Showcase Colleges Matter??

College Majors Theater/Drama Majors
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<p>I’m not sure what you mean by online opportunities. Just curious what you are referring to. However, my own kid has two recent jobs that are online. One was a music video for MTV online that contracted her and another girl to co-write an original comedic song that is going to air soon (my daughter filmed this in LA recently) and she is being paid for it. The other online job she has is more ongoing, but YouTube recently established channels and various artists and companies have bought these first 100 channels. I don’t want to be too specific but one corporation that has bought a channel has hired my daughter to write original songs and star in the episodes of a series she helped them create. It pays quite well in fact and of course she has to spend time writing/composing but each episode is a one day shoot and it a lot of money for the time spent. Both these opportunities came about through networking and not via her agents.</p>

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<p>Hoveringmom, Lots of good advise, though I would disagree with your comment about agents signing only Equity actors at a showcase. Most agents would NOT expect a college student to be Equity yet, unless they’ve had a professional career going into college. I believe they are looking for top talent that they can submit for Equity as well as non-Equity productions. Basically, agents are always look for talent and potential.</p>

<p>Good advise on headshots. As college kids become more and more aware of the business they will be entering, they should also move in the direction of understanding the key marketing tools that get them in the door. A professional headshot is not necessary to get you into college–though it can’t hurt. But it is essential to get a good professional headshot before venturing into professional waters.</p>

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<p>BvilleLady, yes, when my daughter signed with agents from her college showcase, she was Non-Equity. Then the first audition they sent her on, which was a couple of days after college graduation, she booked the job and became Equity. But most seniors are not Equity and still get agent representation.</p>

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<p>This discussion has veered away from college showcases a bit, but some of you sound as if you may have an answer to a question that has been in the back of my mind for some time. I’m curious about personal managers. I’m near LA and always saw this, and so many child actor appeals, as a beginner scammy sort of thing but I do know someone who seems to be having some success with one. I have no idea how much she is spending on the service. I doubt if it’s free, but she has gotten a one line gig on a Disney or Nick show and a pilot that may or may not air and a bunch of short films. Any insight?</p>

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<p>^ For managers, the best thing you can do is get on IMDB Pro and check out their client lists. That’s the proof in the pudding. There are a ton of scammers and the lists don’t lie. One recently got busted for a pay to play scam that had parents bringing their kids to LA from all over the place. Another went to prison on several child sex convictions. Remember, they are not subject to the same regulations and licensing requirements as agents and anyone can hold himself out to be one. That’s not saying there aren’t some good ones. Don’t EVER sign more than a two year contract with one, either. I’ll probably be hiring one myself in the not-to-distant future, but I already have a career to manage and it is getting to be a little much … For reputable entry level managers in LA, you might want to stick with the ones who self-regulate through the Talent Manager’s Association. [Talent</a> Managers Association, Inc.](<a href=“http://www.talentmanagers.org/]Talent”>http://www.talentmanagers.org/)</p>

<p>Also beware of “producers.” I laughed my face off when I saw someone on another forum say “Some of the ‘producers’ that will approach you are real producers. They produce porn.” It’s true. Almost everyone has a war story … :)</p>

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<p>I’m not completely hip to web work since I haven’t done any, but a couple of recent examples that were pretty successful are “Anyone But Me” and “Squatters.” I’m not sure, but I think they actually made some decent money off the ads. </p>

<p>“Anyone But Me” was started by some people who were already successful. They liked the idea and knew it wouldn’t fly on network TV so they went to the web. The star was a 2008 Rutgers grad who actually had good rep from her showcase and subsequently got dropped but got back on her feet and ended up signing with Nicolosi after she started winning awards for it. It also features some Tisch and Purchase grads. [Anyone</a> But Me - The Web Series](<a href=“http://www.anyonebutmeseries.com/]Anyone”>http://www.anyonebutmeseries.com/)</p>

<p>“Squatters” was built from the ground up by Tisch and UNCSA grads who wrote, produced, directed and acted in it themselves. The guy from Tisch also apparently picked up good rep from it. The one from UNCSA already had good rep, but it still led her to other things. She used to make most of her money through modeling and ads, but she’s been doing more quality indie features lately. She just won a best actress award for her lead in an indie comedy feature. [Squatters</a> The Series](<a href=“http://www.squattersseries.com/]Squatters”>http://www.squattersseries.com/)</p>

