The Year of the Thank You

February 15, 2011 by  

With a new year and a new decade I announced in my February e-newsletter this is the Year of Thanks. There is great things going on in my life, no matter the circumstances, and I want to be thankful for everything.

Being thankful is something I am hearing a lot recently. I have started listening to the Inside Acting Podcast, and their first discussion point with a listener was around the issue of sending a thank you card do a casting director, when it is their job to call you in for an audition.

The second place I am hearing about being thankful is Gary Vaynerchuck, as he is writing a new book Thank You Economy. He has made available a part of chapter one and chapter ten. The basic idea is one have to care enough about every relationship one has connected to their business. Word of mouth has a new outlet, social media.

“Social media has transformed our world into one great big small town, dominated, as all vibrant towns used to be, by the strength of relationships, the currency of caring, and the power of word of mouth.”

But social media is just a tool to foster relationships, and all relationships need care that only real life interactions can provide. So while my year is about being thankful, my life/work is about relationships.

Filed under: Social Media, Web 2.0
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Business Card Contest

June 1, 2010 by  

Well, I am back from the dead, or at least a busy month of May, with end of semester grading, final teaching artist workshops and preparing for the understudy run of Picasso at the Lapin Agile, which is running till June 13th at Two River Theater in Red Bank, NJ.

To celebrate my return to the blogosphere, I am holding a contest. It is time for new business cards.

Details: Below are three versions I am debating over. All you need to do is leave a comment saying which one you like. I will pick one comment by random to win.

Prize: One hour search engine optimization consultation.

Expiration: 6pm EST on Friday, June 4th

Card #1

Card #2

Card #3

Update: Card #4 (based on Devon’s comment)

Update: Card #5 (based on Ann’s comment)

Update: Back of Card

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Does Our Theater Not Want To Evolve?

January 1, 2010 by  

Happy New Year! I can’t think of a better post to start 2010. I am just catching up on a great multi-blog conversation between The Next Stage and Praxis Theatre, the Canadian branch of the theatrosphere: Round 1, Round 2, Round 2.5, Round 3. There is a lot of good stuff in each post. While I already have made some comments in the above blog posts, I want to address in detail some of the topics discussed.

Where it starts getting interesting is in the comment section of Round 2. There Manda Kennedy, shares a little bit of her role working as Tarragon’s social media strategist. She talks about the theater’s desire to engage and not just use social media to broadcast, kudos as I don’t think enough theaters have made that connection, but Kris Joseph‘s following comments hits on the crux of the state of theaters use of social media.

I think the engagement of theatre arts with the ‘net has to come from the ground: the designers, crew, actors, directors, and playwrights working directly on material. If I have PERMISSION from the relevant guilds and unions (and there’s ANOTHER bear of an issue) all I have to do is carry an iPhone in my pocket and I can shoot footage of my wig fitting and snap pics of my set being built and record clips of rehearsal and BINGO — the content creates itself.

If the use of social media is left in the hands of the marketing department, then that is all it will be used as, a marketing tool. Social media platforms need to be conduits for conversations, stories, narratives and interactions. This sounds like something that artists would be really good at. Kennedy poses a problem:

I’m not going to argue for a second against engaged artists taking the lead on this. That would be fantastic and a really interesting departure from the the what does seem to be the common approach. The largest hurdle for me is that the vast majority of our artists are one with the organization for a limited period of very tightly scheduled time. Individuals, or theaters with resident companies, might have any easier time making their artists direct engagement with the ‘net a consistent and expected thing…There is nothing magical or silo-esque about any of that. It’s hard damn work and requires constant dialogue.

I would agree, but why can’t a theater hire someone to fill a staff position and an acting role? Hire an artist in one or two roles for the season and the rest of the time that person works with the other artists, director and technicians in helping create online content. This ties into Round 2.5, in which Joseph questions why theater institutions, unions and more artists have not evolved to using social media to engage with audience members and ask artists to join the online cocktail party.

ARTISTS, I firmly believe, need to start looking at this stuff with the same level of priority they give to things like keeping their resume up-to-date and keeping on top of audition postings and agent relationships. It’s a critical part of the business and, Manda, your job will get EASIER once you have artists around you who come to YOU and say “how can I help?”. Right now, the average theatre artists’ response to technology like this is like the marketing director asking for cast headshots and hearing “oh, I don’t HAVE one of those. Is that important?” in response.

As an actor/social media specialist, I love Joseph’s thinking. I also realize the many artists stake their flag firmly in the land of the “left” brain and this “right” brain technology will not aid them in their craft and is too time consuming (Read Round 3 on this topic). I think this is why theaters that have an actor also as their social media strategist have the best of both worlds. This artist lives in both the “left” and the “right” sides of the brain. This actor can dialogue with the marketing team while at the same time understand the thought process and time commitments of the other artists. This person can help the artists create quality content using devices like flip video and iPhones to post on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, etc. This person speaks the language of the theatrosphere and can leave meaningful comments and expound in thoughtful blog posts. They will be the ones that are equally excited at attending the Search Marketing Expo as in attending the TCG Conference. With the weekly AEA job rate at 85.2% and 55.1% of AEA members not working at all last season (I wonder what the Canada stats are), I think the opportunity for an actor to have consistent work both on and off stage would be highly welcomed.

