Tag Archive for: Act Outside the Box

10 Simple Ways to Earn and Save MORE Money

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In case you thought I was going to include winning lottery numbers in this post, I’m not! (aaawwwww!)  The answers I have for you all take work, discipline and good old fashioned ACTion!

I love sharing ways to end the “starving artist” conversation.  So if you want more money, take a good look at these 10 simple (not easy) actions that you can take today that will, in the end, make AND keep money in your pocket.

1. Reduce the number of opportunities you pursue. Focus, focus, focus.  What are your goals? The more opportunities you’ve got, the more likely you are to make mistakes with investing your time (time is money, right?)  If you can’t give ONE opportunity the attention it deserves, you’ll lose money in the end.  This is usually the case pursuing unpaid “opportunities”.

2. Increase the percentage of time you spend marketing yourself.  Let go of the “little” stuff that occupies your mind and efforts.  Reduce the time you spend on paperwork, trade some “craft” time for “marketing” time, and give up other busywork you’re seemingly always involved with. Use the extra time to get yourself in front of as many people possible that can hire you via direct mail, email, social media and in-person networking. Read more

First Thursdays – Kick Off to the New Year! 1.5.2012

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I can’t believe it!  You partied without me and it inspires me to know that the turnover of this event to Tracy Costa was FLAWLESS!   Fabulous industry guests attended and grace us with the present of their presence this new year.  Nadette Stasa, CD with Background/Foreground generously gave every actor in the room the opportunity to qualify to take her 3 week on-camera commercial class for F*R*E*E.  And as a special bonus treat for all, actor Richard Kline, probably most famous for playing gold chain wearing, chest hair baring, neighbor Larry to Jack, Chrissy and Janet on the 70’s hit Three’s Company stole the show, ahem, party!  Way to go Tracy, way to go!  I can’t wait to come back for a visit in February for the Oscars!  Can’t wait and miss you all, Lisa.  CLICK HERE to see all the pics from our Holiday party!

Sunset in Charlotte

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As I leave Charlotte, NC this morning I wanted to share this glorius picture I took outside of Wal-Mart last night.  Getting here on Monday night took about 3 hours longer than expected because of what?  An obstacle of course.  As I often teach in my CEO course, the best laid plans also need to include the certainty, not possibility, of obstacles.

A traffic jam outside of Richmond, VA had me sitting at a standstill for over 2 hours.  When I did get to move at a rate of 2 to 3 miles per hour I got excited.  So why relay all of this to you here?  Because it wasn’t a problem.  I had prepared myself for things to get in the way.  I had snacks, great CD’s and took some mental inventory during the time I was delayed.

It seems to me that perspective is the key to life and as I spent yesterday in the rainy, and as my friend Cindy would say dreary day, I was rewarded for keeping my thoughts and my general outlook on life positive.  After buying a special dog food at the end of my visit here with my friend, who I’ve known for 35 years, I walked out of the store and in to this beauty.  I stood there transfixed at the wonder of it all.

The next time you see something as beautiful as this, take a moment to reflect on all that is good in your life.  You’ll certainly have obstacles, but no problems.  Lisa Gold

5 Minute Overview Answering Many Questions

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Hi all you fabulous ACT-ion oriented actors. Take a peek at this wonderful interview I did several years ago with ForTalent.com on the Business of Show.  It stands the test of time and I look exactly the same today, LOL. Though the events mentioned at the end of the interview are no longer running, so many new things have been created since the interview first premiered and even more amazing things are ahead.

Actors have all kinds of questions and several of them are answered in this quick 5 minute overview of what the industry is REALLY looking for when seeking talent for their projects.

Get the insider scoop and return to this blog often for many tips, hints, beneficial info and how to further your BUSINESS as an actor.

If you have questions, particularly about getting an agent or manager, I’d love to have you put them in the comments below.  I’ll do my best to answer as I’m always wondering if I’m covering the bases of what you want to learn most.  Thanks!

Let’s Start at the Very Beginning

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A very good place to start.  OK, so I have frequent flashbacks to a time when I was about 8 or 9 years old, riding along in the passenger side of the family car while my mom is driving.  It′s raining and I′m looking out the window with all of these wonderful thoughts, my head pressed against the window thinking to myself,  “I′m gonna be a famous writer one day and everyone will read my stuff and they′ll laugh and be inspired and really get to know me and I′ll make a difference in someone′s life”.  Then I never did it.  Hmmmmm.

Before I FINALLY got this website off the ground, my thought was that this could be a super forum to get OUT of my head and on to paper (so to speak) the many things I’ve learned from others, the things that I’ve discovered that work in my life, and most of all, to communicate to a community of souls who I’m so deeply inspired by, but at the same time deeply interested in helping because it’s needed.   So many actors are, forgive me, clueless as to how to get what they say they want and my new blogging platform-based website is going to be my conduit to communicate what it’s gonna take, at least in my opinion.

Though I′ve written some amazing papers/reports for school, my diary, letters to the editor, letters of complaint to the airlines, templates for my seminars on How to Get and Keep an Agent and others, “morning pages” ala Julia Cameron and her book The Artist’s Way, this is my first attempt at public outing of my inner thoughts.  I intend to now show the world, almost 40 years after my flashback scenario, what′s going on inside this crazy head (and heart) of mine.

I hope you’ll continue to check in from time to time, scan the different categories of subjects that will contain the musings of a person who absolutely loves her life, what she’s doing, and has had several…make that a lot of, hard knocks.  I haven’t gotten to where I am, and I’m not going to get to where I’m headed, without obstacles.  But I’ve come to find it’s not getting rid of obstacles that’s the point…it’s how you handle them that is the true measure of a person.   Lisa Gold