Be active!

Normally I like to find inspiring quotes from others and share them...today I will post one of my own.

"Be mindful of how many times you say "hope", "wish", "someday" for those are just fluffy words that create little or no action. Say words like "will", "I am" and "today" for those cause action to be taken and create power within."

I can't tell you how many people I hear say "I wish" or "If only I had the chance" and then do NOTHING towards pursuing their goals and dreams. They just wait for something magical to happen. Well... I hate to break it to you but all those stories you hear about getting discovered on the street are very, very rare. Most successful people in Hollywood or where ever else will tell you how much determination and hard work they put into reaching their goal.


If you wish to be or do something create an action list, tell others, and then have friends or family that check in with you and keep you accountable. It is almost impossible to accomplish anything on your own. Create a team that believes in you and your vision. You must be active in pursuing your goals! 




Shine ON in 2010!


xo,
Keri

You need to believe to achieve!

I came across this quote today and absolutely loved it!

Whatever you are by nature, keep to it; never desert your line of talent. Be what nature intended you for and you will succeed. - Sydney Smith

I  truly believe if we all pursued and worked within our God given talents the world would be such a better (and happier) place. To work within our "best and highest use" to do what we love most.

I know how difficult that can be when you have to sacrifice so much in order to do so. However, we have such talents for a reason. To waste them is a tragedy!

Do not let fear, doubt, or tough odds stand in your way or else you are just paving the way for someone else.

Shine ON!

~Keri

The Box

I love teaching! It fills my soul and allows me to work with aspiring actors. However, I find myself constantly telling my students to get out of "the box". The little box that confines our thoughts and limits our possibilities. The box in which we all like to stay and play it safe. The box where no one can see our insecurities or limitations.


Let me tell you...if your not willing to explore what you are truly capable of you will NEVER be as great as you could be. That is in acting or in life! There are so many facets and layers to who we are as people. What I feel is so great about acting is that you can honestly explore those things without coming off as a crazy person. :)


I encourage you to dig deep into what make you unique. There are many beautiful and talented people out there but there is only one YOU!

Take a step outside of "the box" and walk into a whole new world. You will be so glad you did!

Shine ON!
Keri

Building your resume

I am often asked how one goes about building their resume. That can be tough as you often need experience to get experience...urggg! But the good news is a lot of companies are not going through agents as much as they use to. They are also using tools like Craigslist, LA Casting as well as others.

I would also suggest making sure you are in a great acting class. Acting uses a lot of muscles and you have to work out those muscles regularly. Make sure you have a teacher that you admire and will help stretch you (and your acting muscles). :)  Many times teachers in your area can also be a wonderful resource to help you find work, agents, etc. 

Make sure you are getting yourself out there! You have to be willing to do a lot of the work yourself. Even if you have an agent YOU are responsible for your ultimate success!


Keep Dreaming!

Keri Murphy

How do you get an agent?

There is no doubt about it, getting good representation can be difficult. It is not just about finding a agent but finding one that you feel is a good match for you and your goals. Many aspiring talent jump the moment an agent says he or she is interested. Big mistake! What you have to remember is that this relationship is a partnership. Do not be afraid to ask questions...this is your career! You should be interviewing them as much as they are interviewing you.

Do you know what kind of agency you want? (commercial, theatrical, modeling, voice-over) Depending on where you live these divisions may or may not all be under the same roof. Would you like to be represented by a big or small agency?  What are the potential benefits or draw backs when making such a decision? If you can, ask people already in business what their experience has been like with their agent. Do your homework!

Now that you have answered those questions, make sure you are ready for your meeting. You only have ONE chance to make a first impression. Quite often you had to submit your headshot and resume or other photos before the meeting was scheduled.  Make sure you come in looking like your picture(s). We are all aware of the wonders of Photoshop and nothing turns us off more than pictures that are too altered. Be proud of who you are and don't try to hide something...they will find it. :)

Show off your personality! There are many, many talented and beautiful people in the world, so what makes you YOU? No one wants to sit down with a beautiful or talented individual who can not answer a question or be engaging.

Dress to impress! Make sure you are wearing the clothes and that the clothes are not wearing you.
If you are an aspiring model the agency is going to want to see your figure, so wear something body consicous but be classy. You are not going out clubbing!! Also, make sure if you are a female over the age of 13yrs old that you are wearing heels. Keep hair and make-up very simple. All other talent, dress as you would normally but again keep it simple and professional. Make sure your hair, skin and nails are looking their best. They will look at it all!



Finding the right representation can take some time. So until you do, keep yourself growing in the field you are pursuing. Take classes, build your portfolio, fine tune your resume, and keep on networking. You will find so much of ones success in this business or any other is built on relationships.

Need more help? Feel free to contact me directly at keri@kerimurphy.com

Good luck and keep DREAMING!

When do you need a portfolio?

When you sign with a reputable agency!

If you are an aspiring model doing TFP (test for prints, or a disk these days) work is a great way to build your book. That in essence is learning on the job. My advice is to always do your research on the photographer BEFORE shooting with them! It may be free but if the work is bad or if the photographer is not credible you have just wasted your valuable time plus it may have put yourself in a compromising situation. There are many resources for an aspiring model, such as model mayhem and onemodelplace. These can be great sites to network, although often times there are no background checks done on the people who post looking for models. So again, realize this is your business now and therefore you need to do your research. Ladies, I would also suggest bringing a friend or family member to the shoot..I would not suggest bringing your boyfriend. Always remember, if is sounds too good to be true, it most likely is!!!

An aspiring model should never get her portfolio done through a modeling school. You are often paying much more than you would through an actually agency test shoot and the quality is usually not up to industry standards. Of course, there are always exceptions. It kills me when I see models with a "portfolio" from a school and they spent over a thousand dollars on.  They then come into a reputable agency only to learn the photos are not usable.   Those are expensive Christmas presents!

Every agency is different and depending on the market and your potential your look and book will vary. Many models have a portfolio for each market they are represented in such as LA, NY, Europe, Portland, etc.

So, go out there and learn by shooting with as many good photographers as you can but do not spend money on your "portfolio" until you have an expert guiding you in the right direction.

You should expect to spend between $400-700.00 on a good test shoot with a top notch photographer. An agency will rarely cover this cost for a new model. This may or may not include hair and make-up but should always include a copy of the disk and a minimum of 3-4 different looks.

Good luck!

Where to start?

Have you always wanted to be a part of the entertainment industry but do not know where to begin? Do you want to model or act? Well... you can always read books, blogs, and do your research online but that really won't help you decipher what is right for you. What are your strengths? What type are you? Is there a certain market that would be better for you than another? Do you really need classes or is all that class stuff just a big ol' scam?

Let me help you answer those questions! I am passionate about helping people pursue their dreams in the entertainment industry. It does not mean it will be easy nor does it mean I will tell you everything you want to hear. But I will give you honest, realistic feedback and advice based on my 20 years in the business.

For more information contact me at keri@kerimurphy.com