Talent and creative types are not particularly known for their attention to detail and organization. The world knows this and has been kind enough to offer it’s services for your needs without having to hire a secretary or rely on your mom. Better yet, the world would much rather have you focused on the creative endeavors that make you a talent in the first place – please, entertain us! However, until a talent has a secretary or publicist willing to dot their i’s and cross their t’s, organization and detail are something in which to pay close attention.
The basic talent resume can take a variety of formats, but the key ingredient is that each acceptable format is always easy to read. The client, CDs, and agents must be able to quickly find key information and the talent’s ability to help them do so is vital to that talent’s success.
I’ve heard talent say, “My resume is messy so it looks full and I look experienced. No one ever reads it, right?”
Wrong. Clients skim for the most pertinent information to their project. If they see it, you’re in. If they don’t, you’re out. Typically, they will look for a few seconds before tossing it into one of the two respective piles mentioned.
I also hear, “My resume is so beefed up that I can’t fit everything!”
Well, congrats on all those credits! (Hopefully it isn’t overflowing with just training!) Now is your chance to pick and choose. Take credits off that just take space, but don’t sell quality. Or don’t list your training credits at all. In this case, you can list the category and then make an asterisk note like **full list available upon request**. It can still only be one page.
Grammar is another area where talent find themselves looking inept. Were you a Principle or a Principal actor? Well, if you were playing an idea, theory, or concept in an abstract play, perhaps you really were a Principle. But if you were a main actor or lead character, you were a Principal.
Use your spell check! Some kind soul created a tool that would actually help you avoid silly mistakes, but even that needs to be double checked sometimes. Spell check might tell you that “appalling” is spelled correctly when it should have been “appealing.” Ouch!
Your resume should reflect well upon your abilities and professionalism. Set yourself up for the respect of the industry by taking the time to reflect on what you are putting out there!
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