It's a Great Life, If You Don't Weaken

Scottish novelist, John Buchan was known for several amazing insights throughout his illustrious career, but my personal favorite it the one which is inscribed on my Great-Grandma Owen's headstone in Colfax, Iowa.  It states simply, "It's a Great Life, If you Don't Weaken".  During these trying times , as our nation searches for answers, I think of these powerful words.

Surely Buchan didn't mean that in troubling times we should remain stoic and apathetic.  Indeed, the most jaded among us have been deeply, profoundly effected by the recent murders of children and educators in Connecticut.  Instead, I believe Buchan meant to live, learn and grow from all that life brings your way.  Inclusive, I believe, is the good and the bad.  The fun times, and those which rock us to the core of our being, make us who we are and inspire us to do great things.

As you know, there are two things in this world that I do very well - Politics and Entertainment Mentoring.  While Buchan's insight is certainly applicable to either of these two specialties, as both contain their fair share of trying times, I do not write today as a politician or a mentor.  Just one week after the senseless murders in Newtown, I write today as a human still grappling with the senseless killing last Friday. As I struggle with my own ability to deal with such horrendous, senseless violence, I beg for understanding from my loyal readers who continue to follow this blog in search for knowledge in their entertainment careers.  So, for this entry, I offer only the words of John Buchan, "It's a Great Life, If You Don't Weaken".      

Heather Ryan
The Ultimate Talent Mentor
www.RyanTalent.com

Tax Me, Baby!

If you're anything like me, you haven't wanted to do anything but sit and watch CNN since last Friday.  For the most part, that is all I've done since the horrific events in Newtown, CT.  The blog below is one I wrote a few weeks ago and was intended for publishing at the end of the year.  It's still fantastically useful information, so I hope you enjoy it and it diverts your attention from the horror of our nation's sorrow for the three minutes it takes to read.  
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This past year, one of my well known clients lamented, relentlessly, about how much she hated paying taxes on her and her daughter's earnings in the entertainment world.  The two earned well over $100,000 from wages and honorariums over the previous 12 months, performing work in entertainment and she was irked that The Tax Man, He Cometh!  Regardless of whether you WANT to pay the taxes on your earnings from this industry, I assure you, you NEED to pony up!

If you are a client of mine,  you probably have income from the work that you garnered throughout the year.  As I have most assuredly told you time and again, KEEP YOUR RECEIPTS - ALL your receipts.  That includes check stubs from payments you received for work; accounts payable invoice statements I sent you for jobs which I collected and sent payments to you, and any international transfer records for jobs you received overseas.  Additionally, keep any and all records from work-related expenses!  Travel, hotel, clothing, headshots, photo sessions, they ALL count as business expenses and need to be deducted from your tax bill! 

So friends, clients and fans - heed the above advice.  Read it, recite it, commit it to memory.  I tell you these things because regardless of how you feel about the tax man, not only will he eventually catch up with you, I WILL NOT lie on your behalf when you finally get caught trying to cheat your way to a lower rate.  That goes for past clients, current clients and future clients.  So the above mentioned client, the one who hates paying taxes worse than receiving a hot coffee enema; should she choose not to take my cautions to heart, I will most assuredly be doing the talk show circuit when the IRS takes her down and the media needs comments from someone who knew her well before her stint in prison for tax evasion.

Until next time,

Heather Ryan
The Ultimate Talent Mentor
www.RyanTalent.com 

Fried Butter on a Stick

If you have yet to rent or purchase the new Jennifer Garner film, "Butter", you need to run, NOT WALK to your local video rental store, retailer or on-line video resource.  This independent film is hilarious in script, delivery and visuals - and it boasts and all star cast. 

Here's the thing.  The story line is about a small Iowa town's butter carving competition and the winner's advancement to the State Finals, to be held at the Iowa State Fair.  If you are familiar, even passively, with the Iowa State Fair and the obsession surrounding all things butter (yes, you can still purchase fried butter on a stick), you will appreciate the humor of this film.  UNFORTUNATELY - while this movie brings me much joy with it's wit and humor, it simultaneously brings me GREAT SADNESS.  While the entire film is supposed to take place in the Hawkeye State, only a few establishing shots were actually recorded at the legendary, Iowa State Fair on Des Moines' East Side.

 

Over the past several years, many states have established a trend which throws big tax credits to production companies and studios if they film big chunks of their projects in the state.  Kentucky passed an enormous tax incentive a few years ago and directly after it was signed by Governor Beshear, Disney opted to film portions of their big budget flick, "Secretariat" in Louisville.  This was the first time Disney filmed in the Bluegrass State, so it is more than safe to assume that the incentive worked immediately and brought very welcomed "Hollywood Money" to the fiscally ailing area.

Iowa did much the same thing in 2007.  But unlike Kentucky film makers, Iowans are apparently too stupid to effectively scam the Film Tax Credit.  I often chide Iowans for being "Too Nice" but come on now people, "Too Honest" too?  What the hell?  The Iowa Film Tax Credit went belly up from overwhelming graft in 2009 - just two years after being signed into law.  Among other things, film makers were "padding" their expenses with fake bills and turning them into the state for reimbursement. We're not talking about Chump Change either!  Of the $32 Million approved for the credit an astounding $26 Million was found to be improperly approved.  TWENTY SIX MILLION FRIGGEN DOLLARS!  Cheese and Rice - what the hell is wrong with my Iowa Film Maker brethren? 

So the majority of the film about the bizarre Iowa-centric obsession, Butter Carving, which takes place at the Iowa State Fair, was shot in Louisiana; which, coincidentally had THEIR OWN Film Tax Credit scandal right before the one suffered in the Great Corn State of Iowa.  The biggest difference between these two states though, is that after the Louisiana scandal, instead of throwing up their hands in frustration and shuttering the program, lawmakers chose instead to institute better controls and have since made the program permanent and better funded.

So my words of wisdom in this blog are relegated to makers of small, independent films, such as myself.  Please, for the Love of Dog, DON'T ruin these great opportunities for the rest of us by being a complete Jack Ass!  Rather than being a complete whore to the 'ol mighty greenback, producers, directors and writers - have a little pride in your work and a little decency.  These ass clowns who were prosecuted for their greed and corruption in the Iowa fiasco ruined what little chance the rest of us had to make a film in the state.  It's films like Butter that remind me of what could have been and make me want to seek out the Grifters who ruined the program and beat them within an inch of their pathetic, imprisoned lives.

I'm not bitter.  Really.

