Manage your Talent! Bring your career to the next level of success

   

Dear Friends,

On Friday, I was teaching a couple of workshops titled "YOU WANT TO BE A STAR; NOW WHAT?"  at the New England Drama Festival and talked about tips to promote and manage yourself as an actor in New England.  I thought I should share them with you all:

• THE FIRST TIP is PROMOTE YOURSELF ONLINE:

Professional actors know this too well:  even though you are an artist, you must promote yourself as a business. Your business cards are of course, headshots and resumes, but the twentieth century way to marketing and promotion is through the web and social networks.
It's efficient, it's free, it's easy, fun, time consuming, but you can do it in your PJ with a hot cup of tea or coffee.. ;=) and it is the way to go!

So, which networks are good for actors? The answer is MANY. Most of them are free, except as noted.

-Facebook of course (free): but only if you use it PROFESSIONALLY and not to post fun pictures of yourself going wild at parties...it could backfire the day you become well known, or simply if the director of this fantastic show you auditioned for, ends up looking at your Facebook profile and reviews its first impression of you when he sees that picture... check this very interesting article about FACEBOOK BEHAVIOR GOING BAD..

When Facebook Behavior Goes Bad

-Actors groups on Facebook (free);  there are dozens...some announce castings and auditions, or workshops, others offer advice.

    Note: ANPACT: the Association for the New Paradigm in Acting and Creative Techniques which I co-founded, offers workshop announcements about these techniques. http://www.anpact.org/

-Lindedin and its actors groups (free) (Actor's Network, Actors and Casting Directors, ANPACT etc..) www.linkedin.com

-Backstage: http://casting.backstage.com/
THE national source for casting and jobs. You can subscribe for a fee, but it is THE source of info.

-Backstage Maine (free): http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BackStage-Maine/

-Between Gigs (free): postings of auditions and castings in New England: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BetweenGigsCasting/

-NEW ENGLAND ACTORS (free for now) this is a fantastic network where you can post a profile with pictures and resume (needs to be absolutely PROFESSIONAL or it will be deleted) http://neactor.ning.com/

-THEATRE FACE (free): another network with more tech people: http://www.theatreface.com/

-Stage Source Boston,  a membership organization which has a database of actors: http://www.stagesource.org/

There are many, many more...

• Next tip is  GET ORGANIZED!

If you submit  only two or three pictures/resume a day either by regular mail or electronically, to two or three projects, you will soon get overwhelmed if you do not keep track of the responses, call backs, phone conversations with the assistants, names of the secretaries etc...
The old fashion way to keep track is to do a 'submission sheet' for each project, on which you write all the info: title of project, names of directors, assistants, tel, emails, websites, what they said, what the audition was about, etc; and have a submission binder.

However,  if you want keep in sync with your time, you should do it electronically, anywhere, on your Iphone, computer or blackberry...
That's when you invest in PERFORMER TRACK  an amazing tool for professional actors to track their business, and jobs, even their finances for tax credit purposes... It is web based, can be accessed anywhere and it only costs  $9.95 a month. It is one of the best investments you'll make to go to the next level of professionalism.
http://www.performertrack.com/
YOU CAN USE THE PROMOTIONAL CODE:  'FREC9' to get a $20 discount.
Insert it in the Coupon code field discount box at check out.


Next week we'll talk about Preparing for Auditions and Audition behavior.

This is just the first of a series of articles called "Manage your Talent"
I invite you to contact me personally, for more tips, or individualized coaching (in person or by phone).
I am taking on new talents, emerging talents, or professional performers who simply want to move their career up to a next level.

Talent Management Coaching is by the hour ($50 for students/$65 professionals) or by percentage with a Talent Management contract.

FMI: http://www.emmanuellechaulet.com/services.html
info@emmanuellechaulet.com

ALSO I will teach a class on this topic (The Business of Acting) in the spring of 2011 at the University of Southern Maine. Stay tuned...

and as always, I offer individual ENERGIZE sessions to clear your instrument to the next level of creative potential and stage presence:
http://www.starlightacting.org/IndividualSessions/IndividualSessions.html 



Take great care of your beautiful Artist Selves,

Emmanuelle Chaulet

Spring is for Water; Hydrate for Health, by Patti McCabe

Our monthly column from our Certified Holistic Health Counselor and nutritionist, and theatre stage manager extraordinaire:

As a Stage Manager, I always make sure there is plenty of fresh water in the rehearsal room and backstage for performances.  But I’m not surprised to find that I’m more often thinking about refilling the supply at the coffee station!

Most of us are aware of the importance of drinking enough water. Getting our daily dose of water helps our organs perform their functions, keeps our skin clear and hydrated, and allows physical action in our bodies to flow smoothly. Even with this knowledge, it can still be challenging to drink all the water our bodies deserve daily. In the warmer months, when we tend to play hard, sweat and spend prolonged time in the sun, drinking plenty of water is critical. Those who are not drinking enough may experience poor digestion, sluggish thinking, skin breakouts, headaches, bad breath and general fatigue. 

To start your day right, set a large glass of water by your bed each night and drink it when you wake up. Drinking water first thing in the morning pulls out toxins from the previous day and freshens your system for the day ahead. Keep a bottle of water accessible throughout the day, whether you are on the go or at a desk. Having a bottle of water close by will remind you to take a sip when thirsty. The first sip will usually let you know how much more water you need. A sip or two may be enough, or you may need a big glass. If you drink most of your daily water before early evening, you most likely will not be thirsty before bed. This is good, because drinking before bed and then waking to use the bathroom disturbs your peaceful night’s sleep.

Many people are also surprised to learn that dehydration can be a main cause of sugar cravings.  Sometimes we think we are hungry when what our bodies really need is water.  So the next time you find yourself reaching for that candy bar (especially when you know you don’t want it but think you need it), try drinking a glass of water first.  Not only will you be allowing yourself a moment to become more conscious of your craving, but you may just find that you are better able to satisfy what your body truly needs. 

What about quality? Some people like bottled water, while others prefer filtered water. The key is to like the taste of the water you are drinking, and the water should agree with your body. If the taste of plain water is unappealing, experiment to see how you can make it tasty and drinkable. Try adding a few mint leaves, a wedge of lemon, a sprig of parsley, slices of cucumber, a twist of lime or a squeeze of orange to make water more tempting, or to jazz up your routine. Also, drinking tea or juice and eating raw fruits and vegetables contribute to the hydration process.

As the sun starts to warm up, set the stage now for a more hydrated you.  Try some of these tips to add more water into your daily routine, and feel your health and energy levels soar into the coming season!

Patti McCabe is a Certified Holistic Health Counselor who specializes in helping the performing arts community get more out of their lives by getting more out of their food.  She received her training at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition in New York City and is accredited through the American Association of Drugless Practitioners.  She leads workshops on health and nutrition, and offers both individual and group counseling services in person and by phone.  More information at www.pattimccabe.com and http://pattimccabe.wordpress.com