How to get – and lose – a job in the entertainment industry

The are just as many ways to get fired as there are entry points into the industry, says David M. Green in a piece that first appeared in Encore, after seeing it all up close.

As I quickly approach a decade of dabbling in ‘the biz’, I find myself pausing for a moment and doing a double-take at all the crap I’ve done. And I use the word ‘crap’ in the most positive sense. As in, “hey, check out all that crap”.

I’ve worked with lots of people. Many of them lovely. Many of them talented. Many of them just once. I’ve been on both sides of the camera and the microphone, and pressed about a billion buttons. 

And even though I’m just 26, every time it looks like I might be turning a casual gig into a career, I discover there’s a new way you can lose a job. Hence I’ve learnt a few important lessons in my time. Lessons I would like to share with you. So whether you’re a veteran of the entertainment industry, a bright-eyed wannabe or someone who wouldn’t leave the security of your suit and cubical to touch a microphone with a 10-foot boom pole, here are some handy tips for working in showbiz.