Heather Ryan
The Ultimate Talent Mentor
www.RyanTalent.com

Heather Ryan has ADD

I've been putting off writing this blog.  Not because I haven't WANTED to sit down and enlighten my loyal friends, family and fans with what surely are brilliant words of wisdom.  Instead, I have been procrastinating because I sometimes have difficulty with motivation and staying focused.

I know what you must be thinking - "THE ULTIMATE TALENT MENTOR HAS A HARD TIME STAYING ON TASK?  SURELY YOU JEST!?!?"  No, no, I do not jest.

Even super-awesome professionals, such as myself, need help staying motivated and on task some times.  My personal Life Coach is Iowa Native, David Long.   Each Wednesday morning, David and I sit down, review each accomplishment from the previous week and then he helps me set out a list of items that I want to achieve that week.  Perhaps to the hyper-focused, Obsessive Compulsive, this little extra help each week may seem completely unnecessary.  But for an over-scheduled, ultra busy business owner, wife and mother of three girls and two cats, David and his Life Coaching Services are an absolute GOD SEND (that's a hyper link - you should totally go check out his site after you finish reading this blog)!

The reason I'm telling you about my personal struggles to stay focused and on task is not because I want you to send Big, Non-Tax-Deductible checks to my business address (Ryan Talent Group, 5042 Wilshire Blvd. #22986, Los Angeles, CA 90036) in an effort to help fund my battle with this totally treatable affliction.  Instead, I offer up this personal information because, not only will it score me HUGE brownie points with David, it also tells you, the reader, how common it is to seek out help to keep you focused and on task.

And that's where we begin with the brilliant Entertainment Industry Advice for this blog entry!  If you are still completely unaware of who I am, well, I first have to commend you on reading this far without knowing the first thing about what I do or why you are on this page.  But also, I apparently need to tell you - I AM A TALENT MENTOR!  I do what David does, only for people who aspire to break into, or achieve more, in the Entertainment Industry.  I help guide aspiring entertainers, actors, singers, models and dancers through this difficult world.  Not only do I help keep my clients on task, I bestow my years of experience, my expertise in all things talent marketing and help create creative, out-of-the-box strategies for those who are wise enough to hire me!  My success rates are through the roof and my clients boast some of the most astounding success stories in the industry.

I would go on and on about how awesome my services are, but I have to run and pick up my five year old from Kindergarten - and about fifteen thousand other tasks. 

So, the easiest way to become one of my clients is to sign up for my amazing Success Club at www.RyanTalent.com/SuccessClub.html.  Not only is the option SUPER AFFORDABLE at less than $10 a month, it also makes a great gift for all of you procrastinators who need last minute gifts for the aspiring entertainers in your life.  Oh - and if you ARE a procrastinator, you really, REALLY need me as your mentor because I can DEFINITELY help you with that ailment too!  My specialty is telling clients to "Get off your ass and answer the door - Opportunity is Knocking!"

I assure you, working with me is at-least equally as fun as reading my blogs!

Wooo Hoooo!

Heather Ryan
The Ultimate Talent Mentor
www.RyanTalent.com

The Honey-Boo-Boo-Effect

Howdy Y'All!

As you may know, I first got my start in this ever-interesting world of Reality Television in November 2005 when I was involved with a little-watched show on Bravo called, "Party/Party".  I helped with casting the episode and ended up being on-screen talent when the mom who was to be featured with her daughter and family ended up being such an enormous flake that she never wanted to film - putting the production crew in a real pickle because the story line was quickly falling apart without enough footage.

Before I participated, first hand, in Unscripted Television (UT), I genuinely believed that a camera crew followed around the subject all hours of the day, hoping that something interesting happened.  Uh, Yeah - little secret here - that's not exactly how television magic is made.  I quickly learned that Reality Television (or Unscripted Television as I believe is more appropriate) is as dependent on over-the-top personalities as it is on a good show concept and strong film crew.  It didn't take long for me to grow a true appreciation for the craft and art that has saturated the networks and for which I help create and cast oodles of characters.

This morning I was listening to National Public Radio, the radio station of choice when dropping the brats to school each day.  Television reviewer, Eric Deggans, was lamenting about the cancellation of Mike Rowe's Dirty Jobs on the Discovery Network.  Dirty Jobs, he argued, was a celebration of the American Worker and had a positive slant toward the featured characters, however dirty their jobs may have been.  The commentator continued with his analogy of WHY Mike Rowe now finds himself searching for a new job - because Discovery Network, who also owns TLC, has chosen instead to run programming where the viewer is laughing AT the characters on a show.  He called it, The Honey-Boo-Boo-fication of Reality Television.  Where we, the viewer, are laughing at some huge inside joke of which the characters on the show are completely unaware.  His tone and verbiage insinuated this "new" trend in UT was similar to the "Dumbing Down of American" analogy from years gone by.  I disagree.

As I tell all my clients who are interested in pursuing careers or experiences in the UT genre,
"Boring People Need Not Apply".  As is the case with everything in the universe, the more accustomed we become to standard programming, the harder the creators need to work to keep our attention - to differentiate themselves from the other programming and make us tune in to their show, rather than the plethora of other options available.  So, the longer we are enraptured by UT, the programs and characters become progressively more and more outrageous, just to keep us entertained and guessing.  I contend that this is not an effect of Honey Boo Boo, but a natural progression of television programming. 

On a Macro Scale, you can assimilate my theory to programming from the 50's to present.  Though The Honeymooners was controversial and groundbreaking for it's time, it is not even in the same league as today's hit sitcoms which include Two and a Half Men and The Big Bang Theory.  See, even scripted television has become progressively more lurid in an effort to maintain our attention.  Conversely, on a micro level, look at the progression of the hit Unscripted TLC show, Toddlers and Tiaras to prove my theory.  The first season of the show was a relatively tame documentation of the Child Beauty Pageant industry.  Compare that to the very same show just three years later - and you will see the necessary progression of outrageous characters and high drama situations.  This is an absolute necessity to keep viewers tuning in, week after week, even though the show concept never changes.  There are always three contestants being featured, they are always going to a glitz pageant and they always follow the contestant from "preparation" to "crowning". What makes T&T intriguing, week after torrid week, is the progressively crazier moms whose antics have become more and more outrageous, all in the quest to score more camera time than the other moms and children being featured that week.  And you know what - I'M COOL WITH THAT!  So Wendy Dickey dressed three year old Paisley as "The Hooker with a Heart of Gold" for a pageant being filmed for Toddlers and Tiaras.  ROCK ON WENDY, I say! Wendy has since built a mini-empire around that one appearance - an appearance, I may add, that was NOT even a FEATURED spot on the show that week.  She just happened to steal all the spotlight with her stunt - and she has reaped a ton of media attention and has HUGE Unscripted Television opportunities in her near future to reward her forward thinking. 

