Well, I have not posted much lately because I have not had a VO audish recently. That's ok, I assume I am still with my agency because I did get an email from them to all their actors saying not to go in for an audition if you are sick.
All this down time has given me the opportunity to reset- I just got new headshots with the fabulous Brian McConkey. When I get the prints, I will be sending out a mailing with my new headshots. Now I should probably start to prepare a monologue in case someone calls me!
AND...it's almost Dec 31st- so if you made over $600 and are into getting tax deductions, start gathering receipts and/or buy stuff and services you can deduct. I'm not a CPA but my dad plays one in real life.
Showing posts with label agents. Show all posts
Showing posts with label agents. Show all posts
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Friday, February 20, 2009
No, Thank You
As a result of my mailing last Monday, I got a call two days later from an agency to come in for an audish. Awesome! Then they asked me to come in this week with a 2 minute monologue. Ohhhh right, you mean the 2 minute monologue that I should have prepared and ready to go at any time? Opps. I guess I got lucky with the VO agent- they just had me read copy. I must report the truth to my readers. Sometimes (all the time) I need a deadline to get my act together. So, now that I have learned my lesson I am passing it on to you. Get those monologues ready!
I set up a directing session with one of my talented friends, and that gave me an early deadline to meet. With her help, on Sunday we chose a piece and outlined the beats. I crammed for the next 48 hours and went into the agency on Tuesday during the one hour a week that they see new talent. To the best of my recollection, this is what occurred while I was in their office:
I managed to get there a few minutes early and while waiting I overheard the guy who was audishing before me. They were talking about his career and how he had been away from acting for awhile. When they came out of the room, the agent gave him more materials and a copy of their contract.
During this time I was sitting on a chair about 2 feet from them trying not to look like I was watching them. When he left, she turned to me and said "Come on in." After a pause, I introduced myself because she didn't introduce herself.
She asked for a headshot and I said yes, I brought 5 as instructed on the phone. She said she only needed one to start and if we move forward they need more (I could already feel the foreshadowing). We chatted for a few minutes and she asked if I was with any other agencies and I told her about my VO agency.
Then she asked for my monologue. Without butchering any lines, I did one of my better renditions… but she didn't laugh at all. When I was finished, she asked if I sang and had 16 bars prepared. I said no. And she said “OK, thank you.”
And then we stared at each other for a moment.
And then I realized that was it, so I got up and left.
I was pretty sure that she was not interested. The next day I got my SASE back with a form letter that said my category was full, but to resubmit in 6 months.
Overall, it was a tough but good audish experience. I felt that I represented myself the best that I could on that day. I wasn’t paralyzed by nerves and am now going to work more on my monologues. Also, I wore makeup to work so in the end- everybody wins.
I set up a directing session with one of my talented friends, and that gave me an early deadline to meet. With her help, on Sunday we chose a piece and outlined the beats. I crammed for the next 48 hours and went into the agency on Tuesday during the one hour a week that they see new talent. To the best of my recollection, this is what occurred while I was in their office:
I managed to get there a few minutes early and while waiting I overheard the guy who was audishing before me. They were talking about his career and how he had been away from acting for awhile. When they came out of the room, the agent gave him more materials and a copy of their contract.
During this time I was sitting on a chair about 2 feet from them trying not to look like I was watching them. When he left, she turned to me and said "Come on in." After a pause, I introduced myself because she didn't introduce herself.
She asked for a headshot and I said yes, I brought 5 as instructed on the phone. She said she only needed one to start and if we move forward they need more (I could already feel the foreshadowing). We chatted for a few minutes and she asked if I was with any other agencies and I told her about my VO agency.
Then she asked for my monologue. Without butchering any lines, I did one of my better renditions… but she didn't laugh at all. When I was finished, she asked if I sang and had 16 bars prepared. I said no. And she said “OK, thank you.”
And then we stared at each other for a moment.
And then I realized that was it, so I got up and left.
I was pretty sure that she was not interested. The next day I got my SASE back with a form letter that said my category was full, but to resubmit in 6 months.
Overall, it was a tough but good audish experience. I felt that I represented myself the best that I could on that day. I wasn’t paralyzed by nerves and am now going to work more on my monologues. Also, I wore makeup to work so in the end- everybody wins.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Agency Mailing
The post office just announced another increase in postage. Yet another reason to get your buns moving and do an agency mailing!
