Starting from the ground floor when you’re trying to break into the entertainment world can seem daunting.  You know you have a skill, whether it’s singing, acting, or comedy: but you’re unsure how to get on stage and start the ball rolling.  Here is some simple tip to kick start your career, and make a name for yourself as a skilled local talent.

5 Tips to Become a Local Talent

• Make A Social Media Presence
  This step is the easiest, but it’s also the most commonly mismanaged.  If you have a Twitter or a Facebook, and it’s full of nothing but memes and bad jokes from the last ten to fifteen years: make a new one for your professional work.   Brand yourself clearly as whatever type of performer you are, including any samples you might have, and include information for anyone interested in talent booking.  Talk to people in your city, make friends, and get your name out there.
  
• Seek Out Performing Jobs
  Look on sites like Craigslist, Backstage, and Playbill- and seek out things that you can do in your area.  Don’t try to do work that’s impossible for you, and attempt to work a little above what you think your value is.  Many companies, individuals, and events will try to underpay you as the entertainment: don’t let yourself get taken advantage of.
  
• Ask For Reviews or Word Of Mouth
  Let people know that you’re working to grow and that they can be a large part of building your career.  Ask for positive reviews on your Facebook page or tweets tagging you when they’re talking about the event that night.  If you can hand out business cards, do it!  Don’t be too flashy on these cards, though; keep it simple and explain what you can do and how potential clients can hire you.
  
• Show Up To Every Performance And Do Your Best
  The moment you book your first performance, you have to be on your A-game.  Please show up on time, do your best, and give your clients what they’re paying for.  Be professional, don’t get rowdy or drunk, and think of every show as an audition.  This plan asks the audience to appreciate what you’re capable of and ask them to be a fan.  Although you shouldn’t do this literally, it’s essential to know what every show means for you.  You’re building a fanbase, growing an audience, and creating a platform for yourself so that more events will approach you to perform.
  
• Keep It Going!
  The best thing you can do to build a local reputation is to keep a constant workflow.  Even though it might be exhausting to be a gig worker, when it comes to getting people to know who you are, there’s not much else of choice.  Work steadily, encouraging clients to pay you a fair wage, and start aiming for more extensive projects as you become more popular.  Keep up to date on your social media, and include an email or profile that people can use to contact you for a performance.

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