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FAQ casting directors/agents

Question:

        I’d be willing to contribute…. it just takes one volunteer to get the ball rolling. Hmmmm….Well, I see in another post that Daniel Norton is willing to help.  And, as it happens, I am at this very moment re-vamping my web site and will have an expanded "How to get into Acting" page.  I could always park a FAQ there, right?  It doesn’t take up a lot of megabytes, does it? Ed

Daniel’s technical expertise in matters of FAQ organization and registration would be a strong plus.   Two other areas need to be tackled…. Contribution (who edits and who contributes, covering specific topics and or regional variations. The scope of the FAQ: Does it focus largely on casting directors and talent agents; or does it also cover unions, headshots, resumes, scams, training.  FAQs frequently provide links…. and naturally SAG’s website ought to be included.  But what others? Break a leg, Bill — THE ACTING STUDIO http://gvtg.com/theactingstudio

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Daniel’s technical expertise in matters of FAQ organization and registration would be a strong plus.

Good.  If he’s willing, let’s let him do it.   Two other areas need to be tackled…. Contribution (who edits and who contributes, covering specific topics and or regional variations.

I nominate you, Bill, to be the editor.  I’m too much of a hot head. <g  What should I write about?  It’s a Q&A format, right? Ed Hooks

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- The scope of the FAQ: Does it focus largely on casting directors and – talent agents; or does it also cover unions, headshots, resumes, – scams, training.  FAQs frequently provide links…. and naturally – SAG’s website ought to be included.  But what others? All of those things. I will post an article in a few minutes from which perhaps some info can be taken. This NG has only during the last week been added to the BBS that I use and am trying to figure out a few things.

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Daniel’s technical expertise in matters of FAQ organization and registration would be a strong plus. Good.  If he’s willing, let’s let him do it. Two other areas need to be tackled…. Contribution (who edits and who contributes, covering specific topics and or regional variations. I nominate you, Bill, to be the editor.  I’m too much of a hot head. <g  

Slow down, Ed…. I would have nominated you BECAUSE you are a hot head. <g I’m still working at building some interest from contributors (see the above cc: list.) Once we get a half-a-dozen or more coaches/actors/writers willing to participate, then it might be possible to nominate an editor, or may co-editors.   Again, let’s see the scope of the project first.   What should I write about?  It’s a Q&A format, right?

Correct on the Q&A format…. but the questions have to be balanced.   You can’t simply ask the rhetorical question…. "Why are showcases worthless and who runs these scams?" You’ve gotta break it down into: "What is a showcase and what can I reasonably expect to learn from them?" "Will I get a chance to read during the showcase and will it provide me with contacts?" And that’s not objective enough…. but I hope you get the drift. Let’s give it more thought.  It’s not out of the question that I might be centrally involved, but I would much prefer to join with one or two other organizer/editors and think this through carefully. Break a leg, Bill — THE ACTING STUDIO http://gvtg.com/theactingstudio

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I nominate you, Bill, to be the editor.  I’m too much of a hot head. <g  What should I write about?  It’s a Q&A format, right?

A proper FAQ partakes of a certain format, and although it’s a Q&A format, there’s quite a bit more to it. I suggest you look at http://www.faqs.org first. Obviously, anyone can make up anything they like and call it a FAQ, but most internet users expect the full format. This also ensures that the FAQ is archived at the usual FAQ archive sites. You can look at assorted existing FAQs at ftp://rtfm.mit.edu/pub/usenet/ There’s an awful lot of them, and even the index is a slow load if you have a slow modem. You can speed it up if you have a newsgroup in mind and make it:    ftp://rtfm.mit.edu/pub/usenet/rec.arts.theatre.stagecraft/ or some such. —     *                Daly City California:                *     *       where San Francisco meets The Peninsula       *     ******* and the San Andreas Fault meets the Sea *******

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I think that’s a great place to put it and no it shouldn’t take up that much room, but if for some reason it does, I don’t pay for my space, so I could always put it somewhere too… Caryn   I could – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – always park a FAQ there, right?  It doesn’t take up a lot of megabytes, does it? Ed

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wouldn’t another solution be to add the link to such a faq in a signature line, that way the acutal faq would not have to be posted every week karen – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – - Wayne LeGette – Actor – http://www.gate.net/~wlegette It could be reposted once a week or so. Ray Normandeau, Rita Frazier (Normandeau); NYC actors. Our pictures and resumes at http://www.buzznyc.com

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        I’d be willing to contribute…. it just takes one volunteer to get the ball rolling.

Hmmmm….Well, I see in another post that Daniel Norton is willing to help.  And, as it happens, I am at this very moment re-vamping my web site and will have an expanded "How to get into Acting" page.  I could always park a FAQ there, right?  It doesn’t take up a lot of megabytes, does it? Ed

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How do we do it?  Just post a FAQ, with that as the subject?  Is there something special to be done user-group-wise?

