What about Send Out Cards?

Okay, sleeves are up. "BUT JEN!" you ask! "WHY would I spend all this time handwriting ships and envelopes and stamping them and getting them in the mail? What about Sendoutcards.com?"

Sendoutcards.com IS a super-creative resource that IS helpful, particularly when you're tight on time!

But here's the thing--the time? The EFFORT of personally handwriting and licking and stamping? That *is* impressive. In a time where we receive junk mail cleverly disguised as greeting cards, when we get tweets from spam accounts, when there's SO MUCH out there that's already inauthentic--Sendoutcards, to me, doesn't cross over to the authentic side.

I've heard the complaint from casting that it DOES look like junk mail, so it goes directly in the trash. I'm sure that's not true for everyone, but when the goal of ships is to authentically connect and build a relationship, why wouldn't you take the time necessary to craft a super-personal piece of mail from yourself?

Just my 2 cents! ;) 

Ahoy, Mateys!

Jen

Answering YOUR Questions: What Ships Can I Send?

Here's a request from my friend Danielle Montezinos: 
"Need some new marketing ideas!"

Girl, get ready to take notes. ;)

Okay, actors! You have your list! You have your coffee! You are energized! Now are you ready to send out those mailings?! Of course you are! And what will you send?!

Oh, no. Well, that's disappointing. My friends, hold onto those precious 8x10 headshots--those are so much better sent on special occasions, or given in-person!  

Instead, be a creative artist--make OTHER compelling, entertaining and informing things to send in the mail. I promise that it won't just be effective, it'll also be fun!

Small headshot/resumes. My business coach (and probably the same stellar marketing maven for many of you, Dallas Travers) is big on a 5x7 headshot and resume. Why? It offers the same content as an 8x10, but is SO much more likely to be opened! Just order some 5x7 shots from a photo site, and make a small 'sizzle' version of your resume to staple on. Voila! Put it in some fun small envelopes and off they go!

Headshot or logo postcards. If you're sending off a quick message--'just got representation!'  'was put on hold for a commercial!'  'Moving to the other coast!'--you can totally use one of these suckers. Get over to Vistaprint and just upload a headshot, order some postcards, and you're golden! And when you get REALLY creative? Get yourself some fun logo postcards. Need help making a logo? I do that! 

Show cards/Project cards. Are you really proud of something? Want to advertise your play/episodic/commercial/film? Well, goshdarnit, send out some swanky postcards! (Need help? Again, I do that!) You can use a logo, a screenshot from the project, a behind-the-scenes picture...whatever! If it's an established episodic and you're a co-star or guest star, get creative--involve yourself in the show!

 One-Sheets. One-Sheets are like full-page ads that are a fun spin on getting to know you! Your first one can be a doozy, but when you finally get it going, it's really inspiring and affirming to make them, print them and send them off. :) Also a fantastic creative outlet! The first oh-mazing one I ever saw was Helenna Santos', and since then, there are PLENTY to browse for inspiration on Dallas' FB page. I also wrote a great post for Kate O'Phalen about making your own, but if you want to hire help--I do that, too. ;) Here's one that I made for the wonderful Suzanne Smart:

Castability Sheets. These are such simple, effective tools! Just gather a few breakdowns that were just PERFECT for you IF ONLY YOU'D BEEN CALLED IN! Shows people your flavor(s) lickety-split. :) Need help? Guess who does these? 

 Thank You Cards. Send out one of these suckers when you have overwhelming gratitude in your heart! But the rule of thumb is--keep it strictly THANKS! You can either create some through Vistaprint, buy some blank ones, or have me create custom ones for you. 

Anything that feels right! Don't feel LIMITED by this list--you don't always have to sell yourself through the mail! What about congratulatory cards on a promotion, on having a project win a Tony or Oscar, on movin to a new office? Dallas Travers calls this sending Whuffie, and it's a very important part of actually building relationships with people. So keep some blank notecards around for this purpose! 

Does this help, lady? If not, let me know so I can get in there and help you! Other readers, what do you think? What did you like best; what feels like it needs more clarification? Give me your feedback here in comments, via Twitter, or FB!

Ahoy, Mateys!
Jen

Answering YOUR Questions: One-Sheets!

(When is it your turn? When you ask me a question, silly. Get on that!)

My new friend Kate O'Phalen says:

"Your one-sheet looks totally awesome. Have been meaning to make my own, but feel a bit overwhelmed with where to start. Tips on that would be awesome!"

The one-sheet to which she is referring is this one:

Create

So Kate, how do you get from desire to product? (Well, first of all, with pulling my hair out over my first one-sheet last year---but after that, it was cake!)

Big Things to Have in Place Before You Start:
 -Your Brand. Definitely Absolutely. Your ANGLE. Don't have that yet? Here's some help. 
-Your Message--maybe it's your first guest star or off-Broadway show? Maybe a first starring role? My news on this is that I'm basically sweeping film festivals--so I keep the news about films!
 -Your Creative Bent. Is your one-sheet gonna be a sort of ad, like mine? Is it going to look like a magazine cover? Maybe it looks like a news article, or like a scrapbook or collage! Whatever your approach is, GREAT--just go forth with it in mind!
 -Your preferred software. Most of you folks will be on Macs--in that case, Pages is the shizz. If you're a PC like me, you can either create giant graphic files or use MS Publisher.

