ARTICLE: The Power of Persistence

The Power Of Persistence   

Amy Lyndon, CEO & Founder of The Lyndon Technique

Justin Turner, Marketing Director for The Lyndon Technique

Well, pilot season's pretty much over. Upfronts (where networks officially announce their 2012 lineup) are gearing up, and so the 2012 pilot season is winding down. I've talked to a lot of actors and the response I usually get is that it was a quiet year. Yeah, there's that one friend who always had 5 auditions a day, but for the most part, many actors have found themselves with slim pickings. Naturally, this is the time of year when the largest exodus of actors head back to "the Midwest" or "East" or wherever.

How about you?

My belief is that if you're taking the time to read another article, then my guess is you're not packing it in and we want to congratulate you. You’re persistent, and persistence is what separates the haves and the have-nots in Hollywood. In fact, let's talk some more about power of persistence.

On April 6^th, 1909, US Navy Engineer Robert Peary reached the North Pole. That’s an amazing feat, but what’s even more amazing was that he reached it on his eighth attempt! That’s right – Admiral Peary had failed seven previous attempts to reach the North Pole!

Now, I want you to think about this for a second. It’s the early 1900s. You have limited resources and limited technology (no GPS). When you begin, it is winter and it is cold. Freezing temperatures below zero, biting winds, and only fur to keep you warm. Months of planning and preparation finally come together – and you FAIL. Many people told Peary to give up, but he was undeterred, so he set out a second time… and FAILED AGAIN! And again and again and again and again and again until he finally reached the North Pole!

Your acting career may feel like a desolate, freezing wasteland, but don’t give up. History is not full of people who tried and succeeded perfectly on their first try. No, history is full of people who failed over and over until they stopped failing and achieved greatness where anyone else would have quit long ago. President Calvin Coolidge wrote:

“Nothing in the world can take the place of Persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.”

If you feel like you don’t know what you’re doing, that’s ok, you’re not alone. That’s exactly why The Lyndon Technique and TLTaccess were created! We can help you figure it out. Yet even if we handed you the keys to Hollywood, it still takes persistence to carve out a long-lasting career and persistence is something we can’t give you. You have to have that all on your own.

But that’s the best part: you can have that all on your own. YOU are in control of the most important part of becoming a working actor.

http://www.TLTaccess.com

ARTICLE: Serious People Do Succeed

Serious People Do Succeed

Amy Lyndon, Founder + CEO of The Lyndon Technique

Yesterday one of my young students mentioned what the word on the street was about me. It seems that, "Amy Lyndon will only work with people who are serious with their career and that she can tell if someone is ready to make it or not." At first I laughed because anyone who knows me knows that I'm really a marshmallow inside, but then I got really excited because the word on the street is actually true.

You know, even when I was a Personal Manager, I could tell whether or not the actor who walked through my door was going to make me money. I saw their passion when they talked about their career, I felt their determination, their eagerness to understand the business and realistically what it would take to develop into a champion. You see, champions come in all shapes, sizes, races and ages. I do believe that these winners understand that a career is never handed to them;  it's earned with blood, sweat, tears and strong guidance. They believe that when the going gets tough, the tough get stronger.

Stay open to learning and growing and never ever lose your drive to succeed. Yes, it's true. I only want to work with and be around people who are serious about what it takes to make it in this business.

I also have to say how proud I am of ALL my former and present student accomplishments. Thank you for allowing me to take part in your success. It's a true joy.

Here for you always,

Amy Lyndon

CEO - The Lyndon Technique

818.760.8501

http://thelyndontechnique.com

http://tltaccess.com

http://amylyndon.com

http://www.imdb.me/amylyndon

ARTICLE: Do The Work

Do The Work

Amy Lyndon, CEO + Justin Turner, Marketing Director

Over the weekend, Amy Lyndon taught a workshop for the soon-to-be graduates of Syracuse University, a prestigious New York Acting Conservatory. "Sorkin Week" is sponsored by Academy Award Winning Writer Aaron Sorkin, in order to connect them to the most important people in Hollywood, which included Amy Lyndon.

As I sat in, taping the video segment for TLTaccess.com, I was struck by how deep The Lyndon Technique really goes. Just when you think you've fully understood one of the Guidelines, you then realize there is so much more work you can do to get even closer to the core of the work using her Technique.

Do the work. Even getting an audition can be a rare opportunity yet most actors don't put the time in. Seriously, when watching coaching sessions, it's easy to spot the actors who've spent several hours working on their audition and those who are just coming in with the basics barely covered. Who do you think books?

We know that the work can be tedious, but think of it this way: if you were an Olympic high-jumper, you would spend years doing jump after jump, eating an athletic diet, cross-training in the gym, and then repeating it again and again and again all for ONE perfect jump in the Olympics to win the gold medal.