The same goes for Fran Gonzalez.  Fran and I spent hours discussing her Unscripted Television Persona before her first featured appearance on Toddlers and Tiaras.  I mentored the Brash Hispanic woman to "Rosie Perez It Out" - just as Fran's naturally abrasive personality dictated.  It wasn't long after Fran and Dianely's episode aired that other UT opportunities began to present themselves.  We traveled to Australia together, appeared on Eden's World as on-screen talent and she now has even more UT opportunities coming up.  This is all because Fran EMBRACED HER CRAZY - she took my advice and learned what is needed to make entertaining television!

So, in opposition to the naysayers of the world who are Poo-Pooing "The Honey Boo Boo Effect" - I say ROCK ON JUNE, ALANA AND THE REST OF YOUR HILLBILLY CLAN!  Not only are these characters a NATURAL PROGRESSION of what is required to keep us short-attention-span Americans entertained, they are laughing all the way to the bank!  Sure, front-end monetary gain of Reality Television stars is not huge, but that Red Neck Family has worked their way into the lexicon of  NPR Commentators and Bloggers/Mentors like me - and that is no small feat!

So, if you aspire to be a future client of mine, here is a valuable (FREE) tip, should you plan to pursue jobs in Unscripted Television - EMBRACE THE CRAZY!  If you are a little off your rocker; a little "touched" or nutty, you will feel right at home in our insane little world.  And if you are willing to embrace the fact that you are a wack-a-doo, you will be more successful and have far more opportunities in Unscripted Television.  Don't be one of those fruit loops who gets pissed because of a lousy review of your appearance and tries to retaliate by suing the media outlets who wrote the stories (this has actually happened).   

Remember, opportunities to work with me abound.  Staying abreast of the latest casting calls (scripted and unscripted) and opportunities to work with me is as easy as signing up for my free e-newsletter at www.RyanTalent.com/Newsletter.html.  If you are ready to start working with me more closely,  become a member of my Success Club at www.RyanTalent.com/SuccessClub.html.  OR, work with me on a MUCH more personal level through my trademark D.A.N.C.E. program at www.RyanTalent.com/DANCE.html.  Regardless of the path you choose, I look forward to helping you reach your goals in this fun and exciting industry!

Until next time - EMBRACE YOUR CRAZY - and rock on!

Heather Ryan
The Ultimate Talent Mentor
www.RyanTalent.com

R U Facebook Famous?

Sure, I'll toot my own horn on this one!  When I first developed a Facebook Fan Page for one of my Pageant Girl Clients, Eden Wood, three years ago, I was the first person to treat young ladies from Toddlers and Tiaras with the same celebrity-status as any other Reality Television star.  Through hard work and an absolute TON of dedication, that page grew to host just under 67,000 fans within two and a half years - a feat previously unheard of for any other pageant girl in the industry.  Similarly, I was paramount to helping build her Twitter following to over 11,000 followers in just two years and build her website hits to a monthly average of 50,000.

Since developing that social media presence, pretty much every pageant girl who has ever been featured on TLC's hit Unscripted Television show has at least a miniscule social media presence.  However easy as it may seem though, breaking through just a few hundred Twitter Followers or a few thousand Facebook followers is REALLY not that easy!  It takes dedication to the cause, hard work and STRATEGY to build your numbers.

You may be asking right about now - "WHY DO I NEED NUMBERS?"  The answer to that question is super simple!  The bigger your social media numbers, the easier it is for your Agent/Manager/Mentor to MARKET you for merchandising deals, product endorsements and jobs in the entertainment industry (especially Reality Television).  Think about it.  With 67,000 people glued to what my client was doing, we had a captive audience of a very specific demographic who took our opinions/endorsements serious!  That is a fantastic start to a beautiful relationship between you and a shoe company - or a jewelry manufacturer - or a line of dolls - or a make-up distributor.  The possibilities are endless and it is the job of people like me to not only help develop your social media presence but also pursue endorsement deals borne out of the vast number of followers you obtain.

 As luck would have it, our very next Success Club Call, scheduled for Thursday, December 20th, will talk in great detail about how to build your social media presence!  If you are NOT already a Success Club Member, you should absolutely join NOW at:
http://www.ryantalent.com/SuccessClub.html.  Membership in the club is an INCREDIBLE value and each month you will receive a call from me regarding important, career building topics such as Building Your Social Media Empire!  So Hurry Up and GO check out the Success Club and all it entails!  There is SO MUCH BENEFIT that it's not even possible to describe it all in this tiny little blog post! 

So, you have a busy day ahead - FIRST - you need to sign up for my Success Club so you don't miss our next call and this week's exclusive e-mail.  SECOND, you need to start building your Social Media Empire!  Having an online presence is absolutely essential to building your "brand".  It is my great pleasure to help you in your quest!

My next blog will be on Wednesday and never fear - it will be bar none, the most incredible post you have ever read in your entire life.

Until Next Time,

Heather Ryan
The Ultimate Talent Mentor
www.RyanTalent.com

Karma Kicks You in the Bootie!

It's been a while since I've made a blog post so my apologies to anyone who actually enjoys, or even looks forward to, these entries!   

Thanksgiving was just last week and the culmination of that festivity and some recent events in my professional life, I have had the chance to reflect on the topic of today's blog!  KARMA!

I won't bore you with some preachy, soap box mumbo jumbo - but I can tell you with all the certainty in the world that in this industry (as in life) WHAT COMES AROUND GOES AROUND.  There are so many reasons why you truly need to do right by others and treat people the way you wish to be treated.

Here's just one example of what I mean:  My job as a Talent Manager is to submit clients for jobs in the entertainment industry.  Should you be chosen for an audition or be fortunate enough to book the job, you absolutely MUST follow through with your obligation to the casting call.  I can't tell you how many times I have had clients who tell me how badly they want to be in this business - but when it comes time to show up for a job, they are either late, unprepared or simply don't show up at all.  Here's the thing - This is a SMALL world!  The folks who cast you for the job that you bagged out on - they tend to cast for a bunch of other projects too - and they won't forget that you are a flaming flake ball - and neither will I.  I do not give second chances to people for whom I went out on a ledge and they dogged me.  When you stand up a casting director or a job, you make ME look like a gigantic, unprofessional schmuck and I absolutely do not forgive and forget!  This is true for every agent and manager I have ever met.    

