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There are really two kinds of fame: 1) people who are famous for honing their abilities and talents and 2) those people who are famous for their “personalities.” These are 10 steps to help you achieve the first kind of fame.
Take lessons, classes, perform at open mic nights, talent shows, school events, community theater, etc. Know the history, the greats, see every production you can. Remember it takes about 10 years to master a skill and as the adage goes, you do not want to jump into the water with sharks if you can’t swim. If you start trying to do things beyond your skill level, you are setting yourself up for failure or to be taken advantage of. Always keep learning new aspects to your craft. Professional performers practice and rehearse 6-8 hours a day. You must love your craft enough to spend every free moment with it, and you may have to give up other activities to be truly great. I do not always have fun practicing, but I love performing and I am dedicated to it. Music, dancing, acting are muscles that you have to work out daily. I set daily practice sessions with a timer and make myself practice whether I feel like it or not. Sometimes it is only 10 minutes, sometimes it is hours, but I practice every day. In another post I will discuss what to look for in a good teacher, a good class, or a good school.
This could be a teacher, coach, manager, anyone who has done what you want to do and can help you avoid common mistakes and pitfalls. Sometimes this person will magically fall into your life, but more than likely you will have to go find them. Again, more on the details of finding a good mentor in a later post.
Before paying a lot of money for any class, photos, demo CD, or any product, do research online and see what other people say about it. If it is a scam you will know. Remember managers and agents take max 15% of what you make on a gig they book you. You should never pay them up front. Backstage.com is a good place to start for all kinds of informative articles and audition listings for newbies. There are also a ton of books on various topics teaching how to do it yourself. I like the “Dummies”series of how-to books, they get right to the point.
Each performer is on a different journey as an artist, by comparing yourself to others you will only damage yourself and your process. Learn from your mistakes so you do not repeat the same ones over and over, and keep learning your craft. Use other performers as inspiration, not a measuring stick.
Being aware of how others perceive you will help you. This is LA after all and a media driven era, if you are a small petite blonde woman and trying to record gangsta thug music you may not get far. Mangers and agents want to represent total packages. Casting/Booking Agents want to cast a package. Do you have to look like a model? No. But don’t go to auditions for models and then be disappointed when you don’t make it. Be honest with yourself about your looks and your talent level. Audition and perform in things that are appropriate for your level. You will get better, and one day be able to create and choose bigger and better projects. An acting teacher I had once said, embrace the things about yourself you hate (crooked teeth, cellulite) and use them as an asset instead of a drawback. Also character actors have long successful careers, while pretty people generally lose work as their looks fade. On the converse, if there is something that you hate about yourself (crooked teeth, cellulite), then you may need to start working out and get braces. It is your decision, not something you have to live with. You chose how you look and what you wear. Moreover, you do not always have to play to your type, there are petite blondes creating gangsta rap successfully. When you are aware of how you are perceived, then you can use it to your advantage to reach your goals.
In LA a successful booking rate is 1 out of 10 auditions. As a performer you will be rejected all the time. You have to learn not to take it personally. Usually it has 40% to do with things you can control and 60% to do with a million other things you cannot control. As a person who regularly sits on the other side of the table at auditions, I cannot tell you the number of times we cannot cast the most talented performer there because they are too tall, short, young, old to play against other cast members, the wrong size for the costumes that were already built, or have a crazy stage mother or reputation that production staff does not want to have to deal with. Also I have been cut from an audition, only to get a call from the same people a few years later who booked me for a job. Just because you are not selected this time, doesn’t mean they won’t remember you in the future. When in doubt, go back to working on your craft.
The world will tell you money equals success and fame, but I have found this not to be true. To me success is completing a goal, fulfilling a dream, and making the world a better place. You have to decide as a performer how you will measure success. Will it be the number of performances you do, the art you create, or the lives you touch? That is for you to decide. Also remember there is no age limit on success. You are never too old or too young to start. You and you alone decide your destiny. Heed naysayers warnings, but don’t let them stop you.
