pedal pawn

‘Alexa’ during your audition! Washing machines, other peoples phones etc, make sure they are off! Filming from too low down or high above is irritating for the viewer and does not allow an accurate view of you and your talent.

Be sure to film in landscape, not portrait! This means your phone must be on it’s side and not straight up as you would perhaps normally use it.

We always recommend that you run your self tape past your agent first. Not all agents will agree with this, so check with them as to how they operate and if they have a preference to sending tapes on your behalf or if they prefer you to send them directly. ALWAYS send self tapes to the letter of how they have been requested. If asked to save the tape in a specific way - DO IT. There are so many variables as to why requests are specifically made and if you don’t follow them this could be the difference between being cast and not. It’s all in the detail! Before you start filming please learn your lines and rehearse. Read any instructions that you may have been sent, thoroughly. Get a friend to read in the other lines if necessary (reader).

Make sure your clothing is appropriate for the character but it isn’t necessary to be in full costume. That can be fun, but distracting. A self tape is about your skill and performance not how fantastic your outfit is. But by the same token, please do make an effort! Clean, ironed clothes and a smart appearance. Be professional always! Only use props that are essential to the performance.

Your eye line should be close to the camera as they want to see both sides of your face. If you’re using a reader, make sure they aren’t too loud and don’t over power you. It is best to position the camera on a stand or tripod of some description rather than asking the reader to hold it. The camera should remain still throughout. This also helps with audio if the reader is positioned further away than you and not close to the camera source. Don’t go too far from the camera and frame in a mid-close shot unless requested otherwise (chest to top of head). Sit or stand depending on what feels comfortable for you and the scene.

Don’t over think it! Don’t do too many takes - If you can’t get it in 3 takes, take some time out, then try again. Run it past your agent or manager after your first take to gain some input from them. It is pointless trying three takes if something you could have been told on take one absolutely needs to be changed.

Generally speaking self tapes should be labelled with your name first, then the project title and scene along with your agency name. Every request is specific to the job so please follow these instructions exactly.

Only send one take, unless told otherwise. You and your agent should decide which one this is. It is not the job of a casting team to spend hours deciding what your best work is!

When complete you or your agent can send it via www.wetransfer. com or a downloadable Vimeo private link such as Tagmin. Never upload self tapes to YouTube unless requested to do so. Be mindful that the role you are casting for hasn’t been released yet and will undoubtedly contain confidential material.

Most importantly, enjoy the experience. Even if you don’t get the role it WILL be seen by influential industry professionals!

“If you’re using a reader, make sure they aren’t too loud and don’t over power you.”

Photo by Vanilla Bear Films

we talk to young musician and business owner chris king robinson about his online success during 2020

Tell us a bit about you as a musician.

Since the age of nine, playing blues guitar has been my ultimate passion! It’s rare to find your calling in life so early on, though I was very lucky! In recent years, I have aimed to put my own little contemporary stamp on ‘Blues’, leaving out the bit about my dog dieing & my wife leaving me. Experimenting with different guitar tones has always been at the forefront of my musical journey.

pedal pawn

positive business in 2020

If you had to narrow down your musical inspirations to two people who would they be?

That would definitely have to be Stevie Ray Vaughan and Jimi Hendrix! I can still listen to those guys all day every day.

What were you doing at the point of UK lockdown and how did it impact on your life and career?

I was already in full on grind mode when UK lockdown struck. I’m thankful that the lockdown period didn’t throw too many obstacles into my life (when compared to most). My gig diary was already clear due to a shift in focus on my bands debut album and fulfilling pedal orders day & night.

What exactly is your product and how can it benefit guitarists and music worldwide?

Our pedals are UK handcrafted boxes of tone, that enhance your guitars signal into a huge glassy / fat explosion!

Where did the name Pedal Pawn come from?

The name Pedal Pawn is slightly mischievous, due to the play on words with the more risqué association of the latter word! I saw fellow guitarists

Giancarlo Duarte talking about incredible pedalboard Image by setups on Instagram while using the terminology ‘Pedal Porn’ & I then had the lightbulb moment one morning.

