Check out the new Fall TV Schedule:
http://tinyurl.com/Fall09TVSchedule
Who will you be marketing yourself to?
~S
Sharon Moist
The Industry Coach®
*********
Website: The Industry Coach
Newsletter: Industry News Digest
Book: 101 Tips for Actors
Friday, June 26, 2009
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Monday, May 11, 2009
Coaching Corner: Do You Talk a Good Game?
I recently had a conversation with a potential client who talks a really good game.
The challenge with this person is that I’ve “been there and done that,” so I’m very familiar with the “talk the talk, but don’t walk the walk” syndrome. Up until two years ago, I could talk just about anyone under the table with all of my big plans. Unfortunately, all I did was talk. I never took action on anything. Just ask my former trainer; he’ll tell you just how true that statement really is!
Fortunately, that’s not the case anymore. Now I talk the talk AND walk the walk, and my life has changed 360 degrees because of it.
So what changed? Just one thing: I stopped talking and started walking. (i.e. I actually took the first step on something.)
For example: When it came to exercise, I started working out at the gym for just 10 minutes at a time. (This area is definitely a challenge for me, as I’m not a big fan of exercising, but I’m getting there!) When it came to nutrition, I drank one extra glass of water. (Soda is my preferred beverage of choice!) When it came to getting my office organized, I set the timer for 10 minutes and worked on a pile of papers. (My assistant lives in Canada, so when it comes to keeping my office straight, it’s really up to me!)
See how simple it was? The most important thing was to make each step I took small enough for me to succeed and feel like I had actually accomplished something. After that, momentum built on momentum, and the steps I took got a little bit larger each time, until I was no longer talking, but actually walking!
Now, let’s be honest: The exercise thing and the water thing are still a challenge for me, as I’d still rather sit on the couch reading a good book and drinking a can of soda, than working out, drinking a bottle of water. But, I’m working on it!
I don’t think that most people who talk a good game intend to just talk. I really do think they want to accomplish the things they talk about. I know I did. I’ve also come to realize that the reason I wasn’t getting anywhere was two-fold: (1) I wanted to do it perfectly and (2) If there was too much to do, I became completely overwhelmed and didn’t know where to start.
Finally, after many conversations with one of my own coaches, I realized that perfection was never going to happen. After that, she helped me break things down into bite-size pieces, which gave me a place to start.
So what about you? Do you talk the talk or walk the walk?
If you discover that you’re doing more talking than walking, I would encourage you to take an hour or two and figure out exactly what’s holding you back from actively pursuing your goals. And if you can’t figure it out on your own, talk to your friends or even consider hiring a coach, like myself, to help you.
Then, once you have the answers you need to break through your stuck spots, the sky is the limit on what you can achieve, so go for it!
Copyright © 2009 Sharon Moist. All Rights Reserved.
P.S. If you enjoyed this article, then I'd invite you to subscribe to my free email newsletter, the Industry News Digest. The next issue comes out this Thursday, May 14th and you can subscribe at: http://www.IndustryNewsDigest.com
*********
Sharon Moist, also known as The Industry Coach®, is a highly sought-after professional career coach, whose clients include Hollywood Power Brokers and A-List Celebrities. After 5 years as a Hollywood Agent, Sharon left the agency to open her own coaching company. For more information, or to work with Sharon directly, you can visit her website at: http://www.TheIndustryCoach.com
The challenge with this person is that I’ve “been there and done that,” so I’m very familiar with the “talk the talk, but don’t walk the walk” syndrome. Up until two years ago, I could talk just about anyone under the table with all of my big plans. Unfortunately, all I did was talk. I never took action on anything. Just ask my former trainer; he’ll tell you just how true that statement really is!
Fortunately, that’s not the case anymore. Now I talk the talk AND walk the walk, and my life has changed 360 degrees because of it.
So what changed? Just one thing: I stopped talking and started walking. (i.e. I actually took the first step on something.)
For example: When it came to exercise, I started working out at the gym for just 10 minutes at a time. (This area is definitely a challenge for me, as I’m not a big fan of exercising, but I’m getting there!) When it came to nutrition, I drank one extra glass of water. (Soda is my preferred beverage of choice!) When it came to getting my office organized, I set the timer for 10 minutes and worked on a pile of papers. (My assistant lives in Canada, so when it comes to keeping my office straight, it’s really up to me!)
