Are Headshots your “Golden Ticket”?

Photos by Professional Headshot Photographer in LA:  Vanie Poyey

Guest Blog by Kathy L. Young

© Erin Sullivan

Talent Manager and Career Coach Kathy L. Young has a passion for educating and leading the next generation of actors to industry success. She opened the doors of “Actor’s Classroom” to help actors who are beginning or refreshing their careers. Her unique, personalized management style benefits her actors which receive an individualized plan for their success. Kathy’s students have appeared on all major prime time and cable networks and have booked over 50 SAG national and regional commercials.

“In  the classic movie Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, Charlie and his Grandpa Jo sing,
”Cause I’ve got a golden ticket
I’ve got a golden chance to make my way
And with a golden ticket, it’s a golden day”

As a talent manager and career coach, I find that many actors are searching for the “golden ticket” to career success.  As I have spent time with actors, I have come to understand and relate to their thought process–”If I get new headshots, then I will find a new agent. If I get better headshots, then I will go out on better auditions.” And if I have great headshots, then I will book a great job.”

Because my desire is for each of my actors to be successful, I teach them that focusing on headshots alone is the “golden ticket mentality”. Tragically, I have seen this mentality only lead to disappointment and frustration. I instead educate them on all three components of a successful career: Marketing, Training and Representation.  Because headshots only fall within the marketing component, an actor should ask themselves these questions to include all components:
1) Is my resume up-to-date and formatted in a professional way to best market myself?

2) Am I currently enrolled in consistent and beneficial acting training?

3) Am I building up my career team who is advising me on my type/look/essences?

4) Am I auditioning on a regular basis ?
Overall, actors should always utilize these questions before proceeding with any career decisions. By answering these questions, actors will have a more well-rounded view of their career and path to success and ultimately avoid the trap of the “golden ticket mentality.”

For more sound advise, Kathy can be reached via email at coach4crossroads@yahoo.com

If you’ve fallen into the trap of the “Golden Ticket Mentality”, share your thoughts here and share this post!

 

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Do you know what you’re selling?

Headshot Photography & blog by Vanie Poyey

Or do you try to figure out what others want to buy and conform to become attractive to them?

Last month I had two clients both just getting their feet wet and both a little unclear about what Hollywood wants.  Alexandra thought that she should hide her tattoos and Michelle thought that she should get all the popular looks agents typically ask for.

My advise to Alexandra was to show her tattoos because there is a place for her as the girl with tattoos.  Undoubtedly there will come along a roll that requires she walk in the door looking edgy.

As for Michelle, my advise was to capitalize on her stereotype and to get specific instead of broadening her range with looks that don’t represent her.

Remember the one quality that is unique to you is you.  Instead of trying to figure how you can fit in and be like everyone else, try being yourself and you will fit in.  If you have tattoos, don’t hide them, embrace them.  Capitalize on your look and on who you are!  Once you realize that what you’re selling is you and not what you think Hollywood wants to buy, you will have taken a very important step towards confidence and confidence always sells well!

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Do you celebrate the success of others?

Headshot Photography by Vanie Poyey

Or do you run off to your little corner jealous and resentful because you haven’t yet achieved the same success?   A friend and colleague, Blake Discher says, and I’m paraphrasing, “Don’t hang out with the guys grumbling in the corner about how they can’t get work”.  In fact he teaches a great seminar called Stop Grumbling-Get Out There.  Although it’s geared towards photographers, it’s great advise for any individual in the business of marketing themselves, actors included.

As you struggle through the business of acting, it’s important not to lose sight of the fact that every success story has a lot of struggle and a few failures behind it.  It’s also important to realize that everyone’s path to success will be different and only you can create the path for yourself.  What works for someone else may not work for you.

If you judge others and begrudge them their success, you are not taking into consideration the struggles they may have gone through either financially or emotionally to beget work in their field.  Even if in your eyes, they’ve had no struggles, instead of grumbling in the corner, congratulate your colleagues for their success and ask how they did it!  Genuinely expressing interest in their career automatically opens doors for you.  There is value in networking with those more successful than you.  After all, they might just need your type on the next project they work on!

As you navigate your way through the business, keep in mind that celebrating the success of those around you will bring the same success to you!

Share this blog with the friends who run off to the corner and share your thoughts in the comments below!

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