Artist management plan (2) by Shayna Wacker

Artist Management Plan For Jordan Williams, Aaron Branch & Samantha Fisher

By: Shayna Wacker and Jeremy Demarest 1

Table of Contents: 3……………………………………………………Executive Summary 4…………………………………………………………….Introduction 5……………………………………………...Mission/Vision Statement 5……………………………………………………..Industry Overview 6-7…………………………………………………………...Artists Bios 8-9…………………………………………………………..Key Players 10…………………………………………….....Audition/Booking Logs 11………………………………………………........Branding/Training 12……………………………………………............Headshots/Resume 13……………………………………………...Representation Strategy 14…………………………………………………….Promotions/Media 15…………………………..Partnerships w/ Other Artists/Video Reel 16…………………………………………………….....SWOT Analysis 17-19………………………………………………………………Goals 20-21…………………………………………………………...Critiques 22……………………………………………………………...Financials 23……………………………………………………………Conclusions 24………………………………………………………………Appendix

Executive Summary Over the past three months Shayna Wacker, an Arts Management major and Jeremy Demarest, a double major in the Business of Live and Performing Arts, and Comedy Writing and Performance, have been working with Aaron Branch, a stand-up comedian, Jordan Williams, an actor living in Chicago and Samantha Fisher an actress from Chicago. Shayna Wacker took on the role as the agent in this project and Jeremy, the manager. This plan is a representation of the work and research that was put into these artists over the past semester. In the beginning of this project, Jeremy and Shayna sat down with all three artists and established goals that could be implemented throughout the semester. All three artists were excited to gain more experience in certain fields of the entertainment industry and Jeremy and Shayna wanted to gain experience on the business side. We focused on development, planning and commitment. Throughout the last three months Jeremy and Shayna have accomplished: Aaron Branch • Booked his one man show, Watch Me as I Go at the Playground Theatre/Paid show • Increased social media presence to build his fan base • Updated Aaron’s resume • Filmed one of Aaron’s stand up sets to be used as promotional material Jordan Williams • Obtained one booking • Updated Jordan’s resume • Created an online portfolio on NowCasting.com • Submitted Jordan’s headshot/resume material to the Goodman Theatre and the Steppenwolf Theatre • Sent him on 11 auditions consisting of film, theatre and commercial work • Created template cover letter to be sent out to talent agencies when he’s ready Samantha Fisher • Updated Samantha’s resume • Created online portfolio on Actors Access • Created online portfolio on NowCasting • Sent her on five auditions

Introduction Shayna Wacker, a talent coordinator and Jeremy Demarest a freelance- manager chose to represent Aaron Branch, Jordan Williams and Samantha Fisher. They felt that working with more than one artist would be a great learning experience to gain an insight on what professional agents and managers take on. They wanted to experience the day-to-day activities of dealing with multiple artists and tackle any hurdles that would arise. They chose to work together to give the talent an idea of what it would be like working with both an agent and manager in their professional careers. Aaron Branch, a stand-up comedian, is a Comedy Writing and Performance major at Columbia College Chicago. Aaron has been doing stand up for the past four years and in that time he has written and produced his own one man show Watch Me as I Go which was one of the top grossing events at the Kansas City Fringe Festival in 2011. Aaron has also been a featured performer for Dave Coulier and Chris Kattan. Recently, Aaron has won the title of Top Chicago Comic at Comedysportz. Jeremy and Shayna knew of Aaron before deciding to represent him. They chose to represent him because he showed great comedic talent and incredible potential for success. Jeremy and Shayna are excited to work with Aaron to expand his career and watch him accomplish great things. Jordan Williams is an actor living in Chicago. Jordan graduated from Western Washington University in Seattle with a degree in Theatre/Acting. Jordan has booked a principal role in a Southwest Airlines Commercial, has been in over fifteen theatre productions including Romeo and Juliet and West Side Story and has been cast in about ten film productions. Jordan has completed several advanced level acting classes at the Second City in Chicago and the Acting Studio in Chicago among many others. Shayna and Jeremy received an email from Jordan after they had posted on Actors of Columbia looking for people to represent and couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t say no. Jordan showed great potential and seemed like a very serious actor, ready to take on more acting roles. Samantha Fisher is an up and coming actress from Chicago. She has done various stage performances such as; School House Rock Live!, The Boyfriend, Push Button, End Show among many others. She has started to make her way into the film world by doing short films through Columbia College Chicago and pilots. She is currently working on a television pilot based on the series Jet Set directed by Georgia Makley at DePaul University. She plans to keep auditioning for as many film and TV roles as possible and gain enough material to create her first reel. Shayna and Jeremy found Samantha on Talent Pool through Columbia College Chicago and reached out to her. She had a good look that they thought would be appealing in casting and she showed willingness to learn more from Jeremy and Shayna along the way. (See Appendix A: Artists Preliminary Questions)

Management Mission and Vision Statement Mission Statement: Our mission is to help further the careers of up and coming talent. We provide the resources and help that talent will need such as: connections to the industry, commitment throughout the entire process and a solid hand in helping obtain employment. We are here to help expand the careers of these actors/comedians into industry professionals. Vision Statement: Behind every great artist lies a great management team; we strive to be the best at furthering artists' careers.

