All Time Threads=Levi's 501s

[Demian]

All fads fade...just not az well as a good pair of 501s

 

[Dixon Carter Lee]

Hey -- remember those old Levis 501 Blues commercials?

I was in one of them. Woo-hoo.

 

[Demian]

Yeh?

That's even better than being in the Dr. Pepper commercial...Which one were you in?

I always laugh along with my friends when looking at pictures of themselves in the 60's, 70's, 80's, and 90's because they wore the funny hairstyles and clothes of the times and look ridiculous...you'll always find me wearing 501's in pictures, and I've grown to love my Ray Ban Wayfarers, too

 

[Dixon Carter Lee]

I was in "one of them", let's just say that. LOL

And I wore my own jeans in the spot. I wore 501s all the time back then.

It was a funny shoot. It was my first commercial, and this enormous crew was camped on a NY street to film just me doing my thing, and this huge crowd gathered to watch -- and for the first and only time in my life I got neverous while performing.

The director kept telling me that I was "too good" and that I should act more natural. Finally, after about 10 takes he told me to relax and practice.

Once the pressure was off I started doing my little acting bit, no longer worried about the crowd watching me.

After 15 minutes the director yells "Cut! We got it!" The son of bitch was filming while I was "practicing". LOL He caught me off guard but good -- and I looked more natural.

I think I still have the 501s buried in a closet somewhere. Those damn things last.

 

[Demian]

How do you do that?

Do you just go out and get an agent? Take a bunch of Photos? I can't figure out why they keep shoving that little curly haired Pepsi girl down my throat...

I'm curious because I'm a musician and figure marketing will figure in sooner or later...where do I start?

 

[Dixon Carter Lee]

Oh my freakin' God how much time do you have...?

If you're not in NY or LA or Chicago you really ought to be in Florida or Houston or North Carolina or Vancouver...after that there are local ad agencies and such, but not a whole lot of work.

You need a black and white 8x10 that shows you well, but absolutely looks like you (not a "made up" you.) It should show a smile, with teeth, and eyes focused about 3 feet directly behind the camera. You need one as just a head-shot, and one three quarter body. And then you need several hundred of them made up as postcards. (If money is tight you can have the photos printed as Lithographs -- this is acceptable).

Send them out to agents in your area (get a copy of The Ross Reports, available through the Sam French bookshop -- check on line -- it's a monthly report and will list agents and casting directors). Request an interview. Give the whole thing a few months to work.

If you get a call for an interview go well dressed, with a stack of 8x10s with a resume stapled on the back and your phone number everywhere. You will probably be asked to read in the agent's office. Practice reading hand held copy and cue cards so that you can still look into the camera.

If you're signed you'll start getitng sent out on auditions, but it's up to you to keep the casting directors interested in you by sending them your postcard once every month or so. You don't even have to write anything on the postcard -- the whole idea is just to keep your face on their desk, so when agents send your photo over to them they'll say "Hey! That guy looks familiar!"

If you're not SAG don't expect a whole lot of calls right away. If you book a commercial you can do it non-union, but only once. After that you'll be allowed to join the union (for something like $1500 -- I don't know how much it is these days to first join up, but it's a lot).

When you get an audition show up early, grab the copy, and go hide in the bathroom for half an hour working on it. Don't memorize it...unless you're really, really, really good at that. Rely on the cue cards.

The auditions will be on camera. Stay on your mark. The tape goes to the client. If they like you you'll get a callback a few days later. If you get put on "first refusal" that used to mean that it was down to you and two other guys (and you had to refuse all other work during the shoot days), but these days it really just means "another fucking callback with 200 other people".

As for your being a musician and wanting "marketing", I'm not sure what that means -- does tha mean you want to shoot your own commercial for your CD? That's a whole other ball of wax...

 

[Demian]

Wow

Thanks Dixon! That wuz the nuts and bolts of it if ever I've seen it...

I guess it would be somewhat the same in getting an agent for music...I heard on the radio that stations, producers, and record labels get tons of demo packs that leave NO return address!

Thanks again for so much info...I still want to see that commercial

Happy Thanksgiving

 

[Dixon Carter Lee]

If you're talking about a booking agent, I've had plenty of them, and that actually is a lot different. If you're looking to get booked into venues you need color pics as well as black and white, posters, fliers, table tents, a mailing list, a CD, a videotape, and a web site wouldn't hurt. And you should have all that BEFORE you go looking for a booking agent.

Try Omnipop in New York and LA because they not only book venues but can place their acts in commercials. Anyone who has an "act" has a few other roads they can go down. "Specialty" calls are not something most actors get, but they go to people with special talents.

If you're a musician (or, as in my case, a magician, dancer) you can get all kinds of calls, some of which don't always go through the regular agent channel. If you have a manager, or if you work a popular club that would recomment, you might get a call directly from the production company of the commercial.

Omnipop (and others) can also get you into the lucrative college venue circuit (or you can try and do it yourself, but it helps to have an agent). If you have a decent tape you (or your agent) can submit it to the National Association of Campus activites, and get chosen to appear at one of their regional or national conferences.

I gave a great 20 minute performance once at one of these conventions (attended by college student activities people) and I got University bookings for five years. It's absolutely worth it.

 

[Guest]

Wow, DCL, that's something to be proud of.

 

[Dixon Carter Lee]

LOL What is? Getting a commercial? Or knowing way too much about agents?