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How many Directors do you know? How about Casting Directors? Do you know any Composers? How about Editors? Photographers? Line Producers? What about heads of Industry organizations that produce projects that you want to be cast in?

If these questions about what types of Industry professionals you know make you think the answer is bleak then not to worry...

We've got something exciting to share with you!

Now more than ever there are a plethora of organizations to be a part of that network online within message boards and chat rooms. There are also an abundance of seminars, workshops and audits, as well as tradeshows for just performers and other Industry professionals. Many times these organizations meet weekly, monthly or quarterly to develop scripts they want to produce, rehearse scenes or screen their projects and you should be going to these events! By attending these types of gatherings and/or joining Industry-related message boards and chat rooms you will no doubt meet people to grow your database!

Now here’s a scenario to help build your database…

Let’s say you are at a networking event, and you are standing in a circle of Industry professionals, discussing your short film that’s been submitted into several film festivals and you are talking about being in several callbacks for some pilots and commercials, heck your voice is getting out there too and you just booked a VO job for a major car company. It’s a great time to be you! Now you want to move on to meet another group of people. So, instead of just saying “goodbye” why not leave your business card with those you’ve been talking with?

Did you just say to yourself:

“What business card??
I have headshots with my resumes and contact info on them…
I don’t need a business card!
I’m NOT a nine-to-fiver, clock watcher, desk jockey!!!
I am a PERFORMER!”

Well, here’s the thing…have you ever seen how awkward it might be for someone to tote your 8x10 headshot around at a networking event? The person you just passed it along to doesn’t have a briefcase to place it into – therefore drinks spill on your headshot…it gets folded...and perhaps, at the end of the event you see your crinkled headshot in the trash.

DON’T LET THIS HAPPEN TO YOU!

Make giving your contact info easy. You can always mail someone a hard copy headshot/resume or email them a link to your photos, demo reel and reviews at a later date.

We encourage you to make the jump!

Get a business card. One company that we recommend is Card Sharks Printing. We LOVE their Pocket Headshots because they are eye-catching. They feel like a credit card and we’ve even seen some performers list their resume in part on the back…or, you can always utilize your computer’s printer to try out some different looks. The downside to printing your own business cards is that ink can be expensive, the time to cut them down is costly, and sometimes the perforated edge look can appear unprofessional.

At any rate, you might ask…

"What should my business card have on it?"

Here are some basics:

• Your Stage Name
  
• A Headshot or Promo Photo
  (a nice personable picture that looks like you ~ this will be a photo of reference for future referrals)
  
• Contact Number
  
• Professional E-Mail Address
  (don't use silly e-mail addresses like cupcakebutt1990@home.com or HungryActor4Hire@home.com)
  
• Your Web Site
  
• Your P.O. Box Address
  (see our article Performer Safety Awareness - Part 1)

Remember, this business card is your portable headshot. You’ve met this contact, you’ve had some nice conversation, you’ve sparked their interest in this face-to-face encounter and now this contact knows if they are going to want to refer, hire, and work with you. So give them your contact info NOW and...

Remember to get their business card!

Ugh wait…when you ask for their business card they pat themselves down for 20 seconds and finally look at you with a dumbfounded expression and say things like:

“I just ran out of my business cards.”
“My business cards are being re-designed.”
“I’m sorry; my business cards are in my other jacket…at home.”

Don't settle for excuses.

If you give them your business card and hope that they will contact you – EXPECT THAT THEY WON’T. Simply put, in this business (or for that matter, any business) it is your responsibility to keep the communication flowing by contacting them.

So, how can you get their business card
when they don’t have a business card???

EASY!

We designed for you the:

"No Card? No Problem! ShowBiz Card"
(click here - it's FREE)

Essentially, these are pre-formatted blank business cards (compatible with Avery 8371 business card sheets) that you can have the Industry contact fill-out on the spot. Never again will there be an excuse! You can be confident that you will leave any Industry event with information you need to build your contact database!

Now here's the challenge...

Look for networking events, film festivals, seminars, etc. happening in your area for the next 30 days. Commit yourself to attending two of them. When you go, arm yourself with 10 of your own business cards and 10 of the ShowBiz Cards (along with a pen) and commit to finding 10 Industry folks that you want to exchange contact info with. Get ready to grow your database!

When you return to your computer, enter their info in your PerformerTrack (or other database) and e-mail these 10 people a brief note to refresh them that you met at such-and-such Industry event, know so-and-so, wanted to touch base about this-or-that and give them your contact info again, referencing:

• Your Stage Name
  
• A Headshot or Promo Photo
  
• Contact Number
  
• Professional E-Mail Address
  
• Your Web Site
  
• Your P.O. Box Address
  

IMPORTANT NOTE!
"BCC"	REMEMBER that when sending a single e-mail to multiple contacts to ALWAYS “Bcc” them…that’s “Blind Carbon Copy” so no one sees each others’ e-mail address.
INCLUDE A BUSINESS CARD	Also, if you send a hand written note, INCLUDE your business card in it again. It will have a photo of you and is valuable in jogging your contact’s memory.

Commit to doing this within two days of meeting your contact, and if more than that time passes, STILL e-mail them a follow-up. The more often you do this, the more natural it will be for you to have this valuable business step MASTERED - effortlessly!

When you are in more callbacks, booking work, have a film showing at a festival, just received an amazing review, acquired a new agent, changed your look, have a show airing, win an award, are producing your own project and need crew members, are working at a live event and are in need of an audience, or have a question to ask your colleagues (a.k.a. - fellow performers) you will now have a database full of people to BUZZ and share your great career news with and ask advice to - all because you were able to exchange contact information with them.

Keep us posted on your success in growing your database and feel free to register to come to any of our sponsored Meetup networking events. We look forward to meeting you!