Has your business thrived since the onset of COVID19?

As a whole, e-commerce has completely boomed during the lockdown period and I’m thankful that our businesses infrastructure was already geared up for the online world. I’d say the true boom of e-commerce has hit about 10 years early due to coronavirus!

Do you miss playing live?

In my opinion, there is no better feeling than playing live music with your best friends and travelling the world! I certainly miss it every day.

What would you say to musicians at the moment. Any words of wisdom?

I would have to use the old business adage of ‘adapt or die’. Social media is where the attention is right now & it’s important to not sit dwelling on the current state of the live music industry.

If you could hear one guitarist using your product who would that be?

Hey John Mayer... if you’re reading this, we’ll give you a free guitar pick with your order haha.

It’s a new world for HAIR

inanch london, the multi-award-winning boutique salon located in the heart of fitzrovia, london, w1 were the first in their field to put into place a solid covid-19 prevention action plan to be executed upon reopening. the 10 point plan outlines measures to keep their staff and treasured clients safe over the coming months.

Deep cleaning the salon every day with bleach and antibacterial products including areas that are regularly touched such as door handles, toilet flushes, taps and debitcredit card machines. 1

Staggering client appointments and giving priority booking to our loyal/regular clients.

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Installation of glass partitions to separate each styling position. Image left.

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“At Inanch London, the safety and well-being of our clients and staff is our number 1 priority. Our hygiene standards have always been extremely high with a 5-star Good Salon Guide rating for “salon cleanliness and hygiene”.

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Providing Inanch London hand sanitisers at reception which both clients and staff will be required to use on arrival and throughout the day. 5

Clients will be requested to come unaccompanied to their appointments. 8

All styling positions will be disinfected after each client and all equipment used will be sterilised using our new UV Steriliser units. Providing compulsory face masks to all clients on arrival and face shields for staff whilst working.

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Clients feeling unwell or displaying symptoms of Covid-19 will be requested to re-schedule their appointments. 6

The salon will be fitted with a High-Efficiency Particulate Air Purifier which is designed to remove up to 99% of airborne pollutants, 9 bacteria and germs.

10 “In light of the Coronavirus pandemic, we wanted to The salon’s traditional cotton towels will be replaced with biodegradable disposable towels made from 100% natural viscose fibre making them extremely hygienic and sustainable. create and share a strong and concise plan to reassure all our clients that we are putting extra measures in place to keep our salon a safe and healthy environment after lockdown” comments Co-Owner & CEO, Joe Emir

a poem hummed

Once upon a time there was a quiet little village called Oakham, where people freely walked the streets, offering smiles and greetings as well as hugs along the way for those more familiar. This is where I live, with my husband, my teenage daughter and a little cat called Archie. My husband and I drive to work every day and my daughter walks or rides her bike to school, all was calm, tranquil, and complete...

words & pictures by Michelle Wilson Stimson

Then one day an evil virus ruined literally everything!

It caused arguments between people and difference of opinion,

It took our jobs, our businesses, our independence, it stole our children’s mental health as well as their education,

Babies were born without their dads there, new mums were left alone, with very little care,

We couldn’t visit a doctor, for fear of getting ill, the surgeries were closed, we couldn’t get our pills,

It put us inside, even in hot weather, it made us cry and made us lose our tether.

It made some extremely unwell, but not for all, some escaped lightly with no symptoms at all.

It stole lives from families far too soon and disallowed us to visit them in their hospital room. It caused ignorance and turned others into judgemental minions.

People could not understand someone else’s views, so friendships were ruined under a mental bruise.

No one was safe, it could even harm pets, we were literally doomed, it was such a huge threat.

The government didn’t really know what to do, they took most their advice from some people at WHO.

Our economy was screwed, and businesses went under, a recovery would take year – it was all such a blunder.

In a nutshell all I have left to say, it left us all wearing masks, washing our hands, and just staying away!

That, my friends, is how we will describe our lives in years to come. It will be a poem hummed in a rhyming tune, maybe that people will wonder if it is true or something made up.

