Some actors get further along in their careers and develop a Pain In The Ass factor. Some actors bring their POA factor to this business from the get-go and have to be humbled before learning how their behavior might prevent folks from wanting to work with them. I hope you have a POA factor of 0. Continue reading
Focusing Only On The Hustle (aka Ignoring the Craft)
Spark up the interwebs, and you’ll see some pretty active voice over talent online. They are blogging, tweeting, giving advice, connecting with one another, starting groups on facebook, and posting ad nauseum to online message boards. Most of these folks have some very sound advice to offer talent who have questions, and for that I am extremely appreciative. These mensches have taken the time to demystify the business of voice over (herein I shall call the “hustle”). Side benefit for these social media mavens is that they’ve built a wonderful platform for themselves as voice over experts. Continue reading
Well I just finished covering this subject at The Actors’ Network, but wanted to blog about it in a slightly different fashion. We use phrases like “Monday morning quarterback” and “Hindsight is 20/20″ to remind ourselves that when it is over or past…it is easy to know Continue reading
It has officially begun, even if well, it isn’t so official…or professional rather. Recently I received an email from, a Hollywood talent agency accepting new talent for those, “Seeking Representation.” The agency is called H-V-N Talent So here is a little story by an actor regarding this new “LEGIT – Licensed” agency. In the words of the actor: Continue reading
Come one come all actors and parents of actors!
For the first time, since 1991, Kevin E. West (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0922184/), veteran television actor and the Founder/President of The Actors’ Network, will give (2) actor business presentations available to NON-members!! This opportunity has never existed prior to now.
Since 1991 Kevin E. West and The Actors’ Network have been the benchmark for information and education on the business aspect of pursuing a performance career in Hollywood! This is your opportunity, without being a member of The Actors’ Network, to come listen and learn from its creator and President. You may now have the chance to listen to a veteran working actor from whom thousands of actors have benefitted for more than 20 years. The presentations are 90 minutes in length, and only cost $10. However, they are limited strictly to the first (50) registrants, so act fast.
Each event is $10! Event description, info and registration click here:
http://www.actors-network.com/nonmember-events
Tuesday, June 26 from 4:30pm – 6:00pm: Title (Demo Material Decisions)
&
Thursday, June 28 from 6:30pm – 8:00pm: Title (Agent v. Manager, What to do?)
“Kevin E. West is the consummate professional. he is one of the most ethical, intelligent, talented, pro-active,
pro-actor people I’ve ever known. Kevin’s extensive experiences, passion and ability to communicate make him the best person I know to assist actors. Hollywood is a business that has a lot of unspoken and ever-changing rules lead to a lot of mistakes which cost actors time, money and emotional strength. To have someone like Kevin on your side to help you get through Los Angeles without having to make all of the same mistakes… is invaluable.”
Lonnie Hamerman, Casting Director
Without a Trace, Monk, Angel, Buffy the Vampire Slayer
So it is officially mid-June…where is your Representation? Since my first year in Los Angeles all I have been doing since that day, I think sometimes, is altering things that people told me where absolutely true…because I’ve learned…they just aren’t. One of those many Hollywood myths is that there are only two times per year to get a “new representative.” Well, I absolutely disagree, but what I am willing to concede Continue reading
I was talking with a very talented VO artist the other day, and she had something stuck in her craw. She had just been at an audition for a project she already auditioned for. Not a callback scenario, but an actual audition where the producers directly called her in to read, even though she knew she had read on the same role a week earlier through her agency. Instead of taking it personally and wondering why they didn’t respond to her first audition, this wonderful VO talent went in and knocked ‘em dead with her read. Continue reading
I love auditions where my agent calls me last-minute to go into casting. Usually, a last-minute call means they haven’t found the right talent yet, or they’ve had so many cancellations, they’re trying to fill slots with actors who are available to show up. In the voice over world, it’s a great thing to be called into a casting director or producer’s office to audition because your shot at the job is much greater than auditioning virtually against 2000 other MP3s. Instead, you’re up against 15-50 other actors.
Continue reading
In the interest of truly “checking out” and taking a well-earned vacation, I booked out with my voice over agents. I warned the agents and any client I did a job for within 3 weeks of my departure that I would not be bringing my travel mic with me. Since I was traveling overseas, I didn’t want to bring the travel mic, even though it only adds a couple of extra pounds to the travel weight. I was determined to get away from it all! Continue reading
Another way to enter the public speaking arena with your solo show is through a booking agent. In general, public speaking booking agencies are separate and different from LA/NY-style talent agencies; they deal just with public speaking. Continue reading