Industry Overview The theatre scene has been thriving in Chicago for a large part of this city’s history. In earlier years the theatre scene was mainly run by the mob, but this is no longer true. Today you can leave your house here in Chicago and go to any of the 200+ theatres and see a production. That’s a number of small theatres such as the Lifeline Theatre and Gorilla Tango Theatre. It also has a number of larger theatres in the mix as well, such as The Goodman or Steppenwolf. What does this mean for actors? There is always a chance to be on the stage. Whether you are union or non-union, there is a chance for you to make it here in Chicago. There are tons of auditions going on in the city every day, for a huge number of different productions. Chicago is described as Mecca for comedians. This used to be solely describing improvisational, comedy writers, and sketch comedians, but today this also includes those who are into standup comedy. In the words of Second City owner Andrew Alexander, the standup comedy scene here in Chicago has in recent years past shown “new-life” There are many opportunities for standup comedians to make it here in Chicago. Open mics are happening all over town almost every night. Along with a huge number of comedy clubs looking for talent, such as Zanies Comedy Club, The Laugh Factory, Jokes and Notes, and much much more. The standup scene here in Chicago is thriving.

"Theatre in Chicago." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Web. 2 Apr. 2015. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theater_in_Chicago#Today>.

"Chicago Stand-up Comedy Scene: A New Boom." Tribunedigital-chicagotribune. 10 May 2012. Web. 2 Apr. 2015. <http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-05-10/entertainment/ct-ott-0511-standup-comedy20120509_1_new-comedy-clubs-zanies-stand-up-comedy/2>.

Artists Bioâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

Jordan Williams is a native to Seattle, Washington and had an interest in acting since a young age. He attended Western Washington University in Seattle and got his Bachelorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Degree in Theatre with a concentration in Acting there. Jordan acted professionally for one year there before making the move to Chicago, Illinois where he currently has lived for three years. Jordan has been in over fifteen theatre performances and has started to make a name for himself in film. He wanted to start out by taking lower profile film projects to adapt to the Chicago film scene. Jordan is also an experienced improv actor. He won the Chicago Improv League Tournament with his group #HashBrowns, been in shows at the Annoyance Theatre and teaches Improv and Theatre to children in various different classes around Chicago. Jordan was signed to an agency before, but realized he was not ready for an agent until he mastered on camera first. He feels like he will be ready to sign with someone seriously in the next few months.

Aaron Branch is a Missouri native and is now attending Columbia College Chicago as a Comedy and Writing major. Aaron is an actor, writer, producer and musician with experience and training in theatre. Aaron shows a great deal of dedication in what he does and has never held back his artistic passion. Aaron made his comedic debut at an open mic night when he was 16 years old. Six months later, he won the title of Best Comedian in Kansas City, Missouri at the Sanford and Sons Comedy Club. By the time Aaron was 17 he had written, produced and performed his one man show called The Aaron Branch Experience. The show was one of the top grossing performances at the KC Fringe Festival in 2011. Aaron recently booked his own man show Watch me as I Go at The Playground Theatre and is excited about what the future holds. 6

Samantha Fisher is fairly new to the acting world. She attends Columbia College Chicago as a Theatre major with a concentration in acting. Before coming to Columbia Samantha participated in several school and community theatre productions. This is when she learned of her passion for acting. Samantha has participated in two student films at Columbia in hopes to transition into the film scene here in Chicago. She has trained at the Second City in Chicago and has participated in the Entertainment Project in Chicago, IL along with finishing the Northern Illinois University Theatre Arts Program in 2010. Samantha has hopes to gain more experience in the industry and start building her reel. She plans to move to California after she graduates in 2017 and continue her acting career there.

Key Players Shayna Wacker started out as an actress and has been a part of the acting world since a young age. She was signed with Azalea Agency in St. Louis, Missouri for two years where she did theatre, commercial, film and industrial work. Realizing she had a passion for the business side of the entertainment industry, she decided to pursue a degree of Arts Management at Columbia College Chicago. She has student directed two plays including The Somewhat True Tale of Robin Hood and Murder Runs in the Family and has interned for Gray Talent in Chicago where she helped with scheduling auditions for talent, calling talent when they booked a role to confirm, did cold readings with talent for auditions and helped agents when needed. Shayna is currently representing Aaron Branch a standup comedian, Samantha Fisher an actress and Jordan Williams who is an actor. For management inquires contact: shayna_wacker@yahoo.com: 636399-3835

Jeremy Demarest is a comedian turned business man. He works as a talent manager who specializes in developing the careers of comedic acts. He is currently working in a Comedy Club Management Practicum at Columbia College Chicago. Every Wednesday night he and his team are turning the Haus venue into a Haus of Laughter. They book talent with larger fan bases from around Chicago so that they can fill their venue and give as much laughter as they can. He has booked acts such as Chris Redd, Tom Brady, and Katie McVay. Jeremy Demarest is a double major at Columbia College Chicago in "Comedy Writing and Performance" and "Business of Live and Performing Arts" Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s right, he's working on the funny and the funny business. This semester he is working as a manager of three acts, Jordan Williams, an actor, Samantha Fisher, an actress, and Aaron Branch, a standup comedian. If you have any management inquiries please contact Jeremy by his email, demarestjeremy@gmail.com, or by phone, 214-799-2125.