Be an athlete of this Technique and do the work. You might only get one or two good jumps. Are you going to break the record or bring the crossbar crashing down with you? Be in class, get on TLTaccess.com, get coached, learn how to network and above all, when you are going in for your "jump," do the work to break down your scene using The Map To Booking Technique that Amy Lyndon has perfected for almost 20 years. If it's good enough for Aaron Sorkin, Syracuse University and thousands of other working actors using this technique, then it's good enough for you. In the end, you don't just get a gold medal - you can earn fame, fortune, power, status and the ability to live out your dream.

Cheers!

Justin Turner, Marketing Director

The Lyndon Technique

818.760.8501

http://TheLyndonTechnique.com

http://www.TLTaccess.com

ARTICLE: Hold Onto Your Power

Hold Onto Your Power

Amy Lyndon, CEO

It amazes me how many people are mean to actors. I can only attribute it to the fact that most people don't know the actors process. There always seems to be a high expectation that an actor can have a conversation and then magically breakdown in their scene when they find out some bad news or how about when production is behind and it somehow becomes the actor's fault? I actually remember a time when casting was sitting in their office with their feet up yapping away - clearly behind schedule - and the waiting room was filled to the brim with standing room only. And what about writers stealing the actors ad-lib at the audition and using it for the final product with another actor? Do you know many times I hear from parents how mean someone was to their kid at the audition either by casting or other parents? And let's not forget actors being mean and manipulative to each other in the casting office before going in. Psyche outs are everywhere. Obviously I can go on and on about this subject and I'm sure you have quite a few stories of your own, but the truth is, this is the nature of the beast. This is show business and everyone isn't always going to be wonderful to you. Is it any different than the corporate world? Absolutely not! Does that make it okay? Absolutely not! Don't forget, there's a lot of money at stake here and you and I both know that people get weird when money is part of the quotient.

I say, be more like a Super Hero and repel it because at the end of the day, the result is amazing. Isn't that why we all stay in? For the dream and the desire to share our greatness? Figure out a way to hold onto your power, stay on top of your game and don't let ANYONE take it away from you. I have always said that the very reason most actors get into the business is the very reason they're not working. You want to be loved and adored, but yet that is the very reason you're not booking. Everyone is dysfunctional and needy folks. Casting Directors, Producers, Agents and Managers are no exception.

Haven't you heard the stories of actors that were so beaten up that they decided to leave town and go home to start a new life and just as they were about to leave their big break came? You don't need to be broken to work. You just need to protect your work and understand that what you bring to the table is a gift. Who you are as an artist is a gift. You are the gift. Bring that gift in with you and be counted. Make that the priority. Because the only way anyone can take your dream of success away from you, is if you let them. Hold onto your power and believe that what you have to offer will overshadow any adversity. You can do it. I know you can.

 

Always here for YOU!

Cheers.

Amy Lyndon

CEO - The Lyndon Technique

http://thelyndontechnique.com

http://tltaccess.com

http://twitter.com/amylyndon

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004671/

ARTICLE: Little Actions = Big Results

Little Actions = Big Results

Whoa! Pilot season is in full force here in Hollywood, and it hit us like a ton of bricks! Normally, actors might get a few good auditions every week or so, yet many of our TLT clients have been going out a few times a day. It’s NUTS! However, this crazy schedule has already taught us something that we want to share with you guys.

When an actor’s career is moving slowly, they are much more willing to take care of the little stuff. Actors send thank you cards, update their websites, edit and proof resumes and headshots, and they get a lot more coaching and take a lot more class. Yet, when their career actually has some momentum, actors often quit all the things that got them there!! The very actions that started bringing them success, they abandon.

Actor's, you're not bad people – everyone is guilty of this. Actors tell themselves that it’s because they are so busy, but the truth is that they stop making these little actions a priority. Amy always says that “brilliance is in the specifics,” and that is also true for your business and marketing.

Here are two little actions that equal big results.

Thank You Cards

This is the easiest way to help develop a relationship with a casting office. Casting directors are crazy busy right now. They’re trying to cast a pilot that has thousands if not millions of dollars riding on it, they have producers and studios breathing down their necks, and they have your reps trying to convince them all day to bring you in! So when your thank you note lands on their desk, you might think they wouldn’t notice, but they do.

Example: a client of The Lyndon Technique auditioned for a huge producer for a big show. She did really well at the audition, went home, and put a thank you note in the mail. A week or so later, she gets a PERSONAL email from the producer saying he got her thank you note, then he thanked her for coming in and told her she was hilarious and did a great job, but that the part just didn’t seem like the perfect fit. However, he would definitely be calling her in soon.

Wow! One thank you note, and now this actress knows exactly where she stands concerning the part and concerning the office!

Guys, write the note! Just do it.

