You’ve been faithfully mailing your list of talent agents for seven straight months. You’ve sent cover letters, headshots, résumés, postcards, and thank you cards.
You’ve invited them to come see you hold a spear down at the Cherry Lane in the Village. Maybe you’ve even met a few of them at One on One, or Actors Connection.
But so far, not a single phone call.
Then out of the blue, an agent calls you. She wants to meet you next Tuesday. So you spend the weekend floating on Cloud Nine. You even have a boozy brunch on Sunday with some friends.
You walk into the talent office on Tuesday, shake hands, and sit down. Then comes the question…
“So, tell me about yourself.”
Do you know what to say?
If you didn’t prepare an answer in advance, you’ve just tanked your first agent interview.
Maybe you disagree. Perhaps you can be quick on your feet and just wing it. But mark my words: The adrenaline will start rushing. You’ll be tense, fidgety, and eager to please. And your mind will go blank.
Want to impress that talent agent? You have to know the business, ask the right questions, and plan your answers as if you were being deposed.
The 30 Second Story
Tell me about yourself is an obvious first choice for an agent. She’s a stranger to you. She doesn’t know you, and she doesn’t know your work.
Your job is to put yourself in context. And here’s how…
You’re going to whip up a 30 Second Story, which tells an agent where you’ve been, where you are currently, and where you’re going. (Not personally, but as an actor.)
The 30 Second Story is also valuable if you ever find yourself riding an elevator with Steven Spielberg.
Here are some tips for constructing your very own 30 Second Story:
Keep it positive.
How many actors walk in the room already defeated? And when you ask them for their story, it’s one big downer. Whether it’s self-deprecation, self-pity, or self-flagellation, it ain’t attractive.
Keep your story upbeat, warm, and engaging. Even when talking about your challenges, put a positive spin on them.
Use compete sentences.
A sentence is comprised of a subject and a predicate. Not a subject and a predicate, and another predicate, and then a sidebar, and then a non-sequitur.
To clearly convey your ideas, you should strive to keep the flow of your story logical.
Steer clear of ums, ers, and likes.
Those interjections pervade our daily speech. For many of us, they’ve become a habit we barely notice.
Yes, they’re acceptable for casual conversation (like that boozy brunch last Sunday). But they make us appear weak in professional scenarios.
Don’t run long. (But don’t run short, either.)
There’s a reason it’s a 30 second story, and not a 15 second story, or a 2 minute story.
If you talk too long, they’ll lose interest. If you don’t talk enough, they’ll mistake your brevity for unfriendliness.
And trust me, 30 seconds feels like an eternity in interview situations. Take your time, breath, and say your piece.
Mention what makes you unique.
Your biggest asset as an actor is whatever sets you apart from the crowd. Make sure you feature that in your story.
How Agents Think
Tell me about yourself also serves as a baiting technique. The agent wants you to talk so she can observe your behavior. The way you look, the way you talk, the way you move your hands, etcetera.
While she’s listening to your story, she’s also thinking, “How can I make money off of this actor?” And rightfully so, because that’s her job. Don’t let that throw you. Just relax.
(SIDEBAR: The best way to keep her engaged and listening is to frequently look her in the eye.)
(SIDEBAR #2: I keep referring to our agent as female. But of course, talent agents are women AND men.)
So let’s recap: The structure of your 30 Second Story goes like this…
First: Where you’re from. What you’ve done.
Second: Where you are right now.
Third: Where you’re going. What your goals are.
One final tip: Finish your story with a question, or some other throw-back to the agent. Always remember that an interview is not an interrogation. It’s a dialogue.
After you’ve crafted your story, rehearse the hell out of it. Say it aloud. Find another actor and role play. Rehearsing your story is just as important as having one.
Having trouble creating your 30 Second Story? Sign up for TeleCoaching. We’ll have you ready for interviews in no time.
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