Image by contactmcr via Flickr, used under a Creative Commons license. From Manchester, England’s Contact Young Actors Company & YOU production of #follow_me.

Filed under: Acting, Social Media, Theater/Theatre, Web 2.0
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Acting Twitter Conversation

September 27, 2009 by  

Had an interesting twitter conversation that I thought the blog readers would like.

@dennisbaker: 30 year old actress on @suzeormanshow incurred $30,000. Her excuse, “I thought I would book something”. C’mon #actors get real!

@dennisbaker: Actress: “I was hoping I could just book one of these commercials” @suzeormanshow: “Hope is not a finical plan.”

@dennisbaker: Actress on @suzeormanshow makes $9/hr. #Actors learn skills that U cn #freelance at an hourly that allows U 2 pay bills & pursue acting

@bwaysaint: I can believe it – I’m $25K in debt & paying it down. You can still “hope” no matter what Suze says.Keeps u positive & focused

@bwaysaint: You just can’t rely on JUST “hope.”

@dennisbaker: @bwaysaint I think U make the same point Orman is making. The mindset of going in2 debt until “I book that commercial” is hope w/out action.

@bwaysaint: Exactly. I still hope for that opp. that will take me out of it, but I’ve stopped spending…had to. I was drowning! lol

@__dana__: @daniellecasting Question Pls– about the prevalence of “national” commercials these days, and earnings abilities for commercial actors?

@daniellecasting: @__dana__wellll.. If they book it yes!! They could do two or three and be good

@daniellecasting: @__dana__ it’s a crap shoot like everything else in our business

@dennisbaker: @__dana__ @daniellecasting Is that is book 2-3 commercials a month for rent? Realistic?

@dennisbaker: @__dana__ @daniellecasting What I keep hearing is the days of the $40,000-$50,000 national commercial are over.

@daniellecasting: @dennisbaker you know honestly it depends u get lucky ur what the director is looking for ur good. The more u go out the better the chances.

@daniellecasting: @dennisbakerbut yes u can still make that money not often as b4 but u can

@__dana__: @dennisbaker YesI keep hearing that too! That’s why I asked her. (you, Danielle) That makes me hesitant to advise it as “fallback career”

@__dana__: @dennisbaker I am not certain that #actors can make a living in commercials these days. @daniellecasting Do you think? Solely from them?

@dennisbaker: @__dana__ When has anything acting related bn considered a fallback career?

@dennisbaker: @__dana__ Annual Median income of a AEA actor is $0 dollars a year. http://tinyurl.com/yew4oun My guess is SAG actors are not too far off.

@__dana__: @dennisbaker Interesting to investigate. I think SAG #actors make more, simply cuz film always pays more than theatre. But not sure, average

@__dana__: @dennisbaker Commercials have been “fallback” career, as long as I was in the business.Many actors in NY + LA used to earn there, as living

@__dana__: @dennisbaker When I was actively in the business, my consistent income, before I got ‘series regular’ type level, was voiceovers. Back up.

@__dana__: @dennisbaker Think she [@daniellecasting] means 2-3 National Commercials a year–because nationals (vs regional, et al) pay a residual evry airing-

@dennisbaker: @__dana__ I see what you mean. I would also say the percentage of actors, that have acting related back-up jobs, are small.

@__dana__: @dennisbaker I think you are right, but I do know that it’s very diff in NY and LA. I heard the other nite at a SAG event-NY actors grt av $

@__dana__: @dennisbaker I think it also depends on whether an #actor has representation, and the quality and status of their representative.

@dennisbaker: @__dana__ Luv to hear any SAG stats you can get. I agree, 10 yrs ago commercials were considered backup work.

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Filed under: Acting, Auditioning, Los Angeles, New York, Social Media, Web 2.0
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Casting Director Twitters at Audition

August 14, 2009 by  

daryl eisenberg twitterThe theatreosphere has been up in arms in what is being called “Twittergate”. It is focused around casting director Daryl Eisenberg, who was making comments about actors’ auditions during an EPA of New York Musical Theatre Festival’s “Gay Bride of Frankenstein.” She has been twittering about previous auditions, but this one seemed to go public once over 200 people notified Broadwayworld.com’s “Twitter Watch“.

The story got big enough that it was covered by The New York Times’ ArtsBeat. The heightened exposure drew response from the producer Billy Butler, composer Marc Shaiman, and casting director Paul Russell. I think Russell’s blog post was the most insightful observation from all that was written. From reading his book and blog, what I appreciate about Russell’s perspective is that he is honest and does not hold back, while at the same time is able to care for the process and rigor actors, and all entertainment professionals, go through while working in a hard business.