Here is Reason #2 you should NOT put bad Karma into the world:  Recently, an agency, with whom I had previous sour dealings, went belly up.  The ethics by which they abided were questionable at best and they practiced shady dealings with their Talent Clients.  Their demise helps prove my theory - that bad things happen when you put bad Karma out into the world.

Every religion bout which I am versed preaches to do the right thing - and that is what I am preaching in this blog entry!  Do the right thing - follow through with your obligations and good things are far more likely to come your way!

That's about it for this entry - it is my pleasure to be back here, blogging away!  If you find my comments at least remotely helpful, be sure to spread the word!  Google+ this blog, post it to your Facebook and Twitter and tell all your friends how totally awesome Heather Ryan, The Ultimate Talent Mentor's advice is!

See you next week!

Heather Ryan
www.RyanTalent.com
The Ultimate Talent Mentor

Children Are Germ Bags

There are several benefits to having children - they are tickled to go get you a soda out of the fridge because they think they are being, "your big helper" AND they say so many hilarious quips that you almost don't need cable.  Unfortunately, the biggest drawback to having the little festering germ bags around is that invariably, every year, they spread some disease throughout the house.  So, as I trudge through the final stage of the crud illness that won't go away, I bring you the latest edition of my blog to help you trudge through a career in the entertainment industry.  

Get your Free CD on my website at www.RyanTalent.com

A few weeks ago, we introduced a brand new option for you to work with me on a more personal level, without a major investment.  The Success Club is now available for career minded individuals who are serious about building their career in the entertainment industry.  With The Success Club, I will be pulling back the curtain and giving you truly life changing tips, more specifically targeted to your needs, that are not available to the general public in my on-line forums.  So now is absolutely the time to get a leg up on your competition and take the first step on our journey to build your career!  So click now, and check out my website - and I'm going to go back to bed with my box of name brand Kleenex and a Family Size Bottle of NyQuil.  

Until Friday ...

Heather Ryan
The Ultimate Talent Mentor
www.RyanTalent.com

Are you a Momager?

The big question of the day, "What genius decided that Red Nyquil should be marketed as 'Cherry Flavor'"?  Through my Nyquil induced haze, I shall post this short Blog entry about the dedication I see in a few chosen "Momagers" with whom I work.

If you're not familiar with the term, "Momager" you very well may be living in a cave.  It basically refers to a highly dedicated mom who assists in the direction and details of their child's career in the entertainment industry.  I work with A LOT of Momagers.  Some are better at their jobs than others - but ALL make my life interesting!

As I've stated before in previous Blog Posts, generally, the more dedicated the parent of a young star, the more they follow my advice as a mentor.  The more they follow my advice, the more successful they tend to be with their child's career.  My most dedicated clients are generally enrolled in one or several of my mentoring programs and tend to be the more "annoying" momagers.  You know, the ones who brag on their child so much that you click the "unfriend" button on their FaceBook just because each time you see their latest post, you Puke, just a little, in your mouth.  Yeah.  I know.  They are annoying.  BUT, they are dedicated and that bodes well for their efforts being successful - which makes me happy because they are getting where I am helping them go.  So kudos for them and bravo for me, all in one fell swoop.

So this is the one thing I want you to take away from your lesson in Momager-isms.  It's fine to be a bragger - though try not to go overboard.  NO ONE, I mean it - NO ONE - wants to read all about your offspring every moment of every day.  ALSO, if you have help in your quest for stardom, GIVE CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE!  If you have an Agent, a Manager, a Publicist or a Mentor - give them credit for their hard work!  Nothing is more a slap in the face to the people who helped you achieve your success than for you to claim sole responsibility for your child's stardom.  If you had help, acknowledge the help (and be sure you paid them for their work) - otherwise no one will want to help you in the future!  It does NOT make you look smarter if you tell people you did everything on your own.  It makes you look like an ungrateful schmuck and gives you a really bad reputation.  

So, word to the wise - Be a Momager - Be Proud of your Role - and don't screw your help in the process!

Until Wednesday,

Heather Ryan
The Ultimate Talent Mentor
www.RyanTalent.com

Did you show up?

Professor Esposito gave me piece of extremely valuable advice during my time studying Political Science at Drake University.  Before most classes he said, "Half of Life is Showing Up" - and then he diligently took attendance and marked down anyone who was not there.

That piece of advice and the degree hanging on my wall set me back a whopping $50,000 in student loans, IN ADDITION to my Montgomery GI Bill.  So to you, I disseminate it absolutely FREE of charge and hope it effects your life the way it did mine.

The reason why that tiny little phrase made such an impact in my life is because it is SO SIMPLE, yet, SO PROFOUND.  How many times have you felt like NOT going somewhere, or taking action on something - just to wonder - what would have happened had you just SHOWN UP?  Though this is true in absolutely everything in life, this is especially true in the entertainment industry.

As a professional in the industry, I hear, time and again, how eager people are to break into my world.  Then, they realize - CRAP ON A CRACKER - THIS IS A LOT OF WORK!  And they just don't "show up".  I see it so many times that I can barely articulate how common it is, for someone to say they are interested in a casting call I advertise, but when it comes time to submit their headshot, or questionnaire, or video audition - or - they get a call from the casting director, they just - DON'T SHOW UP.  This is precisely the reason why we now charge a nominal fee for any non-clients to submit for casting calls - to ensure that they are invested and indeed plan to follow through!

This is such an important point folks, I really want you to take this to heart.  Opportunity Does Knock.  BUT, it does not open the door, come in, cook dinner and clean up afterward.  It just doesn't happen!  YOU have to open the door when opportunity knocks and YOU have to do whatever it takes for opportunity to hang out, have a beer and play a board game.  In other words, YOU HAVE TO SHOW UP!  Follow Through.  Be An Action Taker!

This industry is NOT easy.  If it was easy, every lazy turd in the universe would be a famous entertainer. So commit this to memory my friends - and spread the word.  Be an action taker.  Get off your butt when Opportunity Knocks and answer the damn door!  I'll keep you posted with information as much as I can through my E-Newsletter (www.RyanTalent.com/Newsletter.html) and my Success Club (www.RyanTalent.com/SuccessClub.html) and even my five part teleseries (http://www.ryantalent.com/DANCE.html).  But there is only so much I can do on the mass scale on which I now teach.  You will HAVE to take opportunities as they approach, regardless of how hard they are or how far out of your comfort zone they make you stretch.  So change your paradigm - and go SHOW UP for something this weekend!   

