Ok, kids, it's time to get real

By Troy Dodds

I'm a bit of a message board regular. I often visit entertainment industry based websites, and check out what people are saying. Most of the time, these boards are clogged with messages from girls aged about 13-15, telling us how talented they are and asking for work work work! Oh, and an agent too if it's not too much trouble.

Reality check! I don't know what these girls (and it's not only girls, but they do make up the bulk) really expect to achieve from this. Most of the messages are along the lines of "I'm blonde, 5'4, I guess I am pretty. A very good actor. I need a job and an agent". Yes, I am sure producers are just chomping at the bit when they read such posts.

This is not supposed to be a massive gripe at the young people who clearly want to be involved in this industry, and yes - some advice does follow.

You see, everything is about natural progression in the entertainment industry. I've worked with a number of performers over the years and have produced them through amateur musicals to co-op plays and finally, onto professional musical theatre productions. You can't just expect people to jump at the chance of hiring an unknown 14-year-old who posted some bad English on a message board. It just doesn't work like that.

On that note, correct grammar is a major problem, it seems, for the teenagers of today. Most of the messages on boards include something like: "U will C how good I can B". Note to all: this is not actually winning you any fans.

So, I hear you ask, what do I do then? It's really quite simple. You see, there's thousands upon thousands of people who want to be an actor, or a theatre performer. Only a handful of those can cut it, and even less will make it.

Back to natural progression. As a 14-year-old, you should be aiming to join your local musical society. Build your skills, learn about the stage and the pressures of performing in a show. It may be an amateur show, but often the pressures are just as high as they are in a professional production.

From there, take a look at the some of the local talent agencies in your area. Some of them you'll have to pay - but this is okay, as long as you find a good one. Eventually, if you can prove your worth through these means, natural progression will take you further.

But here's a plea: cut out the crap being posted on message boards. It does absolutely nothing for you, is a clear waste of time and in the long run, will do you more damage than good.