It’s behavior such as yours Ms. Eisenberg that makes me ashamed at times to be a “gate keeper”. For that’s all we are. A casting director’s job was not created out of need but out of convenience for the creative team. Before casting directors existed, producers, directors and stage managers did the leg work that has become our trade. We’re expendable. This current economic crisis and our dwindling client base as budgets are cut should have made you more than aware of that reality

Actors deserve better treatment from those behind the audition table. I was once an actor. I have a great empathy for them. I don’t know if you Ms. Eisenberg were once an actor. If so; you should be damned ashamed of how you have treated those who now stand where you once stood. If you never had the displeasure of auditioning consider yourself fortunate that you never had to endure what actors in your audition room experienced this past week.

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Filed under: New York, Social Media, Theater/Theatre, Web 2.0
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Twitter is too expensive

July 22, 2009 by  

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New Facebook Fan Page

June 11, 2009 by  

DENNIS BAKER LLC now has a new Facebook fan page. Check it out!

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DENNIS BAKER LLC Nominated Best Culture Blog

June 7, 2009 by  

DENNIS BAKER LLC has been nominated by Blognet Blog Awards for the best culture blog.

From Blognet:
The nominator said “I just love this blog. It covers all aspects of the creative process, but particularly theater something that I have always had an interest in”. This is the blog for the actors, directors, bloggers and teachers who are hard core theater buffs. If you don’t really know your stuff, you might feel a little lost at first, but if you do, you will appreciate this site for the opportunities and education it offers. (Wannabes like the BlogNet Awards Team just review the blog and try to steer the talented among you in the right direction.) Not content with limiting their scope to the theater, this site also offers helpful tips on web design, marketing opportunities, and even the chance to write for the site and share your own expertise in the area of theater. We know you’ll improve your craft with the lessons gleaned at this site.

PLEASE VOTE TO NOMINATE DENNIS BAKER LLC FOR BEST OVERALL BLOG. You need register and log in to vote and leave comments. Both votes and comments count in the BlogNet Awards Comment Contest. Remember when you click on the stars one star means “poor” – 10 stars means “best”. Click here to rate the website and leave a comment. You can also view the video below.

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Building Your Personal Brand

May 26, 2009 by  

In this tough economy many people are becoming freelancers. According to a recent New York Times article, “More than 14.8 million people were self-employed last year, accounting for about 12 percent of the private, nonfarm work force.” The first thing one needs to do as a rockstar freelancer is to create a personal brand. A great source is the Rockable’s minibook Rockstar Personal Branding. There are so many blogs out there as well as many freelancers and entrepreneurs. A personal brand helps you stand out from the crowd. It puts an image to you, the business. The minibook breaks down personal branding to five points: positioning yourself, building reputation, crafting the elevator pitch, blogging, and perfecting the package.

Positioning Yourself
Position yourself for what, you might ask? What is your selling position, specifically your unique selling plan. What are you putting out there for people to buy? Is it clear? What do you do that no one else if offering or that you do better? Can that be highlighted above many different skills that you possess? Are you formally a real estate broker who is now in web design? Than you can market to the real estate industry claiming you are one of them and therefore know how to market to their business’ needs.

Building Reputation
To build a reputation you will need to meet people and get your brand out to the public. One can gain credibility by joining trade organizations, attending conferences, publish an article or teaching a class at their local community college. Doing this, while learning your trade, can help build your reputation even before you get your first client.

Crafting the Elevator Pitch
How can you say the most about your brand in the smallest amount of time? Four key areas to focus on: who you are, what make you unique, what do you do, and why should the listener care? Remember this is a sales pitch, that should not sound like a sales pitch. Keep it short and make it personal.

Blogging
Google, and other search engines, like to see a website with updated content. A blog is the best way to do this. Updating your blog often will most likely get your name to #1 in Google search. A blog is a way for your brand to have a conversation with potential clients. You can write about the latest trends in your profession, while people can comment and interact with the brand. The longer you write and become established the more of an authority you will become.

Perfecting the Package
The package consists of all the things that represent your brand like business cards, logo, photos, bio, and design elements. They all need to have a cohesive aspects to create the whole package. Is your brand fun and vibrant or cutting edge and trendy? Your package will communicate this to potential clients and will help create a feeling about your brand.

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3 days left to win the Twitter Ticket Contest. Click here to Retweet (RT) the free one ticket giveaway for the May 31st performance of New York Theatre Workshop’s Things of Dry Hours.

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Twitter Contest for Free Ticket to Things of Dry Hours

May 23, 2009 by  

This is for my twitter followers! (Become a DENNIS BAKER LLC twitter follower)

Click here to Retweet (RT) the free one ticket giveaway for the May 31st performance of New York Theatre Workshop’s Things of Dry Hours. Do it any time before midnight on May 29th and you will be automatically entered to win.

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