<p>Of course there are a lot of others that never went anywhere, but it’s still good experience and a way to get yourself out there if you have the know how and resources. I think a lot of people get their intial financing by using Kickstarter.com. I’ve actually donated to several, but haven’t always gotten to see the end results …</p>

<p>And yeah … Headshots? I could go on for days but here’s another negative example … I don’t know if she was just given terrible advice or if it was something she had just convinced herself of, but a graduate of another well-known BFA apparently considered herself a Natalie Portman type and literally had her headshots altered - not just overly retouched - to show that. She’s also apparently a very good actress, but she’s much more “Natalie’s best friend” than the lead and she could have been cast that way. Of course, she never got an agent and managed to tick off half the New York casting community through self-submissions once she got in the room and they saw her in person. She’s since left town …</p>

<p>For headshot advice, there’s an excellent post on the “Headshots and Resumes” forum on Backstage by a poster who goes by Truthteller59 entitled [“AVOIDING</a> BAD HEAD SHOTS.”](<a href=“http://bbs.backstage.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/8011031/m/704106814]"AVOIDING”>http://bbs.backstage.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/8011031/m/704106814) I wouldn’t listen to much of what he has to say about actor training unless you’d be content to completely forego theatre and get stuck at the costar and commercial level, but he’s golden with the entry level business stuff for TV and film.</p>

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<p>I’m also finding this discussion interesting, as the mother of a son who graduated in May and is getting started in the business in New York.
I particularly like hoveringmom’s emphasis on the business of the business. My son and his troupe are learning a lot about marketing, legalities, contracts etc. Starting a young theater company is like other start-up businesses in some ways, with associated start-up costs. It takes a while to establish a new business. Like hoveringmom said, it can also be difficult to hold down survival jobs while maintaining the flexibility to audition, perform, rehearse, market yourself etc., especially when there are seven members in the troupe and they have to make sure their schedules mesh.
I’ve always enjoyed Fish’s posts and her good, very practical advice. Fish, are you still in Astoria? That’s where my son is living.
His company is having its album release party at Joe’s Pub next month. The theater world really is a small one.
Professionals who talked to the students before they graduated always emphasied the need to keep working, whether it was paid or not. That’s how you get noticed.
I’ve also been surprised by the wide variety of opportunites under the general head of theater these days - online, audio books, animation, music, directing, writing. I think students open to out of the box possibilities have a heads up in this business.</p>

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No. I moved to LA in September. Toluca Lake.</p>

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<p>fish, my daughter spent a night in Toluca Lake last Nov. as she was collaborating with her bookwriter who lives there as that woman is writing for a hit TV series. </p>

<p>pennmom, i agree that sometimes you have to do unpaid work as it can lead to other things and also is one way to keep performing. My D is involved in MANY things at once but one thing she has been doing for almost three years now is performing every Sat. night in NYC in an original musical comedy revue (she writes and performs with this group). That is not paid but she gets to be on stage in NYC every week and she also is onstage another night every week in NYC in a weekly residency she has as a singer/songwriter playing gigs. She also has had her own gigs at Joe’s Pub which you have mentioned. My daughter was cast in a show last fall that did not pay but was with some major names, including the director. Turns out that paid off as she was just asked to perform in the same show (and stand in for the star) at the Sydney Opera House in Australia. It is an exciting opportunity.</p>

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<p>soozievt, Congrats to your daughter! What a fantastic opportunity. She’s an amazing young woman. Geez, does she ever sleep, lol?</p>

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<p>thanks, BvilleLady. I admit my D is going 24/7 and is involved in many different jobs and performing arts endeavors. She is also involved in several facets of the field, not just one. I can hardly keep it all straight but it is all good. She is also a very driven person. </p>

<p>Networking is huge in this field. I can’t emphasize that enough. Having gone to college in NYC, her networking began before graduation. in about ten days, she will be in a very very small gathering where she will speak to and perform for folks like Hal Prince and Susan Stroman. The people she has met and performed with has been really neat so far. One thing keeps leading to another!</p>

<p>PS to BvilleLady…my daughter’s first original musical is slated to be a mainstage production at your son’s college next year.</p>

