Another huge help to an actor is belonging to Bobby Holder's "Actor's Project-NYC." I was smart enough to get a lifetime membership for a lifetime of acting/monologue help and that is just the tip of the iceberg!
Bobby is always looking for ways of getting industry people in to see showcases or to get them to come to other evenings and that's how I finally met Mariusz of Metropolis Artists Agency! He was at an evening event, spoke to most of the actors from the "Project" and took their headshots. I sent him a postcard with my recent successes and Mariusz called me in after a couple of weeks.
Actors fear meeting with agents but Bobby helps with this, too! On top of that, Jagger Kaye and his events also make an actor at ease with industry people. If you could only work with two people in all of New York, Bobby and Jagger would be the two to meet. Don't ask me to only name one. That's like asking a father which of his sons he loves more. ;)
What I can say, though, is Bobby is really geared toward using original comedy monologues to reach industry people...and they know they are going to laugh their butts off. Jagger uses actual advertising copy, teaches you how to analyze it and present it in a "real" fashion, no "acting" allowed. They are two, incredibly unique approaches to have in your acting "tool box."
On top of that, you can tell they do this because they love it! Some people teach for the money but not these guys.
I never would have imagined that I would have three agents in just three months, all due to wonderful instruction!
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Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
BOSTON BOUND! Feb. 1, 2011
This Friday, I will be heading to Boston to film a commercial there! I will be administering a lie detector test to a man, asking him embarrassing questions like, "Is your Twitter name 'I heart unicorns?'" The filming is on Saturday and I will be back in time for the Super Bowl...ummm, if the snowstorm cooperates!
Commercial acting technique is different and I have to thank Jagger Kaye the most for teaching me what I need to know! I have him listed on my resume for just that! It's one way I can say "thanks!" to him. Following Jagger's approach, I won a commercial class in an acting competition to an acting school/casting office/and more place called Weist-Barron Studios, run by a very nice group of people. So far, I have had a class with Batt Jonson and one with Tod Engle. An excellent casting director, named James Calleri, also taught me some useful stuff, crucial for me to get this commercial, too. This commercial director wanted everything "under acted," just like James likes. This is a continuation of what Jagger teaches, and his motto, which I will paraphrase, "No acting allowed, only 'real' moments." Sorry if I messed that up, Jagger.
Tomorrow, I also have another meeting with an agent, a former bass player from Europe who now works in NYC. I must admit, I feel we've gotta hit it off! Several people I take classes from like this guy, too, so I already feel good about hopefully working together. We've chatted briefly once before and he seems super nice and very competent!
Here, an actor "freelances" with agents, sometimes called "dating," until one signs him/her. I hope to sign at some stage, too, but it'll be a tough choice. I'm currently dating two, excellent agencies that also happen to be downright nice people. This part of the business is still a mystery to me. Simply put, I'd like to make them ALL a lot of money!
This is similar to the system in Holland and I worked with about ten agencies/talent bureaus at my busiest in the 1990s. I once signed with one, who promised a Far East tour, and that was a huge mistake that lasted three years and killed my music career. The economy in the East went south, pun intended, and the tour couldn't happen, the agency split in half and I ended up in the wrong half.
I'm much more optimistic about my current situation!
Commercial acting technique is different and I have to thank Jagger Kaye the most for teaching me what I need to know! I have him listed on my resume for just that! It's one way I can say "thanks!" to him. Following Jagger's approach, I won a commercial class in an acting competition to an acting school/casting office/and more place called Weist-Barron Studios, run by a very nice group of people. So far, I have had a class with Batt Jonson and one with Tod Engle. An excellent casting director, named James Calleri, also taught me some useful stuff, crucial for me to get this commercial, too. This commercial director wanted everything "under acted," just like James likes. This is a continuation of what Jagger teaches, and his motto, which I will paraphrase, "No acting allowed, only 'real' moments." Sorry if I messed that up, Jagger.
Tomorrow, I also have another meeting with an agent, a former bass player from Europe who now works in NYC. I must admit, I feel we've gotta hit it off! Several people I take classes from like this guy, too, so I already feel good about hopefully working together. We've chatted briefly once before and he seems super nice and very competent!
Here, an actor "freelances" with agents, sometimes called "dating," until one signs him/her. I hope to sign at some stage, too, but it'll be a tough choice. I'm currently dating two, excellent agencies that also happen to be downright nice people. This part of the business is still a mystery to me. Simply put, I'd like to make them ALL a lot of money!
This is similar to the system in Holland and I worked with about ten agencies/talent bureaus at my busiest in the 1990s. I once signed with one, who promised a Far East tour, and that was a huge mistake that lasted three years and killed my music career. The economy in the East went south, pun intended, and the tour couldn't happen, the agency split in half and I ended up in the wrong half.
I'm much more optimistic about my current situation!
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