(See Appendix B: Business Cards) 8

Audition Logs/Booking Working with three different artists gave management a chance to explore many different facets in the entertainment industry and use several different resources. Both Jordan and Samantha are versed in the industry and have more experience on the theatre side, but wanted to focus on getting more experience in the film world. The goal we established at the very beginning was to send Jordan and Samantha on as many film auditions as possible and to search for auditions on a daily basis and submit for as many that applied to them. Shayna, acting as their agent did most of the researching for auditions, letting them know of projects and roles posted several times a week. It was then up to the actors to submit themselves and take initiative to go on the auditions. Jordan was committed and very willing to go on any audition management sent his way, resulting in one booking for a Columbia College Chicago Directing III film project as the principal actor. Samantha did not attend any auditions during the three-month period but was notified of six auditions for various film and commercial projects and as the semester continued, management realized Samantha was not complying with the terms we agreed upon in the beginning, resulting in the decision to halt our partnership with her. Shayna looked for smaller projects that both Jordan and Samantha could audition for, since they both were new to the film world. As the project continued, Jordan showed more interest in auditioning for Theatre as well and Shayna took this as another opportunity to send him on more auditions. Shayna encouraged Jordan to audition for both and knew he showed tremendous talent on both sides. Working with Aaron was a bit more challenging because he was focusing on Comedy. Shayna encouraged Aaron to use his former and current connections to learn about stand up opportunities and this lead to him booking his one man show which was a paid gig, Watch Me as I Go. Shayna reached out to several venues around Chicago in search of auditions for stand up slots and then notified Aaron of the opportunities. We focused on many different Chicago resources for auditions. The biggest facet we used was Actorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Access and Now Casting for film audition postings. Shayna also used Columbia College Chicago as a major resource for film auditions. Using the Columbia Actorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Facebook page and word of mouth was major in finding auditions for Jordan and Samantha. We took advantage of the student film season at Columbia College Chicago and DePaul University to find good acting opportunities. Along with that, Actors Access had the biggest role and although Jordan already had an Actors Access, Samantha did not and this was on the first things Shayna recommended she do.

(See Appendix C: Audition/Booking Log)

Branding Both Samantha and Jordan chose to act under their own names. Samantha did not wish to develop a website due to the fact she did not have a reel and both Jeremy and her agreed that was best for now. Jordan was in the process of creating a website before this project started and did not let management in too much on the details. Both Jordan and Samantha had updated headshots taken in the last year or two and did not need new headshots during this time. Due to these factors, the actors had limited branding opportunities. When management first met with Aaron they asked Aaron what he was trying to do in terms of building his brand. Aaron told management that his brand was a world; in particular, it was AaronBranchWorld. Aaron envisions the brand not just being about comedy, but that it is the brand of a lifestyle. “A lifestyle about not conforming to anyone else’s view. It’s about finding what your good at and then does it, so you can’t be ignored.” Aaron himself as a standup is a subset of his brand. It’s so much more than his comedy. Since this is what Aaron was trying to become his brand, management suggested that Aaron build this through his website and social media. At the time Aaron only posted updates about upcoming shows. In order for him to build the brand he wants management told him to begin to post more quips, pictures of everyday life, anything to do with what he loved and his hobbies. Aaron as an artist promotes this brand very well, he is excellent in his comedy, and also excellent with people and is very enthusiastic to meet and support his fans passions as well. After any show, Aaron is going around the audience, talking to the audience, building the world that is his brand.

Training All three artists had a good amount of training already under their belt. Jordan not only has a degree in theatre, but has taken several classes in the past couple of years including: vocal training, On-Camera Intensive at the Green Room Chicago, Scene Study, On-Camera Audition Intensive at the Acting Studio in Chicago, Improv classes at the iO Chicago and Annoyance Theatre in Chicago and did an acting tour with the Missoula Children’s Theatre in 2011-2012. As a team Jeremy and Shayna recommended that Jordan continue to take upper level classes at Second City and continue to be a part of the Improv League Chicago. Aaron has completed stand up classes at the Second City in Chicago, taken classes at the Whiz, and completed a Master Comedy Class. Management believes Aaron would benefit from taking more classes from Second City in Chicago to work on his craft. Samantha is receiving a degree in Theatre at Columbia College Chicago but has also taken beginning level classes at the Second City in Chicago, completed the Entertainment Project in Chicago and also completed the Northern Illinois Theatre Arts Program in 2010. Jeremy and Shayna both agree Samantha needs to continue to take acting classes. Recommendations for classes are: On-Camera 1- which is an 8 week class for $395, Audition with Monologues class which is an 8 week class for $395 and possibly taking free classes through Columbia College Chicago. Management believes Samantha needs more work before being able to land film roles. 10

