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Gerry Katzman Comedy

GETTING THE JOB – a Magic Tool for Success

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By: Gerry Katzman

If someone gives you a job, and you want them to hire you again, there is a under-utilized tool that will increase the probability by 50%.

This same tool, can turn someone who hates you into a fan.  Let me share two examples:

Example #1: One of my students was recently booked for a week of work as a comedian at Harrah’s Casino. One week later, the head of entertainment called him to book him for three more weeks of work at a higher salary.

He used the tool.

Example #2: An actress in my class had a falling out with a well-known film director over a disagreement that happened on set. He said he never wanted to work with her again. Last week, we all celebrated his birthday together- and she’ll be acting in his next feature.

She used the tool.

So what is this Magic tool? It’s something so simple, yet so under-utilized that when you use it, it will make an unforgettable impact.

Here it is:

My student, who worked at Harrah’s comedy club – as soon as he got home from the gig – sent a sincere note of thanks and a thoughtful gift.

The actress who had a falling out with the director, sent a sincere note of apology and appreciation and a thoughtful gift.

Here’s the deal:

People feel so under-acknowledged in their work today, that when you take time out of your schedule to tell them that they made a difference in your life and your career, they will never forget it.  By showing them that they made a difference and expressing your gratitude, they become personally invested in your success.

From this day forward, resolve that anytime anyone does ANYTHING for you and your career – get on your computer, or get out your stationary, and send them a thank you note.

And if you don’t have stationery and you’re bad at mail, Sites like www.sendoutcards.com  and apps like www.thankyoupro.com  will make it so you’ll never have to buy an envelope or affix a stamp again. 

Give people tangible reminder of your appreciation and watch the cycle of gratitude and success come back to you.

For more information sign up for my newsletter at www.StandupComedyClass.com

Diane Christiansen Kids & Teens

How to Clarify Your Acting Niche

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By Diane Christiansen

Finding your “niche” or your “brand” or your “type” seems to be daunting for most actors, including kids and teens. Yet it really can be a fun process. Possibly the reason for any difficulty is because actors have this idea that they can play anything. However, Agents and Managers have to market you, to them you are a commodity. Our intention is to make it easy for them to do.

Here is a great exercise that we do in our classes to help you know how to market yourself before you showcase your work and/or interview with Agents and Managers.

You can do this with any group of 5 or 6 people. Try this; have 5 or 6 people watch you walk into the room, the more objective they are, the better. Ask each one of them to tell you what kind of role you look like you can play. Each of us carries ourselves a certain way, and each of us give off a certain “vibe”. They are going to say things like “The Jock, the Nerd, the Cheerleader, the boy next door, the Prom Queen, the smarty girl, the Best friend, the leading lady, the Social Worker, the Cop, the Detective, the Urban Professional, a Gang member, the Politician, the Doctor, the Lawyer, the blue collar worker, and on and on. Once you’ve collected those five or six ideas, you should be on track with your obvious “Type.”

At that point, you can package yourself that way to Reps and if they are seeking that type, bingo! You’ve hit the mark. I know you don’t want to be type cast, but that’s how careers get jump-started. You have to get your foot in the door. Once you’ve been the Nerd fifteen times, you can expand your range and convince your Reps to try a new look or photo. But in the meantime, go for what you are, it’s the perfect way to start your career!

iDalis De Leon Hosting

How to Find a Talent Agent, Part 2

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By Master TV Host Teacher IDalis De Leon

How to Get an Agent Part 2Let me start by saying there is no one way to get an agent. Everyone has different journeys and different talent brands. So let’s say you’ve been so busy “doing the work”, building credits like you are supposed to, and you haven’t had a proper agent relationship in a few years. It’s time to buckle down and put you on the market as a hot unsigned talent looking for representation.

  1. FIRST things first-Make sure before you look for an agent you have three things:
    1. A STRONG REEL: Evidence of your work and talent brand abilities
    2. CREDITS (jobs and training) for actors: Inde projects, web projects and student films,
      for hosts: journalism (writing )credits, live event credits, red carpet, movie junkets, and local tv station credits
    3. GREAT HEADSHOTS to get you in the room
  2. Get your Online Presence together: Revamp your Facebook, build your Twitter, and launch your Youtube Channel: Take off the photos of you doing jello shots at your cousins bachelor party, replace them with great photos of yourself on set, on a red carpet with a mic in your hand. Commit to your talent brand as a business. A big Twitter following is essential for hosts, it was the second question a Dick Clark Productions Executive posed to one of my hosts who was applying for a job to cover the red carpet for the Oscars. How many twitter followers do you have, he asked as he waited for her response? At least 10,000 and above is apparently respectable. Launch your Youtube Channel for your video projects, demo reel clips, class scenes, student films indie film scenes and begin to build an online presence that says working actor, working host, working reporter or new media journalist. When they Google your name, what will they find?

