Expert: Taylor Sheppard - 8/30/2008

Question
QUESTION: I'm 16 and I Don't know where to begin to become a model, Actress,and I want to go into the music business, (I want to be a band manager, or advertisement). I live in Allen Park Michigan (by Detroit).

ANSWER: Hi Brittany,

Sounds like a lot of desires!

Thing is, it's possible to be and do many things with your life and time and energies, but it's rare to pull off successfully and not half-ass. You see, you need to be able to focus on one thing to be the best you can be in it. Now, you could model and act together. That would work. Unless you are talking runway, then you would likely do better to model and then get into acting later. Of course, many minds in the industry and the general public will be against you because they don't believe models are good actors. Sometimes they are right, but sometimes it's just bias. (Read up on Cindy Crawford and her movie career after modeling)

You could also try managing bands follow modeling and acting. But if you did them at the same time, how long before the band would say "Forget her! She was too busy to get us the gig!"?
Advertising is a pretty much all-consuming career too.

I'm not saying all this COULDN'T be done, just that things look glamorous from the outside -and easy- but often take lots of time, dedication and learning to do. If you can't commit to the one thing, you could fail at them all.

Why not go take an acting class...then a modeling class...then read up on managing bands...and talk to a person willing to talk at an ad agency, and see what you like?

There's an old saying: "Jack of all trades, master of ...NONE!"

Best,

Taylor

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

QUESTION: Thanks fore the answer it was really helpful. another prob;lem is that im 5'. Am I too short to be an model?

ANSWER: Hi Brittany,

Unfortunately, for runway and some modeling jobs your height wouldn't work. But for film and other modeling jobs, that wouldn't be a problem. I worked on a movie once and Beverly D'Angelo from the National Lampoon Vacation movies came up to me. I doubt she is even 5'! There are many short actors and actresses. Antonio Banderas is a little guy!

Best, Taylor


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

QUESTION: I was wondering what kind of college classes to take to be a band manager. Where would i begin? My true love is music I may not band able to sing but i write songs and i really want to go into the music business.

Answer
Hi Brittany,

There are music classes and business classes you can take in college.
However, performing arts/recording/music business private schools might work out better for your goals. Really, you would need to take business classes and then intern at a music management company to get the knowledge you would need to get where you want to go. School only gets you started. Learning the business comes from that break that gets you in the door where you work with the people you want to be like...managers. It takes a lot of initiative to do that as there really isn't courses at most colleges specifically set up to do that.

Hope this helps!

Taylor