Headshots All three artists came into this project with professional headshots. Jordan’s headshots were a great example of actor headshots and had various different “looks” to accommodate film or theatre. Samantha had headshots that were recently taken and were fine for the duration of the project. Shayna did recommend that Samantha get more professionally done headshots in the future because at times, you could tell a professional photographer did not take the photos. Samantha had different looks and for the time being it was good enough starting out. Aaron had headshots but were outdated, Shayna recommended he get new headshots in the upcoming months. This was not urgent since Aaron was focusing more on stand up and did not always need to have headshots on-hand. Aaron agreed with the team and plans to get new headshots taken in a few months when he can save up some money. (See appendix D: Headshots)

Resume All three actors came into the project with resumes and they all needed work. Samantha’s resume needed the most work. It was not up to industry standards and was not formatted correctly. Samantha needed to start from scratch to make a perfect acting resume. The top section with her name and information needed to be corrected- leaving out her age, the sections consisting of Theatre, Film and Training were not consistently formatted and needed to be aligned and written out better. Samantha also made an Actor's Access account to showcase her work and this was not something she previously had. Aaron’s resume included all of his artistic endeavors and was encouraged to make separate resumes for different genres, Ex: theatre has its own resume, and his comedy has its own resume. Jordan had a close to perfect resume and only was encouraged to change the margins at the top to give the resume’ a better spacing look and to take off some unnecessary things- and only leaving the MOST important things on there. He revised it and included the things he felt were the most important and what an agent would look for when reading his resume. (See Appendix E: Resume’s before) (See Appendix F: Resumes’ After) (See Appendix G: Actors Access/Nowcasting Portoflio/AaronBranchWorld.com

Representation Strategy All three artists were in different places when talking about representation. Each artist took a different approach and Jeremey and Shayna had different recommendations for all three. 11

Jordan was represented by Gray Talent in Chicago previously and decided he did not want to be represented. Jordan felt that he was not ready for an agent and had very mixed emotions about the entire thing. Shayna and Jeremey believe Jordan is ready for an agent and encouraged him to pursue one. Although Jordan was mixed, management still researched some agencies and informed Jordan of the options, making him consider it and want to submit this summer. The agencies we believed would be the best fit was Lilyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Talent Agency or Big Mouth Talent which are a little smaller than Gray Talent which he did not like before. Jordan is currently non-union but is Taft-Hartleyed and could join the Union if desired once signed with an agent. Shayna created a template cover letter that Jordan could use in the future to submit to agencies. Aaron is definitely ready for a manager and wanted one as well. Working with a comedian was something new to Shayna and Jeremy and was not easily researched. When looking for agencies, there were none that came up as representing comedians but we do know that he could get a manager no problem. He is dedicated and has the right mind set that would be very desirable to a manager. Samantha was very eager to get an agent but Jeremy and Shayna believe she is not ready for one yet. Samantha lacks experience and does not have a proper resumeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; to send in to agencies yet. We believe with more experience, training and proper materials, she could then submit to agencies that work with non-union talent.

(See Appendix H: Template Cover Letter)

Promotions Jordan and Samantha both, for now, are promoting their shows through word of mouth and their connections on Facebook. Management feels like this is an appropriate approach for promoting their shows. As actors, their job is to act and get their friends and family to see it at 12

least one time. The venue is in charge of promoting the show itself and filling the house each night. Prior to management’s assistance Aaron was promoting his shows by word of mouth and his reach on social media, through Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and his website. Once management got word that Aaron had booked his one man show, Watch Me As I go, management sat down and wrote out a plan utilizing all outlets to promote this show, and shows further down the line. Management advised him to not only pay attention to social media marketing, but also traditional marketing of flyers, gorilla marketing and ads. Management determined and then singled in on Aaron’s main demographic, male college students, through directed marketing at the many schools around the area.

