#management

07 Jun 2010

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Performance Series Part One-Preparing For The Show

Performance Series Part One-Preparing For The Show

by Sass Jordan – Artist, The Lowry Agency

“Make You A Believer” From the CD “Racine”

In the great and glorious world of rock shows, there are a million ways to prepare for tonight’s show, but only a couple that guarantee you play your best game. Having been performing on stages in every kind of venue known to man and beast for the better part of 34 years, I have a tip or two for you …

Let’s start with the assumption that you are doing a one – off, as tours are so few and far between these days that the majority of the people reading this are likely to be doing the ‘showcase’ type gig, one where you have that one show to prove yourself and to interest the people that might matter in your near future, including agents, managers, sponsors and of course, more than anything else – fans. You have to turn all those people who might work with you into fans, or they will never have the motivation to do their best to get you and your work out there in a big way.

I like to make sure I have the tightest set list possible. If there are songs you have that are known in any way, those will be your feature songs – your set ‘hi-lites’, so to speak. You want to open super strong, because quite honestly, it’s like a comedian – if they don’t make you laugh in the first 15-30 seconds you will have a tepid reaction at best. If they can make you laugh immediately, it’s like it sets up your psyche to laugh at the rest of the stuff, even if it isn’t that funny. A comedy routine is front -loaded for a reason .. and it’s psychological! A rock show has to be the same way .. there is a flow that has to happen … come on super strong .. stay up …dip in the middle … and then build back up to a super strong finish.

You have to pace yourself, and you have to be ready to give everything you’ve got, every time you do it. Some days you’re gonna have more than other days, but no one else ever needs to know that. Physical prep for the show is pretty individual, but I’ll give you a run down of what I do ..

Start the day with a HEALTHY BREAKFAST .. this includes whole grains, eggs, nut butters, fruit, or my personal favorite, a green smoothie! Tons of vitamins, minerals and fiber PLUS a delicious taste .. what more could you ask for? Do your regular workout, or at least get in a brisk walk – you want to get the blood moving and the oxygen flowing through the system.

You’ll be doing a soundcheck, possibly traveling some distance, and perhaps some interviews, so you’ll be using your voice quite a bit day of show- something to remember in the weeks prior to the show. You want to have your voice on a work out schedule, just the same as your body. Try singing four of the songs that will be in the set every day for a couple of weeks prior to the show … this will train your vocal cords and get the songs deeply embedded into your subconscious, so that there will be no recall effort whatsoever.

Next, make sure you have your stage clothes ready to go- decide what you’re gonna wear the day before, try it on, make sure it looks good and is comfortable enough for you to move around in. Image is truly half the battle, or MORE! As Eddie Izzard says …”10% how you sing, 90% how you look doing it”!!! That is of course an exaggeration, but it’s something to keep in mind. There are a lot of huge stars today that are more about a look and a style than about great singing.

Get something light to eat about 2 hours before you play .. you want to have energy for the show – and drink a good amount of water through out the day, just to keep the vocal cords hydrated. Forty five to thirty minutes before show time, clear the dressing room so you can do your voice warm up routine, and talk through the set with the band – let them know if you are going to talk to the crowd and certain points, or if you are gonna move anywhere they need to know about – (like into the audience etc) and when.

In the last couple of minutes before you go onstage, think about why you are doing this. Ask yourself why people should bother coming to see and hear you. Why you, and not one of the other billion acts out there these days? These are the moments to gather up all your energy, bring it up to your heart center .. fill it with the love you have for what you do, and the service you are providing- and then bring it up to your throat center – run onto the stage, and SING!!!!!

01 Jun 2010

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Self Promotion – Why It’s a Must

As I work with entertainers of all kinds, it amazes me how they have all this stuff going on and they don’t tell anyone. I have them on my radio show and instead of creating a buzz and letting people know ahead of time, they maybe put one tweet out or do it just before they actually call in to the show. The fans most likely missed the notification and couldn’t attend or listen because they weren’t forewarned and didn’t have enough time to tell their friends or plan to listen in. In this situation, the artist loses an opportunity to engage with the fans, and the fans lose out on hearing the latest and greatest from their favorite artist.

Part of growing your fan base is keeping on top of the updates regarding what you are up to. The buzz is critically important to get people interested in you. This is especially true if you are looking for your big break. The artist needs to find the time to take advantage of promoting any opportunities that come and promote it before AND after the event scheduled. Be sure to send updates after the show so that people who missed it can get a chance to check it out. This should be done for weeks before and after the scheduled event. This not only makes you look busy which is key, but it also helps the people who are promoting you on their show, interview or magazine. It boosts their ratings and numbers as well. This is a win-win for both parties. If you get good numbers for the people who showcase you, then they will be more than happy to work with you again.

