Thread: Minor Life Crisis :( Want to moan!

Sorry for this, but I had some really bad news yesterday and want to vent!!

In the grand scheme of things, the news isn't so bad and it's quite selfish really, but yesterday I got a phone call from my agent saying she was closing the agency Now I know that's not a huge disaster but when I graduated last year, I spent weeks mailing out my CV and pictures to all the agencies listed in the Spotlight Directory (there's a lot in there) and I sent out around 500 letters in total - I only heard back from 5 and four of them said no so when I got a yes, I was really excited!

Through my agency I've had auditions for Sandy in Grease, Baby in Dirty Dancing, etc. and I just feel that I've taken a huge step backwards in my "career" especially as I was living off a grant this time last year and now I don't have the money to be mailing millions of letters again!

Also, I'm a member of the Spotlight Directory of Actors, and they print a book every September filled with all the actors and actresses who are registered. I've paid around £200-£250 since I've been spotlight registered and now the entry in the boko is going to be wrong because the agency I'm listed under no longer exists so if someone sees me in the book, they've got no way of getting in touch with me anyway!

My agent was really nice about my Burlesque and wished me loads of luck with it - I'd love to get into a Burlesque Agency but it's the same as Musical Theatre - I could mail out to everyone and not hear anything back I've contacted a few a couple of weeks ago but not heard anything.

I have these crises every now and then - apparantly it's a creative-person thing - and I'm worried that I'm going to start getting depressed again like I was when I first graduated (horrible time, did lots of stupid things, got v.depressed) although now I have a wonderful boyfriend who will support me no matter what, I know.

Aaagh - sorry to be so self-indulgent, but I really needed to get that off my chest!

If anyone has any advice (or just cyber-hugs) it'd be really appreciated

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:hug::kiss::hug:

Lets try and be more constructive than a cyber hug

I think it is a creative person thing. I'm always up and down. And to be honest, I'm down myself at the moment (but not out so don't worry!). Agencies are a pain but you're a year further down the line than you were when you last applied. With cabaret work I've found they like to see you have booking and experience, then they'll take you on, but getting that first agency is the big step. Does your agent not have any other agencies she can recommend you to? Most agencies have friendly contacts within others to occasionally help each other out

Get your updated cv/resume/showreel together then drop a line to a couple of the professionals on here who are with a lot of the different burly agencies (someone like RedSarah for eg). They will be better equipped to tell you who is likely to be interested and the best way to approach them

There are indeed a hell of a lot of agents in Spotlight, and it would cost a fortune to mail them all so go for quality rather than quantity, see what and where they specialise and get recommendations from friends. Like any other job application try and tailor your initial contact to suit that agent if you can. They receive mass mailouts all the time so yours needs to stand out in some way

Right I'll take my mum hat of now and go make a cuppa...


... ooh and you can have a cyber hug too :-)

Originally Posted by Miss Dani California

Sorry for this, but I had some really bad news yesterday and want to vent!!

I have these crises every now and then - apparantly it's a creative-person thing - and I'm worried that I'm going to start getting depressed again like I was when I first graduated (horrible time, did lots of stupid things, got v.depressed) although now I have a wonderful boyfriend who will support me no matter what, I know.

Aaagh - sorry to be so self-indulgent, but I really needed to get that off my chest!

If anyone has any advice (or just cyber-hugs) it'd be really appreciated

Here is a totally true story. A guy in the USA started out to sell Insurance, he walked the streets to every single business and got nowhere. He had two suits and two shirts, he used to swop them about every other day to try and keep them fresh. He did without food for as long as he could, maybe going to his mums for a meal or dining on the good will of the odd friend, he particularly wanted to Insure a rather large and up and coming business in the city and, as he had done his homework he knew exactly who needed insurance and what kind. He went into the large business and explained to the secretary who he was and why he was there. The sercetary told him to sit and wait an maybe the owner would talk to him but, no promises. Two hours that man sat there and wiated. The door opens up and the Boss asks him in, the young man actually managed to sell the owner a lower form of insurance coz the owner realised he NEEDED insurance. As the owner signed the forms he said o the young man "Ya know sonny, you are 23rd sales man to try and sell insurance to me, whatche think of that?" The young man replied "Yes Sir, I know, I was all of them". The owner was so impressed that he took out the biggest insurance he could and recommended the young man too all his other business friends.

