When people find out that I have written for five TV shows, including Beavis and Butthead
It’s a very much who-you-know business. When it comes to entertainment jobs, you’re competing against a huge Hollywood insider network that “knows” someone: parents, spouses, siblings, cousins, friends, friends of friends. But don’t feel hopeless, I came from a tiny college back east with no connections.
My advice is get an assistant job at a talent agency, preferably one of the big four (UTA, William Morris, CAA, ICM) or a mid-level agency. I can hear you saying “I don’t want to be an agent.” No one does. But you WILL make contacts that WILL lead to the job you DO want. How do you get an assistant job?
There are sites like Entertainment Careers, Showbiz Jobs and Myracleworks. There is also a weekly listing called the UTA Job List. Which leads to how to get on the UTA mailing list? Here’s how…
It is passed to subscribers via e-mail and you have to know someone to get it… until now. I recently ran across a web site called “I Hate My Life” where the web master says:
- “There is also an underground show biz job listing called the UTA list. If you e-mail me at Thanksforsavingmyass@Yahoo.com I’ll send it to you at no charge.“
In addition to asking that guy or girl for the UTA List, I would also recommend calling the talent agencies (HR department) and asking to join their in-house-temp pool. Also ask them which outside temp agencies they use. Make sure your computer skills are up to speed and you can roll calls.
And when you make it big in Hollywood, don’t forget me when I come knocking for a job!
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