This has helped me stay on track and achieve my goals more than anything else. I heard a great story about Michael Jackson setting goals. When he was recording “Thriller” he would write with a dry erase marker on his mirror every morning, “I will record the #1 album of all time.” It was no accident that he did. According to “Life Medicine, Wisdom for Extraordinary Living” by Nancy Spence, Ph.D., you should write down monthly, yearly, and 10 year goals in each of the following categories and refer to them often:
a) Personal Life (Health, Hobbies, Love Life)
b) Emotional Growth (Controlling and dealing healthfully with your temper, anger, sadness, etc.)
c) Professional/Educational (Schooling, Lessons, etc.)
d) Social/Public Service (Travel, Volunteer Work, etc.)
e) Spiritual (Dealing with death, God, your purpose for being here at this time and place)
f) Financial/Material (How you deal with money)
Yes, you need to think about all these categories to achieve your goals. They will help keep you balanced and happy. What use is all the money and fame in the world, if you have no family or friends to share it with? You may not meet all your goals on time or they may change. That is okay, but you must have goals! “Don’t waste your time or time will waste you.”
I have heard story after story of people making it big, winning the lottery, and ending up in double the amount of debt. Learn how to budget, invest, save, and spend. You will have seasons of plenty and seasons of want, and you will not be successful forever. When the money comes rolling in, make sure you put some away for a rainy day. Read all of your contracts. If you don’t understand them find a lawyer to help you. Never sign anything you don’t fully understand. Treat people fairly and kindly. There are a million stories of that lowly assistant you were rude to becoming the big boss. Make it a rule to NOT gossip, ever. The performer’s world is small and it will come back to hurt you. On the flip side, if you are great to work with, word gets around fast and everyone will want to hire you. Your reputation is your talent AND your attitude and work ethic.
Put your art out there. Get videos of your band or your acting on YouTube. Start a Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, Linked In account for your art, not for your personal stuff. Promote your performances to your fans. Post pictures, audio, whatever you have. If Justin Bieber can be discovered on YouTube, why not you?
Top Billing Ent. was my second home during grade school. It provided me a safe space to explore my art, and hone my love for singing, acting and writing my own songs. Ms. K has been there for me since I was 5 years old and continues to support me in everything I do. I am the person and artist that I am today because of the many supportive and inspiring art educators who uplifted me at a young age – that’s Ms. K and the teachers at TBE. Thank you for teaching me and most of all, believing in me.
When my daughter Sam turned 5, I knew the pretend plays of being a singer or an actor at preschool and at home were getting to another level of love for the performing arts. She’s shown passion and ambition even at a young age and I felt the need to nurture that. I looked for a performing arts after-school program in Glendora and couldn’t find one that suited our needs (various performing arts disciplines, weekday and weekend schedules, not far from home, great teachers, friendly and safe atmosphere) until Ms. K hosted a Glendora’s Got Talent and announced that she was opening a school in our city! Ms. K became Sam’s first official voice teacher. She not only taught her how to hone her skills, she also helped her develop self confidence and love of performing. Top Billing Ent. created a place where one can explore different forms of performing arts- dancing, acting, playing an instrument, singing, performing with an ensemble, etc. There were no limits. Not only is TBE a creative haven, it was a safe space to be your authentic self with people who are inclusive and respectful. My daughter made lasting friendships in the 9 years of being under Ms.K and being part of the early summer productions and holiday shows. It nurtured my daughter’s love for the art, and inspired her as she went on to attend the California School Of The Arts in middle school and high school and now scheduled to attend NYU Tisch School Of The Arts after graduation. Sam is also fortunate to be one of the cast of the hit Netflix show “That 90’s Show”….And all of this started with a 5 year old dressed in a Dorothy costume, looking starry eyed at Ms.K. She has been a chasing dreams ever since.
