Expert: Kenneth D. Plonkey - 10/9/2008

Question
QUESTION: Hi Barbizon.I'M VER'LEXUS HARMON.I'M 13 YEARS OLD.I WAS BORN OCTOBER 1ST 1995.I GRADUATED FROM BARBIZON THE SCHOOL OF MODELING AND ACTING BACK IN MARCH 06 OR 07.IN TAMPA FL.RIGHT NOW I'M TRYING TO SEE IF THERES ANY COMPETITIONS OR AUDITIONS GOING ON.I TRYING TO GET BACK IN THE BUSINESS BIG TIME.I COULD MODEL AND ACT.I KNOW EVERYTHING I NEED TO KNOW.I LEARNT A LOT AND MY MODELING TEACHER WAS MS.MONIKA.I JUST TRYING TO MARKET MYSELF AND LOOK FOR AN AGENT.I NEED TO GET IN THE BUSINESS.IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS YOU CAN CALL 954-553-2360 THATS MY MOM CELL.MY HOUSE NUM IS 239-574-6675.I GET GOOD GRADES I'M A STR8 A STUDENT.I'M SMART,PRETTY.I LOVE ACTING,MODELING,DANCING,RUNNING TRACK,PLAYING BASKETBALL AND FOOTBALL AND SINGING.BUT I WANT A JOB TO SUPPORT ME AND MY FAMILY.WE NEED ALL THE HELP WE CAN GET NOW.THATS WHY I WANT TO MAKE SOME MONEY AND SUPPORT US.


WELL I HAVE TO GO NICE TALKING TO YOU.BYE.

ANSWER: hello VL.  You only think you know everything you need to know. If you did, you would not be asking this question. If you want to get into the business, you will need your parents to work at that for you since you cannot by law sign any contract until you are 18. Your English skills are not good enough for you to market yourself, either. You need to study in school much harder. You need an agent and only your parents can get you one. Best wishes, Doc

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi I'm Ver'Lexus Harmon.I'm 13 years old, and I was born in Fort Lauderdale Florida.I was born on October 1st,1995.I know all the stuff that I supposed to know.My modeling and acting teachers taught me everything I needed to know.And my English skills are good.I was just rushing, when I wrote that first letter.Barbizon taught me how to market myself.Very well.Thank you.And I do study in school.How you think I get straight A's.How you think I never got a C before in my life,because I study.School is first to me.Yes,my parents are trying to get me one,right now.And I don't think I know everything.I know the requirements Barbizon gave to me or told to me.And my grandma used to be a professional model, and she taught me a lot as well.Well thanks anyway I guess,Lexius

Answer
Hey Ver'Lexus, Sorry about criticizing your English skills, I was basing that on the errors in your previous question, so take your time to make a good impression. Very important in marketing yourself. It is nice to see that you really are not as ego=centric as your first quesions makes you appear.  You certainly realize that at 13, unless you were a prodigy, you could not possibly know everything you need to know.  You may have been taught much, but their is always more to learn. Since there really was no question in your first communication, I guess it was an attempt to make contact with someone who could provide you with a job. That I cannot do, of course, as I am a mentor or advisor, not an employer.  If you want help in how to get an agent, read Acting as a Business by Brian O'Neil, the principles apply to all talent agents.  Best wishes, Doc