It's a Fine Fine Line
There is such a fine line between being gross with your self-promotion and being assertive. I'm an assertive person, but I have a really hard time knowing when to seize a potential opportunity and when to sit back and wait for the other party to approach me. I usually wait. But I wonder if that is always the best tactic. I guess I'm just scared I'll turn into the desperate marketing machine I've seen in classes and at auditions. And seriously, nothing turns me off more.
A few incidents happened last week that reminded me of the pros and cons between waiting and taking charge. On the pro side, a colleague that only knew my work ethic and resume and had never seen me perform offered to take my materials to casting for a new 1 hour drama. I knew that she had scored a rad writing gig on the show, but it never occurred to me to ask a favor. She just contacted me out of the blue and said she wanted to help. (Actually, I think she contacted me after I posted some dramatic "status update" on Facebook that said something to the effect that I'd rather throw myself in front of a bus than audition for commercials--at least that day.) In any case, how cool is that? It's such a great feeling to help someone and to be helped when you least expect it.
Last night, while sitting in the backyard grillin' and chillin' with my downstairs neighbors, among others, my neighbor blurts out that he is working on the movie ____, which just so happens to be the passion project that I blogged about a few weeks ago! I literally yelled, "OMIGOD, I just sent my resume and demo to casting! I'm dying to be in this film!" And he says, "You and every other girl I know." My boyfriend gives me a disgusted look as if I overstepped my bounds and I feel like a tool, but I can't help myself and keep going. "Do you know if there are even small roles in the film? You know, I don't care about lines, I'll be background person number 2." My neighbor is a development dude, so while he's working on the project he doesn't have anything to do with casting. And I really don't know him well enough nor does he know my work from Adam to be blurting out stupid stuff. Yet, I continued to pump him for information in my hysteric state of mind. I definitely felt "the pathetic" creeping in. He did offer to check on my materials with casting, but I don't think he even knows my last name. *sigh* Had I handled it differently, I may have gotten the tiniest of boosts. However, I feel like such a dumbass for questioning every aspect of the project in front of him and others that I refuse to knock on his door for more info. Luckily(?), he's a pothead, so maybe he'll just forget it ever happened.
Ahh, the dilemma. Sitting and waiting? Being assertive? Being cool, calm and collected at all times. Striking while the iron is hot? Or not. I just don't know. I think it depends on the person and the situation and your ability to use humor and charm to make connections rather than blurting out stupid stuff. I'm just not so great at it--especially when I get abnormally excited.
I've caved and ordered some schmancy actor business cards. I've avoided them for some time, thinking that they were too much, but now I'm starting to think otherwise. So, at least I will have information to exchange if and when the opportunity presents itself. But don't worry, I didn't order too many. ;)
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