strutblog

Should you lie about your age?

Thu, 10 Sep 2009 21:36:15 +0100

I recently received the following question from one of our followers:

"One thing I have been very curious about is more than a few people have told me I should lie on my profile about my age, say that Im 2 or 3 years younger than I am.

Then once I get a call, tell them the truth.

This directly conflicts with my sense of right and wrong but I have been told, “everyone does it” especially if they are over 25 (Im 27) Is this true?

I tried to research it and I found out that a lot of people say conflicting things, Tyra Banks says you should lie… go figure."

This is a great question especially for those of us modeling in our upper 20s and above. It's important to note that there is work to be had for every age group, but if you are trying to market yourself for a job out of your age range here is my answer.

"I have gone both ways. To be honest it hasn't really effected my results. In the case of online profiles if people search a specific age range it could make a difference, but I think most people on the web understand there will be a certain amount of fudging on most profiles such as over photo-shopping, fudging measurements, amount of experience and so on. I understand not wanting to be dishonest and as a casting director for legitimate work that pays, I can tell you that people lying about what they look like makes me really angry and I'm less likely to use them again. In most cases I book off of the persons overall look, not their age. Age doesn't really matter, perceived age does. I would say that honesty is the best policy. You wouldn't want to work for someone with a prejudice against your age anyways. Tyra may suggest it for high fashion runway since most of those girls only work between 16 and maybe 21. But in our market, I don't think its necessary."

Hope that helps some of you out there:)

xoxo

Lady West

P.S. If you are looking for a non-surgical way of taking off a few years you might want to try one of my new favorite toys. The Clarisonic.

This little rotating brush does wonders for removing dead skin cells, and super cleaning your face leaving it glowing and squeaky clean. Think of it like a sonic toothbrush, but for your face. Amazing! You can find them in several places. I got mine at www.totalbodyaesthetics.com . Believe me, it is worth the investment.

Demo-Reel, a must have in any actors tool kit!

Wed, 09 Sep 2009 01:34:03 +0100

This Blog is for those of you who also act. If you haven't breached the world of acting yet, maybe its time you tried.

If you follow my blog then by now you will know that I am a huge promoter of marketing yourself!
As and actor you need several tools to market yourself. A stellar resume, great headshots, a website, business cards, and a demo reel!

A demo reel is the live version of your resume. An edited summary of all your best work put together in a small segment for clients to enjoy and see 1. Your look 2. Your skills 3. Your diversity/specialty .

I am constantly updating my resume, website , and pictures. 1. Because its necessary to stay on the forefront of your industry. 2. Because I can. I have built up my skill level so that I am capable to work on my own website eliminating the wait time of someone else doing it. Likewise I am a photographer, and so is my husband, therefore I can manage to get new pictures almost immediately. Up til now I have relied upon other professionals to edit my demo and I've been so grateful to them. John with October Sky Media did my last one and it was outstanding! Thanks John:)

One thing I've realized though, is outside of the challenge of getting your hands on your material, is the challenge of keeping your Demo up to date and we as professionals don't always have the time, or money to consult with an editor to produce our material. If you are like me and want to take a front seat to the Brand you are displaying, then you will also want to have creative control of your Demo. That is why I decided to dig into my MAC's store of awesome software and pull out IMovie to produce my own Demo. It was a bit of a learning curve but not impossible to figure out. I completed my new demo, and although it may be a bit long, I'm really proud at how it turned out. And best of all, now when I have new material, I have simply to go into the software and cut in the new material instantly!

Now if you aren't super computer savvy, don't let this be an excuse for you to not get yours completed. Like I said, there are many professionals out there who do a stand up job and they are waiting and ready for your business. So get to it!

Here is a link to my demo page. At the top left you will see my new reel. Or you can view it on the home page under my headshot and bio:)

xoxo

Amy West
www.theamywest.com

A 2009 Must. Every Talent Should Have a Website!

