Four Tips for Open Mic Success

John Butler studio session

Over the past couple of weeks of running an open mic night at Zebrano in Greek Street Soho, it has quickly become increasingly vibrant with an eclectic mix of performers.

Now, before we see the new month in with a whole host of new acts, I thought it would be relevant to point out the four dos and don’ts I often come across in on the night.

Let’s get into that.

-          Don’t leave until everyone has finished playing.

Often we see musicians who arrive, play their set and leave. I believe it is extremely unfair of an act to have gained an audience to leave right after their set, even before the next musician is due to play. Give the next artist a chance and respect of your time as they have granted you.

-          Do talk to everyone before you do leave. The moments after performances are crucial in networking as we have seen with the latest reviews of the night. Open mic’s can lead to gigs with follow up emails or messages.

-          Be gracious and humble, regardless of the turnout

-          Don’t play two similar songs back to back. Read the audience and play to the mood.

Is there anything else you think would be relevant at an open mic? Feel free to comment and share thoughts with me!

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Romy

romy@beonthescene.com

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Where do you stand?

For years, social psychiatrists have been talking about how people communicate through body language and how judgements can be made about you, when looking  from a glance.  

People tend to make their judgement calls within a few seconds of meeting you and if you are the product, I.e.:  The model or musician, the manner in which you conduct yourself  in your stance is extremely important in setting the tone for interactions, especially in relation to how seriously you want to be taken within the professional industry.

Amy Cuddy is a social psychiatrist best known for her work in non-verbal communications and studies the outcome of how people can judge and influence one another.

This video is from another one of my favourite talks TED and I believe you could gain some useful information that you could try out when you are next in a social environment. 

I hope that you enjoy it and as always, feel free to leave your opinion in the comment section or feel free to email me. 

Romy

romy@beonthescene.com

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Dance Audition?

If you are in the process of auditioning for a professional dance job, or if you are just starting out, you are already aware of the immense pressure and competition that faces you. However, it is not in vain as the audition could perhaps be that long term contract that you have always dreamed about.

In this blog I will highlight some tips to better your chances of being selected for the job and explain some things you should definitely avoid.

-          This should go without saying…you should never be late.  If it is unavoidable, make sure you contact the studio immediately.

-          You have to listen to what they are asking for. There are always individuals who need to be told over and over again how to stand, hold the arm or point the toe. When the demonstrator explains what he or she wants and the dancer fails to deliver because of nerves or simply not knowing how to execute it, could easily get you cut. It shows that you cannot take directions. Sometimes, just being a great dancer is not enough and not being able to take direction well, can often lose you the job, rather than the reflection of your work.

-          Be spatially conscious and avoid showing personal emotions towards other dancers as people despise attitudes especially towards others. You will most certainly get cut when showing a bad attitude.

-          Always be willing to push yourself and demonstrate a willingness to learn.

-          Be aware of what are wearing. Do not wear something that is not flattering to your body shape and avoid wearing something too flashy as it can often distract from the dance.

-          Excessive talking during others performance is not tolerated. You must always be considerate to other dancers. Not only does it show your focus, but your best side.

-          Always be authentic.  The only thing that makes you different is your personal characteristics.

-          If you realize you are nervous, you have to create tools to combat them such as stick to what you know and be as focused as possible.

It’s very important to go prepared and to always be well presented throughout your audition. Extra classes always go a long way and it goes without saying- ‘Practice makes perfect!’ 

Good Luck!

Romy

romy@beonthescene.com

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Anti- Social Media

There is no doubt that Social Media is a valuable tool for an aspiring artist and can effectively help build up a strong fan base from nothing.

Now with the accessibility on Social Media, it’s easy to represent yourself in an incorrect manor and you could risk your reputation before even getting started.

 Running two entertainment based Facebook pages, I have often come across musicians who Spam. They believe that by posting links and videos alone will get people to notice their music and although there is a small percentage that a person can get noticed, it’s not enough to tarnish your name by being associated as a spammer.  What is spamming you ask? Well spamming is coming out of nowhere and posting random links without having some sort of interaction with the targeted person. Remember, Social Media allows you to reach thousands of people in a short space of time with just one post, and it is easy to think that by sending the same link and message to people, it might get you noticed. But as it goes with promotional material, personal is always best.

Be On The Scene welcomes new acts all the time, but it is important to maintain the sense of community within our groups and pages and that is the difference between someone coming out of nowhere and posting a link, rather than introducing themselves to the members and getting involved in discussions.

Posting at random is not only a waste of time for an individual, but ineffective. Below are three suggestions on how to avoid the spamming, but still being able to get your music heard or promoting your work.

