If you’re looking for a job in entertainment, the first thing you’ll need to know is networking is key.  You must be willing to put yourself out there in order to land the job of your dreams.  One of the best ways you can prepare for a networking event is by putting together the perfect elevator pitch.  The elevator interview was termed as such because this pitch needs to be 30-seconds or less – the time it would take to make it to another floor.  The entertainment industry is very fast-paced, and those already on the inside are very busy.  Preparing your speech can be an effective tool for marketing yourself in the few seconds you may have to meet with someone, according to Forbes.

So, what the basics of this concise verbal resume?  Just like a written one, you’ll need to have a straightforward objective.  Clarify your goal in one or two sentences.  You’ll need to have a solid understanding of who you are and the specific position you are pursuing.  Then, write it down.

Writing down your goal will act as a visual aid, so you can tweak it to perfection.  In very few words, you’ll need to tell your audience who you are, what you do, and any experience you have.  For example, “Hi, I’m John Smith.  I am a fitness model with five years of experience looking for shoots in the Chicago area.”  Edit and re-edit as need, especially as your goals change.

Be careful not to deliver a pitch that’s too ego-centric.  Remember who your audience is and tailor it to their needs.  Decision-makers are only interested in working with candidates who will help them fill business needs.  If you are pitching to a casting director who is looking for 20-something singles willing to do a commercial for a dating site, in a few seconds or less you’ll need to offer your age, your relationship status, and why you’d be perfect for the ad.  Do you have any prior commercial acting experience?  If so, you’ll want to slip this in.

Once you’ve written down your speech and tweaked it to the best of your ability, read it aloud to yourself to make sure it actually flows when spoken.  Then, practice until you’ve committed it to memory.  Just like any other dialogue, this one will need seem unrehearsed.  Position yourself at industry events and opportunities where you’ll bump elbows with the pros and be prepared to deliver!

Want to join Nine9?

Fill out the application below.
  • Accepted file types: jpg, gif, png, jpeg.