Sundeep Ahuja, Inc.
Okay, I know this is my third entry on the business side of being an actor, but I'll make it worth reading (but c'mon...anything I write is worth at least a skim, right mom? Be nice mom.)
I had lunch on Wednesday with an actor who's been in LA for a year and half, and for two hours he reinforced my thoughts on how to approach this profession. I believe him because for the little time he's spent here, he's done remarkably well. Below is a list of some of his more interesting tips (the only one I already knew was the first one):
1) Get lunches (and pay for 'em) with people who you can learn from.
2) Have go-to social spots so there's none-of-that "Where do you want to go?", "I dunno, where do you want to go??" when you are going to meet someone in the business. For different neighborhoods (Hollywood, Santa Monica, etc.). For different occasions (lunch spot, drink spot, etc.)
3) Carry around blank business-sized cards in case you meet someone who doesn't have a business card. Hand the individual the pen you are also carrying, and when you get it all back hand her your business card--with the location/situation you are at/in on the back so she knows how she knows you two weeks later when she discovers your bcard in her purse. [Btw, I started this paragraph with he/she structures, but they got annoying...what's the protocol on that, anyways? I just picked she :) ]
4) Invest in a good briefcase. Carry around extra headshots, audition sides, bcards, a reading book, etc. Carry around an audition log book (it'll make call backs way easier). And yes, walk into auditions with it (and scare all the other wannabes...hahahahah!!!).
5) Buy nice "thank you" cards. Oh, and use 'em. Thank you cards always get opened, and always get read (unless they are sent in 8x10 headshot envelopes, in which case they are burned with the other unopened headshot envelopes).
6) Scope important places out. Studios, agencies, etc. So when you go for something important, you know the layout, you know the vibe. Think about it...anytime you revisit a place for something important, you walk in with a familiarity, a sureness. And sureness=confidence=respect. And we all know what respect equals, yes? That's right. Ego.
I had lunch on Wednesday with an actor who's been in LA for a year and half, and for two hours he reinforced my thoughts on how to approach this profession. I believe him because for the little time he's spent here, he's done remarkably well. Below is a list of some of his more interesting tips (the only one I already knew was the first one):
1) Get lunches (and pay for 'em) with people who you can learn from.
2) Have go-to social spots so there's none-of-that "Where do you want to go?", "I dunno, where do you want to go??" when you are going to meet someone in the business. For different neighborhoods (Hollywood, Santa Monica, etc.). For different occasions (lunch spot, drink spot, etc.)
3) Carry around blank business-sized cards in case you meet someone who doesn't have a business card. Hand the individual the pen you are also carrying, and when you get it all back hand her your business card--with the location/situation you are at/in on the back so she knows how she knows you two weeks later when she discovers your bcard in her purse. [Btw, I started this paragraph with he/she structures, but they got annoying...what's the protocol on that, anyways? I just picked she :) ]
4) Invest in a good briefcase. Carry around extra headshots, audition sides, bcards, a reading book, etc. Carry around an audition log book (it'll make call backs way easier). And yes, walk into auditions with it (and scare all the other wannabes...hahahahah!!!).
5) Buy nice "thank you" cards. Oh, and use 'em. Thank you cards always get opened, and always get read (unless they are sent in 8x10 headshot envelopes, in which case they are burned with the other unopened headshot envelopes).
6) Scope important places out. Studios, agencies, etc. So when you go for something important, you know the layout, you know the vibe. Think about it...anytime you revisit a place for something important, you walk in with a familiarity, a sureness. And sureness=confidence=respect. And we all know what respect equals, yes? That's right. Ego.
posted by sundeep at 8:26 PM
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