GOALS

-          Having a clear goal is imperative to promoting music and without direction or strategy; you could be wasting precious time. Every action you take, needs to get you closer to your goal, whether that goal is getting a million downloads or getting signed.

NETWORK

-          Networking is important when trying to grow a fan base. Personalizing each email and link sent can help avoid looking Spammy.

FAVOURS

-          It takes time for the person that you have sent a link to, to click on it, listen and form an opinion. By interacting with people and giving just as much of your time as you expect from theirs, you can also grow a stronger network of people who are willing to share your links.

We live in an era where social media rules and has become very important. The word ‘social’ is the operative word. Avoid the common mistakes made and you could be one step closer to achieving your goals.

Romy!

romy@beonthescene.com

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*Tips inspired by Jacksonwonderful- Music Producer

I get by with a lil' help from my friends...

In the last few weeks, I have spoken a lot about showreel’s and their importance in presenting yourself in a professional and timeless manner. I have focused on Editors and Dancers and now it’s time to focus on Presenters and Actors.

Not all Actors/Presenters have the added advantage of having clips to edited and bound into showreel format, as they are just starting out or lack the experience to take them to the next level. 

Take a leaf out of Australian Actress Kerri Glass’s book. She came up with an interesting and clever way to showcase her range as an actress, from Rough Around The Edges to Bombshell Beauty. Not only does this look highly professional, but it is very entertaining too and just what you need to grab the attention of the Casting Coordinator.  

Now, I’m not suggesting this was an easy accomplishment as it is clear a lot of time and effort went in to making this, however, BOTS is all about helping talented individuals and assisting in the necessary steps it takes to get you started. That’s why it is of utmost importance that as a member, you explore the community that is beneath your fingertips. We do not only cater to musicians and models, but we play host to a whole hub of talented people such as Videographers and Photographers, all of who are requiring portfolio build up. 

This is a great opportunity for you to select someone you would like to work with on your own terms and come up with something like Kerri, perhaps even better. It is amazing what you could do with ingenuity and a camera.

I would love to see what you are all doing, so please email me and who knows? You might be featured in the next Blog!

Romy!

romy@beonthescene.com

“Bridging the gap between talented individuals and industry professionals”

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Land your next casting!

In a previous blog, “Make Up Tricks for Open Casting Call”  I discussed how less is more and how one should keep all make up bare natural. In this entry, I am going to share a 4 simple  tips on what to wear when going to a casting call.

What to wear to a casting for women?

First off, you want to be memorable when going to a casting. For those of you, who have been to a casting before, know exactly how many people that have come before you and how many people will come after you. That is very daunting, so it is essential you know what to wear to make you memorable for all the right reasons.

1.       Choose something that is complementary to your body type, such as a garment that is very fitted/tailored and shows off your best assets. In catwalk model's circumstances, this could be the legs...If you got it, flaunt it. Use your best judgement in deciding what is tacky and what is complimentary. Choose one or the other, top or bottom. 

     

      Many people say that black is a good colour to choose, but well known and reputable fashion designer Michael Costello believes that a splash of colour that suits your skin tone and will make you “pop” and give you that extra edge. Try wearing colour, unless you a requested to wear black.

2.       The Higher the heel, the better, especially when the casting is for a designer, they tend to prefer the highest of high heels. Not only do heels elongate your legs but guaranteed to give you more confidence when walking in.

3.     Accessories should be kept to a minimum as they can detract from the models body or face. Accessories can be memorable. We want the face and body to be memorable.

4.       Keep hair clean and away from the face. 

       A simple bun is perfect depending on the casting, although loose hair works well when clean and kept out of the face. 

Do you have anything you would like to share? Send me an inbox message and you could have your tips and tricks shared with our community!

Romy! 

"Be On The Scenes helps bridge the gap between individuals and industry professionals"

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Maximizing Your Showreel's Potential

By now, we should all know the importance of showreels and how they can help us land work/careers, but how many of you are aware of a few simple tips you can utilize to ensure a greater chance of being selected?

Here are 4 tips that could potentially maximize showreel interest.

Remember a showreel can include anything from storyboards, drawings, artworks etc.

1:  Always place your best material first with quick visuals and montages to showcase range and work   done.

The first 30 seconds need to make an impression. Statistically a person, specifically an agent will decide in the first 10 seconds whether or not they like it and whether they will continue to watch or press stop. You need to be engaging in this time. 

2: Edit showreels to particular Job criteria.

No showreel caters to all types of jobs and it is important to have different styles/examples of your work. 