There are currently a few commercials in rotation that cause me to say "OMG! I know that guy!" I would love for this to happen all the time so I am offering a special quid pro quo deal to Audish readers- I will email you my updated list of AFTRA franchised agencies in exchange for a guest post. This list is in Excel! This list is totes ready for Mail Merge! This list tells you which 3 agencies have online submission!
Wait a freckled frog second, that sounds too nice. What do I have to give you? The complete bare minerals eyeshadow collection?
Dear Reader, all I ask in return is a guest post or story of some kind related to audishes.
Take the needle off the record, that sounds too complicated. Why don't I just go compile the list myself?
On Monday I sent out an agency mailing so my list is totes up to date. I suppose it is up to you to decide which is easier: writing up a fun story or spending hours checking all the addresses and submission guidelines posted on each agency's website.
Leave a comment with your email and I will email you back. I moderate the comments, so don't worry about your email- I won't post it publicly.
There are currently a few commercials in rotation that cause me to say "OMG! I know that guy!" I would love for this to happen all the time so I am offering a special quid pro quo deal to Audish readers- I will email you my updated list of AFTRA franchised agencies in exchange for a guest post. This list is in Excel! This list is totes ready for Mail Merge! This list tells you which 3 agencies have online submission!
Wait a freckled frog second, that sounds too nice. What do I have to give you? The complete bare minerals eyeshadow collection?
Dear Reader, all I ask in return is a guest post or story of some kind related to audishes.
Take the needle off the record, that sounds too complicated. Why don't I just go compile the list myself?
On Monday I sent out an agency mailing so my list is totes up to date. I suppose it is up to you to decide which is easier: writing up a fun story or spending hours checking all the addresses and submission guidelines posted on each agency's website.
Leave a comment with your email and I will email you back. I moderate the comments, so don't worry about your email- I won't post it publicly.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
2009
In my other life as a marketing coordinator, we created a plan for 2009 using a year long calendar. The marketing department made a list of everything we are supposed to do and planned out a schedule. As proposal and other day-to-day requests come in, we get pretty busy. So this keeps us on track and reminds us of the big picture things we are supposed to do.
I have always had lots of 'plans' and 'ideas,' but I've never sat down and put it on a calendar like that. As you can tell, I think this is a great idea and I am going to do this for myself. Why? Well, if we're all trying be professional entertainers (actors, improvers, writers, comedians, whatevs) then you are your own show business. So why not run it like a business?
As you can see from the pic, you can download a calendar from the webs. If you have Word, check out the templates and do a search for calendars. You can type right into the boxes and print out a supercute 2009!
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Deadlines
Two reasons for my lack one posts: one is that I haven't had many auditions and the second is that I am doing NaNoWriMo, a challenge to write 50,000 words of a novel in the month of November. I don't want to jinx myself but I just passed 25,000. Yes, that's about five days behind, but I skipped a few days at the beginning of the month and have managed to get in about 2,500 words a day over the last week. If I can keep this up, I think I'm going to make it to 50k.
I know I always work better when faced with a deadline. Case in point and my segway into the audish portion of this post: I've heard that you should do agency mailings every 4-6 months, but I haven't kept that up this year. It's hard to sit down and essentially be your own assistant for a few hours but once you do it once it's easier to go back and update. Last year I mailed out packets on December 31st and I walked to two post offices during my lunch break because the first one had already closed and I was determined to have the postmark match the date in the letter. Hilarious... and crazy.
This year I'll try for a little earlier in the month.
I know I always work better when faced with a deadline. Case in point and my segway into the audish portion of this post: I've heard that you should do agency mailings every 4-6 months, but I haven't kept that up this year. It's hard to sit down and essentially be your own assistant for a few hours but once you do it once it's easier to go back and update. Last year I mailed out packets on December 31st and I walked to two post offices during my lunch break because the first one had already closed and I was determined to have the postmark match the date in the letter. Hilarious... and crazy.
This year I'll try for a little earlier in the month.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Saturdish
Quite a Saturday.Audish #1: Agency open call as previously mentioned. It was alot like this picture that I found on google image search... By the time I got into the office it was actually just past the scheduled end time. The interns ushering us around said they were moving as quickly as possible. I think it went well - I got a one line response of 'we will keep this.' They said the same to one of my improv friends that I ran into in line. At least I got to hand in my VO demo CD.
