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How
Mailings Got Us 8 Agents
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First of all we have to give credit to
Brian O'Neill, Scott Glasgow, and various career coaches, because
the Savvy Mailings Marketing Plan comes from what
we learned from all of them. You will be marketing yourself
every week, with consistency and structure. The important thing
to remember is that all the mailings are a breeze to set up
with the Savvy Mailings Service. You'll be promoting
yourself to agents and casting directors more than you ever
have but it'll be easier than doing a single old-fashioned mailing.
Always send your mailings on a Sunday,
that way it will arrive by midweek. Make sure to set aside office
hours for yourself to do your mailings every week or every day,
whatever works for you. Always pick one person per department
to target, do not target everyone at once. Keep consistency
with your picture, it should be the same picture on your headshot,
postcard, and thank you cards.
*We wanted to give you a financial
breakdown of how much it will cost to follow this marketing
plan. Our headshot prices are based on a new order of 200 headshots
at Reproductions, and the cards and postcards prices are using
the Savvy Mailings Service. The budget is based on 10 new headshots
sent a week. If 10 pictures is not in your budget, send 5 a
week, if you can afford more send 15 0r 20 a week. The important
thing is to begin and do it properly. Don't start sending 30
pictures out and only get to week 3 because you run out of money.
Budget properly and do what you can handle financially. Be a
smart business person all around.
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The
Savvy Mailings Marketing Plan
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Action
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Budget*
(average of 10 sent per week)
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Week 1
Send 10-20 headshot
and resumes to a select group on your targeted list--Group
A. Do include a brief cover letter stapled to your picture
but DO NOT cover your face.
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PR/Postage: $20.10
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Week 2
Send a postcard to Group
A letting them know you sent a picture and resume last
week and you are just making sure they received it.
• Begin Week 1 to Group B of your targeted mailing
list.
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PR/Postage: $20.10
Postcards/Postage: $8.80
Total Week 2: $28.90
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Week 3
Send a postcard to Group A and
let the agents know two casting directors you have recently
met with/ or who knows your work.
• Complete action for Week 2 to Group B.
• Begin Week 1 to Group C of your targeted mailing
list.
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PR/Postage: $20.10
Postcards/Postage: $17.60
Total Week 3: $37.70
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Week 4
Send a thank you note
with your headshot printed inside (or a business card)and
in your own handwriting to Group A thanking them for
looking at your picture and resume and letting them
know you would like to meet with them.
• Complete action for Week 3 to Group B.
• Complete action for Week 2 to Group C.
• Begin Week 1 to Group D of your targeted mailing
list.
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PR/Postage: $20.10
Postcards/Postage: $17.60
Cards/Postage: $13.40
Total Week 4: $51.10
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Week 5
Send another postcard to Group A describing your type
and which roles you've been cast in. Be VERY clear with
this.
• Complete action for Week 4 to Group B.
• Complete action for Week 3 to Group C.
• Complete action for Week 2 with Group D.
• Begin Week 1 to Group E of your targeted mailing
list.
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PR/Postage: $20.10
Postcards/Postage: $26.40
Cards/Postage: $13.40
Total Week 5: $59.90
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Week 6
Send another postcard to Group A letting them know two
more casting directors who know your work.
• Complete action for Week 5 to Group B.
• Complete action for Week 4 to Group C.
• Complete action for Week 3 with Group D.
• Complete action for Week 2 with Group E.
• Begin Week 1 to Group F of your targeted mailing
list.
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PR/Postage: $20.10
Postcards/Postage: $35.20
Cards/Postage: $13.40
Total Week 6: $68.70
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Week 7
Send another postcard
to Group A including a quote from a review you got,
a callback, or info about a show you are in.
• Complete action for Week 6 to Group B.
• Complete action for Week 5 to Group C.
• Complete action for Week 4 with Group D.
• Complete action for Week 3 with Group E.
• Complete action for Week 2 with Group F.
• Begin Week 1 to Group G of your targeted mailing
list.
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PR/Postage:$20.10
Postcards/Postage: $44.00
Cards/Postage: $13.40
Total Week 7: $77.50
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Week 8
Send a nice card to Group A with your headshot printed
inside (or a business card) letting them know you would
like to meet with them and you will call them next week
to set up an interview. Always call midweek, make the
phone call after hours and leave a message. Rehearse
what you are going to say and be positive!
• Complete action for Week 7 to Group B.
• Complete action for Week 6 to Group C.
• Complete action for Week 5 with Group D.
• Complete action for Week 4 with Group E.
• Complete action for Week 3 with Group F.
• Complete action for Week 2 with Group G.
• Begin Week 1 to Group H of your targeted mailing
list.
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PR/Postage: $20.10
Postcards/Postage: $44.00
Cards/Postage: $26.80
Total Week 8: $90.90
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Obviously it keeps continuing!
The trick is to not stop and do not get discouraged--it
will pay off. Now, if life intrudes and you miss a week,
so be it. But make sure to get right back in on your
cycle as soon as you can. Consistency is the key. Don't
just use this for agents, mail to casting directors,
theatres, etc. The only difference is if you mail to
a casting director let them know two agents you have
recently met with on Weeks 3 and 6.
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Now some of you are probably overwhelmed and thinking what
am I going to say? I don't know enough casting directors?
This is the time to be proactive. You don't know enough people,
go pay to meet them. "I recently met with Eric Woodall
from Tara Rubin Casting, he was very complementary about my
acting choices and liked my audition song." Who cares
you paid to meet him at Actors Connection--the agent doesn't
know that!
How did we fare doing this marketing plan?
Jodie:
By week 4, I had interviews
with 2 legit agents and began freelancing with both. By
week 5, I had an interview with another legit agent and
a commercial agent and began freelancing with both. On week
7, I had an interview with another commercial agent who
I started freelancing with and by week 12 (yes I mailed
to someone for 12 weeks!), I had an interview with a print
agent who called and said she admired my persistence, and
we began freelancing! I am still working with both commercial
agents and I recently signed with a new legit agency.
Kevin: By week 5 I got called in by a legit agent and
signed across the board with the agency, and I am still
signed with them! |
Once you're in the circle, it is easier to make connections
to get other interviews. The Mailings Marketing plan is a
cycle and a jump-start to catapult you out the unknown into
the known.
Everyone's journey is different, but
the most important thing is to start your journey and start
it properly. Stay on the journey when you begin it. If you
make it through the 12 weeks, hen start again with a different
agent in that agency. The combination of Savvy Mailings Marketing
and investing in specific seminars is very powerful to your
career. Commit fully, play fully, and be open to success.
Remember, one mailing every 4 months will not a career make,
don't even bother. I still do mailings of over 100 postcards
every six weeks to my database of industry people. People
who I have met with, auditioned for, want to meet with, etc.
I am remembered and it is an investment in my career.
If you want more information please
contact us at jk@thesavvyactor.com.
Whether you have specific questions or to set up a private
session. One or two coachings and we can get you on track
to be a Savvy Mailings Marketer.
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Try
our system and send 2 cards for FREE!
Once you click on our Virtual Tutorial,
turn up your speakers and
you will be walked through our
system. Fill out the form tobe added to our database and to
receive your 2 free cards! Please be sure
to continue the walk-through and learn about Picture Plus---the
key for actors, and our packages.
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