Artists/entertainers need to seriously manage their PR opportunities and use it to the maximum advantage. You are only as relevant as the buzz around you. Get your act together and promote what you have going on to the fullest extent!

Take note entertainers, if you aren’t paying someone to do this for you, it’s your responsibility to keep the buzz alive. It’s a responsibility to your career and the fans who love you.

24 May 2010

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Voice Talent Finding Jobs on Twitter

by The Lowry Agency voice over talent Trish Basanyi

The social networking giant, Twitter, continues to mystify some and make money for others.

Heck, even the money-makers are mystified. (Try saying THAT three times fast.)

Yet the ones who have tackled the site head-on continue to bring in revenue in their desired fields – and voice-over talent is no exception.

Are you on Twitter? Have you signed up and then abandoned the account after two “tweets” citing an excuse of something like, “I just don’t get it” or “it’s a waste of time”?

STOP.

The Internet is an amazing thing, and some still don’t grasp the plethora of knowledge just waiting to be found …when you ask the right questions.

All of the social networking sites are connected. We’re only going to talk about Twitter in this article, but by using one you will learn how to use the others!

For instance, there are thousands of two- to three-minute videos on YouTube, which show you how to use Twitter. All you need to do is search for them. The same goes for Facebook.

These videos explain how to use these sites and make the most of them. And they’re yours for the viewing, absolutely free.

There are hundreds of applications for Twitter, which maximize Twitter’s search potential for you, and streamline the process of finding voice-over work.

Trust me, the work is out there.

I could make recommendations about the applications, but everyone I know uses something different – kind of like the path of every voice talent on their way to success. Different things work for different people.

One of the more popular desktop applications is Hootsuite, but if you’ll search online you’ll find dozens more.

Spend just one hour on Twitter and you’ll begin to see the enormous potential.

Don’t know what to talk about? Just be yourself!

Make jokes, ask questions, and talk about your everyday life – both personal and business.

As voice talent, we’re not always selling our voices – we’re selling ourselves, as people. When we’re real and interactive, people will respond, and will want to “follow” you in the Twitter world.

Even if you don’t have a lot of followers, you can still find jobs – again, just use the search engine for the site!

If you’re searching for VO jobs anywhere else, you already know how to use a search engine.

Step outside your comfort zone for one hour and see what happens.

Maybe you’re on Facebook but only using it for personal connections. That’s great! But if you use Facebook already, you’re 10 steps ahead of the learning curve when it comes to using Twitter.

Twitter is an easier site to navigate than Facebook – in fact, the confusion most people express for Twitter seems to be the concept rather than the actual functionality of the site.

Once you understand the concept, using the site is a breeze.

Twitter is responsible for about 20% of my income in the past year. I have:

Landed several high-dollar jobs through clients I’ve connected with there originally,
Acquired roughly 20 new clients that now hire me on a regular basis, and we continue to have a great relationship both online and in the VO booth.

It didn’t happen overnight, but the process has been fun and a huge learning experience.

22 May 2010

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Branding – Have You Thought of Everything?

A couple weeks back I called a voice over artist that was approaching our agency as representation for them. I called the number provided and got a cell phone with a plain as day message saying “You have reached {insert first name here}, I am not around, but leave a message and I’ll get back to you!” It was a very casual message with very bad audio left on the business phone of a voice over artist. This is a perfect example of not taking an inventory of all the opportunities to showcase yourself and your abilities. It is always amazing to me to see the opportunities we miss and sometimes the most obvious things that get by us! Who would think a voice over artist didn’t think of doing a voice over for their own business phone, which in many cases is the first thing a prospective client hears. This happens all the time in some way shape or form. I know I have certainly been guilty of missing something.

Everything, and I mean everything is a billboard for your professionalism and competence in your craft. Every business/entertainer needs to take an inventory of everything they have put out to represent themselves and every possible opportunity to show their professionalism and capabilities. Make sure you take the time and really evaluate where you are at and where you need to go and set the marketing/branding plan to get there. Leave no stone unturned.

Once you have done this, take the time to go through and enhance, correct or plan what needs to be done in the future. Make sure that you are showcasing yourself in the best light possible. Does your branding campaign hurt your or help you? Success takes time and a lot of effort. If you want to be successful, be diligent, detailed and surround yourself with a team of experts that can help you build your brand and help you make sure you didn’t miss anything.

Good Luck!

