A few days ago, I wasn’t sure which of the topics from my ever-handy list of “future columns” would be the one I’d bring together during Emmy Sunday, so I tweeted: Hmm… I haven’t decided on a topic for Monday’s @ActorsAccess column yet. Any requests from you fine folks?
Well, the lovely Ramón Olmos Torres tweeted back: Networking for actors at large trade shows? Signed up for NY ShowBiz Expo. Aside from the headshot lane submission my plan was to meet CDs at booths.
Ah, I replied, via Twitter, in a one-line assessment: Like Actor Fest? Most booths will be sales-y (with actor services), not casting directors.
But then I thought about it, and realized I had experienced enough of these things in my life (first as an actor, then as an employee of company that runs ’em, then as a panel moderator, an exhibitor, a panelist, and finally a booth “special guest”) that I could possibly share some survival tips.
First: Get your expectations in order. There will be long lines. There will be lots of actors. There will be questions about where you’re supposed to go, and when (despite loads of signs posted all over the place). Parking will be expensive. Lunch will be too. The day will be long and you’ll encounter more than a few whactors who make you wish you weren’t lumped in with them, in the minds of the buyers. You will also experience panels and talks and Q&As that inspire you, charge you up, and remind you how proud you are to call yourself an actor.
The amount of facetime with agents, managers, casting directors, producers, directors, publicists, showrunners, writers, and such will be minimal. Sure, most of these trade shows offer breakout sessions and opportunities to experience these folks in small-group settings, or even limited one-on-one sit-downs, but you will have to register early, show up early, wait a long time, and then still be at your best for those brief bits of time you’ll share together. The way to make the best out of that experience involves doing your research ahead of time. Don’t sit down across from someone and then ask, “What do you cast?”
And don’t choose a sit-down with just anyone, simply because she’s casting something. Research what these people cast and know whether you’ve even got a shot at being seen for a co-star on the project, before wasting that valuable time. Then, you can do meaningful follow-up, later. But if you’re just going with a stack of headshots, tossing them into the bins (wanna see the bins, watch this vid), and thinking you’re getting ahead of anyone who’s doing a mass mailing from home that same day, you’re mistaken.
Go for what you can learn. Be ready to be sold to like you’ve never been sold to before, on that trade show floor. Booth after booth after booth, overflowing with reps for actor services, photographers, retouching and reproduction houses, online collectives, classes, classes, and more classes, even religion. In addition to flyers and samples and other paperwork-like things, most booths will offer candy or gum or pens or keychains or some other sort of swag for you to toss in your bag (usually provided by the trade show itself, along with your event program, map, and schedule). Yes, it’s a bribe to get you to stop by. Please at least pretend to listen to their pitch while you open your Blowpop.
There may be drawings for prizes or “today only” discounts. Be ready for those. You may have to give away your email address in exchange for some stuff. A small price to pay, but be ready for the marketing to hit your inbox within hours of the event. At the booths, sometimes, you’ll get great demos for products or services you were always curious about (yay! Try before you buy) and, now and then, reps will spend loads of time answering your questions — even if you’re already a customer and they’re not going to get a new sale out of you. That’s always cool to me, to get a sense of the people behind the brand!
Occasionally, booths will feature special guests during certain hours, to draw attention. I’ve done one-on-one resumé formatting consults for the SAG booth and mini-Self-Management for Actors consults for Showfax over the years. Paying attention to the schedule — especially things you can find ways to experience between the “bigger things” you’re there to attend — can make a difference in the quality of your trade show experience, for no extra fee.
Brace yourself for a long day. Carpool if you can. Make sure you read everything the producers send you ahead of time, so you’re prepped for the type of experience you’re going to have, and know where to be — and when — for the premium events you may have purchased on top of your attendance fee. Do that research in advance. Wear comfortable shoes. Be patient and don’t expect that you’re going to “get discovered” by a casting director who happens to be there for 75 minutes, seeing hundreds of actors.
Networking may happen, but the goal should be learning. Go. Learn. Enjoy.
Bonnie Gillespie is living her dreams by helping others figure out how to live theirs. Wanna work with Bon? Start here. Thanks!
Originally published by Actors Access at http://more.showfax.com/columns/avoice/archives/001398.html. Please support the many wonderful resources provided by the Breakdown Services family. This posting is the author’s personal archive.