Where do Managers and Agents look for new talent?

Wendy Alane Wright is a Hollywood Talent Manager with WAW Entertainment. Her clients have appeared in numerous national commercials, movies, webisodes, short films, and on television networks such as ABC, NBC, Comedy Central, BIO, Lifetime, plus many more. Previous to being a Manager and a Talent Agent at Burn Down Entertainment, she assisted many high profile Managers, Agents and Publicists in the careers of Neil Patrick Harris, Johnny Galecki, Sarah Michelle Geller, The Four Tops, The Bee Gees, Meatloaf, Whoopi Goldberg, Steve Guttenberg, The Cranberries Michael Jackson, Barbra Streisand, Kenny Rogers, and Neil Diamond. Wendy is also a Recording Artist, Actress, Author and Music Producer all  giving her a 360-degree perspective of the industry.

"Wendy I have a question. Do you have any advice on the iPOP showcases that seem soooo "too good to be true"? I can't imagine any reputable agent in the Los Angeles area is starved for talent and that they would rely on attending these showcases to replenish their stock.  But maybe I am wrong? - Bruce Klimoski

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Well Bruce that's a great question. Here is my answer; yes Agents and managers look everywhere for new talent. IPOP and IMTA showcases, acting classes, plays, open calls and workshops. We really do look everywhere for new talent. I know this because I attend tons and tons of events every year and I see top agents and managers at them all the time.

The problem with some of these events that bring in talent from outside of the LA market is that these people don't live in LA, and most of them are not planning on living in LA. They come to LA for a week, or a weekend and show us their headshots, resumes and talent. Of course we get excited about it the good ones and want to sign them and start getting them auditions but the auditions are here in LA. To get that ball rolling we ask 'are you planning on moving here to Los Angeles?' Or " Can you come out here for a 3-4 months block of time?" And the particpants often reply, 'I hadn't thought about it' or "well if you have something I'll move there." But that's not how it works. That just tells us these people in attendance weren't told how it really works.

If you live in Arkansas and we love you and put you on our roster and then we say okay you have an audition next Wednesday, and then you have another one the following Thursday, and then another one next month, how you going to get to them? Are you planning on coming back to LA three times a month? Are you planning to fly in and out every time we have an audition? Seriously, how do you think it works?

The facts are if you don't live in LA, or if you aren't here for a 3-4 month block of time, and we get an addition for you tomorrow in Hollywood the actors who live here are going to be at the audition.  Actors need to live here in order to take advantage of the opportunities that we create here for you. It really doesn't work if you don't live here, or aren't here for at least a 3-4 month block of time. It takes times for casting to get to know you. It may take years of coming out here for 3-4 months before you actually audition for a part that is really right for you and you book it. Success in this business does not happen over night. As much as you wish it would. It's expensive and very, very, VERY competitive. 

Every year hopefuls pay thousands of dollars to come to LA to attend showcases but no one at the showcase companies tell the people that almost every single Agent and Manager in the room is going to ask them to either move here to Los Angeles, or come here for 3 to 4 months at a time. So these participants are always very surprised at the end of their showcase and the participants go from agent to agent, to manager to manager at the call backs, all hearing the same exact thing: Are you planning on moving to Los Angeles or do you plan to be here for 3 to 4 months at a time?

Unfortunately the showcase companies don't tell everyone that unless they live here in LA they can't really get very far. If they told the participants that upfront, these participants would never pay the $5,000 -$14,000 to attend these weeklong showcase events and seminars. I've been to these event and if you have disposable income and these amounts are no hardship for you they are fun. But you will by no mean be guarateed that you walk away with anything more than a few new friend, a couple of seminars, a banquet or two and an exciting week in a beautiful hotel. Most kids don't get representation because most kids aren't trained enough before they attend and must do t move here or come here for 3-4 months block of time every year.

BUT IMTA and IPOP are 100000% legit and certainly not scams. They are very well organized events that give exceptional exposure to talent. They legitimately put talent in the room with MAJOR agents, managers and casting directors. I LOVE that. They people who do decide to move to LA or come here for an extended period of time can do VERY well and even go on to become stars. IMTA and iPOP certainly do their part. But they either accidentally or conveniently left out the fact that we are going to want them to live here in order to work with them.

What I hate is that is is such a waste of time because the people we see don't relocate or get to La for block of time so there isn't much we can do for them. I think we all prefer to find talent that already lives here or is going to make the effort and the expense to come here. If people were told that in advance we would get to see talent that is really prepared to work with us, but then these big companies wouldn't be making all that money off the dream.

Because this question comes up so often I spoke with Casting in the office of a huge hit Disney Show to find out what they think about self-taping.

WENDY:  IS IT A PIPE DREAM FOR PARENTS TO THINK THEY CAN LIVE OUTSIDE OF LOS ANGELES, PUT THEIR KIDS ON TAPE AND BOOK WORK? 

CASTING: It's 90% a pipe dream...however, the reason it's worth it (if the kid has real talent), is that we hope eventually they will make a trip to LA and we can meet them in person. 

WENDY: DO YOU OFTEN GIVE THE JOB TO KIDS OUT OF STATE WHO GO ON TAPE OR IT IS VERY RARE AN OUT OF STATE KID GETS THE JOB?

CASTING:  I've booked 2 people from out of town on work just from their tape, one was an adult on a Lifetime movie and the other is an actress from Florida who is huge now and her talent was so obvious from the very first self tape we got. 

WENDY: DO YOU STILL DO GENERALS?

CASTING: Only if we have a good reason. If I've seen a mediocre kid for a year on tape I'm going to have zero interest in meeting them in person. An actor from a hit TV series we cast on DISNEY had another person who would always tape and you always just loved him, but never wanted the headache of giving him the part since he's from Canada. Also it’s a huge workload for a guest star, but then when the pilot for t his hit show came around it was definitely time to meet him in person. You won't be able to get a general for just anyone, they definitely have to have a star quality or be very special.

WENDY: EVEN THOUGH THE ODDS ARE LOW, DO YOU ENCOURAGE SELF-TAPING?

CASTING: I always encourage self-tapes because I'm dying to find that one where you just can't take your eyes off of them, but it's hard! Even a great self-tape can't beat out a great actor in the room.

WENDY: DO PARENTS NEED TO REALIZE THEIR CHILD WILL WORK MORE IF THEY ARE IN LA?

CASTING: Parents definitely should be aware of the reality of it. They need to come to LA even for a few weeks. It's all about getting to know the talent (especially for kids). They kids might be great for years and not book because there just isn't that one part, them bam, there's 
the part and they book!

To summarize, I say try to get the work anyway you can. If you don't live in LA build your career right where you are. To learn how to do that you need to read these 2 books:

"How To Be A Star Right Where You Are" and "How To Be A Singing Star Right Where You Are." In these books I inform you of exactly what you and your child can do in the state you live in.
 
To get my books visit : http://www.secretsofahollywoodtalentmanager.com
See You On The Red Carpet,

Wendy Alane Wright
The Hollywood Talent Manager

For more helpful Tips watch over 300 +videos on my You Tube Channel SECRETS OF A HOLLYWOOD TALENT MANAGER

How Do I Become A Famous Actor?

Actors don't realize that they way to become a success in the acting business is to keep working, building your resume and connections. It takes years of never quitting to get established. And after you are established, it takes years of never quitting to STAY established. Denzel Washington isn't the success he is by doing one film. There is a very definite way to success in this business. If its going to happen it will likely happen like this:


You do a play, then another play, then another play, then a role in a webseries, then a small role in a student film, then a bigger role in student film, then maybe the lead in a student film, and another play. You do another webseries, then a small role in a short film, then 3 small roles in short films, then a role in a webseries, then a small TV co-star role, then a webseries, then a few small roles in student films, then maybe the lead in a student film, another play, another webseries, then a small role in a short film. Then you book another small TV role, then a lead in short film, a small role in a feature film, a small TV co-star role, a recurring role in a TV pilot, another play, a guest star on a TV show, roles in 3 more short films, a bigger role in a feature film, a play, a series regular for 1 year in a TV show which gets cancelled, a play, 2 more short films, roles in a couple of feature films, you book another small TV role, then a lead in short film, a small role in a feature film, a small TV co-star role, a recurring role in a TV pilot....GET IT?

