Jenn Lederer is an accredited New York casting talent manager. We asked about which questions tick off agents or managers the most and should never be asked.

DISCLAIMER – I completely understand why actors might think these Top 5 Topics are completely justifiable to discuss in a meeting…but I’m going to tell you why that simply isn’t the case.

Before you speak, always as yourself 2 questions:

~ How is this going to make me look?

~ How is this going to make the other person feel?

If the answer is at all negative…or even has the chance of being negative…skip it.

Here are some of the most common self-sabotaging comments & questions that you should avoid…

Top 5: Things You Should NEVER Say in a Meeting w/ an Agent + Manager

1.       “Listen, I’m here to make both of us money.”

What ‘they’ are thinking – I’m sorry, have we  given you the impression that our company is dying to find another actor to make us money?  We’re doing just fine, thanks.

Why you shouldn’t say this –

~ This is a case where you want to let your resume & brand speak for itself.  If you really are an actor who can make money… the agent or manager will be able to see that.

~ Saying this is going to make them get defensive right off the bat…don’t do that.  The last thing you want to do is make someone get defensive, when you’re trying to get something from them.

~ I know where you are going with this…but trust me, it never gets the reaction you were going for.  It will only make them wonder exactly how much you really understand about this industry.  ~ When you are in development, it can take a long time before an agent or manager truly starts making money (let alone a living) off of your work.  (Remember, 10% of an $800 day is barely enough to pay for a week of Starbucks…so unless you’re there to sell them a Starbucks card, avoid this sentence like the plague.)

~  Always check your ego at the door.  It’s OK to be confident…but find the balance.

2.       “So, what kinds of connections do you have with what New York Casting Directors?”

What ‘they’ are thinking –  Last time I checked, you reached out to me.  If you haven’t done your research on my company…then why the hell are you here? 

Why you shouldn’t say this –

~ This shows lack of research on your part & insults the agent or manager at the same time.   (Insults are generally something you want to avoid while making a first impression.  Just sayin’)

~ This is going to put them on the defense once again, and make them wonder why you are interviewing them…when it should be the other way around.

 3.       “How many other actors on your roster are similar to my type?”

What ‘they’ are thinking –  If there are a few others like you…are you not confident enough in your skill sets, headshots, reels, and resume credits to go up against them?

Why you shouldn’t say this –

~ As a general rule, it’s best to keep the focus on YOU in the meeting.  Most of the time your time is very limited…don’t waste a second of it bringing their focus off of you.

~   Most agents & managers have their roster on IMDb…do your research and check it out.

~   Agents & Managers simply don’t like to talk about their actors behind their back, it’s just not good form.  There is a trust that actors have with their representation…don’t put them in a situation that makes them feel uncomfortable.

4.       “I’m ready to get to that next level of my career.”

What ‘they’ are thinking –  OK great, so you want me to take it from here and do all of the work for you.  BTW…what level are you on right now?

Why you shouldn’t say this –

~  For the love of all things holy…if you are going to tell someone that you are ready for the NEXT level, then you damn well better be able to CLEARLY explain what level you are currently, why you feel you are ready to make the shift, and how you plan to bring yourself further (with or without representation).

~ Don’t let yourself look naïve to the industry.  If you have a resume filled with indie work, extra parts, and some theater…don’t try to sell yourself as a Series Regular.

**Always show them that you understand the industry & are ready to put in the work required to get you where you want to go.**

Yes, it COULD happen.  You COULD be at the right place, at the right time, and get the “Ashton Kutcher” break after 1 audition…but I’m not going to bank on that (and I bet most other reps won’t either). 

 5.       “I want to go out for everything!   I don’t see myself as a specific ‘type’ per say.”

What ‘they’ are thinking – I think our time here is done.  You just don’t get it, and I don’t have time to teach you.

Why you shouldn’t say this –

~ Again, you’re making yourself look like you have no clue about how the industry makes $$$.  We get it, you don’t WANT to be put in a box…but guess what…the actors in a box make LOTS of $$$.  (and didn’t you say that’s why you were here?  To make ‘us’ lots of money?)