Class/Coaching

Pilot season is busy. When your career has momentum, you’re going to be busy. Interestingly, there is always a drop-off of class attendance during pilot season. Why is that?

Actors, NOW is the BEST time to be in class and getting coaching. You need to be sharp in order to cut through all the competition. Amy always says that it only takes one audition to change your life. That means every audition is a chance to transform your life! So don’t go in there without being totally prepared.

That preparation comes from class and coaching. Only in those two safe environments can you really hone in on what makes you bookable as a working actor.

Thank you notes and class attendance are just to pieces of the pie. YOU know what you do, what has worked, and it’s up to you to continue those actions. Don’t forget to go back to when you were booking and do what you were doing then. Chances are, you’ll find that it was – and will still be – the little stuff that gets your career moving!

Cheers!

Amy Lyndon, CEO

Justin Turner, Marketing Director 

The Lyndon Technique

http://www.TLTaccess.com  

http://www.TheLyndonTechnique.com

ARTICLE: Is Your Life Getting In The Way?

Is Your Life Getting In The Way?

Is what you do getting in the way of your dreams? Does your brain feel twisted when you're in the audition room? Are you having a hard time getting your dialogue down because you're inundated emotionally with other things, people and events? Well, so are thousands of other people who are struggling and juggling to make ends meet. Does that mean that it's okay to have your life get in the way? Well, that's truly up to you, isn't it? I'm sorry to say, but if you want a career, you have to learn how to balance it all. Let's examine each point:

Is what you do getting in the way of your dreams? I believe the correct question you need to ask yourself is... are you fulfilled with what else you do? Believe it or not, your life needs to be all encompassing. If you are amongst negative people, negative environment, negative attitude, negative energy... what do you really expect to happen? Yes. That's right. A negative life. With a negative life, do you really think that phone is going to ring? Clean up the energy, clean up your package, clean up your brain and they will come and/or you will be able to think more clearly to reboot your career. But do not blame your lack of anything on what you do because what you do is still you.  

Does your brain feel twisted when you're in the audition room? I believe the correct question you need to ask yourself is... was I talking on the phone, texting, speaking to disturbing friends or family on the way to my audition and did I do enough homework at home and prepare enough in order to book it? Stop lying to yourself. The moment you tell yourself the truth, is the moment that you will get what you want.Ask yourself, am I playing with my career and why am I doing that?

Are you having a hard time getting your dialogue down because you're inundated emotionally with other things, people and events? I believe the correct question you need to ask yourself is... how much do I want it? Life is going to happen whether you want it to or not. Getting a handle on all the incoming information is what ultimately determines the outcome.Firstly, learn how to channel that delicious raw energy into your work.Secondly, trace back to how you work by analyzing how you've booked in the past. Thirdly, prioritize your end result - which includes your schedule and associates. Fourthly, get to zero before you even enter the room. Ask yourself, would I hire me given the state that I am in?

Some of you are probably saying, "Jeeze Amy, why are you so hard hitting?" I guess I'm hard hitting because I have done it all, made a crap load of mistakes along the way and I can talk about it because I am YOU.  I know what it takes to work, I know why someone doesn't work and I know that you know the truth. So what are you going to do? Ask yourself these questions:  Am I truly being honest with myself? Do I have a plan of action? How much do I really want to be a working actor? Am I allowing other people and events in my life to rule my fate? How much time am I really devoting to my dream?

You have the answers. It's up to YOU.

Cheers.

Amy Lyndon

CEO - The Lyndon Technique

http://thelyndontechnique.com 

http://tltaccess.com 

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004671/ 

http://amylyndon.com

JANUARY BOOKINGS

ALL THESE BOOKINGS IN JANUARY 2012

Shirley Burns Booked a Co-Star in SOUTHLAND and a Supporting Role in the Film MIDNIGHT SCORPION!

Kendall Curlett Booked the Lead in the Film SHE'S PRETTY TO BE DARK!

Lisa Gershuny Booked the Lead in the Feature Film KNOWN STRANGER!

Jason E. Kelley Booked BUSH'S BAKED BEANS, a Regional Commercial for GEORGIA POWER and National Commercials for SUBWAY and JEEP!

Justin Giddings Booked a Guest Star on OISHI HIGH SCHOOL BATTLE!

Cory Blair Booked a Co-Star in CSI: NY!

Ingrid Tejada Booked a National JACK IN THE BOX Commercial!

Marquerite Insolia Booked a Lead in the Film THE WHISKEY GIRLS!

Amy Horton Booked a Lead in the Film THE WHISKEY GIRLS!

Sonja Fisher Booked a National Commercial for AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY!

Jennifer Field Booked an Industrial for PANDA EXPRESS!

Maria Fagan Booked Lead Roles in the Films KARMA, UNTITLED KERRY SAXENA FILM and UNDER HER DARK VEIL!