Actor's 411 Hotline Blog

No one has ever made it in this biz without SELF Promoting - NO ONE!

You need to MARKET the talent, i.e., Marketing basics 101 as I like to call it.....

Marketing is key, as is networking.

As I said before.... If you want to succeed in the entertainment biz then you need to get ......

Experience and Exposure so you can get PAID to do the thing you L♥ve - ENTERTAIN!

If you don't learn how to market (the TALENT) & get yourself exposed you will be the BEST kept secret .. obviously NOT the way to become a star! You need to INVEST in yourself the Talent just like with any job or business venture.

Some BASIC tools you'll need to promote you, the Talent.....a Headshot

(watch upcoming post re: great article I found on what purpose of headshot is and more!)

& Resume when you go on an audition/casting call.

There are many places to get done. (I'll list some in another post).
Keep in mind the average cost of an 8x10 headshot printed is $1/ea but most want a minimum of 50 to 100 printed. Since I had already paid twice over hundreds of dollars for a headshot that can't use, (She had a shirt w/ a saying on it & that is NOT acceptable on a headshot I later learned) , I had to find a cheaper way to get what we needed. Her picture was GREAT but due to shirt we can't use it when submitting to casting directors, talent agency's or auditions. Expensive lesson learned.. DON'T make same mistake... That's why I'm sharing this information in my blog.....

Less is BEST rings true when you are working on a good headshot or portfolio!

I decided to design (I used Picasa a FREE photo editor from Google) Chelsi's Comp Card & get printed at Staples! Cost with resume on back around $1 and I can print as few or many as I need! I have it printed on the card stock & l@@ks great in matte finish.

Most pictures on her comp card are professional ones except 2 we took with a digital camera.

If the photo quality is fine you can start with your own pictures just keep background plain unless an outside shot.

This comp card (above) has landed Chelsi an agent, 2 music videos, a spot on a teen reality TV pilot and a few auditions for feature films. Granted some want a headshot only bu,t most will accept a comp card, especially if they see resume is slim as it gives a bit more insight to Talents personality through the many expressions they can see of the Talent - ESPECIALY a kid/teen!

It CAN work even w/ a newbie is my point!
(We had gone to a industry marketing class held by Cory Hendricks, MS Florida 2004 and she said when new ok to try and show more then one expression as resume is thin to start ie, why I use the comp card).

Less is BEST !

In time we'll et some single headshots (her braces come off in fall so we are waiting to get updated pics.. but again WORK with what you have at present! It will get your foot in the door !

We could have waiting but went with as is since Feb & she has had much success due to MARKETING & NETWORKING!

You can too!

FYI: Beware you don't get caught in Churning it can get costly! Unfortunately being Churned, (being told you need more pictures or we want it done this way or that way) will be presented to you in your quest to stardom. Just be smart & don't be afraid to ask questions!

NO talent agency should ask you to "buy photos" to sign you.

They should have a Agency # on all their info & they ONLY get paid when you get paid!

Keep in mind even if you have an agent still continue to market the Talent.

I do for Chelsi and I keep finding her more opportunities. We just got a last minute role for a music video by networking in an actors community. It's out there even for the newbie as Chelsi is considered a newbie!

If you are serious to achieve your entertainment career goal then...

You should ALWAYS be l@@king for the next audition/opportunity even if you have an agent!

If you are new in the entertainment biz then your resume is slim as Chelsi's was to start, but in just a few months it has GROWN alot! Why Marketing & Networking .

(can see Chelsi's resume for an example Click here to see Resume').

There are MANY sites besides MySpace & Facebook & Twitter gear SPECIFICALLY for Talents wanting to get exposed to casting directors, talent agency's and more. At these sites you can make a "Talent" profile - add pictures - videos - resume and more! Plus many have auditions listing nationwide. All will let you sign up for a basic website FREE!

We have joined MANY and have paid for a few that we found to be worth the small fee. My two favorite for finding auditions, networking and cost effective are www.StarSearchCasting.com (Free or Gold membership is $14.95/mth)

& StarNow.com (Free or$19.95/6mth unlimited access).

I found a few opportunities for Chelsi on StarNow. I use www.StarSearchCasting.com (http://chelsiarchambeau.starsearchcasting.com) as her main networking site & post link on her business MySpace to direct casting directors, talent agents are anyone interested in seeing her resume', portfolio or video. Feel free to check it out as an example.

www.StarSearchCasting.com was our 1st Talent site and now one of many we use to MARKET Chelsi our Talent. These Talent sites have helped put Chelsi in top 6 hits on Google (Exposure)!
These Talent sites have worked hard to get top ranking in search engines.

Ride their back!!!

It's has proven to be GREAT marketing tool for a small investment in a Talent's career goal!.

Here are a few other's ALL offer FREE sign up

These are some of the BEST Talent/Networking sites we have found -

All offer FREE for basic talent webpage!

TOP 3 & more Ranked in order of BEST site/Value...

http://www.StarNow.com/chelsiarchambeau (only $19.95/6mth)

http://chelsiarchambeau.starsearchcasting.com

http://resumes.actorsaccess.com/ChelsiArchambeau (can pay $2/ea submission)