Backstage.com pt 2

So I just finished posting my resume on Backstage. Yes, I went through the entire 10 page process, and it's up. I really don't know what that means - I think casting directors can now see me in a search. Which is cool. I didn't upload a head shot, though. The ones Maureen took are too large to upload to the website and I can make them smaller but I would have to download this thing, and it just seems like a lot - especially since Curtis has promised that my headshots will be in the mail any day now and his come along with smaller versions so . . . yes - celebrating each accomplishment, no matter how small - I finished posting my resume on Backstage.com. YAY!

I still have to fill out a cover letter and a bunch of other stuff, as well as setting up my own search guidelines so they will automatically tell me which auditions are up for my "type" (ugh, I hate that word, I refuse to be hemmed in by "type", my talent exceeds any "type"). And then, you know, comes the actually looking and setting up auditions and you know, actually going to them. But man oh man, I am making my way there. Even if I'm crawling, I will make my way there.

So, wide eyed young actor tip # twenty something (I'm sure it's twenty something by now) - Do all this before you get here.
But if you're like me and it takes all you have in you just to get here, so you don't do it before hand - I would suggest finding someone who has done this already, looking at their set up, and have them sit with you and walk you through it. There are things on there like "put a short (2 sentence) discription of yourself" for the resume portion. Now, they have an example for that one, but mine seems awfully similar to the example and it would be nice to look at some other people's to see what they said. I'm sure you can do that on the site - and I will eventually and tell you all about it. But also there are things you have to do like label your pictures with concise, accurate discriptions. I mean, other than "headshot" how would you describe these pictures? I have no idea. But once again, I will find out and tell you all about it.

Also, there is some information on the site that helps walk you through what to do, but man they don't make it easy to find.

Once again, let us celebrate each accomplishment, each time we cross something off of the to do list. I, Laura Bess Jernigan, now have an official resume on Backstage.com. I am an actor in New York City looking for work, and now people that are hiring actors in NYC can find me. That is ridiculously cool.

overwhelming

okay so finally subscribed to Backstage (thank you, thank you, thank you to my wonderful mother for getting me a 6 months subscription as an early Christmas present), but, man, let me tell you, the online site is overwhelming. I think they need to get a new web designer or something because there is so much going on just on the home page that I don't know what to look at or where to go first.
They should have a very clean home page with very clear and concise choices as to what you want to view. And also there should really be an entire section merely called "getting started" which lists the first thing you should do - like the first thing you should do is fill out the resume form so your info is online and then check out the listings for the things you're interested in and then . . .
That at least is the path that I am going to try. Although the whole overwhelming aspect of it had me terrified and just staring at the page for like 15 minutes at least. And I started filling out the resume portion and - gah! - it's like 10 pages of all the stuff that you, and I, and everyone else HATES filling out. I mean just HATE. If it was just, you know: name, age, height - and then cut and paste your resume info. that would be fine. Simple. Easy. No, I have to come up with all new and creative ways to describe myself to the theatrical community, and that's just the 3rd question!
Gah!
I know, it's not really that big of a thing and really not that hard and I should just bite the bullet and get it over with, but - well, maybe I'll just whine a few more minutes . . .

How to Find Audition Info

9/30/09

Wide Eyed Young Person Tips – WEYP Tips

When trying to find audition info –

You cannot just get on Backstage.com. You have to have a subscription. There are three different options. One is the premium package that includes all access to everything employers could post, everything you can post, and lots of other important info along with receiving a hard copy of the magazine delivered to you weekly. The 2nd option is to just have all of the online stuff. The 3rd option is to have all of the online stuff minus direct links to agents and agencies info.

See this is important information to have.

Actors Access – while not as useful – is free.

NY Casting is good for TV and commercial stuff.

Those last 2 tips were from Adam, I haven’t actually checked them out yet. I’ll let you know when I do.

Also, this means I have to wait till Thursday at least to do more research on Backstage.com. That’s when we get paid and that’s when I will have to make a decision as to which of the three options listed above I will choose. But I must subscribe and so subscribe I will.