Ed, That sounds like a plan.  However since news articles get deleted so quickly, maybe you could also post it on your website for future perusal. Wayne Wayne LeGette Actor http://www.gate.net/~wlegette

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – There are so many people who come here who need to be informed  as quickly as possible about what to look for in the biz that  maybe a FAQ is needed. For example in CA casting people are allowed to charge registration fees. In NYC they are not. In NYC agents can not charge any up-front fees except for legit expenses such as putting you on headsheet/book. BUT they are not allowed to make a profit on this; only to recoups expenses. Anyhow, Ed Hooks I think is the mnst knowledgable person here, perhaps we can prvail on him to put a FAQ together and post it once a week. Ray Normandeau, Rita Frazier (Normandeau); NYC actors. Maybe I’m not so knowledgable after all, Ray.  I did not know, for example, those things you say about the differences between NYC and LA. I presumed regs governing SAG franchised talent agents were the same everywhere. And as far as I know, it is against the franchise regs for agents to chage actors fees beyond commissions.  Regarding the charge for head shot books, CD-ROM compilations etc, my understanding is that the actor/client can reasonbably be requested to provide the raw material (a v/o demo excerpt, the head shot, etc), but the cost of compiling it all should be absorbed by the talent agent. As for the posting of a FAQ here, there are probably several of us who could do such a thing.  Bill is also very knowledgable, just to name one. How do we do it?  Just post a FAQ, with that as the subject?  Is there something special to be done user-group-wise? Ed Hooks

Dear Ed and Ray,         The point is made….. there are subtle and major differences in matters pertaining to casting from one marketplace to the other…. as there are in other acting "biz" matters, like headshots, resumes, etc.           And a FAQ could be created that breaks down these distinctions, but it would have to be maintained and updated.  A FAQ, or "Frequently Asked Questions" is nothing more than a file, an ascii text file…. and there are certain recommended formats.  I contribute to a FAQ for professional storytellers that defines various aspects of the art, craft and business of storytelling, also also provides a comprehensive list of related web-sites.           A FAQ is usually maintained and updated by one (reputable) professional who edits the material from a variety of sources, and then lists the FAQ on one or more websites and also reproduces periodically that FAQ on related NG’s or listservers.           Ed and Ray, you are both frequent contributors, offering good advice from S.F. and L.A….. I’ve copied this post to three colleagues with whom you’re probably familiar, representing So. California and Kansas City (and I’m knowledgable about my region in Colorado and surrounding states).  With a Chicago connection, and someone from Seattle/Vancouver, Dallas, Florida, Toronto and a few other geographies, we would have the makings for a FAQ that starts to address the basic questions.           A well-written FAQ reduces the repetition of responses to basic questions from beginners. (Instead of syaing the same thing over and over again, you simply send a post that says, "See ACTOR.FAQ at http://acting.com")  In this case, a FAW can also handle issues pertaining to more advanced actors who are contemplating moving from one acting market to another.           I’d be willing to contribute…. it just takes one volunteer to get the ball rolling. Break a leg, Bill — THE ACTING STUDIO http://gvtg.com/theactingstudio

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There are so many people who come here who need to be informed  as quickly as possible about what to look for in the biz that  maybe a FAQ is needed. For example in CA casting people are allowed to charge registration fees. In NYC they are not. In NYC agents can not charge any up-front fees except for legit expenses such as putting you on headsheet/book. BUT they are not allowed to make a profit on this; only to recoups expenses. Anyhow, Ed Hooks I think is the mnst knowledgable person here, perhaps we can prvail on him to put a FAQ together and post it once a week. Ray Normandeau, Rita Frazier (Normandeau); NYC actors. Our pictures and resumes at http://www.buzznyc.com   Posted using Reference.COM                  http://WWW.Reference.COM   FREE Usenet and Mailing list archive, directory and clipping service

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I too would think SAG rules apply in NY and LA.  And I still think that even if it were allowed, no good agent in NY would charge people they believe in to get in some kind of book, when the reality is that most casting is not done using a book of any kind…let alone one that is specific to that agency. Caryn – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – There are so many people who come here who need to be informed  as quickly as possible about what to look for in the biz that  maybe a FAQ is needed. For example in CA casting people are allowed to charge registration fees. In NYC they are not. In NYC agents can not charge any up-front fees except for legit expenses such as putting you on headsheet/book. BUT they are not allowed to make a profit on this; only to recoups expenses. Anyhow, Ed Hooks I think is the mnst knowledgable person here, perhaps we can prvail on him to put a FAQ together and post it once a week.

Response:

There are so many people who come here who need to be informed  as quickly as possible about what to look for in the biz that  maybe a FAQ is needed. For example in CA casting people are allowed to charge registration fees. In NYC they are not. In NYC agents can not charge any up-front fees except for legit expenses such as putting you on headsheet/book. BUT they are not allowed to make a profit on this; only to recoups expenses. Anyhow, Ed Hooks I think is the mnst knowledgable person here, perhaps we can prvail on him to put a FAQ together and post it once a week. Ray Normandeau, Rita Frazier (Normandeau); NYC actors. Our pictures and resumes at http://www.buzznyc.com

Maybe I’m not so knowledgable after all, Ray.  I did not know, for example, those things you say about the differences between NYC and LA. I presumed regs governing SAG franchised talent agents were the same everywhere. And as far as I know, it is against the franchise regs for agents to chage actors fees beyond commissions.  Regarding the charge for head shot books, CD-ROM compilations etc, my understanding is that the actor/client can reasonbably be requested to provide the raw material (a v/o demo excerpt, the head shot, etc), but the cost of compiling it all should be absorbed by the talent agent. As for the posting of a FAQ here, there are probably several of us who could do such a thing.  Bill is also very knowledgable, just to name one. How do we do it?  Just post a FAQ, with that as the subject?  Is there something special to be done user-group-wise? Ed Hooks

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