Remember, I welcome your feedback.  Be sure to e-mail me at Heather@RyanTalent.com or post your comment below!  I'll See you on Monday for my next, thought provoking installment of this most awesome blog!

Until Monday,

Heather Ryan
The Ultimate Talent Mentor
www.RyanTalent.com
www.RyanTalent.com/Newsletter.html
www.RyanTalent.com/BeDiscovered.html

The Very Best FREE Advice - EVER!

My apologies to anyone who was looking for my Monday blog post and was scratching their head when it never materialized.  Monday was, as you may know, the day before the General Election!  For anyone who doesn't know me, I am a Political Scientist by training and an absolute JUNKY of all things Politics!  Perhaps you may  not know, in addition to my vast expertise in all things Entertainment Industry, I also advise and consult political candidates (keep this in mind if you decide to run for office).  So, thinking that the election was going to be a squeaker, it was my moral obligation and great pleasure to volunteer my time to the Presidential GOTV (Get Out The Vote) effort.  Hence, the omission of my blog from two days ago. 

So to make it up to you for my Political Tunnel Vision, I AM GIVING AWAY FREE CONSULTATION CD'S! (A $49 Value!) [I was actually running the promotion for anyone who was struggling to break into the entertainment industry anyway, but - what a great way to offer up this gem to my friends who read this blog too, right?]

Yep, that's right, it's the absolute BEST Free Advice you will ever, ever, ever receive!  Generally, Free Advice is worth exactly what you pay for it - NOTHING.  But this CD is TOTALLY worth taking the 1.75 minutes out of your life to fill out the registration form.  It contains my absolute best nuggets of advice not only for how to break into the entertainment industry, but also how to lay the ground work for continuing a successful run for years to come. 

To get the CD, just go to www.RyanTalent.com and click on the FREE CD Link.  It really is that easy.  WAY easier than waiting in line for an hour to vote for about fifty different candidates and ballot initiatives!  I don't know how long I'll be offering this awesome deal, so GET A MOVE ON! 

Until Friday,

Heather Ryan
The Ultimate Talent Mentor

Impressing Grandpa Ryan

Hello Again!  Welcome to the Friday edition of my blog about the entertainment industry.  I first want to cover something personal that means a great deal to me.  Yesterday we buried my Grandpa Ryan.  I mention this because Grandpa Ryan is worth mentioning - on this blog and throughout eternity, for his contributions to the nation and our family.  Gramps was a WWII veteran of the United States Army AND the Navy.  He was one of those guys who had fantastic, amazing stories to share and empathy and compassion for all he encountered.  Grandpa Ryan was one of the few people in this world who I personally wanted to be proud of me.  I've learned that in this life, you must be satiated with the knowledge that you are doing the "right" thing.  Be confident in knowing that you are a good person, doing good deeds.  You cannot live a life dictated by what others think of you.  Grandpa Ryan was one of my few exceptions to this rule.  Even though he's gone, I still want to do whatever would have made him proud.  And that's where we'll start with today's blog topic ...

In this industry, you absolutely HAVE to be secure in your own mind that you are not only doing what you (or your child) was meant to do, but also,  you have to know that every little success IS worthy of celebration.  You cannot wait around for others to pat you on the back or tell you how amazing you are - or even celebrate your victories. This is an egocentric industry in which we work, and generally the people involved are so consumed with their own lives and successes that they have absolutely no interest in celebrating yours.  What's more, they are far more likely to poo-poo your successes than celebrate them out of purely jealous angst.

So heed this advice; write it down and read it several times until it's committed to memory.  Don't try to impress anyone other than yourself.  Don't strive to make anyone else proud of you or your child's accomplishments.  Celebrate your achievements in your own way and embrace anyone who supports you - BUT DON'T EXPECT IT OR WAIT FOR IT!  Further, every success, regardless of how small, should be celebrated.  Whether you just got fantastic headshots or you just landed a major movie role, celebrate your victory.  This is a tough, competitive industry and even if you only do one job your entire life, you will always have that victory in your back pocket that you can look at when you're 85 years old and say, "Look at what I did - it was really fun!"

It's a short blog today, but hopefully it is helpful and you heed this important tidbit!

Until next time,

Heather Ryan
The Ultimate Talent Mentor

Be In A Magazine!*

Happy Halloween Everyone!  I hope all is well in your neck of the woods and for our friends over on the East Coast try to stay dry and warm during these trying times - our thoughts are with you.  For anyone reading this blog, if you have yet to reach out to help our friends on the East Coast there is absolutely still time to help:  Text RED CROSS to 90999 or click  http://www.redcross.org/charitable-donations.  Just make sure you come back to this blog after you donate so you can read today's installment!

I've been receiving a lot of questions as of late regarding whether these new "magazines" which focus on pageant girls or "child couture" are truly career building opportunities.  I very well may ruffle some feathers with this statement, but my job is to ensure that my clients receive the best career advice and strategy possible - so the simple answer to this question is; "HELL NO!!"  Magazines such as Supermodels Unlimited or ANY Pageant based magazine or ANY "Child Model" magazine are geared toward praying off of pageant moms and stage moms who will do anything to see their daughter's photo in a magazine.  Just think about this for a minute and figure it out for yourself - YOU are paying for your daughter's photo to be in the magazine - regardless of whether the publishers tell you that your $500 or $750 or $1500 payment is going toward the photographer, or the hair and make up or for ad space in the magazine, YOU are still the one paying for the spot in the publication.  Use some common sense here.  The circulation of these "publications" is generally going to be low and limited to other pageant parents.  Think about who your target market is for getting your child's name (and photo) out there in the entertainment industry.  Do you want to market your child to other stage moms or do you want to reach agents, producers, directors and casting professionals?  Yeah, that's right, Option B.

Another point for why you should steer clear of these fake opportunities - because everyone in the industry KNOWS that these are fake opportunities.  You cannot put Supermodels Unlimited,  Child Model Magazine or anything similar, on your resume!  Should you drop that into a resume and send it to a casting director, they will know that you are gullible and desperate and it does not bode well for your child's career prospects.

