SUCCESS:
It has been said that the majority of success, around 80 or 90 percent is mental, that is, the belief in success, and the other 10 or 20 percent is mechanical, the actual work. This is completely true. If you believe overall in your failure, yet work hard and do everything else right, you may have occasional successes, yet they may not last. And in Hollywood, when most actors, models or bands go through repeated phases of unemployment, as when a film or job is over, they are technically unemployed, you do not want to believe that you will not make it again, or you generally will not.
In order to be a lasting, repeated success, over and over again, in any area of life, especially in the entertainment industry, you must know beyond all doubt that you will succeed. Those with more confidence, and less ability, win more in this business than those with greater skill, and less confidence, simply because people want to be around winners. Confidence is contagious. Know you will succeed, and you will draw success to you. This is the hardest part of ‘making it,’ whatever ‘it’ is to you.
A part of the solution to acquire this internal success mindset, is to surround yourself only with those who want you to make it, and eliminate any pessimists or naysayers from your social circle. This advice may sound brutal, but it is key to your mental health, and ultimate success.
This does not mean that you accept only “yes men” around you, and accept no constructive criticism. But remember again, 80 percent or more of the outcome of success is mental. It is difficult enough to keep yourself in a winning frame of mind daily, after repeated rejection which is existent in our industry. Why add to your difficulty by allowing toxic people and their poisonous attitudes in to your life and mind?
BOOKINGS:
An artist, musician, actor, model should have a great agent or manager to handle their business, or they will run a high risk of getting stiffed. That agent or manager should have years of experience in the industry, and be tough when necessary. They should also have a great legal team if you need it.
If you are an artist, set to perform somewhere, be sure that you have a contract in writing specifying the terms of conditions of your employment. If you are musician, your agent or manager should get at least 25 percent to 50 percent of your fee paid to you in advance. If you do not get this in advance, do not perform. Many have little respect for those in the entertainment industry, thinking that they can get away with not paying them, and thinking that they will not defend their rights. Don’t let that happen to you. Have a great artist rep handling your business for you. The best advice, is to stay true to yourself, your integrity, and do not associate with people that you know are trouble to begin with.
www.StarpowerManagementLLC.com
(c) 2009, The Hollywood Sentinel.