Thu, 20 Aug 2009 18:02:32 +0100

Technology can be a bittersweet innovation. It allows us all to stay connected with our social networks, and creates a platform for you to become your own PR agent. Let's face it, even if you have an agent, or multiple agents, its no excuse why you shouldn't take every opportunity you can to toot your own horn. If your ultimate goal is to be a household name and a major success, then you need a website. Actually, you MUST have a website. In fact, many agents are now requiring their talent to have their own personal website or at least a homepage with current pictures, and resume's (if you are an actor). And I'm not talking about a myspace, facebook, or model network profile. You need a legitimate .com website.

Question: What happens when you type your name into google?

If your name isn't coming up on the first page, then you have a problem.

Question: What happens when you type in "Your City" Model, or "Your City" Actor into google?

If your name isn't coming up on the first page, you are loosing business.

I just got on this band wagon this year, check out www.theamywest.com, but its already done a world of good in establishing my reputation in my community and state. People have access to an interactive medium where they can see my resume, click on links that go straight to the work referred to in my resume, and see my newest pictures. I also have a blog where I talk about all my recent work. This shows I'm working the business and staying busy. Creating more demand for my product, "Me"!

How does the Tech-challenged individual start their own website? Its easier than you'd think! There are many options out there for free website templates. My favorite right now is Yola.com .

1. Your first step is to buy your domain name. There are many hosting companies, but generally my search ends at GoDaddy.com . Its pretty simple, go to their website and search the name you want. If they have it, you create a profile and purchase it. You can buy a domain name for as little as $10 a year. That's not so bad!

2. Go to Yola.com and create a log in. From there you can choose from several different templates to create a custom look just for you. Customizing your look is all a part of creating your brand.

3. Yola is an incredibly user friendly website. If you need help they have all sorts of material to help you along. And don't worry, if you get stuck on anything, just Google it! After you design your site you will need to publish your site. In order to do that you will will need to make sure your domain points to the yola web template. There are instructions on how to do that, or like I said before, just Google it!

And that is it! You have a website! Take baby steps and remember you have to work on it daily to make it a site worth interacting with.

Later we'll touch on the importance of linking up your blog and keywording your pages. But lets not get ahead of ourselves. Start with the basics and we'll work from there. You could have a website in less than 30 minutes! Get to it!

In the meantime, here are more websites you can check out!
Miss T's site!
www.thetarathomas.com

Our good friend, Model/Designer Lauren Alyson
www.laurenalyson.com

My friend and actress Amanda Ayres
www.amandaayres.com

My friend and actress Julianna Milton
www.juliannamilton.com

Enjoy the feeling of sweet victory as you start marketing yourself and booking more jobs! You work for yourself, remember that. This is your chance to shine, and who knows you better than you! Don't get left behind! Get a website now!

xoxox

Lady West

Welcome to 2009! Maternity is In!

Sun, 02 Aug 2009 14:58:55 +0100

For those of you who haven't heard yet, I am expecting! I'm in week 10 of my first trimester and things are going great:) I'm over the morning sickness, it was quite brief for me thank God. Like many women in entertainment, I had a few concerns about how my new condition was going to effect my future work in the industry. I was encouraged by many women that I know, not to let it effect my decision to have a child. In the long run, family is my ultimate priority so it wasn't a huge obstacle to overcome, but I did question, what will happen?

Well, I have to say I'm pleasantly surprised that it is not an issue:) I had several hosting jobs on the line that I've been waiting to film, and since announcing my pregnancy, none of them have given me the boot. In fact filming on Picture This has taken off, I filmed with PBS for a new pledge break this week, and got a confirmation from Poly Hi FI that they still want to use me. I also have been in talks with a new Soap Opera Pilot being filmed in Jax soon and they don't see it as an issue either. Wow, maternity is in people!

