Acting Jobs - What's the Difference Between Booking and Not Booking?

This Article takes a quick look at how to deal with the uncertainty of the booking process.

We all audition and we all succeed and we all fail. Unfortunately there is no formalized system of feedback set up for actors so we walk out of a room either thinking that we did great...or not. What is more important is how we actually did and really we will never know how we actually did and what if anything we could have done to make things different. There are so many factors that determine a booking and most of them are out of our hands. What is the difference between a booking and just another audition?

Booking an acting job is always good news, but almost like winning the lottery so I don't make too much out of booking or not booking an acting job...but I did just book one. Actually it's a very significant film called Foxfire, based on a book by Joyce Carol Oates. Apparently it's a popular book and she's a prolific writer. It was made before in 1996 with Angelina Jolie but not well received. This time 'round, it's already been predicted to appear at the Cannes Film Festival...so I'm looking at flights, haha.

So what did I do to book the job? Who the heck knows? I did what I always do...my best. I didn't even book either of the jobs I was up for, so it's really a mystery in this case. That has happened twice to me already this year. I will say this, for the first audition I really worked on listening to the reader. In the past, I was very nervous about forgetting my lines and that is still my tendency, but I practice being very relaxed when I rehearse and listening with my body and trying to not focus my gaze anywhere specifically, just letting my eyes go where they may and 'feeling' it. So I was pleased with the read, but you never know, right?

I actually did the audition for Foxfire back in February, so it took them four months or so to make up their minds...so under these conditions, you see why it makes sense to forget your auditions once they are over. I would have had a nervous breakdown by now if I had been 'waiting' to hear if i booked it or not.

What I'm trying to get at here is that you can do your best auditions and not book and do a not so great one and book, so your main goals should be to just do good auditions. What you look like and sound like is more or less out of your control and in particular so is what other people look and sound like, so it just may boil down to looks, and what are good looks for one project is downright ugly in another, so don't worry about booking. Worry about performing!

Just in case you were wondering, here are a few of the determinants of a booking that you don't have control over.

Appearance - Depending on who they choose for the other roles, your look simply might not work. I have red hair so imagine if they cast all redheads. That would be an entirely different feel (more Steven King).
Personal Preferences - Sometimes, the tastes of the people doing the hire lean a different way. You could do the best audition objectively, but art/entertainment is a completely subjective process and 'beauty' is in the eye of the beholder. Preference is something no one is ever going to discuss so you will never know if that is the reason you don't book. Imagine, "You were the best auditioner, but we just like someone else better".
Politics - Hiring decisions can boil down to favors/nepotism/backscratching and so-on. These things are behind the scenes but I guarantee you will lose and gain many jobs in your life because of them.
Role Unavailability - I have read about people being cast in a role that I auditioned for before I even had the audition. Sometimes the decision has already been made or an offer is out and they are seeing people 'just in case'.

Good luck and be a hacktor.

Hi, My name is David Patrick Green. I've been a TV and film actor for the past seven years and have created a system to speed up your results and "get more acting jobs". I also have an MBA from the University of Southern California so I'm applying business principles to acting to reduce the time and cost of having the acting career you want in Hollywood or any other 'wood.

Learn more about yourself and how you can accelerate your acting career success at http://www.hackhollywood.com/

View the original article here

Making A Child Famous: What's The Meaning Of Prosperity Through Music?

Will my child become the next big star?

As a parent, you have high hopes and expectations for you child. That's perfectly natural. You want your kid to do better and to achieve more than you did. Basically, you want what's best for them.

I talk a lot about how music education can bring prosperity to your child's future. I would like to clarify what I mean by prosperity.

What I mean by prosperity is that music education will develop the skills necessary to succeed in life, regardless of what career your child chooses.

I don't want anyone to be confused here. What I don't want people to think is that music education will bring your child prosperity in the form of becoming a famous singer or musical artist. This is not the goal of music education. For me, prosperity is not becoming a celebrity.

The Meaning Of Prosperity Through Music

Prosperity is an advantageous situation where your child will get the most out of his/her education, and enter the working world with the skills that will be required in the future global economy.

It has been scientifically proven that music education increase test scores in Math, Science, and Reading. But besides test scores and grades, your child would actually develop an understanding of those subjects that noticeably surpasses their non-musical peers. I can tell one thing with the utmost certainty: there will be jobs for people that have skills in those areas.

Beyond those three subjects, music education develops social and emotional intelligences, which are highly important in the working world. We all know what it's like in the work place. It can be a tough social environment. It's tough to get along with co-workers from time to time. It's tough to convince your boss that you deserve a raise. It's tough to convince your manager of your ideas and how they can benefit the company. There are a million scenarios where social skills will really be useful in achieving your goals. Developing these skills give a person an advantage to succeed in the work place, not to mention building relationships and friendships.

What Kind Of Mind Will Be Valuable In The Future Economy?

Another huge bi-product of music education is developing the creative side of the brain. Creative minds are needed in today's technology-driven, globally-connected economy, and they will surely be needed in the future. One of the biggest drivers of an advancing economy is innovation. Without creativity and new ideas, an economy would completely stagnate. That means less jobs for everyone. Those who can create will have a place in the future economy.

Your Child Will Succeed In Life

The most important idea that I want you to walk away with from this article is that music education will develop a portfolio of skills necessary for your child to prosper and succeed in life. The goal of music education is not to become a big star or famous musical artist, or even a singer. That's not the prosperity I'm talking about. The skills that music education teaches can be used in any profession that your children chooses when they grow up.

Economic prosperity in the future will be for the people with the most skill sets. Take action in getting your child started in learning a musical instrument. Your child's education will be enriched and he/she will be on a path towards that end goal of economic prosperity that begins with developing a bright mind.

Tony Margiotta is the founder of The Musiconomy, a publishing company advocates musical training as an essential focus in childhood education and development. Sign up for the Free monthly newsletter and special report here:

http://www.themusiconomy.com/newsletter.html

Tony is the author of "A Parent's Guide: How To Get Your Child Started In Music," a step-by-step approach that takes you through the process of inspiring musical interest in your child, to making the correct instrument and book purchases, and finding the right teacher. Full of tips, checklists, and more. http://www.tonysmusicbooks.com/Parents-Guide-Deluxe-Version-Ebook-MP3-201101.htm

View the original article here