I could not be happier with my experience at Top Billing. I signed my 5 year old son up for their musical theater productions, Beauty and the Beast Jr. and Seussical Jr. Not only is he having a ton of fun, being creative, making friends, and learning about performing arts, the teachers and the owner/producer Ms. K, have a genuine and deep care for the kids and get to know them and really see them for who they are. Also, Ms. K. works very hard to keep the environment healthy and bully free for everyone involved which I really admire. They put the children’s comfort and individuality first and the beautiful productions and well attended performances are a testament the magic they are able to inspire in these young performers. My son always looks forward to rehearsal and being in the shows and always asks to be in the next one! As a parent, I have volunteered many hours to help make props, costumes, and set pieces for the productions as well as helping out backstage during the shows and it has been so rewarding and a fun way to make new friends, too. It truly is an incredibly welcoming family feeling and takes so many caring hands to create these broadway level children’s theater productions. We’ll for sure be signing up for more classes and performances and highly recommend anyone looking for a fun and kid-centered performing arts experience, look no further than Top Billing!
We have been with Top Billing for 12 years. My daughter has taken dance lessons, vocal lessons and has performed in 19 productions with Top Billing. This company is truly one of a kind! My daughter has made lifelong memories and friendships. She has grown as a person and as a performer. She is using all that she has learned to move onto the next level. She made it into a top theater school with the talents she has gained with Top Billing. We could not recommend this company more!
My daughter has truly enjoyed every minute that she has performed with Top Billing. We’ve mainly participated in the musicals, but they have been such a fun and rewarding experience for both of us. Ms. K, Ms. Eileen and the staff put %110 into their work, and create a fun, safe and supportive community for all involved. The parents are also very nice and supportive, and while it’s a lot of hard work for parents, staff and kids to put a show on, it’s totally worth it when your child is on stage and performing his/ her heart out! We’re so thankful to have found Top Billing and highly recommend them!
Top Billing is one of our favorite places. Forget the fact that my daughter gets to have fun and get moving, she is also improving her coordination/ strength/ and Flexibility, but more importantly, she also has made some great friends. TBE gives opportunities for kids to practice leadership skills in a supportive setting. They teach kids how to support and lift each other up and be a genuine friend and good person.
Top Billing Entertainment Performance Academy has been our second family for over a decade, nurturing our children’s talents in acting, dance, and singing while fostering lasting friendships. Their commitment to excellence in productions and the supportive community they’ve created make it the perfect place for young performers to grow and thrive..
We’ve been involved with TBE since my daughter was 5. As an only child, she’s found a family of sisters and brothers at TBE along with lots extended family and awesome role models in the teachers and other parents. TBE has become a part of our family. We love all the options available, she loves Dance Team, Musical Theater Class and performances, Private Lessons, and the majority of the other classes. She’d take everything… if only there were enough hours in the day!
As a parent and career educator, it has always been important to me to find spaces where my children can explore their giftings and develop into well-rounded individuals who are confident in what they have to offer the world. We found that place in Top Billing. Ms. K and her staff work tirelessly to foster a creative space where students are safe to show up as their authentic selves and be welcomed unconditionally.
Over the last 4 years, my children have participated in group classes, musicals, a full length film, summer camps, and the dance team. I love that when they are at Top Billing, they are being invested in by caring adults and are growing in the crafts that bring them joy. I also love that my younger children have the benefit of watching and building relationships with the older students who are so much farther along in their creative journeys. It is so refreshing to see students from all walks of life creating and investing in a community. We have found a home at Top Billing and we couldn’t be more grateful to be a part of it.
My son has been taking voice lessons and performing in the musical theater shows at Top Billing for 5 years now. The teachers and staff are so supportive and talented. We are proud to be part of the Top Billing family.
As a non-profit 501(c)3 our staff, board members, and performers are all owners of Top Billing Entertainment Performance Academy.
As a non-profit 501(c)3 our staff, board members, and performers are all owners of Top Billing Entertainment Performance Academy.
