1. You should explore all possible leads and industry contacts, no matter how small.
2. If a connection is tenuous, ask your potential contact to take a brief informational interview with you.
3. Take that person to coffee or lunch, or ask them to take a short phone meeting so that you might pick their mind about the biz. This is a lot more polite than calling someone whom you do not know, or barely know, and asking them to pull strings for you. And this informational interview, if played right, will lead to the sort of help that you need.
4. Ask every industry person you meet for a business card.
5. Start a file of industry contacts. This is so you can keep track of who you talked to and what you talked to them about, so you don't make a fool of yourself in case you meet them again.
6. Subscribe to Dramalogue/Backstage, and buy the actors' bible, The Working Actors' Guide. Keeping track of what's going on in the industry will be key.
7. Read Variety, because everybody in the business does.
8. Join the actors' online service Castnet in LA, which keeps your headshot and resume online for casting directors, and offers many actor resources.
9. Don't be shy. It can never hurt to talk, so just take a chance.
SoYouWanna know more? Check out our full-length article SYW get a talent agent?
