Interviewing A Potential Acting Coach

Not everyone who professes to be an acting coach is actually qualified to teach you to become a better actor or actress. Therefore it’s important that before you pay for acting classes that you interview your acting coach to determine that they are: 1) trained and experienced and 2) capable of and excited about helping you reach your personal performance goals. A great acting coach will not only help you become the phenomenal actor or actress that you’d always dreamed of being, but also help guide you as you navigate the early stages of your acting career.

Once you’ve generated a list of acting coaches in your area, determine if they have a website. You may find much of the information you need to make a decision based on details provided on their webpage. If not, give them a call and be sure you ask the following:

- Do you have a list of your credentials?

- Can I sit in on one of our classes for free before I make my decision?

- How many students do you instruct in each class?

- Have any of your former students landed major theatre, television or film roles?

- Do you offer private instruction?

- Do you offer a refund policy if I’m unable to attend the remainder of my sessions due to unforeseen circumstances?

It’s very important that you get a list of your teacher’s credentials. There are many teachers who have worked in the industry and have many years of experience, but they don’t necessarily have formal training.

Additionally, many actors find that they get far more out of classes when the teacher limits the size of the classes. While private instruction on a regular basis isn’t necessary, it can be beneficial to have the option of private instruction in cases where you need to work one on one with your teacher or coach to prepare for an important audition, or work on material before your first day on set for a big role.

Elite Casting Network offers an extensive list of acting coaches and teachers on our website. You can also visit our community forum and ask other members for recommendations and referrals. Visit us today at http://www.EliteCastingNetwork.com.

Tips for Creating a Great Composite Card

If you’ve decided to have composite cards (also referred to as comp cards, model cards, or zed cards) made to showcase just how great of a model you really are then we’ve got some great tips for you. Clients hire models to successfully market and sell a variety of products. Therefore it’s important to keep in mind that your composite card is one of the tools you’ll be using to successfully market and sell yourself to the client.

When you’re having your composite cards made, it’s important to remember:

Your composite card should reflect the type of work you’re seeking. So if you’re interested in high fashion modeling, then those are the types of shots that you should include on your comp card.

Use technology to your advantage. If you’re interested in more than one type of modeling, then you should have more than one comp card. With advances in technology it’s easy and affordable to create multiple comp cards, and it will also make you competitive when you’re going after jobs.

Make sure you use a variety of shots. A good comp card features three or more photos and should include at least a strong headshot, body shot and an action shot.

Quality is key. Make sure that you use high quality images on your comp card. A professionally produced card also lets clients know that you’re serious about your career.

Don’t forget your stats! Your comp card should also include:

Contact information

Height

Weight

Bust size / Cup size

Waist size

Hip size

Dress size

Shoe size

Hair color

Hair length (short, shoulder length, long)

Eye color

Type(s) of modeling jobs preferred (i.e. commercial, fashion shows, runway, glamour, artistic, promotional, etc.)

Many Elite Casting Network members have their comp cards on their profile pages. Visit http://www.EliteCastingNetwork.com to see what some of our members’ comp cards look like or to get helpful advice and referrals from our members in our online forums.

Give It Your Best Shot

When you think of your favorite model, words like glamorous or natural beauty probably come to mind. And that can be intimidating if you’re interested in pursuing a career in modeling. You might be wondering if you have the natural talent to make it. Or if your flaws will hinder your success.

Stop worrying. Most models look so flawless and naturally beautiful because they’ve worked hard to overcome the challenges their flaws present through extensive preparation and camouflaging. So relax. Here are a few tips from the pros to give you an edge and help you take flawless photos that will wow agencies and clients:

• Practice posing in the mirror often to figure out the best angles of your body and face and then use those poses when you’re shooting with your photographer.

• Make sure you understand what type of image the photographer is trying to capture so that you’re able to nail it.

• Use your assets. If you have really great hair, learn how to use it to create creative poses.

• If you have a broad nose, avoid poses where your head is tilted down when facing the camera. Instead, turn your head at an angle and learn to use your eyes to engage the camera, and take attention away from your nose.

• If you’re not very curvy, arching your back can help you to accentuate your bust, creating a curvier look.

• If you have wide hips, turn your hips but keep your shoulders and head facing the camera to get a slimmer look.

Whether you’re taking test shots for your portfolio, or you’ve booked a photo shoot, there are lots of trade secrets you can utilize to help you give it your best shot. Go here http://Forums.StarSearchCasting.com to visit the forums on our website and network with other models to get more tips on taking great photos.