How to Be Successful in “The Industry”
The infamous Industry or what I would like to call “L’industrie” I mean come on, doesn’t it sound more fancy? If you are in the entertainment industry, you may or may not suffer from a mild case of PTSD. As someone who has been in the Industry for a few years, there are times in which I wonder what made me enter it in the first place. But, back to the topic at hand.
Success in the industry depends on what you want to get out of it. Are you looking for longevity or do you only want to be on the “scene” rubbing shoulders with the Hollywood IT crowd? Regardless of your motives, I am here to help. Below, I present to you some tips and tricks for obtaining and or maintaining success in the industry.
- Network (with the right people): Obtaining success in the industry is largely in part due to who you are tied to. Ask yourself, “is my network filled with the right people?” Unfortunately, there are people out there who go about networking in LA or any other industry market the wrong way. The give us non-natives a bad rep. These people will equate “using people” as a form of networking when in reality it’s not. For the most part, industry vets tend to see through the facade and are less likely to help these people out if the right opportunity presents itself. It is VERY important to remember that you need to establish yourself with someone or multiple people before asking for what I’d like to call a “LA-LALAND handout.”
- Be Intentionally Consistent: What a mouthful right? Consistency doesn’t necessarily mean that you always have to be “seen.” You want to make sure that you are intentional and that the content you are producing aligns with your career goals. The best ways to do this is to make sure you anything off of your social media account that doesn’t align with your overarching career goals.
- Be Strong: To make it in the industry you have to get used to the idea that everything will not always go your way. Whether it be the castings, the call backs, getting dropped at the last minute for a big client you name it. Sometimes, not every opportunity is meant for you. Other times, you may have not performed as well as you expected to. I encourage when you face rejection to also seek feedback (if you’re able to) on why you weren’t selected. Use that information to hone in and refine your skillset so you can kill it in the next audition and lead to that booking.
- Patience Is a Virtue: Ah, patience. It’s preached to you on a consistent basis. Success in the industry at times can require patience. I know, I know…you’re hustling consistently and you don’t feel as if you are receiving the recognition you deserve. But, you must realize that not everyone can and will become an overnight success. Patience is a virtue and if you change your mindset to understand that eventually all of your hard work will come to fruition your stress and anxieties associated with success in the industry will diminish. It took some of the most successful people YEARS IF not decades of working in the industry before they finally got their big break. Let this serve to motivate you to never give up on your dreams no matter how unrealistic they may seem.
- Be authentic: It sounds a little cliche but authenticity leads to interest of others. Often times, people feel as if they need to be carbon copies of what is trendy. They think that in order to thrive in “xyz” I need to do “xyz.” The problem with this is that in the mist of this you lose your true authenticity and begin to follow what’s popular. But, what many fail to realize is that when you stay true to yourself you actually draw a crowd that likes you for your honesty. This in itself should be enough motivation for you to stay true to yourself.
-The Lone Ranger