19 Apr 2010

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Writing a Cover Letter and Submitting a Press Kit

Writing a Cover Letter and Submitting a Press Kit

Before you write a cover letter to someone in the entertainment industry, please make sure you research the company to learn all you can. This will give you a solid understanding of what they do. The information will help you decide whether or not you actually need the services they offer. Your letter should explain why you would be a good fit for their company. In previous blogs I have written, I have given details in which an artist can determine if they would need management at the particular point they are at in their career. An artist should try to figure out through research and phone calls if they are truly ready, or in need of the types of services they are inquiring about.

When writing a cover letter to someone in the entertainment industry, you must first understand a few things about what you bring to the table for them to consider you. The idea behind the cover letter and press kit you are submitting is to make it as easy as possible for them to review the information about you or your band and to give them the “WOW” factor. If they have to dig around to find information and if your press kit isn’t attention grabbing and compelling, then they are more likely to pass on it and throw it away.

Your cover letter should be professional and list your strengths. Ask yourself a few questions: Why do you think you are ready for their services? What is it about you that is unique? What do YOU have to offer that would make you be worth the investment of time, energy and hard work? Be truthful and positive about what you bring to the table. The artists represented by the company are a direct reflection on that company, so they want to make sure the artists they work with are professional and understand the business part of the entertainment industry. Make your letter short, to the point and friendly. Talk about your experience, fan base, reviews, touring experience and number of upcoming shows. Go through your material with a fine-tooth comb and be as accurate and professional as possible.

Image is everything and that goes for your press kit! So make sure it’s professional, complete with a professional CD, photos, one-page bio and other materials listed in my blog titled “The Promotional Kit” http://wp.me/pu8Se-v

Good luck on achieving your dream!

08 Apr 2010

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Getting Started in Voice Overs

Getting Started in Voice Overs
Guest blog by The Lowry Agency voice talent Dave Courvoisier

At least once a week I get an e-mail or phone call from a total stranger…but someone who is no stranger to a similar feeling I had almost five years ago…the feeling that making oodles of money in Voice-Over work was gonna be a cinch…practically effortless.

I’m not exactly sure where or how they find me, but their query is getting predictable:

“Hi, I’m Bill, and all my life people have told me I have an incredible voice. Right now I’m a __________ (mechanic, accountant, DJ), but I want to do voice-over work. I ran across your name, and was wondering if you could help me?”

‘Been there, done that…however paying it forward has its merits, and many have mentored me along the way, so I believe it’s my responsibility to offer that helping hand, too.

Hence, the following is straight talk for “great voices” hoping to get into the business of voice-acting:

1) A good voice is not good enough. It’s not even a basic criteria anymore.

2) Can you read out loud, and make it sound like you’re just talking to someone — and say it in 20 different ways?…10
different dialects?…and PERFORM at the drop of a hat?

3) This is a business. You need a business plan, investment capital, passion, and stick-to-itiveness.

4) Voice-acting is 9 parts marketing, 1 part voice-talent (well maybe 80/20…but not a percentage point more!)

5) You need better-than-passable computer hardware/software/networking skills, and a fast internet connection.

6) Are you willing to accept criticism, swallow reality, and keep coming back?

7) How well do you handle rejection?…even when you know you’re better than your competition?

8) Eventually, you may have to invest $3,000 – $5,000 just for passable start-up equipment and marketing materials.

9) You’ll need to be your own accountant, PR person, web-author, and self-promotions guru.

10) Get ready to go back to school. Voice-Over 101. Coaching and education is an on-going necessity.

11) Accept that growing opportunities are counter-balanced by declining compensations, and increasing competition.

12) How enterprising are you? Work well alone?….for weeks on end?…with no one but yourself for encouragement?

13) Is your spouse/significant other/POSSLQ* on board with this?….we’re in for a long haul!

14) This is a huge, varied industry, what segment do you want to target? AudioBooks? TV Imaging? E-Learning?

15) You have to like more than the sound of your own voice…you have to like the feel of headphones on your
noggin….A LOT!

Now, far be it from me to discourage anyone’s dreams. However, I have found no quick way to answer the question of what it’ll take to get into voice-overs. Meaning the answer itself is getting fairly involved AND time-consuming.

My latest tack is to just ask for the neophyte’s e-mail address and bury them in resources so deep it takes weeks to get through it all. Then, if they come back, I’ve got at least a qualified candidate to talk to.

Hence, the following list is my preferred set of links to voice-over nirvana for n00bs.

http://www.voiceoveruniverse.com

http://www.vo-bb.com

http://www.edgestudio.com

http://www.audioconnell.com & http://www.peterdrewvo.com

http://www.voices.com

http://www.voiceoverextra.com
http://voiceoverresourceguide.com
http://www.voicebank.net

Voice talent Bob Souer publishes everybody’s favorite VO blog:
http://www.bobsouer.com/blog

You’ll also find an occasional flash of brilliance-wanna-be on my daily blog: “Voice-Acting in Vegas”
http://CourVO.biz

And, another close friend of mine (Bobbin Beam) who also blogs, wrote
her own version of advice for starters which is excellent:

http://blog.bobbinbeam.com/2007/08/30/advice-for-voiceover-hopefuls.aspx

http://blog.bobbinbeam.com/2007/08/30/advice-for-voice-over-hopefuls-part-ii.aspx

http://blog.bobbinbeam.com/2007/08/30/advice-for-voiceover-hopefuls-part-iii.aspx

http://blog.bobbinbeam.com/2007/04/02/just-beginning.aspx

John Florian of VoiceOverXtra sends THIS link to his site esp. for beginners:
http://www.voiceoverxtra.com/newcomers.htm

Also, there’s a thread on this very topic on the VO-BB which is one of the resources noted above. But the specific link to the newbie thread is here:

http://www.vo-bb.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=6908&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

FROM DAVID HOUSTON: EXCELLENT ARTICLE:
http://davidhoustonvoice.com/blog1/2006/08/getting_started_my_take.html

From WAYNE JUNE: Another top-notch resource in this area:
http://www.waynejune.com/where_to_start.html]

05 Apr 2010

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The Importance of Branding Yourself Properly as an Entertainer

This morning I had the pleasure of having a pleasant initial phone conversation with an author and public speaker. This particular conversation inspired me to write a blog on a very important subject: Branding Yourself. One of the benefits of being artistic is that you can promote yourself using your own unique creativity. However, without proper structure, sometimes the creativity you use can also limit the effectiveness of your own branding.

Social media has given us the opportunity to reach out farther than we ever have before. This is a great thing It’s also a bad thing if not done right. The artist has such a heavy desire to get their career moving that it often causes the artist to rush through creating a solid plan, which can mean costly mistakes. Haste really does make waste. In general, artists also tend to take advice from people who really aren’t experts in the field they need, but may have had more success than we they have, and so out of respect the artist will listen to them and try to emulate them. This could be a devastating move to a career.

In order to maximize a career opportunities, the artist should always strive to build a solid team around them who is driven and knowledgeable in whatever area they specialize in. The artist should make it a priority to brand themselves as best as they can until they are able to build that solid team of professionals around them. Branding is something that involves creativity, consistency and most important, discipline.

When building a brand it is critical that the artist has a game plan to market the brand. Make sure the image is completely in tact, and by image I mean making sure the photos are professional, the logo communicates your brand effectively, the website and social networking pages are all consistent in imagery, message and so on. Don’t confuse the brand with things that don’t showcase who the artist truly is what is unique to them. The artist is the focal point and product. People purchase what they like and understand. Anything else is a waste of time and effort and ultimately leads to nowhere. Artist websites should be a giant advertisement of the artist and not of anything else. Artists need to learn how to position themselves in a way that leads to people noticing them. The “buzz” is what the artists should be looking for, and that doesn’t happen with ill prepared branding.

In short, take time to develop a brand that IS you, be strategic in the planning of launching and marketing it, and above all else, be disciplined and diligent in executing it and maintaining it!

01 Apr 2010

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How to Approach Managers in the Entertainment Industry

How to Approach Managers in the Entertainment Industry

As I continue to try and understand how people who claim to be artists refuse to research the career they say they want, I remind myself of my original intention in writing these blogs: helping people understand what they need to do to attract the professionals they need to build a team around them, which is vital to succeed.

I am constantly approached by people who use the Internet or call me to inquire about what I do and how I can I help them. As an entertainer, you are a self-employed business and should treat yourself as such. You must be just as professional as the people you want to surround yourself with. If you can’t take the time to visit the website of the people you are contacting to learn about them and find out what they do, why are you contacting them? It’s a waste of time and energy. It shows the entertainment professional that the artist doesn’t care enough about their career to actually work on it. The artist needs to take the time and initiative to research the entertainment business and care enough about their careers to take the right steps to understand what they are getting into. If the artist blindly contacts entertainment professionals without doing their homework or developing a relationship, they will most likely be ushered out the door.

Please take the time to use the Internet or any other tool you can find to research the career you supposedly want to be a part of so badly. Find out exactly what a manager, agent and PR person do for the artist so that you can figure out whether or not you need them. Doing this research will educate you and empower you as an artist. It will also help you to avoid wasting your time, and the time of the entertainment professional you are approaching. Be professional and respectful towards us and we will be respectful in return.