One of my well known clients was actually given a complimentary spread in one of these "fake magazines" and I, as her representation, politely told them NO THANK YOU.  My reasoning was because, even though it was FREE to the very successful child star, it connects her with their graft, makes it look like she endorses them and perhaps even credits them for some of her success.  The truth is, that client's entire name recognition and success strategy came from my recommendations and her mother moved on all of them.  To allow a fake magazine to claim responsibility for her success would have been disingenuous at best - and fraudulent at worst!

So should you desire for your child to be featured in a magazine, steer clear of these newer publications that require you to buy space in the magazine, purchase a certain number of copies for distribution, or pay for any part of the shoot.  Reputable publications do not require any of these things and in some situations they will actually pay YOU for your story.  If you would like more advice on how to get published, become one of my amazing Action Takers and sign up for one of my upcoming events!  I love helping my clients receive press and it is ALWAYS exciting to see one of my success stories in print!

I hope you found this post helpful!  Be sure to comment and spread the word about this blog!  Post the link to your Facebook wall, tweet and yell it from the rooftops how much you adore my great advice!

Until next time,

Heather Ryan
The Ultimate Talent Mentor  

 

Agents, Managers, Mentors, OH MY!

Hey All!

Okay, the blog is starting to take form now and it seems as though I'll have enough words of wisdom to fill this blog three times a week on Monday, Wednesday and Friday of each week.  Thursdays are when my E-Newsletter comes out so be sure to sign up for that too at www.RyanTalent.com/Newsletter.html.  So subscribe to this blog, read religiously, then spread the word about how awesome my posts are to all your friends and family!

Moving on;  I got a question from Sharon in Mississippi regarding Agents and how they make money and I figured this would be a great topic for a quick blog post!

Sharon stated that she thought Agents didn't "make anything" until they secured you work.  To answer Sharon's question, first, let's back up just a smidge and talk about the differences between industry professionals.

Agents - Generally specialize in one area of the entertainment industry.  An agent may specialize in acting, commercial print work, high fashion modeling, commercial television, singing, dancing or several other areas in the entertainment world.  If you sign with an agent, they may charge you a small annual annual fee and they may ask you to use their photographer to secure your headshots.  Both of these services can be above board as long as they are not cost prohibitive.  For the most part, an Agent will garner between 10-15% of your earnings  from any job she secures for you in the entertainment industry; that is where they make the bulk of their money if they are a reputable agent.

Managers - Managers tend to earn 15-20% of your earnings for everything you do in the entertainment industry, regardless of whether they personally secured the job for you.  This is because managers are different than agents in that they MANAGE every aspect of your entertainment career.  They can submit you for castings in all things entertainment industry including modeling, acting, singning, dancing, etc.  Managers do a great deal of work to help steer your career in the right direction and handle pretty much EVERYTHING for you.  You CAN have an agent or even more than one agents AND a Manager.  You cannot have more than one manager.  Again, managers could have a small annual fee and they could help you obtain your tools of the trade, but these should not be outrageously priced to the point where their entire income is being made off their client's purchases. 

Publicists - A Publicist generally earns a set fee every month for which they are under contract with you.  Publicists will help you garner and handle media relations.  A good publicist can cost several thousand dollars a month but if you are fielding a lot of media, they are worth every penny! 

MENTORS - This is what I do!  I help guide my clients through the entertainment industry with strategic career planning.  Although I used to do traditional Agent and Management work (depending on the needs of the client) I found that I am truly skilled at mentoring through teleseminars, live events, groups and one-to-one coaching sessions where I help clients focus on their strategy and create out-of-the-box plans for their (or their child's) career in entertainment.  I help more people achieve success faster, more efficiently and more cost effectively by offering my services en-mass through my various programs.  There are many mentors and coaches in every walk of life - I just happen to be REALLY good at mentoring in the entertainment industry and my clients have enjoyed ENORMOUS success by simply taking my advice and acting upon my recommendations!  If you are interested in pursuing any of my fantastic programs, be sure to visit my website at www.RyanTalent.com.  Please note, however, that I am ONLY interested in working with true Movers and Shakers who are dedicated to getting off their booty and working as hard as I do to make them successful.  If that's you, by all means, look me up!  

So, Sharon of Mississippi, I hope that helped answer your question!  We will cover this and many other topics in my Free Consultation Call on Thursday, November 1st.  If you have yet to sign up for this great opportunity, be sure to do so on my website at www.RyanTalent.com/BeDiscovered.html.

Talk soon!

Heather Ryan
The Ultimate Talent Mentor

Casting Calls are Calling!

Good Day Mates (it's cold here, so I'm channeling my inner warm Australian)!  So far in this Blog experience, we've been fortunate to receive a string of questions from inquisitive stage moms and aspiring actors & models as of late, so thus, this blog is dedicated almost entirely to answering your questions.  If this is acceptable reading material for you, be sure to keep those questions coming. Otherwise, I'll have to start making up questions and answers before too long - or I could just go on bizarre rants like so many others in the entertainment industry.  Perhaps that is what I need to put my name recognition over the top?  Ah, time will tell ... time will tell.

So today's question comes to us from Betty of West Virginia.  Betty asks:

Q.  How do I find casting calls for my daughters?  
A.  Betty is a Go-Getter and should be commended!  She has DECIDED to DEDICATE her time, energy and some finances to the pursuit of a career (or at least some experience) in the entertainment industry for her daughters and now she wants to take the next step!  GOOD FOR YOU BETTY!  You are already following the advice I give in my Five Part Teleseries, "D.A.N.C.E. Your Way Into the Entertainment Industry" - check it out on my website at www.RyanTalent.com if you haven't already - AGAIN - TOTALLY WORTH IT!

Okay, so now that Betty has taken the first big steps (The "D" in D.A.N.C.E. stands for Decide and Dedicate), she needs to take action on the "A" portion of my D.A.N.C.E. system - which is ADVOCATE.  There is NO BETTER ADVOCATE in the world than you when it comes to your child's talent and career in the entertainment industry.  You are her biggest cheerleader, you are her number one fan and you are the one who is going to ensure that she has the most opportunities possible. The most immediate way you can Advocate for your child's success in the entertainment industry is to PUT IT OUT THERE that she is pursuing this career.  Contact local casting directors, Agents, Manager, Producers; tell all your friends and family, keep your eyes peeled for auditions and casting calls that fit her demographic on publicly advertised websites (as part of my teleseries, I give you all the best and worst sites to visit in your  pursuit).