    *An agent can only be as good as you as marketing material you give them to work with.

  3. Research IMDB PRO: Find you own method of research here, whether its looking up your favorite shows and and seeing who casts them, or credits you can acquire through which casting director or what agent represents what actors and what style of genre and actor they are normally looking for. Invaluable resource for actors, directors and writers.
  4. COLD CALL: Make a list of actor friends & hosts who work. Write a personal email to each one indicating that you’ve done your homework and you think that their agent might be a right fit and if you could just use their name when you submit your material you would be very grateful. As long as you have a referral, a cold call becomes a warm call. Call the agent assistant and say “ Hi, I know one of your clients “so and so” and I am looking for representation, I am a working actor/host. What’s the best way to send you my material? Then send your material, wait a week, if you don’t hear from them follow up.
  5. Go to Idalismedia.com for a list of Host Agents. Now Casting, Backstage, LA Casting have PDF downloads of agency listing for actors. These listings are everywhere. Stop and create your own list from your research. Make a list of your top 20 choices and then another 20 you wouldn’t say no to. These 40 are the agents you should focus on and just go down the checklist as you research and approach each one about representation. Takes notes and keep track. Someone will sign you especially if you are staying busy.
  6. Traditional Methods still work: Targeted mailings, postcards, attending events, networking, making connections, showcasing your work on stage or hosting a live event red carpet or movie junket and joining organizations that keep your work in front of people.
The Objective-An Actors NEED

The Objective: ACTING your character’s NEED, Part 2

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The Objective is one of the most important power tools for an actor because it provides a starting point in the analyzing stage of any scene.

So what is the actual definition of “the objective”?

Every character is attempting to “get” something in every script and play. It may be love, a job, recognition, money, respect, sex, attention; this list can go on and on. However, it is important for the actor to figure out and articulate what the character you will be portraying wants and/or needs, and what is worth fighting for.

The objective supports the dynamics in any and all scenes, be it drama or comedy. If no one wants anything or needs anything in a scene, if nothing is at stake, the acting becomes uninteresting to watch. All drama and comedy is based on conflict.

“We are captivated by a struggle. We are captivated when watching a game that has two strong opponents.” – Acting with Impact

Think of a boxing match. If neither fighter wants to win the match it would be a silly and uneventful spar. But if both of their objectives were to let the other guy win, that would be an objective. And if they really played with that intention, because it is unexpected in a normal boxing match, the audience might even find it funny because they are taking great risks to lose instead of win. However, if they enter the rink with no need to win or lose, nothing at stake in fighting, no sense of competition, eventually the onlookers will lose interest in the fight.

Life is about going after a goal—a want, a need, something worth fighting for… some people want a family, others a career, and some both. Some are fighting for better health, some for a better day job. We all want, and because of our want, we feel emotion. When we feel we are winning in life, we feel happier than when we feel we are losing in life our objective. Interestingly, the Objective gives us many life lessons on how we experience our journey.

If we don’t have an objective in life, we may feel lost and without direction. This is also true in acting. If you discover that you feel a bit lost or without direction in a scene or cold reading, discover the character’s objective you are playing and play their objective with all of your heart. This will give your acting a point of reference of the character you are playing and support your commitment to live into their world.

Here are some fun exercises that will serve your ability to utilize the objective:

Watch a film, play or TV show with attention on what the main characters want. Ask yourself “what do they want?” Try to articulate their objectives in terms that allow you to visualize what it might look like if they did receive and win their objectives. And take note of their emotional life and notice how they feel by whether or not they are getting closer to what they want.

Also, take a moment to look into your own life to decide what you want and what you are willing to fight for, what’s at stake for you in your life. Perhaps you are looking for a breakthrough in your acting skill, or a chance to audition for a certain casting director, or you may want to book a job with a specific director, or you may have a love interest. Take note of your desire, your actions, and the risks you take to get it. Now, knowing that every character cares as much about their objective as you do about your own, play the character’s scene objective with that much commitment. Be compassionate to the hunger that lives in any character to get what they desire.

Your acting will always be enriched when you effectively take the risks that surrender your own desire to be great, and instead play the character’s desire to win their goal. One can never watch themselves in the work when playing the character’s objective with true intention.

Be strong, believe and live authentically,

Kimberly Jentzen

For a more complete lesson on the objective, please check out my book, Acting with Impact: Power Tools to Ignite the Actor’s Performance.

How to Write a Funny Song: Musical Comedy Creation Video

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One of the wonderful things about comedy is that your funny ideas are limited only by your imagination.  In your standup routines or sketches, the President of the United States can belt out opera, Disney Princesses can rap, and Jennifer Lopez can actually sing..

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