Actors! Ask For What You Want!
by Christina Shipp
There are a lot of actors in this business who cow-tow to industry professionals, give up their personal power, and throw themselves at the mercy of what they perceive industry types want. But I challenge you to ask yourself: what is it that YOU want? And how can you empower yourself to ask for it? Well that's what this month's article is all about. So strap in actor types, and lemme tell ya just how easy it is to ask for what you want, and achieve the things you ask for.
First: eradicate the idea that you are beneath anyone in this industry, and that includes agents and casting directors. Empower yourself with the knowledge that we are all colleagues in this business, and that we all work together to achieve amazing results.
Second: clearly define for yourself what it is that you want. Be as specific as you can, and write it down. This will help you organize your thoughts in a cohesive way. Sometimes putting things down in paper is all the impetus you need to set things into motion.
Third: determine who is on your targeted 'help list.' Once you have defined what it is that you want, figure out who to ask for help in achieving it. For example, if you've decided that you're burning for legit rep in a bicoastal agency, who in your immediate resources can you ask for a referral? Are there directors or other actors you've worked with in the past who can help? Create your Help List as a reference.
Fourth: have a guide to help you. Have a bullet list of talking points for exactly what you want to say or write. Compose an email with brevity, have a polite and respectful tone, but be careful not to give your power away. Strike away all unnecessary information, and don't be afraid to get to the heart of the matter.
Fifth: give yourself a deadline. Make the call. Send the email. Face the fear and cultivate courage within you. My father always used to say, the answer is always NO if you don't ask, so you have nothing to lose. But you will have lots of potential to gain. Empower yourself to know you are worthy of success, and do be afraid to simply ask for what you want.
Follow these guidelines, and you will be well on your way to getting what you want. Have a plan, and stick to your guns. Empower yourself to create success in your life, and cultivate the courage you need to go after what you deserve. It's what being Savvy is all about!
