After picking myself up of the floor, after falling off my chair laughing (I vaguely remember my Grande Soy Vanilla Latte being sprayed on the walls...), I quickly called said friend - we'll call him "X" - and told him to ask for a refund, as he had been clearly ripped off. Sadly, he was unable to get his purchase back and, as far as I know, he has yet to be able to redeem his "special."
" X" and Groupon aside, I think quite a number of people who are just starting out in the industry tend to fall into the same traps as my friend did - the belief that "paying your dues to get started" is a literal, monetarial statement (A/N - I made that word up. I like it. It works. Take that, Webster.) So, humor me and allow me to clear up a few misconceptions.
Myth #1 - "I need to pay for a good agent." AKA - "Give me $300 and I will get you a role by next week."
FALSE - not only is this false, but it should cause warning bells to clang in your head, causing your fight and flight instinct to kick into high gear. NEVER - let me repeat, NEVER - pay anyone claiming to be an agent upfront. No agent can guarantee you work, and no agent worth his salt will ask you to make such a financial investment. The truth is, an agent doesn't get paid unless his talent works - and most agents typically get 10 - 15% (20% is also common in L.A. and NYC) of what a project pays, AFTER said project is completed.
Myth #2 - "I need a manager."
FALSE - While most of us would love to have someone manage our day-to-day commitments and life decisions, the truth of the matter is, unless you are high up on the StarMeter, you don't need a manager. In fact, at this point in the game, you are your best manager, as you know what you want to do and where you want to go in the industry. A manager, while good at organizing your daily bookings and getting you seen, will take anywhere from 15-20% of your salary - and that's on top of the 10-20% your agent gets. If you insist on finding one, remember that a good manager doesn't advertise.
Myth #3 - "I can use regular photos as my headshots." OR "I can use my headshots from last year."
FALSE - I actually chuckled while writing that. Forgive me. I've heard these two lines so many times, i feel like I should make a T-shirt with my answer. Imagine going to a 5 star restaurant, asking for their finest wine, and being served said wine in a paper cup. Not very attractive or appealing. True, it's still the same wine, but the preparation and presentation don't make for a good impression. The same is true of a headshot. A headshot is meant to attract and grab a Casting Director's attention - the attention to detail and lighting, while subtle, can and do make all the difference between getting a Call Back and not being able to pay rent. Take my advice - take your Groupon money and the dollars you've saved from not "buying" an agent, and invest in good, quality headshots.
Now, with that said, it's important to understand that headshots need to be updated every 6-8 months - more frequently for minors and young actors. Also, any time you change your physical appearance - hair color, hair length, weight, etc - you MUST get new headshots made. In other words, if you don't look like your photo anymore, it's time to get new ones. When I am casting for a movie or tv show, I am given very specific breakdowns by the Director - if I ask you to come in for an audition because your headshot shows you with blonde hair, you better show up with blonde hair.
So, there you have it - my " Trifecta of Talent Truisms" - or something like that. I will step off my soap-opera box now and go back to surfing the Internet - hmm, Groupon has a deal on beach-front property in Arizona...
Teri can be found on facebook HERE.
Her company, Controlled Chaos Productions can be found HERE and on facebook HERE
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