(See Appendix I: Booking Confirmation)\ (See Appendix J: Audition Confirmations)

Media In the very beginning of the project, Jordan and Samantha had clear opinions on the use of social media and websites. Samantha did not want to use her social media, but did want to create a website. She did not have an Actor’s Access account and was encouraged to create one first because that was extremely important for submitting for roles and finding out about auditions. Jordan did want to create a website but was already in the process of doing so with someone unaffiliated with Columbia- he chose to keep that aspect closed off to this project. He already had an Actor’s Access account and used it frequently. Jordan also chose to use Facebook to promote upcoming productions he was in for friends and family. Management did advise Samantha not to create a website until she had a reel and that it would showcase herself better, having one. Aaron used social media platforms and his own website (that was already created) to promote himself. Aaron uses Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and has his own website AaronBranchWorld.com. Aaron did not keep up with his Facebook as much as we thought he should and advised him to keep up with it and update it more frequently. (See Appendix K: Actor’s Access Account)

Partnerships with Other Artists Jordan and Samantha did not develop any partnerships with other artists for the duration of this project. It was highly encouraged to network as much as possible and try to create

relationships with people at auditions or if booked (on set). Those connections are valuable and are extremely important to any artist. Aaron did develop partnerships with other artists throughout the semester. One partnership he made was with Shaine Freeman who started Aaronâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s podcast with him. Shaine was a crucial part to Aaronâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s artistic plans and was a stepping-stone to other people in the industry. Making this connection was amazing for Aaron and will be a relationship he can carry on long after this project is finished. He found someone with the skills and knowledge he needed to get what he wanted done- both helping each other out. Another artist Aaron worked closely with on his one-man show was K May, she helped put together the show and made Aarons vision into a reality. These relationships made were very important in Aarons success throughout the semester.

Video Reel Jordan and Samantha do not have reels just yet. Samantha does not have enough on-camera experience to build a reel but hopes she can get enough material to create one soon. Jordan, however, does have enough material for a reel but has not found the right person to create it for the right price. Shayna let him know of a few editors that were willing to edit a reel for him, but Jordan did not agree with their pricing and did not make a commitment to them. Aaron did not have a reel but did tape a stand up set that he would showcase in the future to potential venues, managers and use it for promotional material. The set is currently in postproduction and will be ready to send out in the next few months.

Swot Analysis Aaron Branch:

Strengths: Charismatic, many sets, improv, memorization, good at working an audience, versatile in other art subjects, great at making connections has a well-established social media presence and runs a show at the Playground Theatre every Thursday. Weaknesses: Being a current full time student, does not have a reel, not as well established on YouTube. Opportunities: Connections with industry professionals- well established comedians, start a comedy tour, create more traffic through social media, open for well-established comedians and produce his own show that he wrote. Threats: Other comedians Jordan Williams: Strengths: Comedy, transformative roles, honesty, handling callbacks, physical/acrobatic, promptness, well established as an actor, has connections with larger comedic theaters, has connections in LA and has a BA in Theatre. Weaknesses: Has burnt a bridge with Gray Talent Group, inexperienced behind camera, not confident, not convincing playing older roles, does not have a reel and does not have a website. Opportunities: To send him out on higher level production projects, to get an agent, produce his own show. Threats: Other actors and competition within age range. Samantha Fisher: Strengths: Versatility within theatre, film and modeling, connection to Columbia theatre department, and is experienced in modeling. Weaknesses: Being type-casted on projects, age able to play, not incredibly experienced, does not have a website, is a full time student and does not have a reel. Opportunities: Get more experience in film, modeling and theatre and expand to work outside of Columbia. Threats: Age range able to audition for and other actresses, not committed to the industry

Goals Aaron Branch

3 Months: Get a film reel of a standup set. post it to the site Increase traffic to social media sites. (2270-2500 on Facebook, 1300-1800 twitter, 775-1000 instagram) o Send Film reel to Dave Coulier. o Find a space to produce his show Watch Me As I Go o Start posting jokes on social media o Book him in 2 shows at venues around town 6 Months: o o o

Increase traffic to social media sites. (2270-2500 on Facebook, 1300-1800 twitter, 775-1000 instagram) o Start audition process for NACA o Produce the show Watch Me As I Go. o Get involved in regional college tour. o Book shows back home in Kansas City, Missouri. 1 Year: o

Open for Dave Coulier Start nation wide college tour Increase traffic to social media sites. Book more shows at the Improv, Laugh Factory and Zanies. 3 Years: o o o o

Make a move to LA Have him headline sold out shows at larger comedy clubs such Hyena Increase Social Media presence. 5 Years: o o o

o o

Well established as a comedian- full time Increase Social Media Presence

Jordan Williams: 3 Months: Get him 10-15 auditions. Audition for the Second City Conservatory. Book him for a role at a Theatre such as : Music Box Write him a bio Continue training 6 Months: o o o o o

o o o

Build a reel Get an agent Get larger roles in the city from larger production projects

1 Year: Complete the Second City Conservatory Book more professional films Book a role at the Goodman Theatre Join the Union 3 Years: o o o o

Move out to LA Get an agent in LA New head shots Continue training 5 Years: o o o o

o o o

Work full time as an actor Continue training New head shots

Samantha Fisher: 3 Months: Book in at least three films Send on at least 5-10 auditions Get resume up to industry standards Make business cards Take acting classes 6 Months: o o o o o

o o o

Build a reel Send on more advanced film projects from directors outside of Columbia Get more training from The Acting Studio or Second City