You are creating a life. The life of an actor. The destination is the work. The journey is the work. Trying to make a living at it is the goal. If you get more than that you are simply... lucky.

Most successful actors aren't thinking about becoming famous. They are thinking about getting paid enough money to pay the bills so they can do what they love doing. Fame is not the goal. Working as an actor is.

Wendy Alane Wright
The Hollywood Talent Manager
http://www.secretsofahollywoodtalentmanager.com

52-Week Online Career Mentorship "The Winners Circle"

Step-by-Step 52-Week Online Career Guidance from a Hollywood Talent Manager

Beloved Actors, I am so excited! I have found a way to help make you a success :)


The problem you have, and all beginning actors have is - when you are new, most managers won't take you on because you probably won't make them any money for the first few years. So managers typically look for actors who are already working. But you still need a manager, or someone who can tell you what do you do?

At the beginning of your career, only a handful of lucky actors get a manager. But you still need someone who can help you and guide you...to make sure you get great headshots that pop to casting directors, to help you figure out your type so your headshots will show your type,  to help you figure out which casting directors you should be meeting and where to meet them. You need a manager to teach you how to build you resume up so it will impress casting directors. You need a manager to help you understand how to use online marketing, postcards, actor one-sheets and followup emails with industry people. You need a manager to make sure you write great, professional cover letters, to help you decide when to join SAG-AFTRA, when to stop doing student films, what acting jobs should you be trying to put on your resume, how to get a commercial agent, how to create a demo reel, a sizzle reel and create profiles online that are great and resumes that POP! But you can't get a manager yet, because you aren't going to make them any money. But you still need one.

That is why I created an Online Program to meet every beginning actor's needs. It's called TALENT MANAGER IN YOUR POCKET - A STEP-BY STEP 52 WEEK COURSE. When you sign up for my program I personally guide you for 1 year online making sure you do all the right things to begin your journey as a working actor. It doesn't matter what part of the country you are in, I can help you do everything we just talked about. It is the solution to your catch 22. But this program isn't for everyone. It is only for real actors.

I am a Talent Manager with 25 years experience in the Entertainment Business. Prior to being a Talent Manager, I was a Talent Agent. I have worked in Casting, Production, Network Television and at top Talent Agencies and Public Relation firms. I was also a professional singer and actor so believe me, I know this business inside and out. I know what it takes to work in it. This program is only for serious actors. If this is a hobby forget about it, I can't help you.

As a manager, I usually represent about 25 actors at a time, who are working in film, tv, webisodes, print, indies, shorts, theater, commercials etc. I get my actors agents, they book jobs and they work. But I can't represent every actor that submits to me. This year alone I have received over 2,000 submissions. I can only handle 25 actors at a time. (and even that gets rough) That's why I created an online program to guide every actor who wants professional help advancing their careers.

My online program THE WINNERS CIRCLE - THE WAW ELITE ACTORS CLUB is a  STEP-BY STEP 52 WEEK COURSE that fills the gap- it gives you the direction of a Talent Manager so you aren't guessing what you should be doing, or wasting money and time. Trust me, you need guidance on so many things... you don't know 1/2 of what you are doing. I get so many submission from actors who don't know what they are doing. Every day I look at lousy cover letters, resumes wrongly formatted, headshots that don't work, and demo reels that look so amateuristic. No wonder those actors aren't getting ahead. I hate for you to be in that category sitting with Casting Directors missing out all your amazing talent. But now with my online program, I am so excited, (I really am) I can help every actor who wants professional guidance. Waahooo! And that includes YOU!

