Breaking Into Hollywood - What Materials Do I Need to Market Myself in Entertainment?

A short while ago, I was invited to speak at a casting event. I replied with an enthusiastic yes (I love a good workshop, panel, parking lot...anywhere I can talk passionately about the biz)! I immediately sent the organizer my current bio, with links to more information and pictures online. The organizer was very surprised by my speed/efficiency and sent a nice thank you.

That SAME DAY, I was helping a friend of mine put together materials for an upcoming production. We requested a bio from one of the participants three times, and it finally arrived a few days later, with typos. At that moment I thought, "Sometimes Hollywood hopefuls are so focused on what they hope employers are going to give them, they aren't prepared with what they're supposed to give US." So here are the five marketing materials, at minimum, you need to always have on hand to advance as a professional in show business.

AN UPDATED RESUME

Nothing is more important than a résumé that accurately reflects, at least:

*Your job titles;

*The project name;

*Your employer;

*Any production partners (e.g., choreographer, production company, director, etc.);

*Your dates of employment.

For example (all fake!):

- Principal Dancer | THE NUTCRACKER | Lompoc Ballet | Chor: Justin | 12/2006

- Background Dancer | LOVE MY BABY (Baby Tee) | Paramount Music | Chor: Jayn J | 10/2006

This really is just a credit list, so employers can instantly see not just what you have done, but FOR WHOM. Those names are the ones that will get you hired more often than your titles! If I know someone on that list, and I call them, and they rave about you, my job hunt is over.

Also include degrees, professional affiliations and awards.

Let's talk about the format for your credit list:

*It must be ONE PAGE ONLY;

*It must include, at least, your legal name, professional name (if different), mailing address (not home! City, ST only if you don't have a separate address), contact number, e-mail address and Web site (if any);

*All names must, must, must be spelled correctly (check online - these could be established shows or friends of your potential employer);

*Create your list in a table (in Word, that's Table/Create Table) with columns (skip tabs and spaces!) so you can easily line up columns, update and move things around;

*Stick to one format for each credit and make it uniform throughout the rez (e.g., if project names are in caps once, they should be in caps always);

*Include your name, professional title and year in the title of the document. That way, when you e-mail it to a potential employer, they can save the file and always know what and whose it is. So you might call it: "Rez_LeeBryant_Producer_2007.doc"

Organize one credit list by job title and another by date (most current down).

You might end up needing a more extensive rez that includes job descriptions for some submissions. But your current credit list is an absolute must for all job submissions - update it on the last day of every job.

A CURRENT BIO

A bio is not a two- or three-page brag sheet. It is a one- to five-paragraph summary of what you have done and why it makes you stand out from your peers (check out my bio for an example. Don't re-list every job from your rez here. Summarize and sell. So your five directing credits might be presented as: "Over the past five years, Corrinne has directed several acclaimed regional and off-Broadway productions, including the Lucent Award-winning production of MacBeth at New York's Ventana Theatre." (Yes, I made all of those names up.)

If you are kind of weak in the spelling and grammar area, please send your bio to someone who is excellent at it. No typos. No grammatical errors. No syntax errors. Let it put your best foot forward for you!

Celebrate each new professional milestone by immediately updating your bio. That should be the final thing you do to signal the end of a gig. A call could come the next day, and you'll be ready with current info.

A CURRENT PHOTO

Even if you are not a performer, on many occasions, you will be asked to submit a photo with your written marketing materials for promotion, including Web sites, brochures, event programs, etc. You should have a current, accurate photo in both 8x10 print format and a small, digital file (say, 100px x 150px, 72 dpi, JPEG).

A CURRENT E-MAIL ADDRESS

Hey, we work in entertainment; we're expected to move around the world! Addresses and phone numbers change, but make sure you have an e-mail at a free service you know will be around for a while (Yahoo!, G-Mail, etc.), and use that as your permanent address (don't rely on your current DSL or cable address; buyouts happen too often). If someone tries to reach you three years down the road off of a submission, know that they can at least find you there. If you don't have a computer, go to the library and get online for an e-mail account. It is not an option to NOT have one.

A WEB SITE

In 2007, Web presence is REQUIRED! Having a Web site markets you 24/7. They don't cost a fortune, and they are worth every dime you spend, especially if you are selling your services. At the very least, MySpace and other social networking sites* are free, or you can create a blog on sites like mine at Google's Blogger for FREE. You want to expand your visibility in the industry? Get yourself onto the Internet.

*If you currently use MySpace as a social network, please create a second page that's a professional site ONLY, with your pictures, video, music, credits, what-have-you. You are using this site as a selling tool; keep it clean and simple to navigate.

A CELL PHONE NUMBER

I know you have one. Please remember to turn it on, carry it with you, check it regularly, and keep the message box clear so you can get messages about jobs, interviews, casting, go-sees, auditions, rehearsals and bookings. Also, take the pop songs off of your message, please, and let people get straight to hiring you! "Hi, you've reached Darwin Smith, please leave a message. Thank you." Done.

Okay, that's the minimum list. Add to that a current reel, a portfolio, spec scripts, references and more to show people who can advance your career that you are ready, able and worth every possibility they can present.