MUSIC: "Fast and Frightening" by L7
TIME: 1:41 PM
The merry month of June has been a really busy and full-filling month for me in the business/promoting department of my career, which is a good thing, because now that I am beginning to put myself out there in auditions and whatnot, I kind of feel I lack a sense of professionalism. In a few previous blogs, I always say that I am "trying" to hold my own at auditions with being professional, but I feel this great lack of knowledge, where I am thinking, "What the hell am I doing?"
And don't get me wrong here: I know I shouldn't be hard on myself, because I AM still learning. And - if you'll allow me to pat myself on the head here a little bit - I do think I do pretty good when I'm at auditions, but I can always do better! :) I mean, I do my work pretty good, but when it comes to being Cristina, the non-performer...what do I do? How do I act when I'm not doing my sides or trying out for the role? Am I even supposed to say anything at all when I'm not spoken to or asked to look at the camera, state my name and the role I'm trying out for? You know...those sort of things. I guess my shyness gets in the way when this happens, too, because I could either talk just fine or I'm pretty quiet.
In all honesty, though, this is the fun part about my "job" as an actor. You're supposed to keep on learning something new and being open to the advice around you. You don't always have to take it, but if it works for you, why not take it? :)
I'm actually a bit sleepy as I type this blog. I just woke up like two hours ago, because last night, I treated myself to a night out in the city! I figured I would, because all month of June, I've been helping Alan promote his Cold-Reading/Audition technique workshop yesterday (which, by the way, was REALLY awesome! SO MUCH FUN!). I thought, "Why not? Let's unwind!" I had the BEST strawberry margarita and chicken/mushroom fetticune alfredo dinner at Ruby Tuesday's that was absolutely to DIE FOR. And by 11 pm, I went to Pig-N-Whistle, where we hold the New York Actors' TweetUp, got myself a Miller Light, and started talking to this cool girl named Britney, who happened to be a concert promoter from Cleveland, Ohio who was in New York on business.
I was sitting at the bar, having my beer, listening to this band play a rock version of "Wannabe" by the Spice Girls (*haha*), and we just started to talk. I asked her for some promoting advice, because with the workshop and with myself, I could use any sort of promoting advice I can, even though I have to say, I am good at pretty good at promoting and marketing. It's just a matter of where I can do it since everyone now-a-days displays their entire lives on the social networks. Well, Britney told me about this site called ConstantContact.com, which might not benefit me, per say, but could benefit probably anyone who has a service business or production company in our industry. But aside from that, she also told me that enthusiasm helps. If you're passionate for what you're promoting, that helps a great deal! Not saying I'm passionate or I am enthusiastic about myself, in general, but my career, yes, I am!
One of the things I didn't put any real thought into was making a Facebook page. Now, don't get me wrong here, I haven't been living under a rock for the past seven years Facebook has been online or when MySpace was the big thing. I've always had a Facebook profile, but my Facebook profile is private if you're not on my friends' list....and I perfer to keep it that way, thank you very much! But the problem is, about 200 million people are on Facebook, and this doesn't include an average Joe or Jane like you'd see at the supermarket. We're talking about small businesses to big chain businesses. Casting Directors. Acting schools. Acting coaches, both alive and (believe it or not) dead. Even Sanford Meisner has a Facebook and the man has been gone for the past fourteen years.
It's amazing how many people rely on Facebook now-a-days! It almost seems like even as an actor, having a Facebook account is a MUST. The thing is, though, I don't want random people who aren't in any way related to me career-wise on my professional profile. Especially the ones who claim they are in the business, but aren't. So, my other option was the Facebook fan page. You know the fan pages where you have to hit the LIKE button to get status updates and to be able to write on their walls? Those things.
I didn't have any interest or felt I had the need to create one, because being a new actor in New York, I don't have anything to show for myself except for my headshots, a couple of self-portraits, and that's it. Also, I was thinking, "Why would any really bother? I'm nobody." But then, I told myself, "Don't make it, because you feel you have to attract people to you. Do it to promote yourself on your website!" So, once I got out the frame of mind of making it to attract admirers, I created a fan page. And here it is:
The only thing is is now I have to try and keep up with it, so having the Facebook page also helps me be more ambitious with my career. With people watching you, now, there is a little more pressure, which is fine, because a little bit of extra pressure don't hurt. But when typing out my info, I was baffled, too, because I didn't want to repeat what I put down in my personal and professional bio from my website, so I had to type a totally new desciption of myself. I'm pleased with it! I also advertise it on my profile, too, with a little THANK YOU message to everyone who has joined. The only thing I HAVE to get used to is switching the accounts from CRISTINA CHO to CRISTINA CHO - ACTOR.
I really think I'm going to like having this page! (No pun intended)!
Cristina
http://www.cristinacho.net/
TIME: 1:41 PM
The merry month of June has been a really busy and full-filling month for me in the business/promoting department of my career, which is a good thing, because now that I am beginning to put myself out there in auditions and whatnot, I kind of feel I lack a sense of professionalism. In a few previous blogs, I always say that I am "trying" to hold my own at auditions with being professional, but I feel this great lack of knowledge, where I am thinking, "What the hell am I doing?"
And don't get me wrong here: I know I shouldn't be hard on myself, because I AM still learning. And - if you'll allow me to pat myself on the head here a little bit - I do think I do pretty good when I'm at auditions, but I can always do better! :) I mean, I do my work pretty good, but when it comes to being Cristina, the non-performer...what do I do? How do I act when I'm not doing my sides or trying out for the role? Am I even supposed to say anything at all when I'm not spoken to or asked to look at the camera, state my name and the role I'm trying out for? You know...those sort of things. I guess my shyness gets in the way when this happens, too, because I could either talk just fine or I'm pretty quiet.
In all honesty, though, this is the fun part about my "job" as an actor. You're supposed to keep on learning something new and being open to the advice around you. You don't always have to take it, but if it works for you, why not take it? :)
I'm actually a bit sleepy as I type this blog. I just woke up like two hours ago, because last night, I treated myself to a night out in the city! I figured I would, because all month of June, I've been helping Alan promote his Cold-Reading/Audition technique workshop yesterday (which, by the way, was REALLY awesome! SO MUCH FUN!). I thought, "Why not? Let's unwind!" I had the BEST strawberry margarita and chicken/mushroom fetticune alfredo dinner at Ruby Tuesday's that was absolutely to DIE FOR. And by 11 pm, I went to Pig-N-Whistle, where we hold the New York Actors' TweetUp, got myself a Miller Light, and started talking to this cool girl named Britney, who happened to be a concert promoter from Cleveland, Ohio who was in New York on business.
I was sitting at the bar, having my beer, listening to this band play a rock version of "Wannabe" by the Spice Girls (*haha*), and we just started to talk. I asked her for some promoting advice, because with the workshop and with myself, I could use any sort of promoting advice I can, even though I have to say, I am good at pretty good at promoting and marketing. It's just a matter of where I can do it since everyone now-a-days displays their entire lives on the social networks. Well, Britney told me about this site called ConstantContact.com, which might not benefit me, per say, but could benefit probably anyone who has a service business or production company in our industry. But aside from that, she also told me that enthusiasm helps. If you're passionate for what you're promoting, that helps a great deal! Not saying I'm passionate or I am enthusiastic about myself, in general, but my career, yes, I am!
One of the things I didn't put any real thought into was making a Facebook page. Now, don't get me wrong here, I haven't been living under a rock for the past seven years Facebook has been online or when MySpace was the big thing. I've always had a Facebook profile, but my Facebook profile is private if you're not on my friends' list....and I perfer to keep it that way, thank you very much! But the problem is, about 200 million people are on Facebook, and this doesn't include an average Joe or Jane like you'd see at the supermarket. We're talking about small businesses to big chain businesses. Casting Directors. Acting schools. Acting coaches, both alive and (believe it or not) dead. Even Sanford Meisner has a Facebook and the man has been gone for the past fourteen years.
It's amazing how many people rely on Facebook now-a-days! It almost seems like even as an actor, having a Facebook account is a MUST. The thing is, though, I don't want random people who aren't in any way related to me career-wise on my professional profile. Especially the ones who claim they are in the business, but aren't. So, my other option was the Facebook fan page. You know the fan pages where you have to hit the LIKE button to get status updates and to be able to write on their walls? Those things.
I didn't have any interest or felt I had the need to create one, because being a new actor in New York, I don't have anything to show for myself except for my headshots, a couple of self-portraits, and that's it. Also, I was thinking, "Why would any really bother? I'm nobody." But then, I told myself, "Don't make it, because you feel you have to attract people to you. Do it to promote yourself on your website!" So, once I got out the frame of mind of making it to attract admirers, I created a fan page. And here it is:
 |
| Cristina Cho's official Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/cristinachoactor |
I'm glad I did it, too, because I feel this is a good way to promote myself! Also, I've noticed that because I am a new actor, people seem to think that's pretty cool. At networking events or when I meet new people, people become curious about me like they want to know what my goals are, what kind of roles I'm interested in playing, who or what inspires me, what kind of movies I watch, etc. So, I guess having very little to show for myself has it's perks! This seems to make people endear themselves to me and want to share their advice and career experiences with me, which is nice. But being that I've been working with my acting coach for five years, working with my business coach for two years, and got my first headshot in New York back in 2005, I really am not brand-spanking new anymore. I am "relatively new", but still, being everyone I've met in this business so far has been very welcoming, people like that about me, I think. I guess a lot of people want to see my strive and grow, especially both of my coaches. So, I guess I created my page at good timing! :)
Another plus to this: I can advertise it on my website, which I already have, because I've added a LIKE button on my intro, which just automatically takes care of it, that way when I go to my profile and I see a strange name of some random person who will either make me feel like it's no biggie or totally creep me out, I don't have to worry no more. They can just go to the Facebook page, LIKE me there, and that takes care of that. Easy as pie!
The only thing is is now I have to try and keep up with it, so having the Facebook page also helps me be more ambitious with my career. With people watching you, now, there is a little more pressure, which is fine, because a little bit of extra pressure don't hurt. But when typing out my info, I was baffled, too, because I didn't want to repeat what I put down in my personal and professional bio from my website, so I had to type a totally new desciption of myself. I'm pleased with it! I also advertise it on my profile, too, with a little THANK YOU message to everyone who has joined. The only thing I HAVE to get used to is switching the accounts from CRISTINA CHO to CRISTINA CHO - ACTOR.
I really think I'm going to like having this page! (No pun intended)!
So, my question to you is.....care to join me? Come on over! :)
Cristina
http://www.cristinacho.net/
