I hope this isnt too much of a common sense question, since I've never done it, but if you are given anywhere from 2 to 5 minutes with a CD at a meet and greet what sort of things should you ask them? I would think you'll show them your headshot and resume, but are there any crucial things you should do before its all over? I know i would want to get their contact information. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

quote:

Originally posted by Myntz84:
I hope this isnt too much of a common sense question, since I've never done it, but if you are given anywhere from 2 to 5 minutes with a CD at a meet and greet what sort of things should you ask them? I would think you'll show them your headshot and resume, but are there any crucial things you should do before its all over? I know i would want to get their contact information. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

wow..how can this be a relaxed situation?

Hmmm, maybe everyone should ask them why they are not holding their own free open calls instead of making talent pay a few hundred dollars for a few minutes of their time!

Perhaps if that room full of industry reps took $50.00 from the company's expense account, which they can write off at the end of the year as a business expense, put that money together and rented an inexpensive audition hall for a few hours and held an open call for new talent this would be proper business ethics!

getting grouchy in my old age seeing everyone spending so much $$$.

Good luck with your career! Perhaps you should try some showcases where you can really show off your talent in a more controlled situation.

Don't showcases cost money to particpiate in as well? It seems like there is no free way to be seen unless your seen in a theater show or do a mass mailing. (all though labels, envelopes, and what not add up too).

quote:

Originally posted by Myntz84:
Don't showcases cost money to particpiate in as well? It seems like there is no free way to be seen unless your seen in a theater show or do a mass mailing. (all though labels, envelopes, and what not add up too).

Hi

I think whatever an actor decides to participate in or if they are a parent of a child actor to make sure YOU have control over the situation...that it's a right fit for you, that you get to show the real talent you have and not in a pressured situation and not where its going to cost you way beyond anyone's budget just "because" there seems to be enticing names attached to these auditions. Best to search IMdb to make sure these reps have really cast for projects they list and make sure they have a roster of real working actors and especially with the kids, we've seen some names of industry reps who don't even have an active children's division nor have they cast any children's projects.

This industry has become a pay to be seen industry, however, I hope this 15 minutes of fame is over as well for those who have taken advantage when they could have provided open calls on the company's expense account, not on the actor's!

I just want to see control in the actor's hands and not have anyone feel like this is standard acceptable industry standards to make actors pay through the nose for representation.

good luck. I truly have no specific answers for anyone. I just know when the ball is in your court and you have control and all the research you can, along with networking..it's always a positive in the end.

I think personally, if I was going to do a "pay for play", I'd pick one that's a workshop or class - where the CDs are supposed to be TEACHING you something, and you get to perform for them. I can't understand the logic of what the OP described, which is apparently paying money just to MEET them and hand them a resume and headshot. How can they get to see your talent that way? What's the point?

quote:

Originally posted by TMR:
IHow can they get to see your talent that way? What's the point?

Exactly..it's just that no one has truly put their foot down and confronted this situation and hopefully this new advanced fee bill might address some of this.

It's marketed to entice everyone as Hollywood has come to them and especially vulnerable are the new actors who believe now that this is acceptable industry procedure. These are the people that ultimately will supposedly help their career, except on the flip side these reps are making a nice little second income feeling so entitled that they are actors SHOULD pay just to stand in front of them - knowing the actor just paid a few hundred dollars for 2 or 3 mins of their time!

So, again, you think why can't they have a free open call? All agencies have an expense account or can write something like this off..let them pay for an inexpenisve audition hall (dance studios offer space all the time and infact i know of some managers who hold open calls at dance studios). A few can chip in together and hold their own auditions, their dime and not the actors.

Of course, however, they would have to give up their second income to do that! Everyone's time they give up is worth something, however, it's not an acceptable industry procedure to have to pay for representation and a little feedback after a 2 minute rushed "audition" is the way they are avoiding saying it's just a meet and greet. There's more to an actor than just a few lines of a monologue.

The actors need to feel emplowered - they are the ones that should be interviewing the representation to make sure they feel comfortable and that the rep is not just there because they were invited but because the have serious openings on their talent roster and have respect for the actor who is facing them because they worked damn hard and are passionate about acting..more so than someone throwing their titles around and enticing actors and kids to these events.

Just all ironic. Total slow down of this industry and real working actors with credits are hurting but there always seems to be tons of these pay to be seen events with Hollywood's arms open to accept more actors!

I had to ramble..sorry. I just feel bad for those trying to do this the right way and not have their bank accounts emptied along the way.