Time to Update Your Career Tools
Last week I talked about you having a plan for your career. This week we’re going to get started working on resolution #2 in this New Year career planning series: you’re updating your career tools.
I will make sure my professional tools (pictures, resumes, bios, demo reels, films, trailers, scripts, business cards, website, 30-sec. elevator pitch, etc.) are up-to-date.
What are your career tools? Your career tools are those things that are necessary for you to propel yourself forward — pictures, resumes and demo reels for actors; scripts and treatments for writers; films and trailers for filmmakers. Of course, everyone should have the basic business tools — business cards, an email address and a website. Let’s take a look at each business tool, beginning with the basics.
Business cards are a must! You’re a showbiz-preneur, a business person in the entertainment industry. And like every business person, a business card is the your most basic calling card, the way you market yourself, connect with others and network. If you’re an actor, put your photo on your business card. But don’t overdue it with several pictures, just one that represents the true essence of you are will suffice. Identify yourself as an actor, a writer, a filmmaker, a director. People need to know who you are and what you do. If you’re a multi-hyphenate, make sure your business card reflects that. Don’t make the font size overly fancy or too small, people must be able to quickly read it at-a-glance. You also don’t want too much information on your card so that it looks overcrowded. If you’ve got a lot to say, use both sides of the card, or perhaps a fold-over card.
Think of your business card as your marketing tool. If you’ve done a film, how about saying: writer-director of “NAME OF YOUR FILM.” If you’re an actor you can say “Star of the stage hit “NAME OF PLAY.” Put on your PR cap when developing the copy for your business card. When you’re not there, it should immediately identify who you are, what you do, and give the person a variety of ways to contact you. To that end, make sure at a minimum, the business card has your name, phone number, email address and website URL. If you don’t have to have a domain name of your own, you can list your MySpace page. Bottom line, have a way for people to find out more about you on the Internet.
Actors should have pictures, resumes and demo reels. Make sure they are up-to-date. Your photo should look like you, and shouldn’t be a glamour shot. You want to make sure you look like the photo when you walk through the casting director or agents’ door. Your photo should be no more than a year old.
Your resume should also be up-to-date, as should your demo reel.
Writers should always have on hand a sample of their writing whether it’s a treatment, a spec script or a feature-length film. If you’re a director, you want to have a director’s reel. I recommend first-time filmmakers have a trailer of their film and if you’ve done a few films, how about putting together a trailer that encompasses all of your work – kind of like a “sizzle” reel.
It’s also a good idea to have a brief bio of yourself. You’ll definitely need one if the opportunity for press coverage comes along so be ready and have one written up now! The same goes for a publicity photo. If a newspaper or magazine is doing a story on you, they are likely to ask for a photo. Everyone in Hollywood has one – whether you’re a writer, director, producer, agent, manager, or studio executive. Time to smile for the camera!
You should also be ready to deliver your 30-second elevator pitch when someone says “tell me about yourself.” Who are you, what do you do, what do you want?! Your pitch is one of the most important tools in your arsenal and you should take your time in perfecting it. You may need several elevator pitches depending on who you are talking to.
At the end of the day you want to make sure that you’re prepared for opportunity when it comes along. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve met an interesting writer or filmmaker, asked for their business card, and they said they didn’t have one. Or the countless times I’ve asked someone what they do and they were unable to articulate it in 30-seconds.
Final note: if you change your email or phone number, spend the few bucks and get a new business card printed. DON’T write in updated information on your card. A real professional has their act together at all times!<BR/><BR/> In the next installment in this career planning series I’ll be discussing professional career development.
Until then, here’s to your success in 2009!
All the best,
Tanya Kersey
I will make sure my professional tools (pictures, resumes, bios, demo reels, films, trailers, scripts, business cards, website, 30-sec. elevator pitch, etc.) are up-to-date.
What are your career tools? Your career tools are those things that are necessary for you to propel yourself forward — pictures, resumes and demo reels for actors; scripts and treatments for writers; films and trailers for filmmakers. Of course, everyone should have the basic business tools — business cards, an email address and a website. Let’s take a look at each business tool, beginning with the basics.
Business cards are a must! You’re a showbiz-preneur, a business person in the entertainment industry. And like every business person, a business card is the your most basic calling card, the way you market yourself, connect with others and network. If you’re an actor, put your photo on your business card. But don’t overdue it with several pictures, just one that represents the true essence of you are will suffice. Identify yourself as an actor, a writer, a filmmaker, a director. People need to know who you are and what you do. If you’re a multi-hyphenate, make sure your business card reflects that. Don’t make the font size overly fancy or too small, people must be able to quickly read it at-a-glance. You also don’t want too much information on your card so that it looks overcrowded. If you’ve got a lot to say, use both sides of the card, or perhaps a fold-over card.
Think of your business card as your marketing tool. If you’ve done a film, how about saying: writer-director of “NAME OF YOUR FILM.” If you’re an actor you can say “Star of the stage hit “NAME OF PLAY.” Put on your PR cap when developing the copy for your business card. When you’re not there, it should immediately identify who you are, what you do, and give the person a variety of ways to contact you. To that end, make sure at a minimum, the business card has your name, phone number, email address and website URL. If you don’t have to have a domain name of your own, you can list your MySpace page. Bottom line, have a way for people to find out more about you on the Internet.
Actors should have pictures, resumes and demo reels. Make sure they are up-to-date. Your photo should look like you, and shouldn’t be a glamour shot. You want to make sure you look like the photo when you walk through the casting director or agents’ door. Your photo should be no more than a year old.
Your resume should also be up-to-date, as should your demo reel.
Writers should always have on hand a sample of their writing whether it’s a treatment, a spec script or a feature-length film. If you’re a director, you want to have a director’s reel. I recommend first-time filmmakers have a trailer of their film and if you’ve done a few films, how about putting together a trailer that encompasses all of your work – kind of like a “sizzle” reel.
It’s also a good idea to have a brief bio of yourself. You’ll definitely need one if the opportunity for press coverage comes along so be ready and have one written up now! The same goes for a publicity photo. If a newspaper or magazine is doing a story on you, they are likely to ask for a photo. Everyone in Hollywood has one – whether you’re a writer, director, producer, agent, manager, or studio executive. Time to smile for the camera!
You should also be ready to deliver your 30-second elevator pitch when someone says “tell me about yourself.” Who are you, what do you do, what do you want?! Your pitch is one of the most important tools in your arsenal and you should take your time in perfecting it. You may need several elevator pitches depending on who you are talking to.
At the end of the day you want to make sure that you’re prepared for opportunity when it comes along. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve met an interesting writer or filmmaker, asked for their business card, and they said they didn’t have one. Or the countless times I’ve asked someone what they do and they were unable to articulate it in 30-seconds.
Final note: if you change your email or phone number, spend the few bucks and get a new business card printed. DON’T write in updated information on your card. A real professional has their act together at all times!<BR/><BR/> In the next installment in this career planning series I’ll be discussing professional career development.
Until then, here’s to your success in 2009!
All the best,
Tanya Kersey
