Curtains Up!

Myth: Once you sign with a manager it’s smooth sailing. Just sit back and wait for the gigs and contracts to roll in.

Why it isn’t true: Don’t expect a manager to do all the work for you, first of all. Hooking up with an agent is very much a partnership. A manager is someone who’s going to be on your side and working with you, but chances are the manager is working with plenty of other talent at the same time.

This myth is really common among actors who move to a large market like New York or L.A., according to Mark Steiner, one of Gig Salad’s co-founders. He should know. He was that guy at one time. (I won’t go into his story here, he’ll be blogging all about it himself in the future.) Many of these actors think they’re going to get with a manager who’s going toss their name out for auditions right and left.

That may or may not happen. The best way to secure a good manager and to make sure that manager is going to work hard for you, is to work hard yourself. Concentrate on honing your craft and making sure you’re the very best you can be in your field. If you’re an actor, try to make a name for yourself in some way: niche roles, versatility, whatever. If you’re a musician, try to build your fan base as much as possible. Every single name you add to your mailing list matters.

You still have to go out there and hustle. Don’t put all of your faith in any one person besides yourself.