So let's assume all that IS in place. You're rock-solid about your brand, you have a clear message, and you have some creative ideas about what you want to do. Really, brand should steer you entirely. So if you're doing a magazine cover, what mag is on-brand for you? Is it Essence, or GQ, or MAD magazine? Is it Tiger Beat or Simple Living? Or maybe O! Go with fonts, colors that feel like the magazine (which, of course, means they're on-brand for you). Introduce clever article blurbs that relate to you--your jobs, your personality, your castability or interesting talents.

My dear friend Suzanne Smart is a KILLER baker, so hers is modeled after a Bon Appetit magazine index page. Marissa Kelton's simply looking for a job--so hers looks like job applications! Shamia Casiano here looks like hers should be gracing a SAG or AFTRA newsletter cover! My silly friend Natalie Kim makes hers seem like an interview in a magazine. Find even MORE examples in Dallas Travers' FB photos.

Oh, and one more big thing--don't feel like you need SO much content to do these! :) They should be really easily digestible. Just little blurbs and pictures here and there, as long as they're super on-brand and sending an authentic message. You'll know you got it right when you swell with pride just looking at them!

Does that help, Kate? Readers, what do you think? Let me know in the comments, on FB or Twitter!

And psst...if you STILL feel lost? No worries! I make killer one-sheets! Just ask! :)

Ahoy, Mateys!

Jen 

Blank Notecards: TREAT YO SELF!

Yes, I *am* all about creating really self-branded, photo-dense, customized products for you to mail out to your intended recipients! Things that just glow with YOU. :) But--as with thank-yous--there are totally occasions where it's NOT about you. Many of them! (Dallas calls this 'Whuffie.') 

What kind of occasions? Award nominations, award wins, reading an article online or in print about your recipient, congratulating them on acquiring a new project, sharing a cool resource, seeing a project that they've done...and from there, the possibilities keep multiplying! Let your imagination take hold. :)

When you have the opportinity to send some WHUFFIE someone's way, you're not only making someone's day better, you're also building on the relationship. And to give Whuffie in the most honest, transparent way possible, it's best to deliver it on cards or paper that aren't all inked up with your lovely visage. 

So....get some blank notecards! On-brand, of course. My blank notecards are just a jumble of fun, bright-colored circles. I send THOSE when someone deserves some Whuffie!

Whuff away! And to learn more about this warm-fuzzy currency, here ya go: The Whuffie Bank!

Ahoy, Mateys!

Jen

You Must Remember This; A 'Thanks' is just a 'Thanks'...

 A SIIIIIGH is just a sigh...

(Isn't it *impossible* to stop singing that song?)

Let's talk THANK YOU CARDS! You're all sending them when appropriate, right? After being called in for someone, after a great workshop, after your rep. is particularly awesome, after finishing a project...etc.

Okay. So let's review the standard thank-you message: 

"Dear So-and-So,

Thanks so much for that great _____, it was so lovely to meet you. What an excellent actor workout! Would love to come in for you again--maybe next time for [insert project here]! Hope to hear from you soon.  

Love and Snuggles, YOUR NAME."

That's good, right? Nnnnnnnope. But not because of your way-too-intimate signoff. Here's why:

WHAT ARE YOU REALLY SAYING? Are you THANKING them, or are you begging them to call you back in again? See, you can't do both.

Imagine if you got a note from a friend: 

"Heyyyyy girl! So great to have coffee with you last week. It was so nice catching up with you, and you look amazing. [Hey, we're feeling good, right? We all want to be loved and appreciated, and Friendy-friend here is doing that. YAY! Warm fuzzies!]

By the way, when you mentioned your brother's a mechanic, I just realized I needed a quick oil change--any way that you can work something out with him for me? Thanxxxxxx LOL!"

Doesn't that last part just HURT YOUR FEELINGS? (I totally just hurt my own feelings by typing it.) 

See, now you don't know if your friend was just buttering you up for a favor, or if those were 2 legitimate thoughts combined.

Why wouldn't a director or CD feel the same way? You DON'T want to dilute what I KNOW is a legitimate, heartfelt expression of gratitude by asking for a favor at the end. You can always ask for favors, but keep it Kosher--don't mix the two. And just imagine the swell of happiness that YOU bring them by just sharing your feelings!

Let's re-write that Thank-You, shall we?

"Dear So-and-So,

Thanks so much for that great ______, it was so lovely to finally meet you. I've always heard that you were a generous/creative/awesome XYZ, and it was so true. I loved your thoughtful direction/specific feedback/funky scarf, and it really made me feel comfortable in the room. Thank you again for a truly wonderful _______!

 

Love & Snuggles, YOUR NAME."

WAYYYYYYYYYYYYY better, yes?! This is how ANYONE wants to be thanked. With no strings attached. That doesn't mean you can't ask for a favor--you can! We all do, and they're not BAD. You just want to make that a seperate outreach. :)

Aahhhhhhh. Doesn't it feel great to be off the hook, never having to worry about making tactful requests in a thank-you note again?

The fundamental things apply...as tiiiiimes gooooes by....!

Ahoy, Mateys!

Jen