Dear Aspiring Hosts, Actors and especially you Models...

You know I luv you all, right?   So let me talk to you for a moment.

I was going thru submissions...per usual, and I have questions.  Actually, I have concerns.  Actually, I need to help you help me to help you!

When you see Casting notices, do you read them or do you just apply without reading what it is and what information is requested?  Do you just send everything your email allows you to attach, then copy and paste your whole life story or do you actually READ?  Do you submit the same 99 photos for every Casting or do you send a few that are deemed appropriate for each project you submit for?

I'm just not understanding why people don't follow directions!   Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrgh!

Don’t get me wrong…I'm not mad; but it makes everything more difficult and time consuming when directions are not followed.

For example:

• ·         If a Casting is age specific, why apply if you do not fit the bill?

• ·         If it asks for clear candids, why send pictures in sunglasses?

• ·         If it asks for name, age, contact info and photos, why just send a link and done? We have to now go thru the link to find what we need?

Whyyyyy?

• ·         If it asks for 4 photos, for example 2 professional and 2 candids, why send 40 photos? Now I have to pick 4? Noooooo! You pick 4 and send them.

• ·         If the Casting asks for contact info, why send a link with a sentence that says: "Check my website for contact info." Sooooo...I have to now go thru your website to find the CONTACT tab when the same sentence you sent could have included your number?

Hol' up! Hol' up!

Why are you giving Casting Directors more work? 

I’ll be honest…I delete submissions like that because they come off as arrogant.  Plus, sometimes I don’t have time to take a tour of websites.  Sorry.  But the solution is simple…READ.  A lot of times these notices and postings are not asking for much, and guess what?  If we like you, we will ask for more!

You gotta trust me on this!

Don't blow your chances because you don't feel like reading and following directions...And while I'm in "Don't” mode!

Don't send this: "Contact me for my info" You mean the info I asked for initially in the posting that you did not include?  Deleted!

If in your photo we can tell that it's a wig...Not because we don't think it's possible to grow hair but because of how it is sitting on top of your head...don't  submit that photo.  EVER.

If you are all greasy faced in your photo, don't send that one no matter how cute of a face you think you are making.  Someone you know MUST know how to use photo shop.  They can digitally blot your face.  Ask around or Google how to do it yourself.

And hey Moms who Model...don't send photos of you and your child if it’s not a Casting for mothers and their babies. 

Aspiring Models…don't send photos of you in a group and include instructions on how to figure out which one you are. Befriend a photographer or buy a camera and get someone to take your photos.

By the way…if it's Extra work, there's a HUGE chance that you will NOT be flown out for it.  Just being honest.  Applying from abroad or from a state with a different time zone is cool but think about it before submitting to a Casting that isn't local or is a plane ride away.  You’ll waste your time and the Casting Director’s if you can’t be there for the job. So don't do it if you can't do it!

And last but not least…a more serious issue!  Why do some of you keep sending naked or half naked photos for every Casting?

No matter what it is...from HGTV to MTV to BET to Hosting gigs for HLN or MSG! Whyyyy do you keep submitting Playboy/KingMagazine/SmoothMagazine/BendMeOver type photographs?  Who is telling any of you to send naked or damn near photos for these Castings?  And if your Agents/Managers are sending all these butt and half naked shots, you may want to chat with them.

STOP IT!

How about you go buy some magazines and try different poses and different looks? If you want big gigs, think bigger than magazines that exploit asses. Not that anything is wrong with ass! Haha!

But try visiting Magazine shops or book stores and pick up one or some of these options: Vogue. Bazaar. GQ. Nylon. Elle. Glamour. V. Seventeen. Teen Vogue. Allure. Cosmo. Marie Claire. ID. L’Officiel. W. Kouture. Runway. Black Book. Wallpaper. Hint. Wonderland

And if you want to do Gap Ads, set up a fake Gap Shoot and have those type of photos taken by a professional photographer. You want to do Victoria’s Secret?  Stop with the coochie shots, match your bra and panties or cute boy short set and stand tall, not legs spread!

I’m sharing this because I care and love what I do. I'm in this for the long haul.  Are you?  So let's do this the right way...together.

CMJ

Sorry! I'm Fresh Out of Dots To Connect

Sooooo….I just finished listening to a friend vent to me about being used and left for dead in this wonderful entertainment industry of ours.  An industry unlike any other because it's supposed to be fun, nontraditional, free-spirited, flexible, exciting, exclusive, fabulous., etc.

*Deep breath*

But it seems like entertainment is structured more like corporate 9 to 5s with the back stabbing, using, betrayal, selfishness and my favorite: forgetfulness.

Forgetfulness out of convenience.

Then there is no accountability and also the fear of backlash if you let them know that what was done or how it was done was completely unacceptable.  So nothing is said!  Then "we" make promises to ourselves that we won't ever do THAT again or ever help such-n-such again.  So now we're changing our own behavior because of their behavior!?!?!

Dammit!

Well…change is good; however, if you are naturally a nice, giving, and helpful person who sincerely likes seeing others win, that internal battle is a rough road to travel.

Truuuuuust me!

I curse people out in my head DAILY!  But I'm helping people out DAILY! Sometimes expecting no “thank you” or kind gesture in return because well…people don't do for you unless it's convenient for them or better yet...they just don’t do the reciprocity thing anymore.  It’s not stylish, I guess. (Insert sarcasm here)

So you know what?  I never thought I'd say this but maybe charging people for a connect or help isn't such a bad thing.  I have friends being used for introductions and connections only to be cut out of the equation by opportunists who now thrive because of it. 

How rude!

But don’t get me wrong, I know that certain gestures should not come with a price-tag, however...if you're eating off of someone else's nice gesture while they starve, you're a f*cked up, conniving, selfish, grimy, dirty little troll...and if you act like a stranger, you should pay like one.

Let’s be honest!

Now understand that reciprocation isn't always monetary.  You do not have to give money.  But how are you producing events or shows or getting clients from someone else's contact but don't even part your lips to say thank you or maybe give them an invitation to your now wonderful production? 

For shame!

No one says thank you anymore. Sad but true! Now it's just, "do you know xyz? Can you introduce me to abc? I want to produce an event or show...how do you think I should execute?"

Really? 

Then they get it all done from you helping them and/or your relationship you’ve built for yourself…and the sound of crickets follow.

Oh.

...and most of these horror stories I’m hearing involve women being the culprits!  Now I know we all have 1 or 2 selfish user guy friends too, but this is about WOMEN.  Listen…we're already all allegedly catty and petty as it is. But this, my dear(s) is unbecoming of a lady.

Please and Thank you should be second nature…it’s our specialty!  Follow-up phone calls, Thank-you-cards, and little thoughtful gifts just to say, I appreciate you…we invented that shit! 

What happened?

Now I see why some people charge a la cart for information or deny knowing certain people! Holding on to contacts tight! I get it now! Why? Because if we help you eat, we have to eat too. And if I struggle or starve while you benefit from knowing me yet you conveniently forget me, then something has got to change...and that has to start with me.

Sooooo nothing personal, no hard feelings, no shade intended, not trying to spoil your fun! But ummm, uh, errrr...I'm fresh out of dots to connect.  Sorry! No more help and "for the love" gestures to give.  I'm only giving out daps and hugs.  Connect your own dots.

CMJ