How to Find Truth in the Talent Industry

The talent or entertainment industry is all encompassing. For the purposes of AMTC, we include here actors, singers, dancers, and comedians. Many of you have a dream to be on TV, in a motion picture, or a Broadway stage. How do you get started? Is it possible for you? Everyone starts somewhere, and following are some ideas.

Begin in Your Local Community

The best Talent Agents, Managers and Casting Directors will tell you to start right where you are. Investigate your local community theater groups. Many are quite good, and all will give you much needed experience. Audition for plays and musicals. If you don’t get a role, volunteer to be a “stage hand.” In this way, you will get to learn what it’s like backstage or “behind the scenes,” which also can be quite fulfilling. You will be viewed more seriously the next time you audition as an actor, because you now are an insider. You know people. You have connections. The Talent Industry is a business of “connections.” Community, School, and Religious Groups often have plays and productions. Avail yourself of every opportunity. This will help you build a performer’s resume.

Take Classes

Take classes in every related discipline. Acting classes and groups are excellent. Call your schools and universities. Many will offer “after hours” courses for the community. Local theater groups may also give classes. Sometimes excellent actors, entertainers, and agents will “retire” to a smaller city. This city or town may be yours. Investigate your options.

In addition to acting, consider voice and diction, public speaking, debate, singing, dance (all types), modeling, grooming, and athletics. The most potent and bookable talent involves what is called a “triple threat:” a triple threat talent is someone who can sing, dance and act. You might be surprised how many performers in Los Angeles and New York can do all three. Perhaps one talent is stronger, but your chances of getting booked or signed are greater if you have training and/or experience in all three disciplines.

For actors from areas that have regional accents, try to “lose” your accent for this profession. A neutral or mid-western voice is preferred. Books and tapes are available on how to “get rid” of an accent. You can also search for voice, diction, speech or dialect coaches within your area. Another simple idea is to recruit the assistance of a friend who is not from your area and has a generic accent. Read a paragraph or script and hand your friend a copy. Ask him or her to circle every word that you mispronounce with a regional accent. Try to copy this friend’s “non-accent.” This is a beginning!

A Note for Singers

Some people are blessed with a great singing voice and want the opportunity to perform and express themselves. Unfortunately, a wonderful voice is often not enough for success. Study the singers who are currently popular. Do all of them have great voices? In addition, consider the following six traits as desirable:

1. A beautiful or handsome face (Your appearance is important.)
2. Your figure (Be fit!)
3. Youth (Although not mandatory, a career is most easily started when you’re young.)
4. Charisma (Aside from your voice, how well do you entertain an audience?)
5. Voice (Sure, we want you to have a good one. Have you had professional training?)
6. Songwriting (Being able to write songs is a desirable attribute to get attention from Record Companies, Agents, and Artists’ Managers. Successful songwriting can also earn you a lucrative income.)

A Note for Dancers

Dancers are athletes. They transform our emotions into physical form. Chryssie Whitehead, our most famous AMTC Dancer, performed a lyrical and religious ballet in her AMTC Talent Competition. In 2.5 minutes, she had many judges in tears. That’s a gift. Chryssie is a classically trained dancer, who studied ballet, tap, jazz, and modern dance. As Julia Stile’s dancer double in “Save the Last Dance,” a New York City “Rockette,” or starring in “Chorus Line,” she has used all of these disciplines.

We also have had dancers succeed in modern or “street” dance, with no classical training, who have gone to perform in musical shows and videos. In either situation, we are most interested in dancers who have ability or are willing to study acting, singing, and/or modeling. We feel that gives you your best chance of success.

The Three “P’s” of Acting

David Vando is the Owner of Model’s Mart, Ltd., (www.models-mart.com) a resource center based in New York City for the modeling and talent industry. He is a theater graduate of Columbia University and a national author and playwright. This is a condensed version of a magazine article written by Mr. Vando.

“The first “P” is passion. Without it you will never last as a performer. Actors must be passionate, sensitive artists… Most actors have to face rejection most of the time and must have that passionate love of their art to sustain them. There is no one way that the passion for performing is kindled. Sometimes it comes from a parent or teacher. Sometimes it is something that you unexpectedly discover. How it strikes you is not important, as long as you are ‘Stage Struck’.”

“The second “P” is preparation. As an actor, you must come to work prepared and willing to completely dedicate yourself to your art. You must have the physical stamina of an athlete, the grace of a dancer, and the mental agility of a poet – no easy task… Even if you are naturally gifted, you must nurture that gift, if it is to blossom… Explore what you can do in your local area, such as community theater, church groups, or plays at school… Volunteer to perform in charity events. Call your local state film commission and see what films are being shot in your state; perhaps you can work as an extra and get an idea how films are done. Take whatever classes you can… If you do not have access to any training, do not let that stop you. Begin teaching yourself by reading books on acting. Actors must be good readers.”