WATCH  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAaeMOprpPAhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAaeMOprpPA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAaeMOprpPA#sthash.mp93t6LL.dpuf

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAaeMOprpPA#sthash.mp93t6LL.dpuf

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAaeMOprpPA#sthash.mp93t6LL.dpuf

To sign up now, go to my website WAW Entertainment and join. Choose whether you want to be billed $100 monthly, or $300 every 3 months. By the end of the year you will be miles ahead of where you would have been without it. - See more at: http://secretsofahollywoodtalentmanager.com/talent-manager-in-your-pocket-step-by-step-instructions-for-every-actors-first-year/#sthash.mp93t6LL.dpuf

To sign up now, go to my website WAW Entertainment and join. Choose whether you want to be billed $100 monthly, or $300 every 3 months. By the end of the year you will be miles ahead of where you would have been without it. - See more at: http://secretsofahollywoodtalentmanager.com/talent-manager-in-your-pocket-step-by-step-instructions-for-every-actors-first-year/#sthash.mp93t6LL.dpuf

To sign up now, go to my website WAW Entertainment and join. Choose whether you want to be billed $100 monthly, or $300 every 3 months. By the end of the year you will be miles ahead of where you would have been without it. - See more at: http://secretsofahollywoodtalentmanager.com/talent-manager-in-your-pocket-step-by-step-instructions-for-every-actors-first-year/#sthash.mp93t6LL.dpuf

To sign up now, go to my website WAW Entertainment and join. Choose whether you want to be billed $100 monthly, or $300 every 3 months. By the end of the year you will be miles ahead of where you would have been with out it.

After you have joined THE WINNERS CIRCLE - THE WAW ELITE ACTORS CLUB 
email me at wawentertianment@yahoo.com to set up our first Skype Call. I look forward to speaking to your personally and getting to know you. We can talk about where you are right now in your career -what classes you have already taken, if any, and you can show me your current headshots and resume so I can review them and make changes to your resume to format it correctly. In our Skype conversation, we will also talk about your type, and your online profiles. I will give you immediate advice you can implement right away to get you onto the right path.

I will be giving you all the SAME advice and guidance I give to all my signed actors. GO AHEAD AND SIGN UP TODAY!

The cost is for this 1 year program is only $100 per month!  (That's less that $25 a week for professional guidance.) Compare that to just 1 acting class which costs $295 a month. So obviously, I am making it affordable for every actor who wants the guidance of a talent manager, but they are just to early in their career to attract one. You need a professional guiding you, so here is your opportunity. Just follow my simple monthly instructions for 1 year and step-by-step together we will advance your career.

SO... congratulations on deciding to join the club and work with me.  You will also be receiving a FREE copy of my e-book "Secrets Of A Hollywood Talent Manager" which we will use as a guide through the year, along with tons of helpful tools, audition secrets, workshops you should take, event invitations, and insider tips throughout the year to add to your success!

Having a talent is a gift. Sharing it with the world is privilege. Having someone help you do it is good fortune. I look forward to working with you... if you are serious about doing the work :) 
This is going to be fun.

See you on the Red Carpet,

 

Wendy Alane Wright
Talent Manager
WAW Entertainment
www.secretsofahollywoodtalentmanager.com

Top 3 Ways to Get A Talent Agent

Do you want to get a Theatrical Agent's attention? Here's one of my favorite secrets; Start getting CALLBACKS!

#1 GET CALLBACKS
What is a Call Back? A Call Back is what you get when you do a great job in your audition. Actors get call backs to come back in and read a 2nd or 3rd time for producers, directors, studios and networks. Getting a Callback is VERY IMPORTANT and means you did something right in the first audition that the Casting Directors liked, and they think the big wigs will like it too. So, Actors go back in and do the exact same thing they did in the 1st audition to give other people a chance to see what the Casting Director saw.