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<p>Wow, sooz. Australia??? She really is globetrotting! I thought I’d been adventurous spending a few weeks shooting a film in Romania last summer! I say I was “in” New York for almost a year and a half, but was constantly out of town. Besides New York and LA, I spent time on location in Detroit, New Mexico, Louisiana, Florida and North Carolina. A gypsy’s life we lead … I’m actually just chillaxing this week at the end of my two holds but no cigar pilot season … My consolation is a guest on one next week and another supporting role in a film that starts shooting next month in a role they’d been holding off on casting 'til the pilot series regular results were in. It’ll actually be kind of nice to not have to go anywhere for that one since my scenes will shoot in Burbank. </p>

<p>Toluca Lake is pretty cool. It’s like you can’t step out your front door without networking because everybody works for the studios and the networks! Seriously. I kind of knew that coming here, but it didn’t really register ‘til I went to Timmy Nolan’s to watch a game last fall. I was just minding my own business and watching my team get the crap beat out of them over a yummy Guinness in my team’s jersey. Of course, I was the only one pulling for my team and soon found myself talking (friendly) trash with these two guys. I had no idea of who they were, but the “ceremonial exchanging of the cards” that always seems to take place revealed them to be the writer/producers for one of the top sitcoms on TV when I googled them after I got home. The downside is that you always have to be “on” around here which can be kind of tiresome. But yeah … My landlord is a major production designer, his wife is a retired actress who knows EVERYONE, the next door neighbor is a high ranking Disney animator, the man across the street is a veteran character actor with several series’ to his credit and on it goes … Oh, and I’ve been dating an entertainment lawyer for the last couple of months. This one has potential … :)</p>

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<p>fish, you are doing so well and making lotsa connections! </p>

<p>My D feels lucky as she has had free trips now to Brazil, Germany, Abu Dhabi and Australia to perform. She also feels fortunate that in her young life so far, she has had opportunities to perform in significant venues such as the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, Madison Square Garden and now the Sydney Opera House. Her work is mostly in NYC though. I guess this year her work also has taken her to LA, Oregon, NH.</p>

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<p>I’m terribly impressed by both Fish and soozievt’s daughter, but their lives do sound exhausting. Soozievt, I wouldn’t be surprised if our kids run into each other sometime since, like you say, the NYC theater scene is a small world.</p>

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<p>So cpeck13, During the drift of responses to your original inquiry, I hope we didn’t freak everyone out with our discussions of the progression of a professional acting career. When anyone asks about showcases and their possible effect on future success in the business, you will likely get the generous response of posters who have been there (or their kids) or are in the midst of it. Lucky you! to get such direct input. These are wonderful people who give a lot of themselves coming to and participating in these forums.</p>

<p>Wish you well. Keep coming back. Best!</p>

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<p>BvilleLady, I agree-I meant that showcases are good opportunities because agents may take you even though you are NOT equity. </p>

<p>Online–One example are webisodes. Pay doesn’t have to stink, but many do. Also online commercials. Also online parts on various online shows. Pay for these spots - in NYC area - is often below $300 per day (at least in my own experience; I am no expert). To my mind this is low, as it doesn’t include transportation. But they are great opportunities. </p>

<p>Many talented folks here. Congrats, Soozievt, to your D.</p>

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<p>hoveringmom, thanks for explaining. As I wrote, the only paid experience my kid has had so far online is recent and one was for MTV online but the pay is decent but involves her creating original material, not just performing it. It also covered her flight to LA. The other job is a webisode (I think) as it is going to be an ongoing program on a new YouTube channel owned by a well known corporation. Her pay is much better than you mention but again, she was contracted to create/write/compose the material, not just perform it. She also has gotten many of her friends work on it (who are getting paid less than she is) because she is having different friends back her up on vocals and instruments in each episode. Also, the transportation to the shoots are all paid for. </p>

<p>Pennmom, I’m getting everyone so mixed up and can’t recall where your son went to school but I think he started a theater company, right? That is so cool. My own kid is into creating original work and not just waiting to be cast in established works. Our kids’ paths may have already crossed. I don’t know. But if you care to ever email me, just click my name on here and “send an email.” I have left out some specifics on a public forum as they would identify my kid by name.</p>

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<p>We “old timers” do tend to digress when we chime in on these threads and start catching up, don’t we? :slight_smile: It’s always kind of been like that on here, though. Just start a thread and see where it goes …</p>

