Yesterday I felt so knowledgeable about my process of getting talent to consider joining my reading. And I still am, but I also made a big mistake today. An agent gave me a slap on the wrist, and I deserved it. Now, kids, don’t do what Donny Don’t does…I was at the final stage, where an agent called me back to follow up on the conversation I’d had with his assistant earlier today. I had prepared an e-mail version of all the details I knew about our reading, like the assistant had asked. The agent had clearly read through this, because he said, “Oh, you have Dropped Name working on your project? I used to represent her. Has she already said she’d do it?”

Oops.

I had to backpedal pretty fast. Now, I didn’t lie. In fact, I had sent a text message to “Seth” asking who we had already. He responded with names, and I assumed that meant they’d said yes. He was in an audition, and I could call him. Turns out, we not only didn’t have one of the people, we hadn’t talked to her yet. But I sent the e-mail anyway. By the time I spoke with this agent, I had learned we hadn’t reached out yet. So as far as the agent was concerned, I was lying about who was involved already.

He gave me a short but justified lecture. In the end, he was still willing to set up the meeting with me and his client, because I explained about our project and what we had going for us. Still, it wasn’t a comfortable way to start a relationship.

The lesson? Hollywood lingo exists for a reason. The addition of tiny phrases like, “in talks with” make all the difference. You’re indicating that you have begun a conversation, but the person hasn’t yet said yes. This way you can get everyone excited about the other names you’re talking to, but no one thinks you lied later if someone else you were talking to declines.

Now I know. (And knowing is half the battle. Yo, Joe.)

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