Hollywood Networking Mistakes: Ten No No's

In my experience of working in the film industry, there are as many things you should try NOT to do as there are things to do. In my previous article on Schmoozing I talked about ways to increase your success at networking in Hollywood. In this article I address some of the major actions that will hurt your chances of being asked back to parties, meetings and screenings. The reason I have created this list is that I have been guilty of many of these mistakes at some point in my career. I just want to help others avoid the embarrassment! Enjoy!

Hollywood Networking Mistakes: Ten No No's

Learn How to Network more effectively!

While teaching my Entertainment Business class this week it occurred to me that perhaps there are others out there that could use some advice on networking.  Whether you are trying to get into Hollywood or just find a new job, it is important to get out of the house and shake some hands. So I wrote and article for HubPages about Schmoozing (the Hollywood term for networking).
If you want to take a look, click here.

Steps to becoming an Agent in Hollywood

Steps to becoming an Agent in Hollywood

A new article!

Creep Factor 101: How NOT to get an agent to read your submission!

As a Literary Manager I get hundreds of submissions of material. Letters, treatments, scripts, books. All from people who hope to be discovered or to have their life stories seen on the big screen. Yesterday I received this package.  Really. Would YOU open this package? My whole family stood around it curious and slightly frightened.  My daughter said " How bad can it be? It has a snowman on it?" I don't know. Is it the strange scrawl, or perhaps the duct tape and no return address that makes me think...angry hermit living in woods writing apocalyptic manifestos?
So far we haven't opened it.  Now if someone who is reading this blog happens to be the sender, I don't mean to be cruel, I am just trying to make a point. If you really want me to read your material think about how you present it. Sadly in Hollywood we do judge a book by it's cover. And snowman notwithstanding, this package is failing at many levels. I imagine it was sent by someone elderly who couldn't get to the store to buy packing materials. Or perhaps someone who had lots of extra duct tape and liberty stamps trying to be frugal. Maybe one of my well meaning relatives sent it. Perhaps after I put on a padded suit, plastic gloves and move the package to an undisclosed location, I will find out what's in it.  No. I think it's going into the trash. Somebody else's trash.