<p>Unions - Yes, being a member or eligible for either AEA or SAG helps at showcase, but people who aren’t do get signed by good agencies and management companies without it albeit moreso in New York than LA. Hollywood theatrical agents often tell people to “stay in touch” until they’re SAG-E, though. The commercial people are more flexible. I’m not familiar with the Chicago market, so I can’t comment there. </p>

<p>Really reputable management companies over agencies aren’t a bad idea for some who aren’t in the unions, either. Like I have another friend who was non-union and passed on some mid-tier agencies to sign with a top level manager who, in turn, later referred her to a top agency after he got her in AEA and she booked an AFTRA guest star. She has a recurring on one of the New York based cable shows now. One of her first gigs was “Merchant of Venice” with Pacino on Broadway and getting her in for it was the work of her manager. Managers aren’t legally supposed to submit, pitch and negotiate contracts, but that’s kind of like going 60 in a 55 zone for those who are truly well connected. They have a lawyer on retainer to handle the contracts. Some of the best are former agents with the big boys and have all kinds of connections and the advantage is that they usually have fewer clients than agents who don’t have time to mess with pulling the strings to get you in the unions, etc. You just have to decide if what they can do for you is worth giving up that additional 10-15% of your earnings for anything you book while under contract with them.</p>

<p>I hope if any college seniors or parents of seniors whose ambition is screen acting are reading (NMR?), they’ve considered going ahead and paying the $1600 initiation fee to join AFTRA whether they have a showcase or not. Like do it yesterday if you can … Assuming the merger happens, you’ll be in the new union and it’ll save you $1400 off the initiation fee and the headache of having to wait around 'til someone is willing to give you a Taft Hartley, collecting three vouchers from background work, Taft Hartleying yourself for a New Media project or taking the long route of getting in through AEA principals followed by what will be a $3000 initiation fee. I’d recommend that anyone planning to come to LA do this since that door will probably be closing at the end of the month. Definitely do it if you have a showcase out here and want to get signed by a good agency. You won’t be able to do non-union work, but most of the worthwhile non-union theatrical projects operate under SAG waivers anyway and you can do that paperwork yourself if you decide make your own work. It’s apparently not all that difficult. There is a lot of non-union commercial and voiceover work, but the best paying stuff is union. And working non-union onstage is really just another one of those 60 in a 55 zone things as long as it’s a small house. It’s rarely enforced and I think there are ways around it, anyway. </p>

<p>And even if the merger doesn’t happen, the TV contracts will continue to go to AFTRA and you may as well be a member. ALL the pilots I auditioned for are under AFTRA contracts. I don’t think there were any under SAG. Actually, one of the big complaints the anti-merger folks have is that AFTRA doesn’t normally discipline those who work off-card. If worse comes to worse, you can always go Ficore … </p>

<p>I hope they’re telling the seniors about this in the schools. I somehow doubt some of the profs in the out-of-the way places even know about it, so pass the word.</p>

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<p>Soozievt,
My son went to CMU. He and six of his classmates started their own theater company. They have yet to reach the success of your daughter, but they are having a blast, staying very busy and starting to get noticed. I’ll send an email to see if our kids might have crossed paths.
Fish, I love your details about the business, since my son and his friends are just getting started.</p>

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<p>fishbowlfreshman - Your advice with joining AFTRA yesterday is debatable. Once a person is in any acting union it means he/she cannot work nonunion; not in theatre, film, television, commercial, nothing. That could prevent you from working on productions that pay and allow you to gain experience and create a reel. It’s a tough, personal decision that, like choice of college, is different for everyone.</p>

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<p>^ Well … Anything’s debatable and that has been the conventional wisdom, but this isn’t a conventional time. You aren’t SUPPOSED to, but I’ve already gone there with how you can and people do. Again, I’ll defer to [Secret</a> Agent Man in his rather blunt responses to the same arguments …](<a href=“http://bbs.backstage.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/6031061/m/331109414/p/1]Secret”>http://bbs.backstage.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/6031061/m/331109414/p/1)<br>

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<p>I agree it’s still personal decision, but think that’s really based on whether you think you’re ready to compete in the big leagues or not. And like I said, there’s always the Ficore option if you join and find you can’t …</p>