Top and Elite Agent , Annie Schwartz (President of Origins Talent Agency) is amazing!

She sent this note to her clients and I thought, this is pretty cool. Many times we wonder what we can do as actors to be more proactive. I love her steps in educating actors on what the agent is feeling and what Actors can do to make a difference. Check it out! Alexia

Pilot season has begun, and Origin seems to be on top of everyone’s list.  Last week alone, we had hundreds of appointments both theatrically and commercially, which speaks to what is going on in the industry right now.  As we all know the economy really dictates advertising and the ability for corporations to make decisions on future budgets, employees, and overall industry.  Going in to 2011, it’s apparent that people are slowly getting back to work and advertisers are beginning to spend money.  I don’t think the economy is surging by any means, but I do see signs that production is beginning to come back.  

Although pilots are all year round, it’s during this time that a large amount of development gets a green light and the casting process is in full swing.  We love this time of year because anything is possible and it’s exciting and busy all the time.

1.  Please make sure when you get an audition via email, that you get back to your agent as soon as possible.  We don’t have time to track you down and confirmations are imperative.  So if you don’t confirm, either way, you could loose your appointment.  If you have any questions or concerns about your meeting, call your agent’s office.  But please, check your email, and make sure you are on top of your career.

2.  Head shots, if you are planning on changing your head shots, great!  Choose a photographer that you love, and if you want a recommendation, we will be glad to help you, then once you have the pictures, pick out your top 20 choices, and send those to us.  We will take a look and let you know our favorites.  If we don’t see anything out of your 20, then we will request to look further.

3.  Commercially we are really stressing the importance of making sure your resumes are complete on LA Casting.  And if you have a demo reel, there is opportunity for us to use it, so have it available.  If you have a web site, please email us, and we will put it in our database, We can send potential opportunity to the web site all day long, but sometimes, they just want a link attached.  Make it easy for us to do our job and have your tools in place.  It’s the way the industry is working, and you either need to be the most proactive in your career or you could miss out on opportunity.

We are working extremely hard on your behalf to create every opportunity available.  Your commitment is vital in what we do as agents.  It’s important to be on the same page and work together to achieve the day to day goals.  Just remember, we do the very best we can, and although you may not always feel that we are working for you, or your career is not moving as fast, we wouldn’t represent you if we didn’t have a strong interest and desire to be a part of the process and journey with you.

Talk to you soon!

Annie

“Luck is Preparation Meets Success”

 Time management is the key to success in any business, but the life of a busy actor is different from any profession. Auditions and bookings can come up at a moment’s notice and juggling that in addition to a day job is essential.  Anyone can run around, to and fro, from here to there, running themselves ragged driving from audition to day job to callback to a location shooting, but don’t you want to feel like a million bucks day to day living the life of a “successful working actor?” 

 The most important thing you can do for yourself is to be supremely prepared every single day of your life, and love your amazing life today! 

 Here are four things to keep in mind…..

 1.  ACTING IS LIVING TRUTHFULLY IN IMAGINARY SITUATIONS –   Live truthfully today in your imaginary situation of “your dream has come true of being a successful working actor.” Let go of anything that stands in the way of your success and represents failure.  Declutter books, journals, objects, items, memories, people, ideas and “time spent doing anything that brings you down!”  Surround yourself with symbols of success, not failure.  Schedule in time to take care of this week, rather than next week, knowing it maters!

2.  ACT AS IF –  you are already a successful working actor, and maximize your success by preparing yourself for success … Then, it doesn’t matter where you are, where you’re heading, where you’re coming from and what’s going on … You will feel grounded, confident, and empowered to tackle any challenges!!! How would you ACT on a day to day basis if you were already a series regular on a hit television show?  Incorporate those actions into your daily schedule whether it’s working out, praying, meditating.

3.  PREPARATION is THE KEY – Always have your marketing tools in your car and with you at all times.  Your resume, headshots, DVD marketing reel, even your “audition outfits” should be at your fingertips. If you’re running low on headshots or your audition outfit needs to be altered, go and take care of it now. Schedule it into your calendar.  Don’t put off and wait until tomorrow what you can do today. Doing it today will relieve you of stress that will come when you are not prepared. Be prepared today for miracles!

4.  SCHEDULE TIME for YOUR CRAFT – There are 168 hours in one week, 24 hours in a day, 86,400 seconds in a day. You cannot roll over these minutes to the next day. If you had “millions of dollars of time” in the bank, and you had to use it every single day, what choices would you make? Plan in advance and schedule your time so you make the most of your day.

Create your luck and be prepared for success today!!!!  Maximize your time, expand your time, carve your time to fit you and your amazing life as a working actor!!!!  Remember, you cannot compare your life and your time to another.  The only thing you can do for yourself is fall in love with your unique beingness, life and gifts, and take every action step you know will contribute to the most positive outcome in your life where you will be leading your visionary life as a successful working actor!!!!

 Wishing you miracles on your magnificent journey today!!!

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