The last “P” is for perseverance. Without it you will not go far, no matter how great a talent you might be. You must be patient as you work hard and not let the daily dose of rejection deter you from your life’s objective. No one can guarantee that you will be rich and famous. If this is your main goal in becoming an actor, you may never be “successful.” But if you pursue the art of acting because it enriches your soul and every part of your being, then the pursuit of your career will be its own reward.”

How Does AMTC Fit In

AMTC offers both new and experienced talent the opportunity to learn about this industry, and the unique ability to present yourself to it. At the convention, you will have the chance to perform and learn from some of the most renowned Agents, Managers, and Casting Directors in the United States and Canada. These are industry leaders that new talent would rarely get a chance to meet. Talent Scouts do not normally hold open calls. You cannot travel to New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, or Toronto and knock on their doors. You have to “know someone who knows someone,” or perhaps be performing in a production that one of them visits. For talent, AMTC is a lifetime career opportunity to learn from and get exposed to major agents in major markets, without moving there first. Actually, actors in big cities also come to AMTC, because they have not yet gotten an agent or their first “break.”

Competitions are offered in TV Commercials, Improv, Comedy, Cold Reading, Scene Study, and Monologues for actors. Singers can compete in a variety of Singing Styles, including Singer/Songwriter, Country, Gospel, Broadway, Popular, and more, from Opera to Rap. Dancers and Comedians have special events just for them.

The Five Attributes of Success

Millie Lewis, as a company, has been in existence since 1960. Through these 40+ years, tens of thousand of girls and guys have tried to make modeling or entertainment a career. We have seen many successes. We have seen more failures. Worthy of interest, some of the most beautiful or talented people became “failures.” Even more interesting are “unlikely” candidates who succeeded beyond all expectations (except, perhaps, their own). So what, then, are the common attributes of modeling or talent success?

Success Attribute #1:

Appearance for Models and Talent for Entertainers.

Both appearance and talent have one thing in common; they are largely God-given. God, your parents, and genetics gave you a striking face, a handsome figure, or the ability to act, sing, or dance. Of course, your gift should be honed and practiced. Great athletes have a gift, too. But none of these gifts are valuable without the hard work to perfect them. Interestingly, we have all seen models who were not attractive, actors on TV that cannot act, and singers on MTV that cannot really sing. So, Attribute #1 is highly desired and can open a door, but it’s not 100% necessary.

In addition, please know that most models and talent are achievers in many areas. Many are athletes, scholars, linguists, musicians, and community, school, and business leaders. The more skills you can “bring to the table,” the better.

Success Attribute #2:

Personality.

Having a warm and outgoing personality can make a break a career. If you are beautiful on the outside but ugly on the inside, you will not succeed. Too much competition exists. Beautiful and talented actors are in abundance in major markets. What separates those who work from those who do not? A special “sparkle” and a warm personality will get you noticed and booked. In addition, if you are fun, non-complaining, and easy to work with on a job, your chances of getting re-booked are high.

Success Attribute #3:

Intelligence.

AMTC will not work with students who have below a “B” average in school, unless extenuating circumstances exist. “A’s” are preferred, If you are a great student, that achievement usually means that… you do your homework, come to class regularly, get along with your teachers, and have discipline. To an Agent, they want to know, if you are booked on a job, that you will… be dependable, show up on time, get along with your employers, and be prepared. Good students make good models. If you are an under-achiever, work harder. Many adults in professional careers also embark in the modeling or talent fields. Entertainers are smart, and they are achievers.

Success Attribute #4:

Family Support.

The AMTC is the only event of its type in the world that is completely family-oriented and family-owned, with three generations of the same family. As a family business, we feel your best chance of success in talent lies with your own desire built on a foundation of family support. How much does your family want you do this? Do they care enough to understand the business with you? If you are a teen, will a parent or guardian travel with you to out-of-town interviews and jobs? That type of commitment is what we recommend. A parent’s place in the talent industry is for transportation, safety, and emotional support.

On the other hand, the industry has no room for “stage parents.” Your children or teens must want this opportunity themselves. They must be able to speak for themselves and interview without prodding.

Success Attribute #5:

Desire.

How much do you want to do this? How strong is your desire and determination? Desire is the only attribute of success that you cannot do without. Desire, alone, is the largest determinant of your ultimate success. How many actors were turned down for jobs repeatedly before they got their “big break?” If they had not had the desire and determination to keep trying, they would not have succeeded.