1 Year: Send her out on audition for TV and Film on Chicago based shows Get an agent Build a website Join the Union Continue training 3 Years: o o o o o

Send her out on higher level TV and film productions New head shots Continue training 5 Years: o o o

o o o o o

Make a move out to LA Get an agent in LA Work as a full time actress New head shots Continue training

Critiques from Industry Professionals

During the semester, management was to get three different critiques related to the artist’s headshots and resumes. This helped management form well-rounded opinions when helping give advice on the material and gave us an un-bias viewpoint from several different people. Management chose to send out Jordan, Samantha and Aaron’s headshot and resume material for critiques. These were the responses sent back: Eric Burger: Aaron Branch - Page 1 of the resume and the headshot on the first page are good, but I'm not a huge fan of using that many photos, showing you making silly faces, etc. Also not a fan of a written narrative describing yourself as a performer. It comes off as a bit arrogant, even if that’s not who you are. Keep it simple, and then come in and SHOW us those things. Jordan Williams - Its a good headshot, natural, and seems like someone I'd want to meet, which is important for these. His resume looks really good too. Organized well. Best one of the three. Samantha Fisher - Good shot, should find one with her name on it though. The resume is fine, but a little chaotic. She should try to clean up the format some, center her name and info at the top (should also get an email address that is not her Columbia one). I get double-spacing because she wants to fill space, but I actually think it looks more sparse when there’s too much white space. And make sure all of her credits are lined up together in clean rows. John Athas: Jordan Williams’ photo and resume are industry standard. Good headshot without anything distracting from him and what he looks like. Sharp and high quality image. Resume is readable and professional. He works. Aaron Branch’s materials are, I am guessing, stand up and that to get into stand up you are sending this to stand up clubs. I am not familiar with the particulars of that circuit so my comments are from an actor’s POV. His pictures communicate a zany fun vibe but do not keep my eyes on him. I am distracted by all the backgrounds of his shots, and the shots are duplicated, which makes me look for more without getting any more. It is close to working for him, but needs some tweaking. He should pull some quotes from press or club owner comments and put those in this release. Samantha Fisher’s materials reflect an entry-level actor. Not a lot of credits, but a good photo that lets me know, I think, the kind of girl I am getting in the audition. Fresh, friendly, young, smart, pretty. I like her picture, it will get her in the door, the resume growth will follow. Renee from Karen Stavins Talent:

Renee did an oral critique when she visited class. She thought Jordan’s headshot was great that is was “someone she would like to see” and didn’t have any negatives. She thought his resume looked a little cluttered and thought we should put some spacing in between the headlines to give it a cleaner look. She thought Aaron’s headshot was okay since he is in stand up and that he should think about getting new ones in the near future. She also recommended his resume be cleaned up by separating his stand-up from theatre, making two different resumes so it wouldn’t confuse people what he is focusing on. ALL of these critiques were helpful and gave us great insight into what to advice for all three artists.

Financials Keeping track of finances is always important for everyone in life. An actor/artist must keep track of their expenses for tax reasons. Jordan had not kept track of his financials before the project started but did put together a list for the duration of this project. Samantha did not 20

tell management her financials for the semester and did not have any financials to show for the duration of the semester. Aaron did not keep track of his financials either before this project started, but was able to keep track for the three-month period. Management was able to find auditions for the artists for free and do little things at no cost. Mileage to auditions and payment to submit for auditions on Actorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Access was the only money being paid by the artists. (See Appendix L: Expense Breakdown Sheets)

Conclusions Jeremy and Shayna tried their best to accomplish the goals set in the very beginning of the semester. This project was a great learning experience not only just for Jeremy and Shayna, 21

but for the artists as well. The artists learned what it was like to work with an agent/manager and management learned what is was like to work with multiple artists and turn written goals into reality by using many different outlets in the entertainment industry. Jordan and Aaron walked away with one major booking, an updated resume, a more detailed outlook on the industry and an idea of what they will look for in the future when searching for agents/managers. Jeremy and Shayna believe that they did the best they could at a student level to implement this project to the fullest. Management believes that all three artists will walk away with some kind of knowledge and accomplishments they reached with the help of the team. Management learned that working with multiple artistsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; calls for a lot of communication at all times. Each artist has their own very specific needs and no approach is the exact same. Management also learned what it was like to deal with an artist that did not uphold the commitment that was agreed upon. Learning how to approach the situation was a learning experience and a business interaction that has to done at certain times. Management learned a lot from this hands on experience and believe it helped tremendously to move forward in the entertainment industry. Jeremy and Shayna are very happy with the outcome of the project and are excited to pursue more in the industry.

Appendix A: Preliminary Questions Jordan Williams Preliminary Questions

•

What are their goals? (3 months, 1 year and 5 year) Will you be able to achieve those 3 month goals with them or are you in over your head? Are you on the same page and heading in the same direction regarding their goals?

