1.      And this is the most important thing, LOOK GOOD. Pictures will be snapped and you never know where they could end up. I probably overspent in the clothing department this week but it was totally worth it because I ended up on several social sites and got invited to other parties later on in the week. When you look great, you feel great, and when you feel great, other people want to take pictures with you! Dress in proper attire and if you don’t know what cocktail attire means, LOOK IT UP! You don’t want to be the girl in a club dress when people are wearing fur!

It’s Christmastime and you know what that means, industry holiday events! Believe it or not, I’ve confirmed THREE projects this week just from getting out of the house! It started with a table read, which led to being cast in a short film and securing a producer from my webshow. I hit another holiday party, blew up my Instagram and got invited to another holiday party which led to being cast in another project. Could these things have happened without the help of a little glam? Maybe, but they certainly would not have happened if I had stayed warm in the house. I made my rounds in Atlanta this week for holiday parties and events and I want to share what I learned along the way. Here are Five Things you need to know before heading into industry holiday parties!

2.  Have a fully charged phone! When I get in my car, I plug up my phone, whether it’s dying or not. This may not be good for the battery but who keeps a phone longer than a year anyway these days? That 20% of battery could mean all the difference in the world when you’re talking to the right person. It also keeps you from looking like a jerk. I need to work on remembering people I’ve already met before. They always remember me. So when I don’t remember them, I ask to follow them on Instagram. Everyone is delighted to have a new follower, they type in their name and suddenly I remember! No one gets offended and everybody is happy. Following somebody is also an excellent way to stay in touch with what they have doing. It’s more important to know what THEY are doing, especially if they can cast you. Make sure you post and use the hashtags in case someone tries to find you later!



3. Pack business cards. I know this is a given but I’ve been giving out so many, I forget to restock my purse! I don’t even bother putting my phone number on my card anymore, as long as my social media info is on it, we’re square. That’s good for when you meet a creeper also, but anybody can be blocked so give everybody a card just in case!

One of my mentors, Dan Miller, always says, “Write the book you wish was written,” and “If someone asks you the same question three times, create a product the solves the problem.”

I’m an actor. After five years of toughing it in Los Angeles, I realized I was sending more audition tapes to Atlanta than I was actually auditioning in LA. I’m from Florida and it finally occurred to me to just… MOVE.

After I wrestled the perception of ‘giving up,’ I decided to ignore what people MIGHT say and do what my heart told me to do. Since I left LA in May 2012, dozens of my LA friends have asked me what it was like on the other side. When I left there was no book. There was no guide. And even though the Atlanta market is ever growing, resources are limited.

Because I’ve always been a good student, I took heed to what my mentor had been telling me (and many others who enjoy his podcasts) for months: I wrote the book I wish was written for LA actors who are considering moving to Atlanta.

To all of you with unanswered questions and dreams deferred, I hope this book helps. It’s now available on Amazon and Kindle! Please leave a review and let me know what you think!