As not everyone is an editor or able to edit their work when needed, when working on your showreel, try and fit a sequence into each genre if you are an actor or environment/3D designer.

Researching the company you are submitting your work to is vital in seeing what style to go with to increase your chances.

3: Music Choice.

We all have different tastes in music and not everyone will relate to your music choice. Avoid using well known tracks that your showreel will rely heavily on. Music choice can often put people off. Research suggests that viewers often mute the video, so try seeing if your showreel works without music too.

4: And finally, ALWAYS put your contact details in!

Do you have any tips or tricks you would like to share? 

Romy

"Be On The Scene is a growing talent community that bridges the gap between the individual and industry professionals"

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Dependability in Entertainment

“Ability is a wonderful thing, but its value is greatly enhanced by dependability. Ability implies repeatability and accountability.”- Robert A. Heinlein

The word reliable defines a lot about one’s character. How often does a person include it on a CV, mention it to potential employers or maintain the belief that they are reliable?

In the entertainment, world I often find myself wondering whether the term is too loosely thrown around and not advocated nearly enough. Unfortunately, Musicians in particular have gotten the stigma of being unreliable. It’s a horrible idea as I know many musicians that would go to the end of the earth to ensure they are able to make it to a particular commitment.

Let me explain using our company, Be On The Scene as an example. We hosts regular events in which we need Models, Musicians, Photographers and Presenters to turn up to help us run a successful night, in exchange for a platform to showcase work, assist with portfolio growth and introductions to industry professionals. Yet we often find people cancelling at the last minute or not showing up, even after confirmations and contact several weeks before.  Sure, we understand that at times, other opportunities like paid work would pop up at the last minute or an illness could prevent you from performing or doing your requested job. However, how you handle the cancellation is extremely important and could potentially make or break your reputation as an artist.

For example, if you are unable to make it to a job, would you just not turn up? Its sounds crazy, but many people do this and personally, I would never contact that person again. I’m not sure if people are aware of the time it takes to organise events, nor how cancellations affect the ability of the event running smoothly.

This is from an event perspective, but what about a potential employer, record producer or journalist perspective?  To bring up a particular scenario from an event I once worked at, a performer arrived over an hour late for their slot and an announcement went out that they were not at the event yet and guests would need to wait. We had invited a well- known and influential journalist to cover the event and she was particularly interested in speaking to the performer. This was without our knowledge, as far as we were aware of, the journalist wanted to cover the event. We were delighted that the performer would get the coverage in an international publication as we believed they deserved it. Low and behold the performer turned up, but without so much of an apology to the audience or organiser and unfortunately for him, the journalist picked this up. After the performance was done, the journalist wanted to have a brief discussion with him. But, He was nowhere to be found as he left the event without talking to anyone.  We received the article and there was no mention of the performer. This particular publication would have potentially changed his life.

To cut a long story short, you never know what opportunities you could be missing out on or who is watching you. -  This is another topic that will be discussed at a later stage.

There may be a million and more people involved in the entertainment world, but it remains a tight knit community that likes to weed out people who are not committed nor true to their words.

Words spread quickly and people prefer to talk about the bad things, rather than the good.  Regardless of how good you are as a performer/artist/photographer, if people believe you are unreliable, you will struggle to find work.

Here are some tips to guide you when you have no other options but to cancel.

* Always let someone in charge know that you will be unable to attend or if you will be late. be truthful regarding the circumstances as far fetched stories will get you nowhere.

* Begin with an apology for any inconvenience caused.

* If you are able to, suggest a replacement.

* If you arrive late, always apologies profusely to the people you have kept waiting. They will find that this is considerate and you might be let off the hook. 

Have you ever found yourself in a situation describe here? If so, how have you handled it? Send me an email or leave a comment. 

Romy

romy@beonthescene.com 

Niel Gaiman on Writing

Author Niel Gaiman of 'Sandman' and 'Coraline' fame, shares some insiders information and tips on being or rather becoming a writer in this day and age.

Niel is known for his honest opinions and helpful advice and in this interview, he discusses topics that every aspiring writer could implement. 

Neil Gaiman's work has been honoured with many awards internationally, including the Newbery and Carnegie Medals. His books and stories have also been honoured with 4 Hugos, 2 Nebulas, 1 World Fantasy Award, 4 Bram Stoker Awards, 6 Locus Awards, 2 British SF Awards, 1 British Fantasy Award, 3 Geffens, 1 International Horror Guild Award and 2 Mythopoeic Awards.

Take a listen and see how Niel could perhaps inspire you today.