But let's take it a step further.  The "N" in my D.A.N.C.E. program stands for NETWORK! Get out there and NETWORK, Betty!  Make those connections with industry professionals that will help expand your ability to get your daughter's name out there, build her resume and get her to the auditions and hopefully, JOBS, that are right for her.  Notice, I said INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS - NOT Stage Moms.  Industry Professionals include Talent Agents, Managers, Mentors (like me!), Casting Directors, Producers, Coaches, Instructors, and the like.  These are the people who will HELP you be successful.  Professionals such as myself WANT you to succeed.  We are NOT your competition and when one of my clients succeeds, it is a feather in my cap!  Not only am I NOT jealous of your accomplishments, I am PROUD and want to tell the world of your success!  Generally, stage moms, pageant moms and even some family members and "friends" DO NOT WANT YOU TO SUCCEED!  Remember, when you garner advice from other stage moms, you are asking YOUR COMPETITION for advice!  You would NEVER see a football coach make his way to the other team to ask for advice - so why would you make that mistake in your daughter's career?

Zig Zigler once said, "The only taste of success some people will ever get is by taking a bite of you".  Remember this when you are seeking networking opportunities - and focus only on Industry Professionals who can help you obtain auditions, casting calls and jobs.  In many cases, ONLY Talent Agents and Managers receive casting calls so even though there are several places to go on the internet to find publicly advertised jobs, finding great help is absolutely KEY to being truly successful in this industry!

We took the long way around to answer Betty's question, but I'm pretty sure we got there!  Remember to check out my website and sign up for my FREE Teleconference call on November 1st.  We'll talk about this and other topics that should help you break into the entertainment industry and avoid the pitfalls experienced by oh-so-many!  You can register on my website at www.RyanTalent.com.

Until next time,

Heather Ryan
The Ultimate Talent Mentor

Headshot Madness!

Hello Again!  I've made it through the first blog post and am now heading into the second of this oh-so-fascinating series on all things Entertainment Industry Related!  If you're new to my blogs, be sure to go back to my previous blog and/or visit my website at www.RyanTalent.com to learn about me, my work and what you stand to gain from following these amazing writings. 

We received a question via e-mail from Lori of Indianapolis, Indiana (fantastic Navy Memorial and American Legion Headquarters, but otherwise, politically scary for a left leaning loonie like me). Lori's question is: 

Q.  Where can I get a photo shoot taken? 
A.  Ahhh, Lori - you are a wise Young Jedi Master!  Because Lori knows that not all headshots are created equal and not all photographers can create a good headshot to represent you in the entertainment industry!  So to answer this question, first, we need to back up and talk about WHY you need a good headshot and what the are differences between headshots, comp cards and portfolios.

A Headshot - is an absolute necessity for all actors and general entertainers in the industry.  A headshot is the 8x10 photo representation of what you or your child looks like that you (or your agent/manager) sends to casting directors.  Headshots should absolutely, positively, without exception, LOOK LIKE YOU!  If the headshot is of your child DO NOT, under any circumstances, use a pageant photo.  Even a "natural" pageant photo, meaning light retouches and light make up with colored background, accessories and colorful wardrobe IS TOO MUCH!  A casting director wants to see what you (or your child) is going to look like should they come into an audition or should they land a role for whatever they are casting.  Even though a great number of jobs can now be submitted electronically with digital images, you STILL NEED hard copy, physical 8x10 headshots to take with you to casting calls and to submit for jobs with bigger production companies who do not accept digital submissions.  If you are purchasing headshots for a child, YOU DO NOT NEED Hundreds or thousands of hard copy headshots.  Since the photo needs to look like the child as they are right now, at this moment, you will need to update them often - so do not buy more than 50-100 reproductions at any given time - unless your child is a superstar and is using her headshots to autograph for fans - which is something entirely different. 

A Composite Card (comp card) - is generally used for models.  Comp cards will be a composite of 3-6 photos of the same model in different outfits and with different looks squished down to a 5x7 card stock hard copy with your (or your child's) statistics printed on it.  I personally do not work in a lot of comp cards as I do not do a ton of work with clients who only wish to do commercial modeling jobs.  If you plan to SOLELY do modeling jobs, these are your best bet, but you should probably also move to New York and secure a job as a waitress part time to help sustain you while you pursue a career in just the modeling industry.  Which leads us to the next point ...

A Portfolio - is also specifically for models.  You can see some amazing examples of portfolios and the different photos and tear sheets that fill their pages by watching the show, "America's Next Top Model".  When building your portfolio, you will want to have many looks shot by many photographers to show your diversity and ability to morph into whatever the photographer's vision may be that particular day.  Again, should you desire to pursue JUST a modeling career, you should start building your portfolio with TFP shoots (you don't charge the photographer to be their model and they don't charge you to take your picture) to see if this is your cup of tea.  You will take your portfolio with you to all your "Go-See" appointments - where you literally GO, SEE the client who needs models.  

So where do you get a good headshot and what do they cost?  Seek out a photographer who can take a clean, clear photo of just YOUR HEAD (hence the name, headshot).  Big accessories, colored backgrounds, loud clothing and heavy retouches should be avoided at all costs.  If you are in Tiny Town, USA, you may be served just fine by a photographer who takes traditional Senior Portraits or Wedding Photography - but if you have a choice - ALWAYS go with an experienced photographer!  Remember, your headshot is a representation of YOU to people who are hiring for jobs in the entertainment industry.  If your headshot looks cheap, like you shot it with your iPhone and had it blown up to 8x10, you will look like a cheap newbie to the casting director and you will NOT book the gig!  If you have an agent or manager, they will be able to point you in the right direction for good photography - and some may even have a photographer on staff to help get you started.

The NUMBER ONE, BIGGEST FALSITY that I hear regarding headshots from people who are brand new to the industry is - "My Agent Should Pay for Headshots (comp cards/portfolios) for ME, not the other way around".  THIS IS A COMPLETE MYTH!  There aren't many agents or managers in the world who will spring for headshots for their clients - for several reasons.  First, Who in the world has that as a line item in their company's budget?  It is very cost prohibitive for smaller agencies to invest in headshots FOR their clients and the larger agencies are large for a reason - because they are smart with their money.  On occasion they may offer a "test shoot" but don't expect to get away with paying absolutely  nothing for items necessary for YOUR career.  Which leads to the next reason why this is a MYTH.  If YOU are invested in YOUR career, you are more likely to pursue your career with fervor.  You will go to casting calls, go-sees, auditions, jobs, etc. if you are on the dangle for a few hundred bucks for photography and reproductions.  If your agent pays for your headshots, they are the ones who are on the hook for the expense with absolutely no guarantee that you will ever do anything in the entertainment industry - hence no guarantee they will even recoup their costs.  So, long story short - Don't Hold Your Breath that your agent will ever pay for anything FOR you - it is not their job or their responsibility!  If a stage mom tells you something different than what you just read - THEY ARE EITHER LYING OR THEY ARE IGNORANT TO THE REAL WORLD!

