Commercial Print Instructor, Scott Powers provides information that just may help advance your career.
How ridiculous. What's that got to do with their success? A lot
more than you think. There are many elements that go into the making of a
successful career and a career profile and this is an unusually
important one. It's always part of a successful actor's career.
They
learned a long time ago that hiring is subjective. How competitive it
is, how many clones of themselves there are out there. How to get the
upper hand? Shave points in their favor? In a business notorious for the
"me, me, me" syndrome by too many less than courteous individuals, they
turned it around: choosing to focus on how to help the person who can hire them or
represent them and show appreciation back. They didn't HAVE to be called
in, after all, and they have never lost sight of that.
That's
why they find ways of thanking those who are in a position to hire them
or represent them. In person during an audition or interview - Thank
You! Or, Thanks for giving me this opportunity! and then again in a
postcard and/or email after that audition or interview. You would be
amazed how a little appreciation goes a long way. You catch more flies
with honey than you do with vinegar.
There may also
come a day when you might need a favor from one of "them." If someone's
been consistently appreciative, "they" will be far more willing to do
that much needed favor. "They" may be less inclined to do something like
that for a taker.
Lesson to be learned: two words pack a
big wallop in this business: Thank You. Find a way to use them as often
as possible. You'll be pleasantly surprised by the results that start
coming your way.
Leave the boatload of excuses,
attitude, bitterness, meanness, self-entitlement, revengefulness and
other manifestations of negativity outside the door. "They" have their
own set of problems, "they" don't need or want yours. Why do you think
therapists were invented? They get paid to listen to peoples' problems
and tales of woe, all wrapped up in a thunder cloud of negativity, for a
price.
PS: What's the companion to "Thank You?" "Be nice." So simple. Be nice to those who can hire or represent you.
PPS:
What's the companion to the companion? We heard this from an actor we
recently booked on a movie: "Thank you for the work." Those words cut
through all the day's clutter. A beam of white light. So sweet. We
stopped to appreciate what we just heard. And we'll hire him again.
Too
often you don't know who can help you or who can hurt you. There is not
one actor out there who cannot be replaced. We see this in action every
day. Make "them" want to hire you, to be part of their universe. We
track actors' successes (or failures) and these principles are always in
their successes, or missing in their failures.
You have the choice. We all write our own books. Your book should be on the Best Seller list,
not on the remainder pile. And, you can do it. And as a parting little
secret, there are more "industry people" out there who are behind you -- rooting
for you and want you to succeed -- than you would ever know. Now go knock
it out of the park.
These two words can open up endless opportunities and most importantly create a domino effect on society.
What have you experienced after saying the words "Thank you"?
Saying 'thank you' is not only the polite thing to do, it really can make people remember you. After one job, I mailed a note and my 'talent' business card to a director who actually called me to say this was the first time he'd ever received a hand-written 'thank you' note. He'll remember me.
Posted by: Mike Harris | 02/26/2013 at 12:28 PM