Author: Jaci Rae
Source: articleage.com

If you are looking for a helping hand in the entertainmentindustry, then you’d do best to look at your own two. I know that sounds harsh, but if you’ve ever worked or tried towork in the entertainment industry you’ll know exactly what Imean. The myth of “being discovered” as you are walking down thestreet, sitting on an airplane singing, or even as you areperforming in a small nightclub or Town Hall in some small townUSA is simply that, a myth, another urban legend. (And trust me,if you hear someone tell you they were discovered that way, it’sprobably a marketing ploy they are trying to sell you on or theyinvited the “discoverer” to the venue or to walk down the streetwith them!) Put it this way, you have a better chance at winning amulti-state lottery with a $1.00 ticket, and then you’ll have ofbeing discovered this way in the entertainment industry. Themeaning of the word “myth” is: “false popular belief,” and fromthe letters and emails I receive there are a lot of falsepopular beliefs going around. The odds of “making it” big in the Christina Aguilera, StevenSpielberg, Claire Danes kind of way is far too great and wouldmake it seem impossible. So why try? Well some people do make itor there wouldn’t be any Christina Aguilera’s or StevenSpielberg’s out there. But let’s face it, the odds are still huge. There are literallymillions of aspiring artists, actors, singers, musicians,producers, film directors, etc. to, airplane games, every one that are actuallyemployed in their craft Statistics approximate this figure inthe range of only 2% of any of these individuals trying to gethired in these fields are actually able to pay their rentstrictly from their art. That’s pretty sgering. While the odds are sgering, it doesn’t mean you can’t “makeit.” However, I wouldn’t count on a lot of help from others inthe industry. The hands that may reach out to help you may alsobe the ones that are reaching for the same job or position asyou, and may end up pushing you down. Accept help from others,but keep a watchful eye out. Always remember that the helpinghands that you really need are your own two hands. You have ahand to help yourself, and a hand to help others. Remember theadage, “Those you pass by on your way up the ladder are the sameones you see on your way down.”You have to work hard, reach for every opportunity, be reliableand steadfast, and be in the right place in the right time. Youneed to watch the want ads, read the entertainment papers andfind out who’s who in the business. You really must socializeand above all, don’t pretend to be someone or something youaren’t. The business is already filled with too many individuals, airplane games, who arenot themselves and they can see through an act like that in aninstant. Frankly people in the industry are pretty tired of it.You’ll get more attention by being genuine. Be fresh andsincere. After all, it’s you that you’re selling not animitation of something or someone. You are all you have. If youdon’t let them see the real you, first and foremost, or if youdon’t believe in yourself and your own talents, then youshouldn’t be in the game in the first place. Can’t get an immediate job of your dreams in the entertainmentindustry? I suggest if you really want to be a successful actoror musician, think about taking another job in the industry toget into that venue. Get a job as a script person, a telephoneoperator (they know everything that goes on, so it really is agreat position), or a gofer (hey, you’ll be “going for this” and”going for that”, so you’ll have a chance to network and meetpeople!). If you want to be a musician, try to get hired as a roadie orsomeone who works on tour so you can get an in. The people whoare at the top, didn’t start at the top, so why should you? Bethe person who is willing to do the “dirty” work. Becomeappreciated and part of the regular crowd. You never know whenyou’ll be asked to sit in on a set and there you go! To be quite honest with you, the people that make the mostmoney, but also take the most risk in this business are thedirectors, producers, record companies, and studios. Of course,they also have the most power over your career. So when I saythat the only helping hand you should be looking for isyourself, keep that in mind. Part of what I’m advocating is thatyou learn how to manage your money and be sure to broaden yourhorizons. How many actors turn to directing too? If you are inone of those positions, you will be the one who has the mostpower over your career, not someone else. That’s another reasonwhy business courses and knowledge of accounting are soimportant. Take business courses specific to the entertainment industry.Learn to produce. There will always be someone over you who canmake or break you in the industry. And, at the same time, takeyou from financial fortunes to bankruptcy in the blink of aneye, and smile at you as they are doing it. So, do you, airplane games, reallywant to be an actor or musician who is broke? I don’t. You’llneed to manage your money wisely and learn to diverse.I do music and acting first and foremost because I really loveit. It is who I am, what I breathe, how I think. But I also wantto make money so that eventually I can devote full attention tomy music and acting in order to pay my bills and keep a roofover my head. So again, while I’ve learned to look no further than my own twohands, you need to know that ultimately, for all everyone else’sgood wishes and support may provide, you can’t count on anyoneelse but yourself. Just remember, it’s within your own power togenuinely outstretch one of those hands to another. Copyright 2005 Jaci Rae