~ It’s best to give them a clear idea of the types that you play…and the ‘brand’ that you are, while being able to convey your willingness to hear other options.  (because hey…you might see yourself as a Brad Pitt, when you’ve been rockin’ the Steve Buscemi all along…and no one had the heart to tell ya.)

EXCEPTION TO THE RULE:

~ If you are being courted by an agency or management company (i.e. they reach out to YOU & clearly want you on their roster) then this gives you a bit more playing power.

You can normally get away with a bit more than the actor who is actively pursuing representation.

BUT (there is always a but)

I still suggest doing your research & always presenting yourself as prepared, open-minded, flexible, and easy-going.

NO ONE likes to work with drama…so don’t be a diva.

OK….So Now What?

I know, I know.  You’re thinking: “Thanks a bunch Jenn…now I know what NOT to say…but what SHOULD I say?!”

Great question!

Stay tuned for another blog post comin’ your way with the Top 5 ways to get those questions answered…without pushing any buttons!

I’ve got ya covered.

~ Jenn

Jenn Lederer is the President/co-owner and talent manager of Merging Artists Management, and is an accredited TMA talent manager.   Merging Artists’ actors have been seen on The Blacklist, L&O SVU, Boardwalk Empire, Nurse Jackie, Louie, The Good Wife, Royal Pains, Tower Heist, The Smurf’s, All My Children, and many other projects including independent films & National commercials.   Merging Artists Management represents leading, character, comedic and strong improv actors and writers in studio and independent feature film, television and theater.  www.JennLederer.com

Rise and shine! Morning time just became your new best friend. Love it or hate it, utilizing the morning hours before work may be the key to a successful and healthy lifestyle. That’s right, early rising is a common trait found in many CEOs, government officials, and other influential people. Margaret Thatcher was up every day at 5 a.m.; Frank Lloyd Wright at 4 am and Robert Iger, the CEO of Disney wakes at 4:30am just to name a few. I know what you’re thinking – you do your best work at night. Not so fast. According to Inc. Magazine, morning people have been found to be more proactive and more productive. In addition, the health benefits for those with a life before work go on and on.

Let’s explore 5 of the things successful people do before 8 am.

1. Exercise. I’ve said it once, I’ll say it again. Most people that work out daily, work out in the morning. Whether it’s a morning yoga session or a trip to the gym, exercising before work gives you a boost of energy for the day and that deserved sense of accomplishment. Anyone can tackle a pile of paperwork after 200 ab reps! Morning workouts also eliminate the possibility of flaking out on your cardio after a long day at work. Even if you aren’t bright eyed and bushy tailed at the thought of a 5 am jog, try waking up 15 minutes early for a quick bedside set of pushups or stretching. It’ll help wake up your body, and prep you for your day.

2. Map Out Your Day. Maximize your potential by mapping out your schedule for the day, as well as your goals and to dos. The morning is a good time for this as it is often one of the only quiet times a person gets throughout the day. The early hours foster easier reflection that helps when prioritizing your activities. They also allow for uninterrupted problem solving when trying to fit everything into your timetable. While scheduling, don’t forget about your mental health. Plan a 10 minute break after that stressful meeting for a quick walk around the block or a moment of meditation at your desk. Trying to eat healthy? Schedule a small window in the evening to pack a few nutritious snacks to bring to work the next day.

3. Eat a Healthy Breakfast. We all know that rush out the door with a cup of coffee and an empty stomach feeling. You sit down at your desk, and you’re already wondering how early that taco truck sets up camp outside your office. No good. Take that extra time in the morning to fuel your body for the tasks ahead of it. It will help keep you mind on what’s at hand and not your growling stomach. Not only is breakfast good for your physical health, it is also a good time to connect socially. Even five minutes of talking with your kids or spouse while eating a quick bowl of oatmeal can boost your spirits before heading out the door.

4. Visualization. These days we talk about our physical health ad nauseam, but sometimes our mental health gets overlooked. The morning is the perfect time to spend some quiet time inside your mind meditating or visualizing. Take a moment to visualize your day ahead of you, focusing on the successes you will have. Even just a minute of visualization and positive thinking can help improve your mood and outlook on your work load for the day.