So I hope that helped, at least a little, answer Lori's question.  Just remember that if you have the choice, go with a photographer who specializes in headshots and try to secure the copyright so you may reproduce the photo with a headshot reproduction company.  A good photo shoot could cost as anywhere from $100-$300 but it will be well worth the expense if YOU book the job and the kid with the iPhone photo was laughed out of the audition!

Until Next Time,

Heather Ryan
The Ultimate Talent Mentor

The Ultimate Blog!

A Resounding THANK YOU to anyone taking time out of their busy day to read this Blog!  In the past I have made half hearted attempts at Blogging but found that I lack the attention span that it takes to stay dedicated to the cause.  My hat goes off to the main character, Julie, of the hit movie, "Julie and Julia".  Not only did she work her way through Julia Child's entire Joy of Cooking book, she also BLOGGED about her experiences for an entire year!  Her dedication eventually paid off because not only was she able to compile those well earned thoughts into a book, she sold the movie rights and her experiences were portrayed by the gorgeous Amy Smith!

So I'll just put it out there right now - should this blog actually garner my attention for longer than fifteen seconds, and is consequently made into a book and movie - I want some hottie starlet to portray me!  Preferably a stunning, but slightly overweight, thirty something actress who is amazing at acting but has yet to be recognized for her astounding ability.  NOT Jennifer Anniston.  Jennifer Anniston is quite possibly the most overrated actress in Hollywood, so if she is even remotely considered by the casting department for my role, I'm going to be royally pissed and turn into a psycho.  Trust me, it will not be pretty!  But I digress.

The purpose of this blog is to discuss all things entertainment industry - with a slant toward children and pageants.  If you are not familiar with my work, be sure to visit my website at www.RyanTalent.com.  I've been so very fortunate to help build and develop some of the biggest names in the pageant and entertainment industry.  By following my strategies and advice, my clients have enjoyed success in everything from Reality Television to original songs available on iTunes to movie roles and even scripted television parts! I have been active in the entertainment industry for over twenty years and began helping clients build their career strategies in 2008.  If you want to learn more about my business and how you can become one of my mentoring clients, be sure to visit my website and sign up for my next Conference Call, Live Event or you can always just purchase one of my Tele-Seminar Series products!  TOTALLY WORTH IT! 

So let's move on to the first topic of this blog!  We received this question from Laci of Tiny Town, Oklahoma. 

Q.  "How do I get my girls involved in modeling when I live in an itty bitty town?"
A.  FANTASTIC QUESTION LACI!  Let's just start by saying, It's NOT easy breaking into modeling, acting, singing - whatever your chosen field in the Entertainment Industry.  But then again, NOTHING worth doing is EVER going to be easy!  If it was easy, it would not be as desirable a job and it surely wouldn't pay as much on the top end of the business - because - it was Easy!  So the very FIRST thing you need to do in your quest is DECIDE (I talk about this in great detail during my "D.A.N.C.E. Your Way Into the Entertainment Industry" tele-series).  DECIDE how important it is for you to pursue this industry for your girls.  Do they enjoy being in front of the camera or acting or dancing or WHATEVER it is that you find is her niche?  It may not seem like this is a big step, but taking that first step to DECIDE that you want to pursue the Entertainment Industry is a Gigantic Leap.  Know that at last 90% of the people who dabble around with the idea never take that LEAP and truly make the commitment.  The VAST majority of folks who ask me to help their child(ren) break into the entertainment industry not only want Opportunity to Knock, they want Opportunity to come in, cook dinner and clean up afterward.  Opportunity WILL NOT present itself to the point where you are being pursued so diligently - and if anyone tells you that their child has been pursued in such a manner - THEY ARE LYING (unless you are talking to Brad Pitt or Will Smith)!

Once you have DECIDED that you want to pursue this option for you or your child, you have taken a BIG leap and should be commended!  But the journey has just begun!  Once you have passed the first hurdle of getting off your butt and making that decision, you must next DEDICATE to the pursuit.  Seeking out opportunities, going to auditions, building a resume and/or portfolio and/or body of work takes Dedication and could very well take many years, lots of travel and a sizable chunk of change.  This point is especially applicable to Laci of Tiny Town and anyone like her.  Work in Entertainment for you or your children in a teenie, tiny town is going to be harder to find than if you were located in Los Angeles or New York.  Your level of dedication will dictate how successful your girls are in their modeling careers.  The farther you are willing to travel for go-sees, auditions and jobs, the better luck you will have finding jobs.  Also, the more you THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX, the better your chances for success.  This is where a fantastic coach or mentor (such as myself) can prove incredibly helpful with building strategy as well as creating and pursuing non-traditional opportunities.  But, this takes DEDICATION.  If you only want to stay local and are not willing to get the necessary tools such as headshots and comp cards, you are not going to get much, your level of frustration will max out, you will get frustrated and most assuredly throw in the towel before too long.

So, Laci of Tiny Town, my first, most important piece of advice for breaking your girls into modeling is to first do a little soul searching and DECIDE if you are willing to DEDICATE the next several years of your life to ensuring your girls will take advantage of every opportunity that comes along.  Once you do that, it won't matter if you're in Keokuk, Iowa or Long Island, New York.  There are few things that can stand in the way of a Super Motivated, Ultra Dedicated Mama!

Remember, I go into great detail about this topic and many more during my conference calls and teleseminars.  The next FREE Consultation Call is coming up next Thursday, November 1st at 4 PM Pacific (California) - which is 5 PM Mountain, 6 PM Central and 7 PM Eastern.  I invite you and anyone you know who is interested in learning how to break into the entertainment industry to sign up for the call through my website at www.RyanTalent.com.  The registration is free and the call is free but the advice is PRICELESS!

In my next blog post, I am going to tackle building your child's resume and securing USABLE headshots and/or comp cards!  Be sure to spread the word about this blog to all of your friends - post it on your Facebook wall, send the links in e-mails, tweet, WHATEVER!  The best way to keep my ADD at bay is to know that I am helping someone with this brain purge - so I welcome your Feedback, Comments and Questions!

Talk soon,

Heather Ryan
The Ultimate Talent Mentor