Holdon Log ~ "The Standard In Performer Organizational Tools"

Here is where we post articles that may be of interest to performers. If you know of an article that we should include, let us know at info@holdonlog.com

NOTE: All articles listed below have been posted with permission. Copyright ownership is maintained by the author(s) and/or owner(s) of the piece.



5 Actions For Obtaining Your Goals In 2010 By Holdon Log, LLC Do you want to run a more focused, smarter perfoming career? Then, as a routine, schedule daily or weekly... Performer Safety Awareness - Part VI By Holdon Log Recently one of our PerformerTrack members was on an international tour and lost their wallet! He's asked to remain nameless but alerted us to how... Red Carpet... Ready?-?-? By Holdon Log With Holiday Festivities come Parties, Charity Fundraisers and of course the beginning of Awards Season! What do these 3 event types have in common? Ah yes, the Red Carpet... 4 Steps To Goal Setting (Step 2) By Dallas Travers Creating an action plan first requires distinguishing the goal itself from your To-Do List (TDL). Goals result from passionately connecting your... 4 Steps To Goal Setting (Step 1) By Dallas Travers Setting goals is one thing, but getting them is another. The act of goal setting provides a platform for success. It allows us to examine and articulate our dreams and desires. Yet goal setting alone will not guarantee success... Casting Directors: To Thank, Or NOT To Thank? By Holdon Log This has been a hot topic as of late: “Should I send a ‘Thank You’ note/postcard to the Casting Director after my audition?” We have heard some Agents and Managers say... 6 Tradeshow To Do's For Performers By Holdon Log Tradeshows offer lots of education, job leads and networking opportunities (that is, for those who take advantage of them). Sadly, some performers roam the aisles and later post online that they didn't get anything out of attending... Going Indie? - Phase 1: The Audition By Holdon Log Are you considering submitting to, auditioning for and working on “no” or “low budget” pilots, spec commercials, shorts or features? Well, without passing judgment too quickly on these opportunities... Going Indie? - Phase 2: Rehearsals & The Shoot By Holdon Log If the production you are cast in has pre-production meetings with the cast, why not offer to get involved? Roll up your sleeves and offer some creative and business input when you feel it is appropriate. Consider helping out in ways that will assist you in getting... Going Indie? - Phase 3: That's A Wrap! Now What?! By Holdon Log You hear the 1st Ad say, “and that’s a good night to you”, or you take your final bow on stage. Either way, your performance in this production has come to an end... 5 Tips To Photoshoot Success By Chef Mary Payne Moran Are you about to take new headshots or modeling pictures? If you haven’t taken the time to make sure that your body is ready before your photoshoot, don’t waste your money.... The Acting Success Solution: An Inside Game By Robert & Michelle Colt Having a successful acting career is very simple. We’re not saying it’s easy, though it is easier than you may think. Very simply, success in acting is an Inside Game: either you go within or you will go without. Go In And You Win! What do we mean by an Inside Game... Self-Submitting: It's NOT a Numbers Game - Part 2 By Holdon Log Watch out with all these submission resources! It seems like there is a new submission service popping up every other week with some fancy name that indicates stardom is just a click away... Self-Submitting: It's NOT a Numbers Game - Part 1 By Holdon Log Do you feel like these obstacles are staring you in the face?... I am not getting in the door of Casting Directors! I can't find a way to get auditions without an agent! I'm not being brought in for the right roles! My agent doesn't get me out enough I need to get more auditions/interviews!... How PerformerTrack Helped Me Get My Visa By Véronique Pierre Recently I was granted my O-1 performer visa. For those who deal or have dealt with the visa issue, you all know how much work there is to put into it. I am so grateful I had... The Business Of...'You, Inc.' By Holdon Log Most performers scoff when they are asked this simple question: “Do you have a performing business or a performing hobby?” The answer is usually a vociferous - “I have a... Making The Most Out Of Being A Background Artist - Part 2 By Holdon Log Respect the allotted times! It’s important to be aware of and adhere to the times Background Casting Company or Calling Services specify for in-person registration so that you aren’t .... Making The Most Out Of Being A Background Artist - Part 1 By Holdon Log If you are starting out with goals of working on commercials, or in TV or Film, then a good place to start is on the set as a Background Artist. You’ll receive a paycheck and you’ll learn.... Top Three Holiday Gifts for Actors By Jonathan McLelland, Associated Content The holiday's are coming, and one of the most stressful things about it is trying to find gifts that are perfect for the receiver. I have always been baffled when trying to buy gifts... To Sit Or Not To Sit...That Is The Question! By Sean Pratt I thought it would be a good idea to share a little nugget of wisdom I learned when I was a company member with The Pearl Theatre, an off-Broadway classical repertory company.... Vocal-cises! Q & A By Carolyn Fallin Questions & Answers with vocal technique, dialect and voiceover coach Carolyn Fallin... Performer PR Tips: Stop Apologizing...For Doing Your Job! By Holdon Log, LLC It's becoming a recurring mistake on message boards, in e-mail invitations, at our Meetups, and during our seminars. Performers are working...but they are afraid to tell anyone about it or they are incredibly timid in their approach.... 