5. Make Your Day Top Heavy. It doesn’t matter if you’re a student still studying in a New York acting school or an established star. We all have that one item on our to do list that we dread. It looms over you all day (or week) until you finally suck it up and do it after much procrastination. Here’s an easy tip to save yourself the stress – do that least desirable task on your list first. Instead of anticipating the unpleasantness of it from first coffee through your lunch break, get it out of the way. The morning is the time when you are (generally) more well rested and your energy level is up. Therefore, you are more well equipped to handle more difficult projects. And look at it this way, your day will get progressively easier, not the other way around. By the time your work day is ending, you’re winding down with easier to dos and heading into your free time more relaxed. Success!

Three weeks into the new television season, network executives have drawn some initial conclusions.

While every network has at least a glimmer of a new hit, in an era of increased delayed viewing, patience is more crucial than ever. Decisions on the fates of shows must factor in quality as well as quantity. And the oldest scheduling technique in the world — putting a new show behind an established hit — is still the most effective tool at a network’s disposal.

Finally, if you want a new show to do well, it is probably best to avoid Mondays, Thursdays and Sundays, because nothing is going to pry viewers away from the National Football League.

Last fall, there was almost universal derision for the assemblage of new entries on network television, with viewership suffering accordingly. The numbers this fall show slight improvement, though, with overall network prime-time viewing averaging 8.21 million viewers, up from 8.16 million in the period a year earlier.

“It definitely seems that broadcast TV has come back strong and given people a lot of reasons to watch,” said Andy Kubitz, the executive vice president of program planning for ABC, citing the rosy side of the early returns.

Brad Adgate, the top research executive for the media-buying firm Horizon Media, has seen enough new television seasons to be cautious about reading too much into early success. This fall’s start is “a little better than last season,” he said, “though that’s not saying much at all.”

The new dramas “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” on ABC, “The Blacklist” on NBC and “Sleepy Hollow” on Fox all opened to hit-level ratings, and they have not shown signs that viewers will drift away as the weeks go on. CBS has two new comedies on Thursday showing some staying power, “The Millers” and “The Crazy Ones.”

Dan Harrison, who has the top scheduling job at Fox, said, “It feels like there is more sampling going on than last fall. Everybody has some embers to blow on and everybody has some work to do.”

Actually, there is plenty of work to do: in terms of ratings, the lows have never been lower. Several new shows have set records for their network’s worst performance ever. One, the drama “Lucky 7” on ABC, was canceled after two airings. CBS dumped the comedy “We Are Men” last week.

But numerous other shows also have quickly fallen, especially on NBC, which is still performing well above its competitors in the area that drives much network commerce: viewers between the ages of 18 and 49. A new NBC drama, “Ironside,” collapsed in its second week; so did the new comedies “Welcome to the Family” and “Sean Saves the World” last Thursday.

Not coincidentally, that was a night when the NFL Network offered a game with strong appeal in two big cities, the New York Giants against the Chicago Bears. The top 13 shows this season are all N.F.L. games.

The upside for NBC is centered on “The Blacklist,” which has not only posted hit ratings for its initial telecasts, but set a record in its second week by adding five million additional viewers after just three days. None of NBC’s comedies last Thursday attracted even four million viewers.

As much as network executives now say they must show more patience, because initial ratings often soar when delayed viewing is counted, shows that fare extremely poorly the night they are first on have little hope of survival.

“We are in the urgency business,” Mr. Harrison of Fox said. “If we put on a show that nobody watches until two years later, that show isn’t going to exist anymore.”

As Mr. Kubitz of ABC put it, “The real difficulty comes in your middling shows. So you have to judge how strong the creative elements are, how strong the producers are, whether or not the show is engaging socially. You have to look at all these different pieces.”

ABC had only middling success with a drama it introduced at midseason in 2012. It did see signs of a passionate following on social media, however, and last spring those signs turned into a fever. Now “Scandal” is one of the hottest shows on television.

Fox is hanging on to some struggling shows, like the new comedy “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” because it believes it is a fundamentally funny show that has a chance to catch on. Comedies have a long history of taking time to take hold, with examples ranging from “Seinfeld” to “Cheers.”