Actors who get callbacks are closer to actually getting the job than the actors who did not get a call back. Usually a Casting Director will see 20-100 people for each role in the pre-read  (audition) and only a handful of actors will be called back. You want to be one of those. When you are getting a lot of callback you are seriously in the running for a job and are more likely to make an agent money than the actors who are not getting call backs.

When Agents sign actors, they see within a year which actors are getting callbacks. The actors who are not getting call backs are typically dropped  by their agents at the end of 1 year. So if you are getting a lot of call backs they would much rather have you on their roster than the actors who are  not getting callbacks. Make sense? If you are getting callbacks and their own clients are not...you will become very interesting to agents.

So lets get started....

#2 SUBMIT YOURSELF LIKE CRAZY AND BUILD YOUR RESUME
Start building your resume with THEATER. Here is a resume of a 16 year old in Kentucky. She is serious about becoming an actor and her resume PROVES it. Look at the training she has had and the theater she has done. How does yours compare?  Click on this link to see Alicen's resume. This is what you need to start building your resume into.

ALICEN ABLER - Resume | Actors Access

Then, submit yourself like crazy for projects on Actors Access, La Casting and Backstage - get out there auditioning for Low Budget Films, Webisodes, and Shorts. You will book some along the way. Remember to always add these important credits to your resume to continue to build your credibility as an actor.

(SIDE NOTE: You really should be subscribing to Backstage.com if you aren't already. It is full of audition notices and chock full of acting business articles that will greatly expand your understand of this business. If you are not constantly reading how this business works you will have a difficult time navigating it. Remember, you are a business owner. You are the CEO of your company. And YOU are the product. Nobody runs a business on a wing and a prayer. Do your research.)

To continue...so your out auditioning like crazy and booking some jobs. Then what? Keep track of your callbacks. Every single time you get a callback send a postcard to your target agents letting them know you got a callback for...and write name the specific project and the casting director. Do not be vague. Don't say "I am getting a lot of callbacks" Instead, be very specific and say:

Hi Mark, I just a callback for "The Prodigy" with casting Director Fern Champion. Would love to meet with you! 


# 3 CONTACT AGENTS 
When YOU are getting callbacks NOW you have something wonderful to offer! It will distinguish you from the pack of wannabe actors who have a dream but no proof of concept. When you are getting callbacks for most of you theatrical auditions that's the time to get an agent. Create a list of 5 - 10 Agents you want to meet. You can create this list by getting the book "THE RIGHT AGENT" from Samuel French Bookstore either online or in Hollywood. The book lists Talent Agencies, agent's names, address and often email. Below each Agency is a description of the types of clients they represent; kids, teens or adults, union or non union. Often they also list what they are specifically looking for right now; 18 to play younger, ethnic looking, character types or leading man, etc.

Read through the entire book, highlight the agencies that may be right for your type! Make a list of 5-10 Agents that are accepting submissions from your type and send them your Headshot, Resume and demo reel to introduce yourself. Put links to your website and/or IMDB page. Be sure to tell them what acting jobs you have booked, call backs you have gotten recently and where you are training. Then follow up with that same agent every 3 months and continue to tell them what acting jobs you have booked and the call backs you have gotten recently. It often takes several contacts with an agent before they will be willing to see you. You have to prove to them that you are booking and getting callbacks and can MAKE THEM MONEY. This is a business and they are not a charity. They want actors who can make them money, period.

SHOWCASE I always suggest if your target agents are attending showcases... go perform in front of them. Nothing makes an impact like a live acting performance. They need to see you do great work. Make sure you choose a light, or funny scene to present. Nothing heavy or dark. A good laugh goes along way. Get coached on your scene before you put it up. Showcase for these agents so they can see your acting live then follow up with a phone call or email asking of you can set up a meeting with them, If you don't ask you won't get anywhere. You won't always get a yes but you will only get a yes if you ask.