:)
Audish #2: For the Music Program at Second City. There were only 4 people in the group, but everyone really kicked it out of the park. The 
final speech about the program was that multiple factors go into choosing a balanced class- voice range, improv experience, musical theater experience... after hearing this I was a little nervous. I believe I have mentioned here before that one of my secret dreams is to be in a musical- what can I say, dancing and singing at the same time? Sign me up... for the comedy version, because I'm actually writing this on Tuesday, and I found out today that I got offered a spot in the class. 42nd Street, here I come.
final speech about the program was that multiple factors go into choosing a balanced class- voice range, improv experience, musical theater experience... after hearing this I was a little nervous. I believe I have mentioned here before that one of my secret dreams is to be in a musical- what can I say, dancing and singing at the same time? Sign me up... for the comedy version, because I'm actually writing this on Tuesday, and I found out today that I got offered a spot in the class. 42nd Street, here I come.Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Monday, April 21, 2008
Postage Is On Sale
Postage is going up May 12, which is a great deadline to set for doing another round of mailings to agents. I'm sending one out today. I haven't done a mailing in about a year, so it's a bit overdue, but now I can include my AFTRA status and recent bookings. From what I hear, the timeline is one or two times a year, and in between you can send postcards with your career updates (classes, shows, bookings).
So what exactly is a mailing to agents? You only need 2 things:
So what exactly is a mailing to agents? You only need 2 things:
- A cover letter (I am looking for representation, this is my background, here are my shows)
- Headshot w/resume trimmed to 8x10 and stapled to the back. Or your demo if it is a VO mailing.
Who do you send it to?
- Agents- build a list from the list of franchised agents on AFTRA & SAG's websites. Non union agents can be found in the Chicago Creative Directory
- Casting- be sure your letter to casting directors says you are submitting for their files, not looking for representation. Also find these in the Chi Creative Directory.
How do you make cute mailing labels? Use those admin day jobs skills and get this info into an excel sheet. Search 'mail merge' on word help. You can create a letter and then mail merge the greeting, and you can mail merge to get address labels. Avery 5160 are my fav labels.
Then wait for the calls to roll in. And while you ware waiting, think of something you can do that you can announce on a postcard. Fun!
Thursday, March 27, 2008
cover lettuce
I'll be out of town Friday through Monday in Los Angeles. Maybe I will find an extras audition to go to out there. It's going to be hard, but I will do my best to find an actor to interview for more stories.
In the meantime, think about this: cover letters. With so many people asking for audition requests by email and sending out mailings, your cover letter is totes important. We're essentially applying for a job. In a similar sense, your cover letter is a chance to highlight relevant experience, recent projects/bookings, and education. Set yourself apart and include a short note in addition to "I would like to request an audish, my rezy & h/s are attached."
Make them throw viruses to the wind and open your attachments!
In the meantime, think about this: cover letters. With so many people asking for audition requests by email and sending out mailings, your cover letter is totes important. We're essentially applying for a job. In a similar sense, your cover letter is a chance to highlight relevant experience, recent projects/bookings, and education. Set yourself apart and include a short note in addition to "I would like to request an audish, my rezy & h/s are attached."
Make them throw viruses to the wind and open your attachments!
Monday, December 17, 2007
Holidaze
Audishes are slowing down over the holiday season so I will try to post general stories. I just got my demo remixed and my sound engineer who also does VO said that his agent is closing for like two weeks over the holidays.
So, here's part of the story of how it all got started. Sometimes people ask me what happens when you get called in to audition for a VO agent- for the agent, for the first time, not for a spot.
My current agent had me read three different spots. Then they asked a few questions about myself like: why did I have an out of state area code on my cell; what is my VO background; what is my experience with improv; and what was my deal in general. At some point in those 5 minutes they decided to represent me, and I was sent to another person who entered my contact information into their system. I think the whole process lasted about 10 minutes, and then my first audish through them was about 2 weeks later.
So, here's part of the story of how it all got started. Sometimes people ask me what happens when you get called in to audition for a VO agent- for the agent, for the first time, not for a spot.
My current agent had me read three different spots. Then they asked a few questions about myself like: why did I have an out of state area code on my cell; what is my VO background; what is my experience with improv; and what was my deal in general. At some point in those 5 minutes they decided to represent me, and I was sent to another person who entered my contact information into their system. I think the whole process lasted about 10 minutes, and then my first audish through them was about 2 weeks later.
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