Similarly, CBS has reason to have faith in the new comedy “Mom,” which has been one of those middling performers so far.

Mr. Adgate of Horizon Media notes that “Mom” has two appealing stars in Anna Farris and Allison Janney, and one of the most reliable hit makers in television history, Chuck Lorre, as its producer. “That’s the kind of show you stick with,” Mr. Adgate said.

CBS might have already guaranteed hit status for “Mom” had it chosen to slot it on Thursdays at 8:30 instead of Mondays at 9:30, where it has had to face “Monday Night Football” on ESPN — as well as “Sleepy Hollow” on Fox and “The Voice” on NBC.

Any comedy would prefer Thursday at 8:30, because it would then come behind the powerhouse comedy “The Big Bang Theory” (also produced by Mr. Lorre). “The Millers” won that position, and the show has been rewarded with healthy numbers, while “Mom” on Mondays landed behind “Two Broke Girls.”

That comedy has seen its previous hit status slide — to the point that CBS moved it up to 8:30 this past week.

Kelly Kahl, CBS’s top scheduler, knows the business has changed vastly, but he emphasized how important it was for a new show to be able to draft off the audience provided by its lead-in show.

“The single oldest scheduling strategy seems to be the most effective,” Mr. Kahl said of the lead-in factor. “It speaks to how difficult it can be to get viewers to come to a show cold.”

That makes one show, “The Voice,” television’s M.V.P. (most valuable program). It has aired for two hours on Monday leading in to “The Blacklist” and set that series up to be a hit.

Its second two-hour play on Tuesday has lifted a second-year drama, “Chicago Fire,” to new ratings highs.

“What an incredible vehicle ‘The Voice’ has become for NBC,” Mr. Adgate said.

As for an overall assessment of how the early season is shaping up, Mr. Kahl said, “The take-away is: if you have anything that draws a loyal audience, hold that dearly, be a little selective and you better use lead-ins.”

Marci Phillips, Executive Director of ABC Casting, argues why learning to be yourself can be the most important lesson taught at a New York acting school.

Everyone on the planet has a very distinct personality. An actor may be defined as someone who observes and portrays a character’s psyche, but everything is ultimately filtered through one’s own prism. We all – actors, casting directors, producers and directors – come from a particular vantage point and bring our own unique life experience to whatever we do.

The audition process can take as little as one day or as long as many months, but the goal is always the same: to find the right actor for the role. But what does “the right actor” mean? If everyone had the exact same opinion, we’d just bring that one person in, cast him or her, and be done with it! You can read a breakdown and say “This is me! I’m perfect for this!” but there are literally hundreds of other actors responding that same way to that same role at the same time. When you walk into the audition, you don’t know what preconceived notions the casting director has for this. You don’t know if there’s something in the director‘s history that’s coloring his or her conception of the character. You may have read the script but you may not know what the writer is actually visualizing here. So what can you do?

Trust yourself.

You may be spending too much time trying to decipher what “they” want and not enough time crafting the best way that this role can be illuminated through your one-of-a-kind spirit! It’s your imagination and individual experience that will color your choices. No one wants you to give the exact same audition as the 20 actors that came in before you and the 20 actors that will come in after you.

Don’t be afraid of your instincts. If you’re trying to please everyone, you can easily lose what is special about you and end up pleasing no one. Always stay within the parameters of what’s organically honest for the role, the scene, and the world you’re portraying, but if a choice strikes you as particularly funny or poignant, don’t be afraid of it!

Obviously those choices won’t always be on the mark for what “they” want, but you aren’t a mind reader and we don’t expect you to be! Casting directors simply want you to come in with a well-defined, intelligent take. If you’re right for the role, then we (or the director or the producer) will guide you from there.

Along the way you will certainly lose roles because of your individuality, but don’t let that deter you. This same individuality is what lands you the roles that will make your career.

Be fearless!

Marci Phillips is the Executive Director of ABC Casting. The opinions expressed in this article belong solely to Marci Phillips and do not necessarily reflect the views or endorsement of ABC, Disney or any of its subsidiaries. Marci is the author of “The Present Actor – A Practical and Spiritual Guideline to Help You Enjoy the Ride” available on Amazon.com.