My story about lockdown living was a little different. I didn’t get ill, or rather have not to date. I continued to work and had to manage my business and teams remotely, so I worked harder – 65 hours a week. I was worn out. Watching those on Furlough, enjoying time with family just being together and I was stuck at my desk and iMac screen for 65 hours a week was no walk in the park. The virus has not made me ill but the cortisol running through my veins and lack of ability to switch off from work does. I am lucky in work, lucky my businesses did not fall like others I have seen. My husband works in health and safety and so he too was very busy from home.

My teenage daughter was happy to be at home, she is not keen on school and happy to do her homework from her own desk. She is in year 10 so was back in school earlier than most but only part time, which also suited her well. I do worry how the virus has forced her inside, living with her phone stuck to her face all day every day for school work or to speak to friends, its going to cause future issues with our children I am sure.

My main worry being locked at home was my eldest daughter being heavily pregnant. I couldn’t see her in her final weeks, the heartache of not being able to tell her to be calm, everything will be ok… to hold her hand and hug her good luck was truly a feeling I never wish to feel again. Now I know some will say, well at least she did not get ill, my mum died, nan died, dad died, etc. And the hurt and sadness of those who lost relatives and friends must be truly horrendous for which I wish them all the love in the world, but I’m telling my story and my feelings and we all have a story, no matter how sad or happy to tell, so please don’t hate me for sharing mine.

This is my first-born child; my first grandson and I was not there. That tortures me and if I think about it – it makes me cry. I carry a new hurt inside me that will never be gone and never repair because the time has gone. I hate the virus for that.

When she went into labour, I was excited for her. She wanted to stay home for as long as possible because her partner was not allowed in the hospital with her until the very last moment, but sadly she struggled with the pain and had to go in to be checked over. The hospital took her in and made her partner wait outside. That poor guy sat in his car, in an empty hospital car park for hours waiting to hear if his childhood sweetheart was ok, if their baby boy was ok. What kind of insane torture is that for a father?

Hours later she emerged and told to go home because she was not dilating quickly enough.

This again is where the insane guilt overcame me. I should be at her home with her helping her through the pain. I could, but no, thanks to the virus, I could not.

I cried and cried for her as each hour went past knowing how much pain she was in. Eventually she had no choice but to go back to the hospital for pain relief. Again, her other half couldn’t go in with her, so he dropped her at the door thinking he would see her soon.

Hours went past and she had to endure labour pains alone, even the midwives had to leave her alone in the majority, she was alone, my baby girl, my poor little girl was in pain, alone, going through her first labour in such horrendous times, why now, why, why, why?

Surely the partner being there would make no difference at all. After all they lived together! We could not get our heads around the logic and insanity of it.

Time went past and during the early hours of the morning, the hospital called to say her partner could finally go in as she was close to giving birth. I cannot begin to tell you the relief I felt from that, just knowing he would be there to hold 57

her hand and help her through it. We got a message towards the end of that new day that a very large baby boy had been born, mum was fine, baby was fine, everything was perfect. Relief, happiness, and tears swept over me like a tsunami. The next day she was allowed to go home so no longer needed stay in hospital alone which pleased me.

The next stage was being at home, she could not go out, she could not have people to see the new arrival. I was not meant to go round to see him and her. But I was not letting a virus stop me, my little girl needed me there, she needed help and I would be more help than a health visitor.

I purposely isolated with my husband and teenager for 4 weeks so I could visit my daughter and her baby in his first days. I can only tell you how I felt and you may not understand the pain of thinking I couldn’t see my grandson in his first days. I know others have gone through the same experience as me and they may have missed out and not seen their new grandchild, but we made provision to do so. We were not ill, we had isolated and ordered food online, we worked from home, we saw no one! So, we knew we were safe. Mental health is just as big a worry in my mind for my daughter’s continued well being and to reduce any potential postnatal depression I needed to be there.

In times of war, and this virus is very much a type of war in my mind we have to be sensible, we have to learn to understand others and we have to do what is best for our families without prejudice and judging.

My visiting was right for our family. I kept my distance, but I was there to help and that meant everything to my daughter, which meant everything to me.