lonely soul. There’s bound to be one somewhere.

Hang out by the food line
Food is a great conversation starter. “Oh don’t these stuffed mushrooms look wonderful!” Get a couple of appetizers and walk around. If you don’t find anyone to strike up a conversation with, get some more appetizers and try again.

Don’t dominate one person
Introverts enjoy deep conversations, not small talk. Pay close attention to the person you’re talking with to make sure they’re as engaged as you. You don’t want them to have to use drastic measures (e.g. faking an illness) to get out of the conversation with you.

Take breaks
It can be emotionally draining to be around all of these people for so long. Don’t let it get to you. Check your cell phone. Step outside. Visit the restroom. Take a break from the commotion so you could keep going.

Now you know why you should network and how to get started. In Part 2, we’ll answer the question: What do I say once I meet someone?

Article by Angela

“Hollywood will help you…but only once you are making a million dollars and Hollywood can take 10%.”

1. BE PREPARED.

The time to learn the basics of acting is not on the way to your first audition or job. Assuming that you have taken an acting class that covers improvisation/scene study/cold-reading, have a great headshot, and a resume that lists your acting achievements/special skills/classes taken/union affiliations, then I would say that you are on your way to being 75% prepared for an audition. I am surprised at how many actors go into an audition without knowing what exactly they are walking into. There are alot of things that an actor can do before an audition to prep themselves…do an internet search on the project- it can be eye opening to type in the director’s name and see what types of things come up. Also- for me I have learned that before an audition I need to distance myself from the other people in the room. Mainly because I am really talkative and it seems to break my focus if I am chatting about nothing before I enter the audition.

2. STAY IN-TOUCH/REACHABLE

Join theater groups, hang out where other THESPIANS are hanging, so you can stay on top of gossip and network. Finding out who is who in the local industry will help you play the game. Build a web site that people can log onto and get all of your information from. Resume, photos, and contact information are vital. If you aren’t great at building a website then hire someone that is.

3. CREATE LUCK

I came across a thin-as-a-rail actor named Paul Cram that consistently seems to get lucky. It doesn’t make alot of sense considering this guy is almost six feet tall and only weighs about 120pounds. He seems to be the polar opposite of what an ‘actor’ should look like. But upon observing what he was doing to market himself and how he handled himself in social and business settings I noticed that he was setting himself up to get lucky. He wasn’t sitting back in his chair waiting for lady luck to

notice him, he was actively pursuing her. I even noticed that on his car he had written his website “www.paulcramactor.com” I have never seen another actor with that type of enthusiasm.

If you live in a city or state that doesn’t film movies or commercials- move.
Some states have agencies that work with film companies to assist in scouting shooting locations and striping away legalities. Find out who they are and if they have a mailing list or another way of finding out in advance if a film crew will be shooting in your area. Then fing out who the casting director is and send a copy of your headshot/resume. Who knows…the road to acting in movies and commercials is long, but maybe your exit is just a few blocks or a mile away.