GROOMING

Monkey’s do it!  Humans should, too.  And although it should go without saying, apparently it needs to be said.  The basics of grooming are imperative to any talent’s success.

We’ve beat a dead horse discussing all the visual ways in which a talent is judged.  Although no one likes it during the casting process, the talent chosen for any booking is usually first narrowed down by physical appearance.  Our physical appearance is forefront in publicity, in portrayal of character, in marketing, and in everyday life.  Psychology studies have found that humans make judgments based on what they see within five seconds.  The scene will be set in that 5 seconds for the next 5 minutes, 5 hours, or 5 days you will spend with that client.  Oddly, talent focus so much on other details that sometimes grooming habits take a back seat.

Before walking into a casting or onto a set, check your teeth.  The breakfast you ran out of the door eating may not highlight those pearly whites.  Brush your hair.  It’s not uncommon to see talent with tangled locks or frizzy ends.  Wash your hair.  Snapshots are likely to be taken and shared with decision makers later on.  Oily hair or skin is likely to be what they are looking for.  Paint your nails.  Women with chipped polish or unattractive feet who dare to wear strappy sandals anyway are not putting their best foot forward – literally.  Maintain your skin.  Dry and flakey skin is unattractive no matter where it is.  Using lotion and plucking unsightly hair growth is a must.  (That goes for the men, too!)  And please shave!  Cultures may differ, but entertainment maintains clear boundaries on body hair across cultures – it’s not acceptable.  You don’t have to like it, but you do have to do it if this is the business you are building.  Underarm hair, five o’clock shadows, gruff that hasn’t been cleaned up well, and even out-of-control eyebrows need to be manicured.

There.  I said it.  We are all guilty of letting something go when we get busy, but don’t let it be your grooming before an audition or shoot!

When have you seen a talent auditioning or on set who needed the grooming patrol to step in?

Comments

[angela]

love this! so glad you are telling it like it is! =)