Once you have done the appropriate research, assuming you learned what a press kit it is and what it consists of, you can find out what that is in my blog “The Promotional Kit”, make sure all the data is current and make sure you are thorough. Write a cover letter explaining to the professional why you think you would be a good fit for them and explain your strengths.

If you are contacted, you may have an initial meeting together. You can then take this time to interview the professional to see if they are a good fit for you. Just remember, don’t behave in such a way where you exhibit a sense of entitlement, unless you bring a lot to the table, and even then I would put the ego in check. You aren’t “all that” until you actually are. Artist development & creating a name for the artist so that the career can flourish is a tough job. The professional needs to believe you, as the artist, are worth the investment. If you haven’t already created a name for yourself as best as you can without the help of a professional, then you are not in a position of power. In my experience, the best attitude to have is to be confident but humble. A good team is a team that is a good fit for each other. This kind of relationship is the foundation for a great working one!

Do your research, know what questions to ask, and then, if they accept you, be prepared to work your butt off with no excuses.

Remember, this business is all about networking, building relationships and doing your homework to make it happen. Once you’ve done that, you can shine!

25 Feb 2010

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How To Use Social Media For Entertainers

In many of my discussions with people in the entertainment business, they want to know how to best use social networks such as Twitter, Facebook, MySpace or reverbnation. These tools are essential into spreading the word about your music, product or career. First, I would say you need to understand where this particular industry is at and use Google to research and understand the tools being used. Learn some statistics and develop a strategy for maximizing the use of each tool.

It is crucial that all of your social networking pages are linked together, which will allow all of your pages to be updated at once. This will save you massive amounts of time by not having to go to each page for individual updating. Most entertainers who are developing a game plan also need to try to develop a fan base, as well as create buzz about your next show, CD, Movie or what ever it is that is coming up next.

Understand that social media is still a personal form of networking even though you are behind a computer screen. You still have to be real and available. Learn to update only about 25% of time about your career. Promote others, develop conversations and be available to talk to an extent. I do caution against getting caught up in people who just want to flirt and have no intention of becoming a fan or a consumer. This will cause massive amounts of wasted time and not help you reach your ultimate goals. With all that needs to be done in an entertainment career, using your time wisely is of utmost importance.

Social media for the entertainer should have a game plan of turning new followers into fans and then consumers of your product. If this is not your final goal then you are wasting your time. If you are a musician, it is all about the number of impressions you make which may attract endorsement deals, fans, booking agents, venues, and sales for labels. For other types of entertainment you should know at least the basics to help develop a social media-marketing plan that will work for you.

Social media marketing campaigns should be constant and consistent. Be aware of your metrics and the tools you are using to track your success. Be diligent, concise and always have a plan. It is so important to the success of your career that you know your goals and execute a plan to meet them.

24 Feb 2010

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Does Your Band Have What it Takes?

Does Your Band Have What it Takes?

So many times I have a meeting with bands after a call from one individual in the band that is carrying the load. While this can work and has happened in the past with certain groups, it is certainly an attempt at swimming up stream for the band and not fair to the individual doing all the work. Unless the band is at a point in their career where they can afford a team of management, PR, Booking, legal, graphic design, web design and photography, they need to be able to handle the bulk of this on their own, with the exception of legal of course.

A band is team of individuals that hopefully are all on the same page as to what the bands vision and goals are. It is up to each individual to carry his or her own weight and not pile all the responsibility upon one person. There is usually one person who is the “leader” but hopefully the band works on an equal basis unless ownership dictates otherwise. Each person needs to have defined roles and responsibilities and do their best to live up to them. If any individual is not pulling their weight they are slowing the band down or putting them at a stand still in the career path the band has chosen. This is not fair to the band.

I recommend that the band have a meeting or two on just business and have everyone pick the jobs they can do best or have time for. Not everyone may be able to put in the same amount of time or money, but that isn’t the point. It’s about taking some of the responsibility and sharing it so it isn’t overwhelming one person and falling through the cracks. Things that need to be done are booking, social media, growing the fan base, email campaigns, business plans, marketing plans, tour management, press releases, endorsements etc… There are so many things that need to happen for a band to have maximum impact and everyone needs to help out and do their share. If the band is not able to handle a certain portion such as writing a marketing plan, then they should seek out professional help with this particular item to help them get to the next level.

Band agreements are a great way to get everyone on the same page, explain the expectations, pay structure, touring expectations, per diem, royalties, band ownership and so on. It should be drawn up by a lawyer and signed by everyone. If any member of the band can’t sign it or is unwilling, they are probably not the right person for the band. Everyone needs to be willing to put in as much as they can both time and money wise. It should not be the responsibility of just one person unless it’s just their name on the band.

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