If you are in Los Angeles you can coach with these working actors:

Gloria Garayua             Gloria Garayua@gmail.com
Kimberly Crandall        Kimberely_Crandall@hotmail.com

Josh Latzer                    Joshlatzer@yahoo.com
Rodney Rowland          Rodrlan@aol.com

If you are outside of Los Angeles:
Gloria Garayua does coaching by SKYPE so do I. So you can work with us from anywhere, just email visit out websites for rates and times. secretsofahllywoodtalentmanager.com and  gloriagarayua.com

FOR MORE HELP GETTING AN AGENT WATCH MY VIDEO:
  "WHAT AGENTS REALLY WANT"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NCpXqScvIY&list=UUN3nGR_nF4g1Qo5lJl4NxAg

Good luck. And remember, follow your dreams and don't let ANYONE discourage you or get in your way. Have faith in yourself and keep on going. You can do it!

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How Bad Do You Want A Career in Show Business?

Actors, it is so important to see yourself realistically. Recently, I had an actor come to me for representation. He turned out to be a nightmare. He didn't have a reel yet, although he had some footage. He knew 1 casting director in soaps and he directed 2 shorts, one was a music video. So not much going on yet, but I loved his passion. I also liked him personally, his interest in India and helping starving children we shared that cause. I wanted to see him be successful and share his talent at a much greater level. So I took him on. He lasted 4 weeks on my roster. As soon as I started giving him direction, he started bucking my suggestions. His ego came out and the know-it-all attitude was strong. He saw himself as much further along than he was. And sadly, he could not see himself realistically.

I saw him as a beginning actor with no TV credits, no casting director relationships, no reel, average headshots (all things I can change) and 2 shorts under his belt. Shorts no one has ever heard of. Granted, I love that people create shorts and are making an effort to express their creativity in independent projects. I really like that way of working in Hollywood. Not waiting for the opportunities to come to you, but rather forge your own. But, the problem with this actor was, this small bit of work he did made him believe he was Steven Spielberg. (Mr. Speielberg wouldn't act like this fool did ha!)

So this actor got angry when I gave him suggestions, said he didn't need to learn about the business, that he was "a player, a doer and an og." (I don't know what that means.) He was above taking direction, above learning about the business and went on my facebook page criticizing the business end of this business and demanded I get him agent right now. When I told him he wasn't ready for me to take him to any agent, that he wasn't seeing himself realistically - he began swearing at me, and calling me filthy names, even the "C" word. Of course I terminated him from my roster immediately.

Actors it is important that you see yourself accurately in this business. You are a unique and individual commodity. Your job is to learn your brand and figure out how to sell it, better than anyone else. If you haven't put hundreds of hours into your marketing, forget it. You won't be able to compete. You also need to stay humble and work hard because there are thousands upon thousands of other actors trying to get work in this town. There are over 165,000 members of SAG-AFTRA, 49,000 members of Actors Equity, and a few hundred thousand non-union actors all trying to work their way up. You have to be humble. Nothing is owed you. You have to prove to talent buyers that you can do what you say you can do. No one is going to take you at your word.

Making a living in this business is a gift. It comes to a handful of very lucky, well trained and hardworking people. Bulldozing over people with a big ego, demands, entitlement issues and not much to show for it isn't going to get you anywhere. Actors need to be in acting class training all the time. It's one of the biggest mistake new actors make all the time. They are not in class. Agents don't take actors who are not in class seriously. You need to have incredible audition skills in order to beat out the thousands of people you are always competing with. You cannot walk into an audition room and think just based on who you are that you can compete at a professional level with people who have trained and studied and know what they are doing in an audition room. I can't stress this enough. New actors whine about not having an agent, or their agent isn't getting them out enough...they just want to get into the room and audition. But without impeccable audition skills you are not going to get the callback, and you are not going to get the role. And if you are not ready, you won't be called in again by that Casting Director, maybe for years. You need to understand this business and your place in it realistically. If you don't have an agent who cares? Use this time to become a better actor, do theater, get your audition skills to their highest level. Because even if you get an agent, it's so temporary. If you don't have great audition skills and you don't book, they are going to drop you, CD's wont call you in and agents will stop sending you out.