Goals in three months- In theatre show for late/april summer, have acted in three or more films have a reel and website. For the next year- book larger films and possibly get an agent again. In the next 5 years- book high paying jobs with agent and move to a city I like more than Chicago. •

Do they currently have a headshot and resume? How current are the photos?

Jordan’s headshot was taken last year and his resume is current and up to date. Do they currently have any of the following: • o Website (personal or affiliated with any other entertainment websites)? • o Social networking sites (will you be allowed access to any of these?) • o Reel A website is being constructed currently but has not reel put together just yet. •

What type of training has your talent had?

Jordan has a degree in theatre and is actively taking acting classes from ASC, Green Room, IO, and Annoyance Theatre Do they absolutely love what they do? Are they doing what they do for the love of it or do they want to make a million dollars and live in a mansion on the hill? Either way, can you handle it? Yes, Jordan stated he will always be acting in some capacity that performance “is a way of life for me.” “I would love to make living wages on acting, but don’t fame and fortune.” • Do they have any existing deals (management, productions, theater or dance company?) Will any of these deals conflict with or complicate your involvement? Can they legally move forward with you or do you have to buy somebody out, co-manage with somebody else, help get the artist out of an existing contract, etc? Jordan was in spring show (theatre) with rehearsals starting Feb 22 at the beginning of the project. Where do they live? City. How often have you agreed to contact each other regarding this project? And how? (in-person, internet, phone) Jordan lives in Chicago and has agreed to meet whenever needed and use phone and email as major sources of communication. •

•

Do they belong to any unions, organizations, associations or guilds? Do they have any contracts that affect your involvement with them? 23

Jordan is not a part of the union but is taft-hartleyed. •

Have they had an agent or a manager previously? If so, what is the status of that relationship?

Jordan was represented by Gray Talent Group in Chicago but decided to end the contract early on his request. •

Are you interested and ready for agency representation? Any plans on moving to LA or NYC?

Jordan is not ready for representation and said it was a possibility in the 6 months. He said he may move to LA in a year or 3. •

What age range do they see themself being submitted for?

Ages 17-32 •

What age range do they see themselves right for? (Actors & Commercial Dance)

Same •

What is their current availability for sending them out on auditions?

Daytime open : Sunday until 5pm – Monday until 3pm – Tuesday 11:30-3pm – Wednesday until 1pm – Thursday 11:30-3pm – Friday until 3pm – Saturday until 4pm. •

What do they believe are their strengths and their weaknesses as an artist?

Strengths include comedy, transformative roles, callbacks, honesty, physical/acrobatic, promptness and likeability. •

From the artist point of view, what do they believe is their mission statement? (What does the artist offer to their audience? what is the essence of their craft? What makes them different from any other actor or dancer out there?)

“My performances offer a symbiotic balance of truth and intrigue, which draws an audience into the world of the character I portray. I have the audacity to dive into characters and subtly transform to bring forth the ultimate honesty of every role, comedic, tragic, and everything in between.” - Jordan •

What was your last booking (show, performance, etc.)? How did you obtain that booking?

Jordan’s last booking was a film called “Places I’ll Find You” Native Ridge Films and theatre “Cinderella” Windy City Music Theatre. Samantha Fisher •

Samantha’s main focus for the next three months would be to create a film reel that highlights her talents and shows her versatility as a performer. She would like to be apart of students project as well as outside projects that will give me footage to use. She also would like to continue my modeling work and collaborate with Columbia photographers. She wants to build her portfolio by getting updated head shots, a professional resume, a website and business cards together. In the next year Samantha wants to be working with a reputable agency and auditioning for film and television in Chicago. In the next five years she wants to move to California and continue to pursue my career in film and television.

•

Samantha does have current head shots that were taken in the fall of 2014- her resume was also updated in the fall of 2014.

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She has a Columbia College Talent Pool account and a Model Mayhem account. she does not have any websites or social media sites specifically designed for my career in performance.

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Second City Training Center: Improvisational Acting & Sketch, 2012/ London /International School of Performing Arts: Physical Theatre, 2013 /Columbia College Chicago: Theatre Performance & Film Acting, 2013- Present.

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I have a passion for performance. I know to become successful it takes hard work, commitment and marketing yourself in the best way possible.

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She is completely freelance and I am not committed to any other agencies.

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Samantha is currently located in Lincoln Park in the city of Chicago. She would prefer contact through email- so she can set reminders and flag important conversations. Meeting once a week in the South Loop would be awesome!

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She is currently not affiliated with any unions or guilds.

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She has not had an agent of manager in the last five years.

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Samantha is interested in representation through an agency.

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Age range 15-25

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“I would love to play in my age range- early 20s”.

•

Available Tuesdays after 6p, Wednesday after 6p, Thursdays after 6p, Fridays after 5p and Saturday evenings after 5p.

