Sound Advice Newsletter

May 2010 · Newsletter Archive

"And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom."

- Anais Nin

How To Get An Agent

In an attempt to continually assist our SOUND ADVICE clients in their on-going pursuit to secure proper representation (ideally from a handful of sources nationwide), the following game plan has been designed to help you better focus your efforts. This is the most up-to-date promotional process available to effectively secure representation as a professional talent.

Remember: NEVER wait to promote yourself directly to Ad Agency Creatives (producers, copywriter and those mostly likely to hire you). You must continually make yourself known and establish yourself as a brand. Keep in mind, this is an on-going process until you secure the sort of representation that is yielding you consistent, steady work.

The SOUND ADVICE 8-Week Promotional Process of Pursuing Representation from the Talent Agents

We suggest you pull all your materials together for a couple weeks in advance of sending them out, prepping them over a weekend when you have a day or two—but be sure to get them out as quick as you can to expedite this process.

Please... BE SURE TO INCLUDE YOUR CELL#, EMAIL ADDRESS AND WEB ADDRESS ON EACH AND EVERY CORRESPONDENCE!!!! Be sure to highlight your web address on each postcard and correspondence you send out. It may sound silly to mention it, but we’ve seen it too often to mention, from very intelligent folks who’d never miss a simple, albeit vital step like that. We mention it because it's easy to overlook some of the very basic and most essential items when you first start doing this stuff! So be sure to check all your materials and make sure they ALL have your complete contact info.)

Here’s what you write and send each week!! (You can copy the notes verbatim or vary them slightly, but be consistent on getting something out EVERY week! Ideally mid-week (Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday) and aim for that day each week throughout this process. The point is you don’t want to render the power of repetition useless by essentially sending the agents two pieces of promo that they’d receive on the same day, which is precisely what would happen if you sent a disc on Friday and an email on Monday and they happened to be out on Friday. No harm done if you do, it’s just we want to offer access to you and what you do on a more drip, drip, drip basis, rather than a tsunami-effect—all at once, no time to react or take it in.

The SOUND ADVICE Promotional Process is as follows:
Again, you can do any order of this you like, as long as something goes out each week for at least eight consecutive weeks.

Week #1) Send a DEMO in CD form.
"I'm interested in representation. Looking forward to meeting you at your earliest convenience." (DO NOT send your note on a post-it, please. Instead, use your computer and print out your note on address labels if your handwriting is chicken-scratch and not very presentable.)

Week #2) This is a note sent on the back of one of your demo postcards.
"Please access my web page to hear my demos. I look forward to meeting with you very soon regarding representation."
(Place this info on a return address label with this message on the back of your postcard. Be sure to HIGHLIGHT your web address.)

Week #3)

"I'm anxious to learn whether you have my type in your talent pool."

Here’s a clever idea SOUND ADVICER Heather Marrone thought up! She took some simple card stock that complimented her graphic and add one of the many left over C-Shell labels inside… transforming these into instant Thank You notes or added promo that continued to further her brand and her web site! INGENIOUS!! Way to go, Heather!!

Week #4)

"I'm interested in representation. Looking forward to meeting (or speaking with*) you at your earliest convenience."

Week #5)

"I've recently updated my demo tracks. Looking forward to meeting you regarding representation."

Week #6)

"Looking forward to meeting you soon regarding representation."

Week #7)

"I'm very interested in working with your agency. Please access my demo tracks from my web site. Looking forward to meeting you some time soon."

Week #8)

"Please access my web page to hear my demos. I look forward to meeting with you very soon regarding representation."

Continue to “rinse and repeat” UNTIL you secure the type of representation you are truly comfortable and happy with. THAT’S the goal!!

Now… by week 3 you will feel like all of this promotion is falling on deaf ears—let me assure you IT'S NOT!! KEEP GOING!! You will never accomplish anything if you stop now.

And it may be a tough pill to swallow, but the truth is it may take at least THREE full rounds (yes, 24 consecutive weeks or more) of this process to secure the sort of representation that works best for you. Frankly that’s a small price to pay when you consider most talent literally waste years floundering doing absolutely NOTHING but expecting someone to come along make something of them, rather than the other way around. Ironic really.

The fact remains even though last summer the very same agent didn't need you and may have said, "Thanks, but no thanks." (Or they didn't respond at all.)... three to four months later they may be more receptive to you due to changes in the market, a change in their talent pool (someone similar to you may have left) or there's been a change in their management that may alter their perception of you, their work or their client demands.

This industry changes dramatically every four to six months, so a fresh approach may yield greater results and only a few short months after “giving it your all” last year or the earlier part of this year. Stay the course and DON'T GIVE UP!!

This process works very, very well, but you must be tenacious! A quality vital to ANY talent if they expect to see results and become successful. Tenacity is NOT random motion. It's targeted and relentless. So keep that ball in play. It will propel you farther than just about anything else. Yes, even farther than talent or experience!

Now you know what makes up at least 90% of your job.

Besides, God forbid, the ONE agent you happen to develop a wonderful rapport with suddenly up and joins the Peace Corps or runs off to paint in Tahiti instead of remaining your agent for the rest of their natural days. You’ll be prepared to take the reigns and run your career and make yourself familiar with who the true players are in this business. You're no longer left to the mercy of others.

The ball is in your court and it’s in play. So, PLAY!

Applied Silliness Enjoys a Massive Surge in Hilarity

Here’s a totally cool game I KNOW you will enjoy playing from renowned artist, voice-over and actor, Jim Meskimen that I am totally excited about!! You see, Jim’s known for doing nearly ALL the voices on those very cool, often-political Jib-Jab spots. Anywho, check out this link to Jim’s YouTube Channel that sprang out of his ‘Applied Silliness Newsletter’ and play the caption the cartoon game! It’s fun, it’s clever and it offers a great opportunity to do something interactive! Whatta blast!! Thanks, Jim! Have fun! www.appliedsilliness.com.

www.youtube.com/jimmeskimen

Time Will Tell

Here’s something you’ve got to see.
Gives one pause and makes you think.
Especially when we ask the question, “So what does all this change in media… change in technology mean? Where’s it all going?”
Click below and decide for yourself.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=cL9Wu2kWwSY

So, what’s a session really like… ?

Honestly? Exactly like this… only in the States, it’s for TV and you’d be standing:
www.promax-uk.org/result/promaxvideo2col/440.jsp?v=81&n=10023

The SOUND ADVICE Encyclopedia Updates –and-

Our On-Line Tutorials

Well, the day has finally arrived! Scads of new material is now rolling out… including: updates on promotion, on web sites, photographers (if that applies to you), changing technology, graphics and loads of pertinent items to assist you in expanding to the next level of your career. A month from now, we should have some dramatic changes to pass on to you which we’ll do through our trusty Newsletters and weekly emailers! So stay tuned.
Further, we’ll be rolling out On-Line Tutorials very soon that will feature recorded coaching sessions taking you through vocal warm ups, performance theory and it’s application to truly sharpen your skills regardless of your skill level, as well as effectively breaking any script down on the fly and finding numerous performance options while remaining within the perimeters of the production. FUN stuff! No kidding!!
So, we continue to expand and evolve in the best way possible for all concerned! Looks like it’s going to be a really, really exciting summer!! So, enjoy the Spring while it’s among us… ‘cuz here comes the next big thing and it’s got rocket fuel!