| 1) Get some training: | | | | Have a very clear and succinct professional voice mail: |
| Although you cannot teach someone to be talented, | | | | short and to the point. Don't try to tell jokes on your |
| you can hone skills that are already ingrained. So with | | | | greeting message and never ever use a canned |
| that, research schools or private lessons on the type | | | | recording your cell phone provider gives for free. |
| of variety artist you want to be such as a magician, | | | | Return calls within 24 hours or someone else they |
| Acrobat, contortionist, etc. Their is no need to spend | | | | called will and you will be out of a gig |
| thousands on so called 'performers colleges'. Some of | | | | 7) Its hard to get hired without a demo reel: |
| the best performers I have worked with never | | | | No one wants to hire an act based on a business card |
| attended a 'mega school' for the arts. Instead, they | | | | alone. A demo reel is a video of your performance |
| simply had a good trainer. Trainers tend to cost a | | | | lasting at least 1 minute but no longer than 5 minutes. If |
| fraction of what an arts college costs and they are | | | | you can't sell the act in 1 minute, you probably cant sell |
| much more personable. | | | | it at all, and anything longer than 5 minutes gives too |
| 2) Do some public speaking: | | | | much way. Once your act is down pact, get |
| Get practice in front of crowds even if it is not | | | | permission from a venue you are performing at to let |
| performance art. In other words, volunteer at the next | | | | your friend sit up front and take a video of you. Make |
| function their is that requires someone to make a | | | | sure your friend uses a tripod. Make it clear to the |
| speech in front of an audience. The reason is that you | | | | venue manager that you will only be taping your act |
| need to get used to being in front of crowds. If you | | | | and not other acts and be sure to explain that the |
| are used to public work when you start your art you | | | | video you shoot is for you to be able to show to |
| will be more focused on your work and less focused | | | | future clients. The demo tape is very important |
| on being nervous. | | | | because it will get you twice as much work. Be sure |
| 3) Different routines, different times: | | | | your friend gets some crowd shots to show reactions |
| There are two main types of timed performance: | | | | to your performance. You then want to edit the video |
| 'stage show' and 'walk about'. | | | | down to 1 to 5 minutes of the highlights and crowd |
| A 'Stage show' is one routine that lasts anywhere | | | | reactions. Make copies of your video and have it at |
| from 5 minutes to an hour. 'Walk About' involves you | | | | the ready when prospective clients inquire. Please |
| performing as you circulate through a crowd doing | | | | invest in some professional labels at the office supply |
| your act one on one with attendees or patrons. | | | | store as opposed to writing on the disk with a |
| Corporate clients or private parties will either request a | | | | permanent marker. |
| stage show or walk about. Casting directors who are | | | | 8) Rehearse: |
| auditioning you for a film or television gig just need a | | | | Practice to the point to where its boring. Practice is |
| one minute bit. When you are opening for another act | | | | also called work and work is a four letter word. for a |
| at a theatre or night club, the venue has a tendency to | | | | reason. Things that people find interesting to watch |
| request a shorter "teaser" type act of around 5 | | | | who pay for the privilege tend to want to watch things |
| minutes. Therefore, you will want to develop a good | | | | that are complicated to learn. |
| 30 minute act, a good 5 minute act and a good one | | | | 9) So your ready to charge: |
| minute act | | | | Finding work can be difficult, you may want to start |
| 4) Have a distinct look: | | | | with references from friends in the beginning. Be willing |
| Nothing is more bland than an entertainer that is | | | | to work at first for free or tips only so long as the |
| dressed like the audience members. Have a | | | | client promises to refer you if they like your act. Once |
| professional tailor make you a performance outfit from | | | | you get enough referrals from pleased clients you can |
| scratch.. If you are skilled at sewing, you can either | | | | decide to start accepting money. For example, a |
| make your performance outfit yourself or find the | | | | starting magician should ask for $75 per hour. A |
| appropriate clothes at a thrift shop that can be altered | | | | starting acrobat or contortionist could ask for $350 per |
| to fit you. That's right, I said ALTERED, if you are going | | | | hour. When I say 'hour', that means either for one act |
| to wear baggy ill-fitting outfits you might as well wear | | | | or a whole hour. If you show up and are only required |
| the jeans and t-shirt . You don't necessarily need a | | | | to perform for 5 minutes you should always get a one |
| loud costume that lights up, maybe just a nice suit or | | | | hour rate minimum whether its an hour or five minutes. |
| dress that has an extra flare to it will do. For example, | | | | 10) Get some representation: |
| if you're a male, try a tailored suit with a bold colored | | | | You should have a minimum of one year of paid |
| tie or even a bow tie and if you're a female, try a | | | | professional experience as a variety artist before you |
| vintage dress. | | | | seek an agent. Find an entertainment agency and not |
| 5) Your promotional material: | | | | a talent agency as talent agents only tend to deal with |
| Spend the extra bucks and get a full color business | | | | actors and models and not variety performers such as |
| card with your picture on both sides. People that were | | | | circus talent. Just because you get an agent does not |
| drunk at the bar when you gave them your card will | | | | mean you have to stop looking for work. Depending |
| remember you better. Moreover, they will be likely to | | | | on the state you reside in, your agent only takes a |
| hang on to your business card if it has a picture of | | | | percentage of what they find you and not what YOU |
| you. Color is not as expensive as it was 10 years ago, | | | | find you. |
| so get some quotes. | | | | Hope this was helpful! |
| 6) Sound like a professional via the telephone: | | | | |