See how simple it was? The most important thing was to make each step I took small enough for me to succeed and feel like I had actually accomplished something. After that, momentum built on momentum, and the steps I took got a little bit larger each time, until I was no longer talking, but actually walking!
Now, let’s be honest: The exercise thing and the water thing are still a challenge for me, as I’d still rather sit on the couch reading a good book and drinking a can of soda, than working out, drinking a bottle of water. But, I’m working on it!
I don’t think that most people who talk a good game intend to just talk. I really do think they want to accomplish the things they talk about. I know I did. I’ve also come to realize that the reason I wasn’t getting anywhere was two-fold: (1) I wanted to do it perfectly and (2) If there was too much to do, I became completely overwhelmed and didn’t know where to start.
Finally, after many conversations with one of my own coaches, I realized that perfection was never going to happen. After that, she helped me break things down into bite-size pieces, which gave me a place to start.
So what about you? Do you talk the talk or walk the walk?
If you discover that you’re doing more talking than walking, I would encourage you to take an hour or two and figure out exactly what’s holding you back from actively pursuing your goals. And if you can’t figure it out on your own, talk to your friends or even consider hiring a coach, like myself, to help you.
Then, once you have the answers you need to break through your stuck spots, the sky is the limit on what you can achieve, so go for it!
Copyright © 2009 Sharon Moist. All Rights Reserved.
P.S. If you enjoyed this article, then I'd invite you to subscribe to my free email newsletter, the Industry News Digest. The next issue comes out this Thursday, May 14th and you can subscribe at: http://www.IndustryNewsDigest.com
*********
Sharon Moist, also known as The Industry Coach®, is a highly sought-after professional career coach, whose clients include Hollywood Power Brokers and A-List Celebrities. After 5 years as a Hollywood Agent, Sharon left the agency to open her own coaching company. For more information, or to work with Sharon directly, you can visit her website at: http://www.TheIndustryCoach.com
Monday, March 23, 2009
Coaching Corner: Monthly Acting Tip
(From the book “101 Tips for Actors”)
Tip #91: AEA
Do you know what the letters AEA stand for?
If you do, then the chances are pretty good you’re either a member or that you do a lot of theatre. If you don’t, then you need to know that AEA stands for: Actors’ Equity Association, the governing union for theatre actors.
So many actors today just want to do film, with the hope of becoming a huge star. Television is usually their second choice, but only if they can work on the bigger name shows like Grey’s Anatomy, Desperate Housewives, Army Wives and the like. Unfortunately, many times the idea of doing theatre isn’t even on their radar.
Our agency always looked at the resumes of theatre-trained actors before we looked at those without theatre training or experience. Why? Because theatre trained actors are usually better actors. They’re more disciplined; they understand the craft of acting better, and often times they are more committed to their careers.
In fact, one of our agency’s Tony® Award-winning clients has no interest in doing film or television, even though she’s as cute as a button, is in the most desirable twenty-something age bracket, and has networks and studios pursuing her, wanting to make her a star.
The great part about this young woman’s story is that when she first started out, she was cast as the Understudy to the lead actress in a musical that was premiering in Orange County, California. The week before the show opened, the lead actress was sick one day and this young lady went on in her place. The rest, as they say, is history: the producers fell in love with our client and fired the other actress. After that, the show went to Broadway, and not only did our client receive her first Tony® nomination (against other well-seasoned theatre veterans), she also won!
So if you’re an actor who wants a place to practice your craft, and connect with other actors who are also committed to practicing their craft, then theatre is a great way to accomplish that goal. You’ll meet other actors, make connections, and, sometimes, you may even replace the show’s lead and win a Tony® Award!
BREAKDOWN: Do theatre. Not only will it strengthen you as an actor, it will also make you more appealing to agents and managers.
Copyright © Sharon Moist. All Rights Reserved.
