It can take a long time to prepare for a career in entertainment. But your efforts will eventually pay off if you do certain things. More than showcasing a talent, being in entertainment requires a business-savvy mind, knowing how to handle rejections, and considering where your place is. This is because it isn’t all about talent, and there is a wider industry. From developing a wide skill set to your online presence and considering the roles, here are some suggestions.
Looking After Your Appearance
Being in front of an audience isn’t the only job in the entertainment profession. But it is the most sought-after if you have a talent. However, it is also the role where you will be judged the most, especially on your appearance. It is sad, but appearance is everything, except in a few rare cases. Look into affordable dental plans, gym memberships, and healthy lifestyle choices because your appearance is more often essential for entertainment from a talent perspective.
Demonstrating Multiple Competencies
There are many skills you need as an entertainment professional, both on stage and behind stage. Core competencies aren’t any different than any other professional role and include the necessary skills for staying successful in your chosen role. These include the following:
- Time management is an essential skill, as time is money.
- From acting to being a PA, adaptation and multitasking are essential.
- Understanding business, no matter the role, is a massive advantage.
It isn’t all about what you can do but also how you do it. Even as an actor, you won’t last long if you waste the crew’s time. And you could lose money without understanding the business.
Practice to Prepare for a Career in Entertainment
Practice makes perfect, and from a talent point of view, this is very true. Yet even the most talented people can be overlooked, and you can expect to land a gig after around 15 to 25 auditions on average. It helps to practice your media of choice in order to stand out. For instance, recording your voice and assessing how it sounds will help you change the tone. And video recordings can help you see how you look on screen to make necessary changes.
Immerse Yourself in All Types of Media
You can’t really be as proficient as you want without understanding what it is you are working with. Whether you want to be an entertainer or a backstage crew member, you need to immerse yourself in the media to gain a deeper understanding. Watching movies and TV shows can help you learn about photography and lighting. Mainstream viewing is only part of the experience. So, diving into indie productions and foreign work improves your overall awareness of media.
Consider Enrolling in Classes
Some people make it big by coming from nowhere. But the entertainment industry is filled with very talented and educated people. Even actors hone their skills at places like the Actor’s Studio. And a degree in media or a related skill set is always a bonus. Many colleges offer a wide range of classes that are highly advantageous for the industry. Consider enrolling in classes such as film history, anything related to your talent, and even modern movie marketing.
Be Prepared for Recruitment Challenges
Even though the entertainment industry is huge, there are limited jobs available. These narrow according to the sector, such as camera operators, for example. So, there are many challenges when it comes to being recruited within music, TV, or film production:
- Your reputation is everything, so make sure it stays rock solid and reputable.
- Stay aware that you may become a victim of cyber attacks, and try not to engage.
- Violence from you will never be tolerated and can ruin your industry reputation.
- Modern business models mean more competition because of industry diversity.
- Stay alert for callbacks and always answer because plans always change.
- You may be insured by an agency, but always look into personal insurance, too.
There are some industries where you start at the bottom, even with talent and education, and entertainment is one of them. However, you will make yourself more attractive to recruiters by working on your reputation within the wider industry, which also makes it easier to network.
Develop an Online Presence
An online presence is a big advantage these days. For example, you can instantly showcase your skills by referring a recruiter to your YouTube channel. This works well for talents such as slinging, dancing, and acting. For more in-depth roles within the industry, a blog can provide more substance. For example, you can demonstrate a solid understanding of a subject via text and images, such as writing developer blogs for video game development and game coding.
Work with What You Can Offer
Recruitment agencies within the entertainment field are inundated with resumes all the time. Why should they pick yours? Well, you have a talent right. No matter what your talent and skills are, they must be instantly distinguishable from the other resumes in the presumably large pile. Never send out generic resumes; these WILL go in the trash. Start a resume with the skills you have and can demonstrate. However, the basic core skills you use in any job are just as vital.
Prepare for a Career in Entertainment Alternatives
Most people think of singing and dancing when we talk about the entertainment industry. But there is so much more than these. Some may overlook video games as entertainment, but they are part of the industry and rake in almost $350 billion each year. Artists, programmers, and script writers are all involved in the process. Then, there are roles you may never consider, such as marketing (especially branding) and web development within the entertainment sector.
Consider the Profession You Want
Most people say they want to be a singer or an actor. But what about the people who make these dreams come true? There is a vast network of people behind the scenes that make the entertainment industry what it is, and you must consider the role you want. Here are examples:
- You may be able to shine as a promoter rather than becoming a talent.
- You can get into artist management and build a list of paying clients.
- In a more business-oriented approach, events require problem-solving skills.
Not everyone has an easily identifiable talent, yet is being the person who actually puts on the show and arranges the performers any less talented than they are? Maybe you don’t like attention but are unbeatable when it comes to organization; a backstage profession is for you.
Stay Consistent and Persistent
Unfortunately, the history of entertainment is littered with people who never made it even though they had something to offer. One of the main causes of this is that many people will give up when it gets too hard. But what does it really take to make a dream a reality? Well, it isn’t easy, no matter your profession. Networking is vital and may not pay off immediately, but knowing people can help later on. And, of course, keep sending resumes and hone your skills more.
Summary
Looking after yourself physically can help you prepare for a career in entertainment as a performer since you will be judged on this. It also helps to keep a solid reputation, whether on stage or behind it, as word gets around, and it can cost jobs. And the one thing you must not do, especially as a performer, is give up when you aren’t getting gigs. So just keep trying!