Of course, I know I'm not showing yet, but they don't seem to think it will be an issue. This is encouraging to me, and hopefully for any of you ladies out here questioning your decision to start a family in the near future, you will see it as a sign that there is no reason to be concerned. Nothing really matters more that family anyways, but there is still life, and career ops available even in the entertainment industry when you do decide to have a family. Shame on me for being close minded and thinking it would be a set back. It proves that the only limitations we have, are the ones we set on ourselves.

PS, did you know that super model Giselle is preggers? How bout them apples?

Beware of False Advertising! Photoshop... our bittersweet best friend

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 03:21:49 +0100

As I've progressed gradually into the world of casting I have noted something very specific, and very frustrating. Over Photo-shopping. Now I am not casting blame. I'm just throwing out a warning to all of you out there. There is nothing quite so frustrating as trying to cast someone and

A. They show up looking 10 years older than their pictures. or

B. I can tell that their photographer was either lazy, or a poor editor and all their pictures make their faces look plastic.

C. Worst of all. I know the photographers work, and recognize that the talent them self, touched up their own photos turning the image into a sloppy unprofessional image.

Heed this word of warning. If I can tell someones face is photoshopped into oblivion, I'm not going to even give you a 2nd look. You may like that you get 10 years off your face, but no one wants to hire someone they aren't going to get. There are plenty of jobs out there for all ages. And if you have problematic skin, then invest in good skin care, drink your water, and see a specialist. It will get you much further than turning yourself into plastic.

This may sound hypocritical coming from someone who has experienced the benefits of photoshop, and who is a photoshop editor, but believe me, I'm not against photoshop. I just think that there is a right and a wrong way to use it. It's like makeup. If it enhances your beauty, then its good. If its an artistic expression, then its good. But if its just masking you, and turning you into something you are not, then its not helping you.

So here are a couple action tips:

1. When looking for photographers, pay attention to their work. What kind of end product do they produce. Does the product look natural or plastic?

2. When picking out the images you will include in your portfolio/compcard/ online networking profile. Include a couple professional shots that are you in your natural state. Minimal makeup, pleasant and normal looking. I want to see what you can "bring", but I also want to be able to recognize you when you walk through my door.

3. Unless you are a pro at photoshop. Don't edit your own pictures. If you have images that your photographer gave you but didn't edit, make the investment and hire a professional. You wont regret it.

The importance of Marketing yourself

Mon, 15 Jun 2009 14:51:07 +0100

Even if you have an agent, and especially if you don't, its very important to be your own marketing pro! This means, having a website (i.e. www.theamywest.com or www.thetarathomas.com ), a facebook, and or a myspace account, blogging, twittering (i.e. theamywest, and strut365), etc, etc.... And the obvious portfolio, headshots, comp cards, and now everyone also carries a business cards in addition to their comp cards.

Recently Miss T shared her new comp card on her personal blog Strut365. Today I was working on my new business card and thought I'd share. Overnight prints are a great place to get them printed. I like that they offer free UV coating which helps them last longer and stand out as better quality. And their prices can't be beat. I chose to design my own, but you can also use preset templates. Photoscan is also a great place to print business cards, headshots, and compcards and both Miss T and I use their services.

Front

Back

The point is to stay in the forefront of your clients minds. You want them to think of you as their go to person, or at least to keep you in mind for that specific role they need just the right person for. And if you are keeping everyone up to date, they will know you are a real professional, working everyday towards working your career, and improving your talent.

So get to it! You are your own boss, and you are in charge of your dreams.

Party like a Strutter!

xoxox

Lady West

the modeling world is quite small!

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 12:59:26 +0100

Goodmorning Strutters!! I hope you all are ready for a FAB weekend! I am in Orlando for the next few days, working as a runway model for Pureology. I went to the casting yesterday and could not believe the number of gorgeous women there. As I scanned the crowd, I recognized many faces. Unbelieveable! I saw models from Tampa, Orlando, Miami....faces that I didn't realize I'd ever see again.