P.S. If you enjoyed this article, then I'd invite you to subscribe to my free, full-length, email newsletter, the Industry News Digest. The next issue comes out this Thursday, March 26th and you can subscribe at: http://www.IndustryNewsDigest.com
*********
Sharon Moist, also known as The Industry Coach®, is a highly sought-after professional career coach, whose clients include Hollywood Power Brokers and A-List Celebrities. After 5 years as a Hollywood Agent, Sharon left the agency to open her own coaching company. For more information, or to work with Sharon directly, you can visit her website at: http://www.TheIndustryCoach.com
Tip #91: AEA
Do you know what the letters AEA stand for?
If you do, then the chances are pretty good you’re either a member or that you do a lot of theatre. If you don’t, then you need to know that AEA stands for: Actors’ Equity Association, the governing union for theatre actors.
So many actors today just want to do film, with the hope of becoming a huge star. Television is usually their second choice, but only if they can work on the bigger name shows like Grey’s Anatomy, Desperate Housewives, Army Wives and the like. Unfortunately, many times the idea of doing theatre isn’t even on their radar.
Our agency always looked at the resumes of theatre-trained actors before we looked at those without theatre training or experience. Why? Because theatre trained actors are usually better actors. They’re more disciplined; they understand the craft of acting better, and often times they are more committed to their careers.
In fact, one of our agency’s Tony® Award-winning clients has no interest in doing film or television, even though she’s as cute as a button, is in the most desirable twenty-something age bracket, and has networks and studios pursuing her, wanting to make her a star.
The great part about this young woman’s story is that when she first started out, she was cast as the Understudy to the lead actress in a musical that was premiering in Orange County, California. The week before the show opened, the lead actress was sick one day and this young lady went on in her place. The rest, as they say, is history: the producers fell in love with our client and fired the other actress. After that, the show went to Broadway, and not only did our client receive her first Tony® nomination (against other well-seasoned theatre veterans), she also won!
So if you’re an actor who wants a place to practice your craft, and connect with other actors who are also committed to practicing their craft, then theatre is a great way to accomplish that goal. You’ll meet other actors, make connections, and, sometimes, you may even replace the show’s lead and win a Tony® Award!
BREAKDOWN: Do theatre. Not only will it strengthen you as an actor, it will also make you more appealing to agents and managers.
Copyright © Sharon Moist. All Rights Reserved.
P.S. If you enjoyed this article, then I'd invite you to subscribe to my free, full-length, email newsletter, the Industry News Digest. The next issue comes out this Thursday, March 26th and you can subscribe at: http://www.IndustryNewsDigest.com
*********
Sharon Moist, also known as The Industry Coach®, is a highly sought-after professional career coach, whose clients include Hollywood Power Brokers and A-List Celebrities. After 5 years as a Hollywood Agent, Sharon left the agency to open her own coaching company. For more information, or to work with Sharon directly, you can visit her website at: http://www.TheIndustryCoach.com
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Do You Have What It Takes to Succeed?
One of the first questions my clients always ask me is: “What does it take to succeed in this business?”
Now, here’s the catch with that question: What It Takes to succeed as an actor, and What You Have To Do to be successful in this business are two different things.
This week we’ll look at what it takes to succeed, which primarily consists of two things:
1) Perseverance
2) A Positive Mental Attitude
Connections can certainly help - but only in helping you get your foot in the door. Then, the rest is up to you: your talent, your training, your knowledge, your persistence and your attitude.
It also helps to have an agent or a manager, but it is not a necessity (at least at the beginning), and agents and managers are not god. Believe me, I was an agent, so I know! The agency where I worked discovered Adam Sandler, Jack Black, Halle Berry, T.R. Knight, Gary Sinise, Tim Robbins and Josh Lucas, just to name a few actors whom you may recognize as having successful careers. We also passed on John Travolta and Russell Crowe, so obviously we don't know everything!
To paraphrase what Sir Anthony Hopkins once told soap opera actor Tony Geary (General Hospital), "success in this business is a 'numbers game' and it's just a matter of waiting for your number to come up." (A good definition of perseverance!)
Talent also helps, but as one of my acting teachers once told me, during the pursuit of my own career, "... there are many actors out there working who are less talented than you are, and there are many actors out there who are more talented than you are, who are not working. It really comes down to how badly you want it, and how long you're willing to wait for it."
Personally, I didn't have the patience to wait for it (perseverance), and I certainly wasn't willing to share an apartment with 3 roommates and live on macaroni and cheese for months on end (positive mental attitude), so I moved over to production and worked as a development executive at one of the major studios, before becoming an agent.
I truly believe that anyone who wants to succeed can succeed in this business. I've seen it with my own clients who have accomplished their professional goals at an astonishing rate.
Look at World Class athletes. They are the perfect example of having what it takes to succeed. Before a swimmer ever reaches the Olympics, a tennis player ever reaches the Wimbledon, or a golfer ever reaches the British Open, they have spent thousands upon thousands of hours swimming laps, hitting tennis balls or swinging golf clubs, because no one becomes a world class athlete overnight. Instead, they continue to persevere and stay positive, even when the end is nowhere in sight, because they know that each lap, swing or stroke will bring them closer to their goal.
Wanting an acting career is one thing. Persevering through the tough times, and staying positive when the auditions aren't coming and nothing seems to be working, is a whole other ball game.
Are you up for the challenge?
Sharon Moist
The Industry Coach®
*********
After 5 years as a Hollywood Agent, Sharon Moist left the agency to open The Industry Coach®, where she now helps actors and other industry professionals develop success strategies for pursuing their careers. To receive her free coaching newsletter, go to: www.IndustryNewsDigest.com
Now, here’s the catch with that question: What It Takes to succeed as an actor, and What You Have To Do to be successful in this business are two different things.
This week we’ll look at what it takes to succeed, which primarily consists of two things:
1) Perseverance
2) A Positive Mental Attitude
Connections can certainly help - but only in helping you get your foot in the door. Then, the rest is up to you: your talent, your training, your knowledge, your persistence and your attitude.
It also helps to have an agent or a manager, but it is not a necessity (at least at the beginning), and agents and managers are not god. Believe me, I was an agent, so I know! The agency where I worked discovered Adam Sandler, Jack Black, Halle Berry, T.R. Knight, Gary Sinise, Tim Robbins and Josh Lucas, just to name a few actors whom you may recognize as having successful careers. We also passed on John Travolta and Russell Crowe, so obviously we don't know everything!
To paraphrase what Sir Anthony Hopkins once told soap opera actor Tony Geary (General Hospital), "success in this business is a 'numbers game' and it's just a matter of waiting for your number to come up." (A good definition of perseverance!)
Talent also helps, but as one of my acting teachers once told me, during the pursuit of my own career, "... there are many actors out there working who are less talented than you are, and there are many actors out there who are more talented than you are, who are not working. It really comes down to how badly you want it, and how long you're willing to wait for it."
Personally, I didn't have the patience to wait for it (perseverance), and I certainly wasn't willing to share an apartment with 3 roommates and live on macaroni and cheese for months on end (positive mental attitude), so I moved over to production and worked as a development executive at one of the major studios, before becoming an agent.
I truly believe that anyone who wants to succeed can succeed in this business. I've seen it with my own clients who have accomplished their professional goals at an astonishing rate.
Look at World Class athletes. They are the perfect example of having what it takes to succeed. Before a swimmer ever reaches the Olympics, a tennis player ever reaches the Wimbledon, or a golfer ever reaches the British Open, they have spent thousands upon thousands of hours swimming laps, hitting tennis balls or swinging golf clubs, because no one becomes a world class athlete overnight. Instead, they continue to persevere and stay positive, even when the end is nowhere in sight, because they know that each lap, swing or stroke will bring them closer to their goal.
Wanting an acting career is one thing. Persevering through the tough times, and staying positive when the auditions aren't coming and nothing seems to be working, is a whole other ball game.
Are you up for the challenge?
Sharon Moist
The Industry Coach®
*********
After 5 years as a Hollywood Agent, Sharon Moist left the agency to open The Industry Coach®, where she now helps actors and other industry professionals develop success strategies for pursuing their careers. To receive her free coaching newsletter, go to: www.IndustryNewsDigest.com
Monday, November 17, 2008
What's Your Excuse?
This past summer I was glued to the TV, watching the 2008 Olympics.
When Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte won a Bronze medal in the Men’s 400-meter Individual Medley, no one knew that he did so while fighting a wicked stomach virus.
