Commercial Mommy is how my friends describe me. In fact, it's how I describe myself. A Los Angeles based actress, juggling the every day demands of co-parenting three children, who are also actors. I know that I am not alone in this circus feat! I have been successful in helping my kids create careers, remain accelerated in school and evolve into beautiful human beings. By sharing my journey, strategies and insights.....I hope to be of assistance AND inspiration to all of the other commercial mommies and daddies in the biz!

Monday, May 16, 2011

Expect just a session fee and hope to be pleasantly surprised!

My 11 year old had a multi day booking last week!  At first blush, it was great...but as a seasoned commercial actress, I see just how the market has changed over the past few years.  I remember when a booking meant you would make money AND show up on the airwaves.  Now a days, a booking, fitting and days on set assure one thing:  A session fee ($600 per day).

I realized that I was still showing up to set believing that the clients, agency folks and director all had the same goal I had:  Create a great project that will make the everyone $$$.  I am NOT saying that this goal has gone away.  I AM saying that commercial folks are now more savvy.  They know how to utilize our voice, our body (sans head) and our abilities, all while keeping costs down....They know how to cut us out of commercials!

While sitting on set with 10 other parents, I also realized that I was the only one on set worried about her being cut from the spot because I had already counted on her having more income for herself (tax year 2010 was painful for her bank account).

What I remembered by day two was that the experience of just sitting back, enjoying the camaraderie of the other parents and seeing the kids having such a great time together was worth more than the outcome of the commercial.

Suffice it to say, every one of the children ended up working AND having a great time.

LESSON:  I cannot predict the outcome, so I might as well have fun and be in the moment.

2 comments:

  1. The business is always about the journey.I remember like yesterday the day i met you and your husband .Congrats on all that you have done in the business.
    Richard Moody
    wwww.IamMoody.com

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  2. I remember too. And I pay it forward, with you in mind...Daily!

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