GETTING A GIG

How to Write & Where to Post a Show Biz Resume
Don't laugh, you'd be surprised how few people know this stuff, probably
including your good self. Even if your schedule is currently full, it
doesn't hurt to advertise for those just in case dry times.

Getting a job in Show Biz is pretty much the same as getting a job in
the 9 to 5 world. You have to present yourself with a professional
attitude to be considered a professional or worth giving a chance. In
this tip sheet I'll cover the basic and most important aspects of
getting a gig in the biz; 101 for beginners and some new updates for
old hands.

NUMBER ONE:
Write a resume, a real resume, not just "I am looking for a job in Show
Biz" or "I am the Greatest" as that will only get you ignored. Don't
assume folks will know who you are, it is a hell of a big industry out
there, the USA industry alone has a bigger population than many
countries. Your resume is your brochure and your first point of
presentation. Presentation is everything, make it count.

HOW TO WRITE A RESUME:
The same rules apply if you are talent, admin, management, or crew,
film, music, theater, tv, or what ever. Write a one page resume just
like you would for a day job. Employers, bookers, producers, and
casting directors want to see you have some experience and aptitude,
not just that you can sing, or have a pretty face, and want a job. They
want to read what you can do in succinct keyword detail before they
decide to make contact and ask you what you can do.

SUBJECT TITLE:
Should be what you do, not Resume, or your name:
Example: I am an event manager so my subject title would be...
Festival and Live Event Management and Promotion

PUT YOUR SKILL SET KEYWORDS AT THE TOP:
Example: As an event manager my skill set keywords would be...
Event planning and management, marketing and promotion, logistics, site
planning, art direction, bookings, production management, budget
planning and administration.
Special Note for Bands and Music Artists: Skill set keywords would be
replaced by your music influences and genre.

THEN YOUR CREDITS:
The productions you have worked on and their web sites starting with the
most recent. Even the big companies like Dreamworks and Disney list the
productions they have worked on, so they expect you to do the same.
Include two to four words of what you did on that production.
Example: of my credits (partial list of course)...
Arts Fest SF (Network Liaison various events) http://www.artsfest.org
San Francisco
Art Into Industry (Event Series Producer)
http://www.artintoindustry.net San Francisco
111 Minna Gallery (Event Producer and Curator)
http://www.111minnagallery.com San Francisco
150 Folsom Dimension7 (Producer various events)
http://www.dimension7.com San Francisco
AVIT VJ Video Art Trade Show (Budget and Promo Consultant)
http://www.avit.org San Francisco
Bill Graham Presents (RIP) (Prod/Talent Assist various events)
http://www.billgrahampresents.com San Francisco
4 ZZZ FM Radio (Assistant Announcer/Researcher/Promotions)
http://www.4zzz.org.au Brisbane Australia
Count Down (RIP), ABC TV, (Production Assistant) Melbourne Australia

Include a photo:
It is easier for an employer to relate to you if they can see your face
or photos of your work. Talent headshots and performance shots, and
design work photos should be clear and professional looking. Crew
headshot photos can get away with cute but clear happy snaps, and
stills from productions. All photos must be no more than 64 k each else
it takes to long to load and the employer clicks off before they check
you out.

Education:
Don't include education unless it directly concerns your skills. Show
biz employers only want to know about stuff directly related to the
industry, not what high school you went to or burger joint you trained
at.
Example: Of my formal education relating to the industry...
Fine Art, Heatherleys, London
Festival Management, New South Wales Arts Council, Australia
Media Studies, 4 ZZZ FM, Brisbane Australia

And your contacts at the bottom:
Employers are interested in your skill set keywords and credits first
and foremost, if they like that then they will scroll to the rest for
your contacts. Make sure your email, web sites, fax and phone numbers
work at all times. Don't put your personal home address, get a post box
nearby.

IMPORTANT NOTES:
*Don't say you can do something that you can't, as it will show
straight away in your work, and that can bring a whole show down and
lose everyone's job, or get somebody physically hurt. I am not joking.
Imagine if you got hired to do promo for a show, but you didn't know
where to flyer or how to work out who your audience is. The show would
get no people through the door and the show go bust in a very few
weeks. That's that whole cast and crew out of jobs. Or you got hired to
do fly rigging but you didn't know the right equipment and somebody
fell.
*Don't say you've worked on productions that you haven't, you'd be
surprised how small the industry can be and who knows who; save the
bullshit for the bull horn.
*Always have a happy nice attitude and be very polite and courteous to
others, good attitude gets you further than being an uptight pop star.
If you have a bad attitude it don't matter what your talents are,
people just won't want to work with you or treat you as human, it's
that simple. You don't need to have a bad attitude to be great or a
star, that's just another wannabe myth. (if you ain't Sting that is,
but he worked long and hard for it)
*Don't be a bigot, just because there is somebody of another color, sub
culture, sex, or sexual preference doesn't mean you shouldn't list
yourself beside them or work with them; you never know what you could
miss out on in contacts, exposure, learning, or somebody watching your
back when it counts. Bigotry is from fear, and fear and bigotry create
greed, wars, and suffering. The Arts are from peace and beauty, they
have nothing to do with fear and bigotry. Get that through your head,
practice it, spread it's gospel, and you will be part of the solution.

NUMBER TWO:
Post your resume and photos.
On as many industry resume directories as you can find, as that is where
producers and casting directors look: I recommend starting with
http://www.gigdirectory.net of course (yes it is back up, rebuilt, and
improved) and it is free to post your resume and 4 photos. Look out for
expiration date: set it for as long as possible 365 days, else your
resume could be deleted by the web site's system the next day or so.
http://www.Gigdirectory.net also has special sections to list your
demos, reviews, events, and web sites for free.

Why post your stuff on a multi arts site?
Answer: As an Example... Think about all the places that need music, not
just venues and festivals. Film, tv, theater, documentaries, opera,
radio jingles, video games, internet radio... Or all the places that
need a lighting designer, like bands, theater, film, events, and
photography. Or need a videographer like bands, dancers, tv, theater,
corporate, concerts... and you begin to understand why I developed
Gigdirectory.net

NUMBER THREE:
Start surfing and researching.
Get The Arts Job Bible and get surfing arts job sites and resources. The
Arts Job Bible is a great resource to get as it is only $39.95 and
contains over 1000 free to view arts and media sites and mailing lists
to find paid jobs, casting calls, grants, casting directors and places
to post your resume. The Arts Job Bible contains the same resources
where all those pay to view arts job sites (that charge you $100 and
more per year) get their jobs and internships from. The Arts Job Bible
is totally tree free and available online at http://www.gigslist.org
Proceeds from The Arts Job Bible fund Gigdirectory.net's free services
like the resume library.

HOW DO I KNOW THIS STUFF TO BE FACT?
I have been publishing arts job sites for over 5 years, I also work in
the field in events, video, and media for over 20 years, and with that
I get to talk to a lot of industry employers, and I have employed a lot
of people in the industry myself.


Deborah Paulino
Author, Developer and Event Manager
gigslist.org
gigdirectory.net