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How to be Great in a Meeting

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Award-winning comedy coach, actor, and comedian Gerry Katzman gives valuable tools and secrets about how to pitch yourself and be great in an interview or industry meeting…

In any business, your results are usually dependent on how well you perform in a meeting. Getting the job, the raise, the contract or the sale is almost alway contingent on how well you are able to sell yourself or your product.

This video will show you how to talk about yourself in such way that you cannot fail to get people excited, eager, and hungry to work with you. 

After decades of preparing myself and others for high-level industry meetings, I have found three important questions which, if answered, will prepare you to shine like a star in any presentation, meeting, conference or audition. 

Knowing and practicing the answers to these three questions will enable you to talk about yourself masterfully.   They’ll also add focus and drive to your career.

Question #1: Who are you like? 

Name 5 successful artists/people/businesses in your field that you are similar to.  Who do people compare you to?  Whether the resemblance is physical, personality, or just an intangible essence- who are you like? 

People cannot spread the word about something unless they have some reference-points that will help other people understand it.  

What are 5 successful examples of people (bands, artists, businesses) in your field that have something in common with you?

“As a comedic actor I’m like Ben Stiller meets Jason Schwartzman meets Adam Sandler meets Josh Radnor meets Paul Rudd. ”

“Our band sounds like the Beatles meet Daft Punk”

“Her comedy feels like Ellen Degeneres and Woody Allen had a baby.”

“Our restaurant is the McDonald’s of Greek Food.”

Right now, try to write down your 5 examples.  You may need to call friends for help.  

Question #2: What do you want and who are the gatekeepers?

Write the three goals you want to achieve in your career this year and who you need meet with to attain them. Be specific.  For example, actors- is your dream job on TV, Film, Web or Theater?  Comedy or Drama?  Single-Camera or Multi-Camera? Which shows exactly?  Who are the casting people?  Decide.

“If you don’t know where you are going, you’ll end up someplace else.” -Yogi Berra

Question #3: Why are you doing this/ What is your inspiration?

Why do you love what you do?  When did you fall in love with your art, craft, or business?  How long have you cared about it?  Why is it important to you?  

People want to work with people who are passionate. 

How can you show your passion? Learn to talk about it.  

Conclusion:

Answer these questions at home.  Then, have a friend read you the questions and get comfortable answering them in front of another person.  Knowing how to talk about yourself, how to pitch your business- could be one of the most high impact activities that you can do. Start by knowing the answers to these three questions.  The results (clarity, focus, confidence, and purpose) should be satisfying and immediate. 

Please share your thoughts with me and sign up for my newsletter at http://www.standupcomedyclass.com/

Acting or Scene Study Classes – What’s the Difference?

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By: Carolyne Barry

It is important to understand the differences between “Acting Classes” and “Scene Study”? Up until recently, because I never really thought about it, I believed they were synonymous. Even the dictionary does not differentiate. But after researching the concept, I now know there is a big difference and you should to.

I believe the major distinction is like the difference between a “house-building” class and a carpentry class. One has an instructor to oversee the construction of the project, and directs the student carpenter on what needs to be done to the walls and railings, etc, -helping direct him/her to build that particular house before moving on to the next one. Whereas in a carpentry class the instructor teaches each student how to master the use of each tool, thus making him a master carpenter first, before empowering him to go off with confidence in applying his skill set on most any project. For the actor, who has no clear set of “tools,” he will eventually be lost without his scene study teacher, who in many cases held the actor’s hand until the scene was brought to fruition, – thus giving actors a false sense that they are ready to tackle countless scenes that have yet to even be written. In contrast, in a good acting technique class, the tools to be a great actor are taught first, and then applied to scenes, making the work more about the growth and creativity of the actor than the fulfillment of the scene as the teacher interprets it. In short, a scene study class may make him or her feel good about their work, but in truth they will learn more about their scene than they do about themselves as artists.

For those more dedicated to developing the building blocks to strong techniques (especially new actors) then “acting classes” are the way to go. I personally recommend starting with an acting class with a teacher who is using established techniques or maybe their version of it (which many do). Training this way gives new actors the foundation and tools to eventually not be dependent on their teachers to create quality auditions and work. This is why I am a fan of new actors as well as some self-proclaimed professionals starting their training with ACTING classes.