Market Yourself With The Tease Approach

| by Ronald K. Armstrong | November 02, 2007
I just got a new pair of glasses. My old prescription just wasn't strong enough so now I've got a more powerful set. Of course, you know I had to pimp out the frames. Hey, that is just how I roll.

Now the ladies are on me like white on rice. But the bad thing is that with my new lasses I can see my girlfriend A LOT better. Let's just say that the glasses aren't the only thing that is going to get upgraded.

Anyhow, I have a great new technique that is going to get you more responses to your mailings. Check this out. Typical newbies in this game send out their headshots, comp cards and or reels hoping to get a producer or agent's attention. But that's exactly what you shouldn't do!! In fact, it is the worst thing you can do.

Look, sending out your material in one mass mailing is akin to throwing your money out the window. So instead of doing that just give it to me (just kidding). The problem with that old technique is that there is no motivation for that producer or agent to take action. Whether you realize it or not everyday they get bombarded with material. You work is among THOUSANDS that they receive!

But if you really want a guaranteed technique to get their attention so that they can call you, come to your event, or write you back then listen up.

So, are you ready for the secret that will get industry people calling you? Okay, here is what you do. I call it "The Teaser". Instead of sending out your material in one shot - break it up. First, send out a very simple notice to spark their interest. The notice can talk about the new project you are working on or the new script you are writing... whatever. The important thing that you must do is to hype it up BUT don't give them any details. You want to do two things:

build anticipation and suspense.

Next, send out another notice a week later giving some more details about the project. But again, don't give out too much information. Then, follow that up by sending them the actual comp card, headshot or reel for them to view. See, by the time they get it you would have set it up so that they are not only expecting it but feverishly anticipating it with real interest.

Lastly, after you have sent them the actual material follow that up with one last notice which highlights the great experience you had working on the project. This is just a reminder and recap of what they got. The reason this technique works is what I can "frequency of message". The more you hit them with the same message the more
they retain it. In direct sales it takes 7 exposures to a product or service before someone is willing to buy. But frequency of message alone won't get their attention. I know plenty of actors who send out their headshots to agents over, and over again, with no response. That's because they lack the other two components of the equation. Remember what they were?

Anticipation and Suspense.

Without those ingredients, which are key by the way, everything else will fall short. In any type of advertisement you want to build up hype and expectancy by spoon-feeding information but never giving too much away. In short, it creates some mystery and desire in the person to know more. Try this technique and watch the response. I am sure you will be pleasantly surprised. For more tips you can visit: http://www.kamiticartssystem.com.

Well, I have to run now. I have got to give my new ex-girlfriend her walking papers. I thought she was a 10 but now with my new glasses I see she is just a 9.5. Sorry, Ron doesn't settle for less than perfection.

Later...

Article Source: http://www.articleset.com



About the Author

RONALD K. ARMSTRONG
Writer/Director

Ronald K. Armstrong has been an author and screenwriter for over fifteen years. His credits include a wide variety of screenplays and books ranging in genres and subject matters. He began his film studies at the high school of Art and Design. Afterwards he went on to study film at Purchase Film School. Frustrated by the lack of attention paid to true art he left school to start the country's largest minority film organization the RKA Cinema Society.

Given the fact that the industry has demonstrated a level of inequality the RKA Cinema Society aggressively campaigns against racism, sexism, and issues of censorship while serving to protect and preserve the sovereign right of all artists. Because of this the organization is vehemently opposed to the wide spread practice of corporate monopolies and advertising dollars dictating artistic vision. It was during his operation of the organization that he produced two books: The Science of Acting and The Black Filmmaker’s Guide to the 21 Century. These books set new paradigms in thought for young artists. His previous screenplays include Alter Ego and Lost in Time.

In 1990 Mr. Armstrong wrote and directed Cuny Island, a short sci-fiction thriller dealing with racism on an interplanetary scale. The film went on to take second place in the Black American Cinema Society Grant Project. He was also featured on several television programs for his accomplishments. In 1996 he took things a step further by writing and producing his first feature length motion picture entitled Bugged. The film was produced in conjunction with Troma Studios and made its world premiere at the Cannes International Film Festival along with showing at the Prince Charles Theater in England. The film gained world attention propelling Mr. Armstrong into the light appearing on such stations as the BET, BBC and CNN.

Each screenplay is a work of passion and a spiritual journey for Mr. Armstrong. Through the medium of the thriller genre he challenges the conventional Western thought process and the template of modern values. “Hollywood has created a mental matrix system while not allowing audiences to develop their consciousness to a higher level. Stories are the key to the deepest recesses of the mind. With it you heal people, solve morale dilemmas, nurture a civilization and more! A good script can awaken fathoms of the mind more so than any great university. But we must take the art there.”

Mr. Armstrong has just completed his third screenplay entitled Master Killers. Writing is a long and arduous process from which he shows no signs of fatigue. As he states, “I feel that America and the world are ready to see the truth. Through the genre of sci-fiction I feel I can broaden the spectrum on social and political issues in a manner that is not only creditable, but necessary for all to see. My only wish is to have the backing to write films, films without any restriction or distortion of truth.”

ronkarmstrong@rkacinemasociety.com » Read more articles by Ronald K. Armstrong
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