There was once a great man in this country called Sir Winston Churchill. Just before this greatman died he was asked to speak at Kings College or at least one of the big Universities. Whne he walked out ontot he stage there was total silence, that great man looked each student in the eye as best he could and said these totally imortal words, read them weel and remember then for times like this folks.............He said "Never...NEVER....................NEVER GIVE UP!" And walked of the stage.

What brilliant words................"NEVER.............NEVER..... ..........NEVER GIVE UP!"

Your name will be out there again young lady, you can rest assured of that.

Midnight Blue speaks a lot of sense there Dani. Don't be downhearted - you've now got a lot more experience than a year ago and work coming up that others will see. Plus I did notice at the Candy Box that you are absolutely fantastic at networking, you are confident but not pushy and have a lovely sunny disposition (and great hair ) that will make people remember you. Just remember to work those crowds and mingle after your performances at Dolly De'Lash's event in November and the other events your at and you'll be fine. I'm utterly convinced that in the past I've given more work to people (though in a different field than performing) that I've met or heard great things about from others than from those who've sent me cvs and resumes, no matter how good they were. Don't waste paper or time doing mass mailouts. Definitely talk to other performers and get names and contacts to do some specific emails/letters/phone calls.

Have you thought about contacting Luluspanx to get advice? She's got a whole load of different performers on her books

Oh and big hugs :hug: all will be fine and if you get yourself doing something practical you're less likely to get depressed. Action is great (if you can do it) for stopping the on-coming black clouds. Plus you've been depressed before and now know the signs and therefore more prepared for dealing with it. You'll be fine. And there's nothing wrong with being down and getting the lovely boyfriend to pamper you a bit.

Ah thank you guys That's some great advice :hug:

When selling yourself, Its good to speak face to face (eyecontact) or on the phone with someone mailshots are the worst way to get anywhere. Pitch and close the deal with a few tips from a master:

Introduce yourself with a little blurb about who you are, then ask the agency person who they are and what sorts of acts they have on the books and what they are looking for.

Then simply match your skills with what they are looking for-don't lie but put your most applicable skills forward based on what you've heard them say.

Close:You: 'so you're looking for this,this and this' might not be everything but match what you can do with what they say.
They say 'yes'
Then say 'I can do this, this and this. thats what you are looking for right?.'
If you've matched it right they have to say 'yes'
Then say 'so what info do you need to put me on your books?'
Never ask a yes/no question to close a sales call always leave it open like the closing line above only ask yes/no questions when you know the answer is yes.
You can do this on the phone or even at lunch-theres nothing like a lunch meeting for closing a deal.
These agencies probably get shitloads of mail everyday so make phone calls set up meetings and make friends and you'll be on new books in no time.

Lovely to meet you at the weekend by the way. Hope everything works out for the best. Think positively you could be moving on to a bigger and better agency with better opportunities.

Hope to see you again soon,

Mr Impressive Johnson x (happen to be a Senior Sales Exec in the daytimes)
oh yeah and big hugs

Ahaha - Mr. Johnson, very impressive advice (see what I did there? comedy genius me!)

You mentioned twice that you were sorry for being selfish! I don't think it's selfish at all to be worried about your career!!! It's really awful what has happened to your agency and it's hardly your fault!
I hope you manage to get back on track, I've heard how hard a business it is to get into! But, I'm sure with some support you'll get it all sorted out. :twothumbs:

Aww Dani :hug:

Not sure of any advice so heres some love and cyber hugs! :hug::hug::hug:

Axx