•

“My versatility, honesty and commitment are my strengths as an actor. I feel comfortable in dark comedy, comedy, drama and romance genres of film. I need to work on creating depth to characters, feeling more comfortable with film lingo and angles and have more experience on professional sets. 5. I offer an honest performance through the perspective of the character that is driven through Passion and commitment to the script and direction of the film. I want to relate to the audience and create an outlet for the audience to immerse themselves in the story. I understand that performance is an art that has to be intertwined constantly with business for success.”

•

She is currently working on a television pilot for the series Jet Set based off the novel written by Carrie Karasyov and Jill Kargma. The pilot is funded through DePaul University directed by DePaul director Georgia Makely who is currently working with LX MGMT. She has auditioned for Georgia several times and she called her to audition for the pilot.

Aaron Branch 3 Month Plan: 2015 Spring Semester Goals • Watch Me As I Go – Chicago (SELL OUT THE WHOLE PLACE) Two That One Shows – Find Venue / Campus (The Beat Kitchen?) • One post a week for Live: From My Dorm • One quality HD video a month for Live: From My Dorm • Hoodies, T – Shirts, and Stickers • 5 minute Clip for Stand Up – AaronBranchWorld.com • Reach Out to Dave Coulier and send 5 minutes • Increase activity on vine, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and twitter • Start reaching out to Colleges about performing on their Campus • “Yes! I have headshots that were taken when I was 17 years old. I pretty much look the same (I’m 19 now), but new photos wouldn’t hurt. My hair style has changed.” Do they currently have any of the following: o o

Website: AaronBranchWorld.com Social networking sites: Twiiter/Instagram: @AaronBranchWrld Facebook: Facebook.com/AaronBranchWorld Reel: Currently do not have a reel.

What type of training has your talent had?

Acting / Comedy Class from grades 7th to 12th grade at The Coterie Theatre in Kansas City, Missouri. Do they absolutely love what they do? Are they doing what they do for the love of it or do they want to make a million dollars and live in a mansion on the hill? Either way, can you handle it? Aaron loves what he does and it makes him happy, but “I’d be lying if I didn’t say that the possibility to make a lot of money wasn’t enticing”. He stated. Do they have any existing deals (management, productions, theater or dance company?) Will any of these deals conflict with or complicate your involvement? Can they legally move forward with you or do you have to buy somebody out, co-manage with somebody else, help get the artist out of an existing contract, etc? Aaron runs a show every Thursday at the Playground Theatre at 10 PM. That’s the only deal he has right now. Where do they live? City. How often have you agreed to contact each other regarding this project? And how? (in-person, internet, phone) Aaron lives in the South Loop in Chicago and says emailing-phone and meet ups are great. Do they belong to any unions, organizations, associations or guilds? Do they have any contracts that affect your involvement with them? No Have they had an agent or a manager previously? If so, what is the status of that relationship? Aaron has a creative partner that helps, but no contract. Are you interested and ready for agency representation? Any plans on moving to LA or NYC? “YES! An agent would be awesome. I think that would be my next step in my career so I could access to bigger roles in Film / Commericals. I plan on moving to LA or NYC when I have a deal and a reason to be out there. Whatever comes first really”. What age range do they see themself being submitted for? (Actors or commercial dancers only) 1 Age range 16-23 What age range do they see themselves right for? (Actors & Commercial Dance) Comedic and Dramatic What is their current availability for sending them out on auditions? 27

During the week, he’s free every afternoon from 1 – 5 PM, every night except Monday’s and Wednesday’s, and he’s free on Wednesday mornings. What do they believe are their strengths and their weaknesses as an artist? Strengths: I’m a hard worker, creative, original, charismatic, and very ambitious. Weaknesses: I tend to rush sometimes. From the artist point of view, what do they believe is their mission statement? (What does the artist offer to their audience? what is the essence of their craft? What makes them different from any other actor or dancer out there?) “Do what you love, and be the best at it. Don’t create boundaries for yourself – Shoot for the universe and beyond.” What was your last booking (show, performance, ect)? How did you obtain that booking? HAUS Comedy Showcase – Was asked to be in the show by a member in the class

Appendix B: Business Cards

Appendix C: Audition/Booking Logs

Appendix D: Headshots (headshots they already had before project)

Appendix Resumes Before

Appendix F: Resumeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s after 35

Appendix G: Aaron Portfolio Online

Appendix H: Template Cover Letter Example 37

Appendix I: Booking Confirmation

Appendix J: Audition Confirmation Screenshots of actor submission:

SAMANTHA 45

Appendix K: Actorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Access/NowCasting

Samantha Fisher:

Jordan: Now Casting

Appendix L: Expense Breakdowns (Jordanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s)

Works Cited "Chicago Stand-up Comedy Scene: A New Boom." Tribunedigital-chicagotribune. 10 May 2012. Web. 2 Apr. 2015. <http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-05-10/entertainment/ctott-0511-standup-comedy-20120509_1_new-comedy-clubs-zanies-stand-upcomedy/2>. "Theatre in Chicago." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Web. 2 Apr. 2015. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theater_in_Chicago#Today>.