If you are serious about making a living as an actor. Get into an exceptional acting class with a great teacher. Take more cold reading and audition classes that you think you possibly can. Figure out your type and learn how to market it. Your headshots, your demo reel should show your type and how you want to be cast. If they don't it will be ineffective. If your strong suit is to play a "take no shit, cut throat criminal" your demo reel should not be student films, shorts and features of you playing a teacher, or a basketball player with a bad knee. You need footage of you being a cut throat bad ass. And the footage needs to be great.

If you are play a woman raped, or a drug addict and gravitate to really meaty roles that require depth of emotional, your demo reel can not be scenes of you playing the girl next door, or the happy friend who lost her dog. Your demo reel needs to have footage that shows you can get gritty, dirty, emotional. Your media is not supposed to be a compilation of every practice role you have taken on while getting experience and credits. There is a process to building a career. You do the student films and shorts to get experience and use that to convince indie directors you have enough experience to take on more. Then you do some stronger roles that reflect your type and keep taking on more of those types of roles. You graduate in a sense from just doing anything you can get, to doing roles that show what you do best. Then you take THAT footage and begin a reel. Until you have that footage to show an agent, you are just another wannabe actor who says they can play anything, blah, blah, blah.

Your media has to be clear and concise because in this day of technology, companies that create great demo footage, actors who produce their own high quality projects, one click and I can see someone else's great reel - other actors are presenting strong media to talent buyers that simply blow you out of the water. You walk in with your student film footage of you chasing a dog and you will not be taken seriously. This nightmare actor I mentioned above said his strong type was "tough guys" but none of his footage had him playing a tough guy. He also said he payed the sensitive boyfriend yet, he had no footage of him playing a boyfriend at all. But he wants me to get him a good agent today. Yikes. With what? The wrong media, nothing to show for and an egotistical, rude and lousy attitude? Oh vey.

It's a good thing I have a roster filled with humble, loving, hardworking and talented people who make me remember why I love this business so much. I always look forward to achieving great things with them.

Actors this is not a business you just "wing it" in. You really have to understand how it all works if you want to be a Series Regular, or if you want to be a Movie Star, even if you want to be employed and earn your living as an actor and not need a day job to pay the bills. I hear actors complain all the time, I don't have enough money for headshots, so they shoot with their friends at school for free. Crap. One of my amazingly talented and incredible clients Ron, lived in his car for a year so he could afford to attend the New York Film Academy and get outstanding shots. I love him. He has shot 19 films in the last 2 years and played the lead in half of them. He reminds me of James Dean who said he would rather act than eat, and he went without eating often. I even fed Ron when he came to my office last week. Some actors today are just lazy. They think things are going to be handed to them. They think mediocre headshots are better than nothing or I went to college for acting, why do I need more classes? Wake up! This business is going to go on with, or without you. And most likely without you unless you learn how to play the game. If you don't you are never going to be noticed.

Get into a type class and find out how others really see you. Take many hours of actors marketing classes to learn how to present yourself professionally and correct to type. Your media has to be great in this day and age. Get outstanding headshots. Create a powerful, strong demo reel. Follow a target list of casting directors and make sure they get to know you and what you can do. Do scenes in agent showcases and casting workshops that reflect your type and the type of role you want to be cast in. Understand you are a beginner and always learning. Lose the ego. Get grateful for every bit of help you get along the way. Work harder than every other actor you know. Don't burn bridges. Realize you have a long way to go...so make the journey fun and help others along the way. And if you get real lucky, you just may make a living at this incredible profession that you are lucky enough to have been born with the talent to do.

As always follow your dreams. God gave you talent so you could use and share it with the world. Don't get in your own way.

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Wendy Alane Smith
Talent Manager
WAW Entertainment
wawentertainment@yahoo.com