14 Self-Submission Tips (From 2 Production Companies) - Part II By Holdon Log, LLC The two production companies are back to give us performers more insight as to what to do and what NOT to do when self-submitting for projects... 14 Self-Submission Tips (From 2 Production Companies) - Part I By Holdon Log, LLC Avoid mistakes...read this article to assist you in making the most of your self-submissions! Vocal-cises! By Carolyn Fallin No matter what type of performer you are (stage actor, voice over artist, singer, spoken word artist, etc.) we are sure you’ll agree that taking care of your vocal instrument is important. Today we’d like to share... Performer Safety Awareness - Part V By Holdon Log, LLC Many performers are graduating the next few months with hopes of making the move to (one of) the BIG cities to pursue their career and so we wanted to make sure that... Performer Safety Awareness - Part IV By Holdon Log, LLC In this article we are going to focus primarily on you, the performer who must travel out of his or her home area, to an unfamiliar location... Performer Safety Awareness - Part III By Holdon Log, LLC We are back with some NEW Performer Safety Tips! If you’ve recently watched the news you may have come across headlines about two performers who have had innocence taken away from them... Performer Safety Awareness - Part II By Holdon Log, LLC The following scenario is based on a VERY similar situation that happened to one of our staff members here at Holdon Log in 2005. Had this actor been a newcomer, she might have just been “thankful” for the audition and who knows what could have happened! So, let’s put you in the same situation... Performer Safety Awareness - Part I By Holdon Log, LLC Did you know that it is *"Performer Safety Awareness Month"? Ok, not really...but now that we have your attention, let's talk about some important issues concerning safety during the submission process, at auditions, and on the job... Headshot Tips! - Part I* By Barry Morgenstein Tips on finding a photographer, what to look for & what to ask! Your headshot is very often your first introduction to casting directors, agents and other Industry professionals who are... 5 Things Every Actor Must Do By Holdon Log, LLC Following the advice presented in this highly-informative report will put you lightyears ahead of the masses who ignore this aspect of showbusiness, and will give you a solid foundation upon which to build... New Product: Events & Training Holdon Log By Holdon Log, LLC Our Holdon Log and ActorTrack users, PerformerNation Newsletter readers and “Lights! Camera! Tracking!” Seminar attendees have asked for a portable way to get the most out of the Classes, Coaching Sessions, Networking Events, Seminars and Workshops they attend.... Rocket Fuel For Colds By Saro Solis As an artist, whether an actor, voice-over or host, your instrument is very important and if you don't take care of it, you may lose out on some great opportunities... PerformerTrax: Vol.1 - iMix By Holdon Log, LLC PerformerTrax: Vol. I is a compilation of 50 songs submitted to us by performers from around the world who are part of Holdon Log’s PerformerNation Newsletter Community. PerformerTrax: Vol. I is the ULTIMATE PERFORMER PLAYLIST... "How To Be A Working Actor" [EXCERPTS] By Mari Lyn Henry & Lynne Rogers From now on you are responsible for overseeing your professional expenditures. The job can be made easy with ActorTrack, career management software for actors that... An Open Letter To Say...Thank You! By Holdon Log, LLC Here at Holdon Log we have lots of people to thank. There are amazing people in our Industry who have invited us to come and speak to their students and memberships, who have passed out our... #1 ~ What Not To Do! Things That Peeve, Perturb & Pester A Casting Director By Stuart Stone, Commercial Casting Director This one irks me! Coming late to your call then saying: "I have another audition to get to...can I jump ahead of everyone else?"... #2 ~ What Not To Do! Things That Peeve, Perturb & Pester A Casting Director By Stuart Stone, Commercial Casting Director Before the audition even happens, you have most likely posted photos online with the guidance of your agent. Then you were submitted for the audition, the casting director spent time going through the hundreds, possibly thousands of submissions and... #3, #4 & #5 ~ What Not To Do! Things That Peeve, Perturb & Pester A Casting Director By Stuart Stone, Commercial Casting Director It’s true! How you look and smell can matter when it comes to commercial casting (or pretty much any type of casting). Here are #3, #4 & #5 of Stuart Stone's "What Not To Do!" series where he offers some valuable tips that you think you might know, but unfortunately... To Do Or Not To Do --- Organizing The Life Of An Actor By Yi Lin, Flow Organizing As actors we often feel there are too many things to get done in too little time. Chances are you have to juggle between your day job and your career, and having a schedule that varies week-to-week (or even day-to-day) only makes it even more challenging to be on top of things... 