If this experience has taught me anything, it's to be kind and remember names when you can. In a group of hundreds of women, it's nice to see someone you know and shout their name out. I am super lucky to be working with an awesome model that I met at the Home Shopping Network months ago.

I will keep you posted on my experience!

Follow us on Twitter!

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 02:46:06 +0100

Now you can follow Miss T and Lady West on Twitter!

Look for Miss T at http://twitter.com/strut365

And Lady West at http://twitter.com/theamywest

And keep on Struttin yo stuff! And don't forget to spead the word!

www.strutblog.com

Busted! The Myth of being Discovered

Thu, 28 May 2009 02:08:03 +0100

I was recently asked a question about modeling from a young friend of mine interested in getting more involved in the modeling world. She asked me where she should go to get discovered. I think this is a great question. One that deserved a blog. You see, we are fed this ideal that in order to make it big, you must "Get Discovered". That one day you can be out pumping your gas and then someone will "discover" you and then next day, BOOM! You are Tyra Banks! Well.... it doesn't exactly always work like that. And in fact many times those girls who got "discovered" had actually been working for years before in the industry and finally their hard work paid off in a momentary "discovery" by someone in their general sphere of influence.

Here was my answer to my friend:

I watched that movie recently "He's just not that into you." Great quote from it. "You think you're the exception when in fact. You're the rule." Getting discovered is the exception, working hard and climbing your way up is the rule. Where do you get discovered? Well, anywhere. If you happen to be in the right time at the right place it could be anywhere. At the grocery store, the movies, shopping. And then there is the random reality tv show that someone wins. But chances are that winner had been working hard at getting discovered for some time. So my advice is this. If you wanna be discovered, just get "out there" and cross your fingers. But if you are serious about doing something you like, then you are gonna have to take matters into your own hands. Build yourself a porfolio that knocks your sox off, and start submitting and going to see agencies. That is the only way to get real work in the modeling world.
Happy Strutting and remember. You can take action now and start working your way towards your dreams!
Muah! xoxo Lady West

Dealing with Rejection- Get used to it!

Wed, 06 May 2009 00:29:35 +0100

Irony. One definition I read explained it as "an outcome of events contrary to what was, or might have been, expected."

I was a shy child. Terrified of rejection. All I wanted was to make sure everyone around me was happy, and think that I was the perfect child. That is why its very ironic to me that I chose to enter into a career where I face lots of rejection. By now you have probably recognized that in this industry you are going to have to get used to hearing "no", "you aren't the right fit", or maybe just never hearing anything at all.

Some of you will have the ability to brush off the brush offs with a simple shake of your head and wake up the next morning fresh as a daisy full of ambition.

For the rest of you, here are some tips on how to deal.

It's not personal! In this industry they already have in their minds what they are looking for before you even come in. So try as hard as you may, when you walk in, they will know in about 10 seconds whether or not you fit the look they are going for. Believe me, they want you to fit the role, but if you don't fit the "look" its just business. There is always next time!
One thing you can do to increase your "fit" is to work on your signature style. Who are you? What is your "look".
Always keep a positive attitude. It helps nothing to dwell on a loss, however big or small. But keeping a positive outlook will remind you to keep a look out for the other opportunities out there.
Remember that the industry goes through seasons. Sometimes your look will be "in" sometimes it will be "out". Use the down times to work on your career. Update your portfolio. Network like crazy. Visit new agencies. Remember if you are a positive person. People will recognize that and want to work with you in the future.

So get used to it, rejection will be a daily part of what we deal with in the industry. Keep your head up and focus on what lay ahead. You never know who will call tomorrow. For example. One day I was about my daily business getting ready for work when I got a last minute call. I was wanted for a cover shoot. Someone couldn't make it to the shoot, so I was called as a last minute replacement. What you see below was the result of staying positive, networking, and making myself available.

So remember the irony. Even a girl afraid of rejection, can work in an industry full of it. And it only makes the victory that much sweeter.

xoxo

Lady West