So, I cast this show called Bite Me and the team did a huge thing at VidCon which attracted over 6000 audience members. It was a screening. Hot. The same team did a smaller thing at VidCon which attracted exponentially fewer people. It was a panel discussion moderated by the showrunner, with panelists including the writers, producers, director, and cast members. Less hot? Well, smart actors who are targeting projects that leap from web to TV, that go from indie to studio — they were at the panel discussion, asking intelligent questions while totally on-brand, gathering information about their target buyers and collaborators, adding info to their Show Bibles.

A few months ago, my husband attended a 25th anniversary DVD release talk and signing going on for an old hit TV series. Yes, he’s a fan of that series, but more importantly, he’s developing a series of his own and knows he’d love to use the showrunner of that show on his show, should it ever get the coveted greenlight. He showed up to this signing and there were about 50 people in attendance. Everyone got facetime with the cast and crew. More importantly, there were all sorts of nuggets shared about how this crew WORKS, as well as the NEXT project on which the core crew is working. (Go figure: People schedule signings for releases related to decades-old projects when they happen to have something new and cool coming up.)

Last summer, I hosted a talk with True Blood star Chris Bauer put on by the SAG Foundation. He shared more solid, proactive, actor-YES info in an hour than I’d heard in a good long while, as a moderator of actor talks around town. He gave insight into the network testing process, talked about training that actually matters, and we discussed the future of this business. Totally focused, so very positive, and the room was filled with maybe 75 people. I thought to myself at the time, “Do actors just not KNOW about the cool shit going on all over town, daily, here?”

Well, regular readers of this column already know how much I blather on about the importance of Google Alerts and the brilliance in actually using them for proactive actor stuff! While others fire off template-based emails to their contact lists asking for help with referrals to make the next tier-jump, you get to actually get OUT THERE and connect with people who could make a huge difference for you. You’re building your Web of Trust, of course, and it’s not done simply, but it’s done through thinking a few steps ahead. Attending film festivals in order to go to panel discussions moderated by people on your target list, hitting networking events in order to schmooze with people who are creating content that will redefine this industry, staying plugged in and GOING when everyone else is choosing to complain about a lack of auditions on Facebook… these things will give you the edge.

Especially if you are in a market like Los Angeles, there are infinite things going on that can make the difference, if you’re willing to plug in. Seriously. Get out there.


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/001526.html. Please support the many wonderful resources provided by the Breakdown Services family. This posting is the author’s personal archive.

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