When he was interviewed after the race, he never said a word about being sick. He didn’t apologize for the swim and he didn’t make any excuses for it. It was what it was, and he came in 3rd place.
Several months ago an actor contacted me about coaching together. We set up an introductory session and when the day came for us to speak, he never showed up for the call. I tried calling him three times, to no avail.
The next day he sent me an email, with a long explanation (i.e. a bunch of excuses) as to why he missed the call, and begged me for another opportunity to speak with me. I sent him an email back with a few consultation time slots to choose from and I have yet to hear back from him.
The other day I was on a call with a woman who is a talented performer in her own right. When we started talking about missed audition opportunities that had recently come her way, she, too, had a bunch of excuses as to why she wasn’t pursuing her career.
You see, that’s exactly what these two actors offered me: Excuses. And, the problem with excuses is that the only person they affect is the person making them.
One of the last Olympic events I watched was the Women’s 10-meter Platform Diving, where I was rooting for Laura Wilkinson, the Olympic Gold Medalist in the 2000 games. After 3 rounds of dives in the Semi-Finals, Laura was in 14th place, with 2 rounds of diving remaining (the first 12 places would qualify to dive in the finals). Her coach said that she had a tricep injury that kept her from performing at her best.
Once the semi-finals were over, Laura (who was in 6th place) was interviewed on TV and asked if the tricep injury affected her performance the way her coach said it did. Her answer was “No.” She went on to say that her 6th place finish wasn’t about her injury – it was about what was going on in her head, implying a lack of confidence that she was dealing with at that moment in time.
That’s being honest. She could have used her injury as an excuse, but she didn’t. She spoke the truth and the next day, she got back on that 10-meter platform and did her best. And even though she didn’t win another Olympic medal, she performed to the best of her ability at that moment in time, with her integrity in place.
So what about you? Are living in integrity? Or, are you too busy making up excuses to realize that the only person you’re hurting is yourself?
The good news is that at this very moment you can choose to change.
To Your Success,
Sharon
Sharon Moist
The Industry Coach®
*********
Website: The Industry Coach
Newsletter: Industry News Digest
Book: 101 Tips for Actors
When Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte won a Bronze medal in the Men’s 400-meter Individual Medley, no one knew that he did so while fighting a wicked stomach virus.
When he was interviewed after the race, he never said a word about being sick. He didn’t apologize for the swim and he didn’t make any excuses for it. It was what it was, and he came in 3rd place.
Several months ago an actor contacted me about coaching together. We set up an introductory session and when the day came for us to speak, he never showed up for the call. I tried calling him three times, to no avail.
The next day he sent me an email, with a long explanation (i.e. a bunch of excuses) as to why he missed the call, and begged me for another opportunity to speak with me. I sent him an email back with a few consultation time slots to choose from and I have yet to hear back from him.
The other day I was on a call with a woman who is a talented performer in her own right. When we started talking about missed audition opportunities that had recently come her way, she, too, had a bunch of excuses as to why she wasn’t pursuing her career.
You see, that’s exactly what these two actors offered me: Excuses. And, the problem with excuses is that the only person they affect is the person making them.
One of the last Olympic events I watched was the Women’s 10-meter Platform Diving, where I was rooting for Laura Wilkinson, the Olympic Gold Medalist in the 2000 games. After 3 rounds of dives in the Semi-Finals, Laura was in 14th place, with 2 rounds of diving remaining (the first 12 places would qualify to dive in the finals). Her coach said that she had a tricep injury that kept her from performing at her best.
Once the semi-finals were over, Laura (who was in 6th place) was interviewed on TV and asked if the tricep injury affected her performance the way her coach said it did. Her answer was “No.” She went on to say that her 6th place finish wasn’t about her injury – it was about what was going on in her head, implying a lack of confidence that she was dealing with at that moment in time.
That’s being honest. She could have used her injury as an excuse, but she didn’t. She spoke the truth and the next day, she got back on that 10-meter platform and did her best. And even though she didn’t win another Olympic medal, she performed to the best of her ability at that moment in time, with her integrity in place.
So what about you? Are living in integrity? Or, are you too busy making up excuses to realize that the only person you’re hurting is yourself?
