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 c...

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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 se...
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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 ...
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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...

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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...
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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. 
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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 w...
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When you are first getting started in this industry its like looking into a big black hole. How do you get "in". You will try anything to gain legitimacy, respect, and acceptance. Like Miss T shared in her last blog, many times your hopeful search can lead you straight to scams. That is why the surest way of working the business as a true professional is to acquire the representation of an agent. 
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Contrary to popular belief, most models are not born, they are made. When I decided I wanted to try modeling the only models I had heard about were the ones that were "discovered". You know, the Heidi Klum's of the world who were standing in line at the movie theater when some random agent swept them off their feet at the grand ole age of 13 and turned them into the supermodel of the century. No, sadly most of us don't get the royal treatment our first step onto the runway.

For most of us we w...
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I just have to tell you all how excited I am about what happened today.  I had a photoshoot for the March edition of Jacksonville Magazine.  I have wanted this day to come for what feels like an eternity.  In reality, it's been more like a couple of years,!  You never know how things are going to turn out, and this is the perfect example of a situation that turned out better than I could have imagined.  Ready for the details?

At the beginning of my modeling journey, I entered a model search fo...

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What's up Strutters! Lady West here! I am one of you, you know who you are. That lost kid sitting with your Anne of Green Gables book at the back of the school yard eating your reese cups and barbecue chips. So what is the deal with image and this industry and where does that leave all us formerly fat kids?
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Goodmorning to all of you fabulous Strutbloggers.  I am getting ready to head out this morning for a commercial shoot, and I started remembering some confusion I had early on about what category I fit into. One of my first paying jobs was for a TV commercial for a car lot.  I was going to be on TV, but what did this mean?   Am I a model, am I an actress....if I choose one, can I still be the other???  Ok, now hold on to your socks, because the conclusion that I came to might just startle you....
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