6 Common Open Mic Mistakes By Shayne-Michael #1 - Not Being Prepared: Even if you are delivering new material you should already know it well enough to work without notes. The minute you begin looking down at your notes... Your Bio: Know Thy Self ~ So You Can Promote Thy Self! By Holdon Log, LLC In the past we wrote about Obtaining Your Goals, Growing Your Database and now we’d like to address Creating Your Bio. Nowadays, it is very common with personal Web sites and online listings that a performer can expect to be asked to provide a BIO. Having a bio (or even a rough draft of one) to initially show your publicist or manager will allow you... Grow Your Industry Contacts By Holdon Log, LLC Creating “Career Buzz” is essential in letting your contacts know that you are working and it is helpful in reminding them that you are available for work! Many successful performers make staying in touch with their contacts a priority and that’s why... "Vampingo" By Kristina Hughes Thinking of putting on your own one person show? Then check out *Vampingo* (and the Actors Art Theatre). A great show performed at a charming location...it's a win-win experience! If you aren't thinking about doing a one person show ~ then chew on this... "The Movie Extras Guidebook" By Holdon Log, LLC Back to Ones’ The Movie Extras Guidebook is a great addition to Holdon Log for Background Artists. Are you a theatre actor who wants to transition into act in film, TV and commercials? Are you looking to qualify for health insurance in your acting union?Are you new to Acting?... "Reaction To Performer Safety Awareness" Review By Holdon Log, LLC Since our two-part article on Performer Safely Awareness was included in *ActorNation* and re-posted all over the Web, we’ve been receiving loads of e-mails from performers and other Industry professionals who have expressed their comments and offered additional situations where safety has been embraced, compromised, or all together ignored.... Tales From The Mailbag - "Your 'Copy Provided' Agreement Form Probably Saved Me " Since we here at Holdon Log introduced the "Copy Provided" Agreement Form last year, we’ve had many performers ask us how it’s working for others and what the response has been from producers…. Industry Insight - "Actors Working: The Actor's Guide " Review By Holdon Log, LLC The front cover depicts the look of the familiar “Men Working” construction sign, but this time it reads *“Actors Working”…. Financial Education for Actors: Do You Have an Acting Business or an Acting Hobby?* By Miata Edoga of AbundanceBound.com There are two major elements to your life as an actor. There is the artistic side – probably the part that you love – the thing that made you decide to become an actor in the first place. The second element is the fact that you are also running a business. Or is it a hobby? The biggest question of all is – do you know the difference?... Talent Tax Tips: Can Business Gifts Be A Tax Deduction? By David Rogers of ActorsTaxPrep.com Despite the IRS reputation as hard-nosed realists, when it comes to deductions for business purposes, business gifts are often an allowable deduction. As is true with almost anything having to do with the Internal Revenue Code (IRC), there are numerous qualifications. But you don't want to miss out on a perfectly legal deduction, so let's take a look... Stand-Up Comedy: How To Get Started By Gerry Katzman Every night there are producers, directors, casting directors, managers, and agents, out at comedy clubs looking for talent. Where else can they see actors, performing material that was specifically developed for them... The Acting Success Solution: An Inside Game By Robert & Michelle Colt Having a successful acting career is very simple. We’re not saying it’s easy, though it is easier than you may think. Very simply, success in acting is an Inside Game: either you go within or you will go without. Go In And You Win! What do we mean by an Inside Game... "The Nerd" By Dava Renee White The sold out hit is now closed, but a review is still in order for the Actors Co-op and their production of Larry Shue's comedy, The Nerd. Having never read or seen the show, or any other production by this membership theatre company which “exceeds 60 professionals”, I was going in with no expectations... Success For Your Infants & Toddlers In Pageantry - Part I By Holdon Log, LLC Pageants can provide your child with some wonderful introductions into the Entertainment Industry. They can also assist in building self-esteem and create an outlet for your child to express themselves through the various phases of competition. Here are a few suggestions for making your pageant experiences more positive.... Talent Tax Tips - "Are You a QPA?" By David Rogers of ActorsTaxPrep.com There are not many provisions in the 45,444 pages of the Internal Revenue Code which were designed to assist and benefit Performing Artists--but there is one, which is called Qualifying Performing Artist (QPA)... "Acting Out" By Holdon Log, LLC If you are looking to work as a successful actor in commercials, or perhaps you already are and are in need of a brush up, we’d like to point you in the direction of *Acting Out... 20 Theatrical/Commercial Audition Points To Remember* By Info4Actors.com This is a segment from the "Tips & Guidelines" section found on the Info4Actors.com Web site. Actor Misconceptions-Part I By Holdon Log, LLC ACTOR MISCONCEPTION #1: “My agent (or manger) does this for me.” Ahhh, if only this misconception were true! Agents and managers don’t do such things as... Actor Misconceptions-Part II By Holdon Log, LLC ACTOR MISCONCEPTION #2: “I don't get out enough to track anything.” Okay, so there may be times that you find yourself auditioning less frequently, but that’s the perfect time to be proactive and CREATE CAREER BUZZ! Use “career lulls” to... Actor Misconceptions-Part III By Holdon Log, LLC ACTOR MISCONCEPTION #3: “It's too much work to log and track my career." Aside from our programmers, everyone here at Holdon Log is a working actor or has been one and we can’t understand what “too much work” is... Your Home Office By Mari Lyn Henry (printed in Back Stage East) If show business is your life, behave like a CEO and set up a home office ASAP. First check out websites-Staples, Office Depot, Ikea-to find a desk and an ergonomic chair that fits your space... The Top Ten Actor Tools By Katherine Lippa Whether you’re a novice in the Entertainment Industry or making your living as an actor, there are certain tools you can use to help up-level (or create) your career...