The good news is that at this very moment you can choose to change.
To Your Success,
Sharon
Sharon Moist
The Industry Coach®
*********
Website: The Industry Coach
Newsletter: Industry News Digest
Book: 101 Tips for Actors
Friday, September 12, 2008
The Price of Success
Now that Oceans Thirteen has made it to cable television, it would appear that every cable channel is running it. At least that’s how it feels every time I turn on my TV!
By now I’ve probably seen the movie 5 or 6 times, but I must say this: I really enjoy the relationship between George Clooney and Brad Pitt. Not only are they fun to watch in these movies because of the great friendship their characters have, but you can tell that they’re also good friends in real life. Because they share the bond of “celebrity,” they also share the understanding that true friends are very hard to make in Hollywood.
Last week I had a coaching call with one of my clients and during the course of our conversation, she told me that the more successful she became, the more friends she lost. Sadly, I wasn’t surprised.
When my grandmother first started out in the fabric business (of which she knew nothing about), one of her suppliers took her under his wing to teach her the business and help her make other industry contacts. At that time, one of the most important things he told her was that as her business grew and she became successful, she would also lose friends. He then told her that she would meet new friends along the way, and he was right: on both accounts!
When I became an agent, I suddenly found myself with a LOT of new “friends.” However, the truth of the matter is that these people were more interested in what I could do for them, than they were in being my friend. Fortunately, I figured that out early, because as soon as I quit the agency and started my own company, a lot of those people dropped out of my life. No surprise there!
Once my business started growing, I also lost some friends who couldn’t relate to being an entrepreneur, and I chose to let other friends go because I realized that they were not supportive of me, or my business.
As your career grows and you become more and more successful, you may discover that your circle of friends grows smaller and smaller, because true friends are few and far between.
So if you ever find yourself in the position of losing friends, make sure you take the time to grieve your loss, trusting that you WILL make new friends along the way; friends who want nothing but the best for you and who will be there to share in your success because they’re genuinely happy for you.
Success does have a price tag attached to it. It may not be immediately apparent, but it’s there, nonetheless. The good news is that you’re not alone on your journey – I’m right there with you!
To Your Success,
Sharon
Sharon Moist
The Industry Coach®
*********
Website: The Industry Coach
Newsletter: Industry News Digest
Book: 101 Tips for Actors
By now I’ve probably seen the movie 5 or 6 times, but I must say this: I really enjoy the relationship between George Clooney and Brad Pitt. Not only are they fun to watch in these movies because of the great friendship their characters have, but you can tell that they’re also good friends in real life. Because they share the bond of “celebrity,” they also share the understanding that true friends are very hard to make in Hollywood.
Last week I had a coaching call with one of my clients and during the course of our conversation, she told me that the more successful she became, the more friends she lost. Sadly, I wasn’t surprised.
When my grandmother first started out in the fabric business (of which she knew nothing about), one of her suppliers took her under his wing to teach her the business and help her make other industry contacts. At that time, one of the most important things he told her was that as her business grew and she became successful, she would also lose friends. He then told her that she would meet new friends along the way, and he was right: on both accounts!
When I became an agent, I suddenly found myself with a LOT of new “friends.” However, the truth of the matter is that these people were more interested in what I could do for them, than they were in being my friend. Fortunately, I figured that out early, because as soon as I quit the agency and started my own company, a lot of those people dropped out of my life. No surprise there!
Once my business started growing, I also lost some friends who couldn’t relate to being an entrepreneur, and I chose to let other friends go because I realized that they were not supportive of me, or my business.
As your career grows and you become more and more successful, you may discover that your circle of friends grows smaller and smaller, because true friends are few and far between.
So if you ever find yourself in the position of losing friends, make sure you take the time to grieve your loss, trusting that you WILL make new friends along the way; friends who want nothing but the best for you and who will be there to share in your success because they’re genuinely happy for you.
Success does have a price tag attached to it. It may not be immediately apparent, but it’s there, nonetheless. The good news is that you’re not alone on your journey – I’m right there with you!
To Your Success,
Sharon
Sharon Moist
The Industry Coach®
*********
Website: The Industry Coach
Newsletter: Industry News Digest
Book: 101 Tips for Actors
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