How To Secure Your Future On The Stage

If you’ve ever followed the work of theater directors, you may notice that they often work with many of the same actors repeatedly. Whether you’re an actor, dancer, singer or model, it’s important to remember that cultivating relationships with decision makers in the entertainment industry is paramount to career longevity. If a successful director takes a liking to you, that could mean steady work for you for years to come.

So how do you make an impression on a director to help solidify your position and success in the industry? Here are a few tips:

• Try to memorize your lines before your first rehearsal. There’s no better way to blow a director away than by showing him or her that you’ve come prepared and ready to work.

• Always be on time (and preferably early.) I know I always stress this and you probably think I sound like a broken record, but in the entertainment industry time is money and there’s no such thing as being fashionably late.

• Come to rehearsal prepared to take notes. You can use a pencil to mark up your script or bring an extra notebook. Sometimes it’s difficult to remember all of the notes that the director will give, or changes in blocking, so make sure you write them down. And be sure to review these notes often so that they sink in.

• Be courteous of the staff and crew during rehearsal. Unnecessary chatter can be frustrating and distracting to others in the theater, so when you’re not rehearsing one of your scenes, stay focused so you’ll be ready to tackle your scene when it’s your turn.

One of the last rules of thumb is to always take great care of your costume and your props. Most costume directors will require that you leave your costume at the theater, however sometimes actors become absent-minded and may take a costume or prop home with them accidentally. I once had a friend who not only took a part of his costume home (a Starbucks apron) but also promptly lost it. He spent the next day driving to various Starbucks locations trying to buy an apron from one of the baristas. While it may sound like a funny story now - trust me - it was no laughing matter.

Are you ready to use these tips to impress theater directors and ensure a long-lasting, and successful career on the stage? Visit http://StarSearchCasting.com today and check out our casting calls for theater auditions in your area and abroad. Good luck!

Scam Watch – Fatal Photo Shoots

In 1992, 21-year old model Kimberly Pandelios told her husband that she was meeting with a photographer. However the man who’d led her to believe he was a photographer was actually a registered sex offender who lured Pandelios into the Angeles National Forest where he sexually assaulted and killed her. 
 

Kimberly was probably a lot like many young, aspiring models. She was beautiful, vibrant and eager to take on the world. She’d had some success modeling swimwear and lingerie when she’d discovered a model-wanted ad in a local weekly newspaper. She had hoped the opportunity would help her make some headway in her career. Instead, she met a tragic end.

Unfortunately, this story is not an uncommon one. And it doesn’t just happen to new models. Linda Sobek, a former Raiders cheerleader and Playboy model met a similar fate when she left her home to attend a photo shoot. In her case, the photographer who killed her was at the time a reputable photographer who had actually amassed a small fortune and some fame and who’s work had appeared in many automotive magazines. 
 

We often discuss the growing number of Internet scams that constantly target aspiring models, but one Star Search Casting member recently discussed the importance of remaining aware of the dangers that face models in the real world as well. Every day people reach out to aspiring models on the street, in stores, or through newspaper or online classifieds with legitimate offers. However, there are also criminals who use these same methods to lure models with malicious intent. 
 

To avoid becoming the victim of dangerous crime, always remember to:

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  Ask for references from photographers, agents or other industry professionals before agreeing to work with them.

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  Take a friend or family member with you to photo shoots and meetings with agents, photographers or other industry professionals, especially if you’ve not worked with them in the past and you have not secured the job through a reputable agency.

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  Be cautious of applying to blind ads in newspapers or online. If you choose to apply to these ads, be sure to thoroughly research the agency or photographer that you will be meeting with.

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  And last but not least, always go with your instincts. Intuition is one of the most powerful resources you have to protect you from dangerous situations. Therefore don’t get involved with a project or an agency if you have a bad feeling about it.

For more information on scams and crimes affecting aspiring models, singers, actors and dancers, log on to http://StarSearchCasting.com daily and review our entertainment industry Scam Watch.