Do's and Don'ts for creating a great first impression: Audition Style

I recently had the opportunity of being on the other side of the table at an audition. It gave me a unique perspective checking people in rather than being the one to be auditioning. It reminded me how important creating a great first impression is. Here is what I found:




Do: arrive early, 15-20 minutes before your allotted time slot. Don't: arrive late.
Do: smile and greet the people you hand your headshot and resume to and thank them when you leave. Don't: leave all of your personal stuff on the table where you check in. Do: find your own corner to drop your stuff. Don't: have the person checking you in have to attach your headshot and resume for you.  
Do: take the time to properly cut your resume and adhere it ahead of time. Do: be flexible, things might have changed according to previously planned. Be ready to adjust.Don't: leave an audition you've already handed your headshot and resume in to without auditioning, especially without telling the check in person you left. This leaves a bad impression. Do: let the person checking you in know if you have an emergency or have to leave early. They will more than likely accommodate you. Don't: warm up loudly in a room with everyone else waiting. Do: warm up before you come, in your car, or quietly in a corner.

For more tips on preparing for auditions:
Check out our book Beyond Talent. Read the chapter: "Auditioning."

For more tips on organizing for auditions:
Check out our Organized Talent page on our website. Download "Organizing for Auditions."

Time to Tackle your Taxes

Tax time  is upon us and filing is due Tuesday, April 17th. If you're a Twin Cities local, and happen to be a performing artist, check out Fox Tax, LLC. They specialize in working with creative people and may be just what you need to tackle your taxes.




Smiling Spaces Organized Talent Tip Sheets: "Organizing for Tax Time"
Fox Tax, LLC http://www.foxtaxservice.com

2012 Twin Cities Actor Expo

 Are you a disorganized Performing Artist? Live in the Twin Cities area?  
Don't miss the 2012 Twin Cities Actor Expo!

Make sure to stop by the Smiling Spaces booth and get a closer look at our Organized Talent offerings: Organized Talent Tipsheets, Beyond Talent Book, & Performing Artists 10% Discount for organizing services

  

Saturday, March 31, 2012
Hopkins Center for the Arts
1111 Mainstreet, Hopkins, MN 55343
8:45AM (doors open)
Tickets: $35 per person ($40 at the door)

Spend the day with local actors, casting directors, agents, AFTRA and Equity representatives and many other industry professionals.  Learn about the business of acting in the Twin Cities! Morning seminars will be geared toward parents of child actors and novices. Afternoon sessions will be specifically for the working, professional actor. Seminars will address commercials, industrials, stage, voice-overs and much more. After all seminars are over come and join us for a networking happy hour from 5pm-7pm. Cash bar, light appetizers, and entertainment!

Performer Tracker Resource and Tool

If you're a performing artist you know how difficult keeping track of all your auditions, callbacks, contacts, and performance information can be. During the development of my new Smiling Spaces "Organized Talent" Tip Sheets I now offer, I discovered this resource. It's called Performer Tracker. Basically, it's software designed specifically for Performing Artists to help organize the kinds of things I mentioned above and more. This software is offered though a subscription.

The developers of Performer Tracker want you to "Work SMARTER, NOT Harder." I do to. So, if you want to check into it for yourself, visit www.PerformerTrack.com

If you decide to subscribe, and you want to save $20, enter this coupon code: ABFR9

Break a Leg! 

Introducing "Organized Talent" Tip Sheets!

Smiling Spaces is now offering performing artists
an affordable option to help them get organized.

Audition Here:
Have you ever been late to an audition because you got lost, forgot something, or mixed up a call time? Afraid that a first impression might have cost you the role you knew you were perfect for? Are you motivated to get down to business, but not quite sure how? It's time to get organized!

You're Cast!
Let Smiling Spaces offer you your next big role by becoming an "Organized Talent." Continue to focus on what you do best and let us teach you professional organizing tips that will help improve the business side of the brand you're selling, you.

Organizing for Auditions $3.00

• 10 Tips for Getting to the Right Place at the Right Time
• Essential Supplies Checklist
• Performing Arts Resume Template (Workable Word® Document)
• 3 “Foot-in-the-Door” Organizing Must Haves
• “Take-Along Bag” Packing Tips
• Paper Management Solutions for Performing Artists
• Favorite Products Shopping List
• Helpful Organizing Stores

 Organizing for Tax Time $3.00

•  How to Keep Track of Mileage
•  Daily Mileage Recording Checklist
•  4 Things to do Every Business Trip
•  1 Thing to do Once a Month
•  Once a Year Mileage Checklist
•  Example Tax Spreadsheet
•  Printable Tax Spreadsheet
•  Simple EXCEL® Tax Template (Workable EXCEL® Document)
•  How to Prepare Mileage Calculations
•  3 Ways to Keep Track of Your Expense Receipts

Get Both:$5.00 (tax is included in prices above.)

Become an "Organized Talent" Today! 

The tip sheets will be emailed right to you as a downloadable PDF once payment is received.

  

(Our website is undergoing a complete updating that will soon be including a paypal account option) In the meantime, please contact andrea@smilingspaces.biz directly to place your order.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Photo by: R Barsness Photography

Get the Gig with: Post-It notes

3M Post-It: Laptop Note Dispenser
Whether you're on your way to a job interview or audition, using Post-It notes just might make all the difference. Write down the address, phone number, or contact information and stick it to your steering wheel or on your dashboard. You'll be sure to have what you need when you need it and avoid being late, lost, or unprepared. Better yet, Post-It makes a slim and portable dispenser that sticks to surfaces like a dashboard, laptop, or refrigerator so you have it convenient and in easy reach. I found mine at Target for a $1. Refill it when you need to, and you're on your way to getting that gig!

Here's a commercial I did for 3M recently: