To seminar, or not to seminar, that is the question. Earlier this week we started to explore the somewhat controversial world of industry seminars, or meet & greets. You know the kind of “class” where you pay $40+ to wait for two plus hours to do a 2 page scene for an industry professional. Your experiences in these workshops have ranged from fantastic to soul sucking. We’re here to help you make the most of them from a business and artistic standpoint. By taking certain steps, we believe you can turn these into fun, even empowering experiences. Read “How To Navigate The World Of Industry Seminars; Part Two” below to learn more!

1. Choose who you meet with care. This is a big one! Don’t pick guests blindly off the seminar list, you’ll be wasting your money. I’ve heard so many actors choosing which classes to take based on what’s convenient for their work schedule alone. No, no, no! Only shell out money to meet the industry professionals that can help you in your career right now. So is meeting that big wig agent really a wise investment?

Plus, knowing your type, is meeting someone like Alyson Silverberg (who is currently casting an ABC family comedy) the right choice for you if you are a dark, brooding leading man? NO! Please be smart about your choices.

Also make sure who you are meeting is someone who is actually currently working! I wasted money in New York meeting CDs who had practically stopped working or who’s only project was one casting Canadian actors. Learn from my naive, newbie actor mistakes.

Bonus tip: If you are a newbie actor yourself, it may also be smart to choose people who are casting shows that have been around for a while. AKA, shows that have already tapped out the LA actor pool. CSI is in it’s 14th season, so they may be more open to new faces than say NBC’s new drama The Blacklist. Need help on choosing who to meet? Sign up for castingabout.com to stay up to date n who’s casting what right now!

2. Remember that these are a long term investment. So just because you audition for Michael Nicolo does not mean the following week you’ll be called in for a guest star role on “New Girl.” The less expectation you place on these classes, the more you can have fun with them. They are far from a guarantee of work, and often times don’t even lead to auditions.

But, if your representation then gets you an audition with said CD, you’ll be at such an advantage if you have already met them! You will be more relaxed auditioning, and they’ll feel more comfortable calling you in again if they see that you consistently bring your A game. Keep in mind, industry professionals often have to meet actors multiple times before calling them in!

Build long term trust and relationships, and that’s when you’ll work. Hey, I can be impatient too, but remember, this business is a marathon, not a sprint people!

3. Know when enough is enough. Getting burnt out on these classes? Take a breather. You can spot the actors who have been making the rounds with little reward from a mile away. They’re the ones huffing and puffing that the A/C isn’t on high enough and that the vending machine is out of Diet Coke. Neither you or the guest will benefit from a meeting if you’re in this state.

So know when it’s time to take a breather. Refill your artistic well with non-business related art activities. Go see a big blockbuster at The Arclight with a large popcorn, visit the LACMA museum with a friend, spend all day at the dog park. Whatever it is that fills you up! We give and give of ourselves as artists. A wise actor knows when it’s time to stop and refill!

Break legs!
Megan Manzi