Is Talent Show Real, How can it Help Me?
April 23rd, 2009
I have been getting MANY questions about the talent show so I decided to blog about it. Some of the questions I have been getting are: Is the talent show legitimate, Why does it cost, How can it help me, if I already have an agent should I still compete… and various forms and styles of the above.
The first question is about whether the talent show is legitimate. Well, I have spent the past six years creating a top acting studio, cultivating contacts and working hard to give opportunities to our students. We have DOZENS and DOZENS of success stories–we are in all facets of the industry: Movies, TV, Commercials, Broadway and Recording Artist. All in 6 short years. The reason for this is we strive to provide our students with top notch knowledge, vital agency placement assistance and opportunities like the talent show. The 3 combined create a powerful mold for success. Furthermore, we are recommended by almost all the top talent agents in Atlanta including: J Pervis Talent, Houghton Talent, Elite Model Management, B & B Talent, Sister Entertainment and others. We have been producing our talent show for 4 years now and we have had 0 complaints about our event.
The second question concerns price. It costs a lot of money to produce a show like this. We have to pay for the venue, employees to run the show, the agents, directors and VIP’s to judge, the prizes etc etc. So you pay an entrance fee just like you would if you are in a softball tournament, beauty pageant, dance recital and so on.
The last two questions are the most asked questions in various different forms. So I will lump them together. If you are new to the industry, or don’t have a talent agent, the talent show can be the ultimate exposure opportunity for you! There is so much upside. Agents will see you perform and as a result could offer to represent you. That is a major vital step in getting jobs in this industry. You just can’t be successful with out one. What if you already have an agent? What’s in it for you? Well aside from the prizes…lots of things.
I often counsel my students and parents of students that having a talent agent does not allow you to just sit back and wait for things to happen. Sure, it’s the first step and an extremely vital one. However, you still have to be proactive to ensure you get all the opportunities you want. Is your agent going to send you to the 3 film directors so they can see how talented you are? Is your agent going to call Nickelodeon and arrange an audition with the network? Most likely not, no matter how great of an agent you have. The nature of the business is your agent gets breakdowns for specific roles and submits their talent accordingly. They do not generally arrange general auditions with all the directors and casting people in town.
This is why these things are so important! You have to be proactive in seizing opportunities to show your talent to the people who have the jobs–directors and casting directors. If they like you, they will remember you and they will call your agent requesting you for roles!
Also, think of this? When are you going to get a chance to be seen in person by the casting people of Nickelodeon network? Even if there is an audition and your agent calls you in for it, guess what? You goe on tape and that tape is sent to the network. Meanwhile they are seeing hundreds if not thousands of people in person. They may or may not watch the tapes. And even if they do, being seen in person is 10 times better than on tape.
Finally, there are more directors and casting people judging this talent show than agents. I made it that way on purpose. Because I want everyone to have opportunities whether they are represented or not.
I truly, in my heart, believe in creating opportunities for people to be seen by industry professionals so they have an easier path to success than I had when I started out. This industry is hard. It can be a long hard road. It may take a person doing it the old-fashioned way 3 or 4 years or more to see all the people they will perform in front of in one night at the talent show. I mean, it’s taken me YEARS to cultivate the relationships and network I have! I want to share that with people to make their path easier and shorter. That is why I am so passionate about The Actor’s Scene and the things I create for not only our students, but for every person out there who has a dream of making it in this industry. It’s why I have made the talent show so huge this year with such a huge grand prize! It’s why we have a showcase at the end of the year for our students. It’s why we go to AMTC (Actor’s Models Talent for Christ Competition) twice a year. Because these things can shorten the path to someone’s dream. These things can truly cultivate the right and safe relationships you need to be successful in this industry.
You can’t be afraid to take risks. You can’t be so afraid to get burned that you let every legitimate opportunity pass you by. You have to have faith and take that leap sometimes. I learned a very important lesson from my paster Andy Stanley one day in church and I have taken it to heart. Yes, you should pray and ask God for your heart’s desires. Yes you need to have faith that he will deliver in his time. However, that does not mean you just sit back and wait for it to happen. You do all you can do now and trust God to do the rest. But you still have to do your part. And your part in this area is being proactive. Taking risks. Putting yourself out there. Taking that leap of faith.
And that is why it is so important to me to give people the legitimate opportunities. The safe path. In the world filled with scams, gimmicks and dream stealers, I want a safe haven where people can go to obtain the right knowledge, contacts and training to make their dreams come true. The It Factor Talent Show is part of that path. It’s a part of my passion and my dream…to help people realize theirs.
May 28th, 2009 at 7:15 pm
hey this is a very interesting article!
June 2nd, 2009 at 1:31 am
da best. Keep it going! Thank you
October 7th, 2009 at 4:17 am
I was going to write a similar blog concerning this topic, you beat me to it. You did a nice job!