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Why do I need a website anyway?
Because it's 2004, and a majority of
the casting offices are using electronic versions of Breakdown
Services, LA Casting, and "The Link" (Academy Players'
Directory Online). Right now, they have access to maybe one
or two headshots, your resume, and a few skills. While some
of the actor sites that you can sign up for will put up extra
content, you have to pay a monthly fee in order to maintain
it. Even the sites that will host your demo reel will only
host one to two minutes tops. Plus, the layout is very generic.
Having your own site means it can be as big or small as you
need, AND you can use the colors YOU like. Keep in mind that
you can oftentimes add a link to your website from these other
registration services.
What percentage of Casting Directors even take the time
to look at an actor's website?
At this early part of the 21st Century,
not many of the name Casting Directors are taking the time
to surf the web and look at all the actors' sites. There just
isn't enough time. The good news is not only that most actors
do NOT have a website, but also in these casting offices are
younger up and coming assistants who are VERY web savvy, and
oftentimes may take the time to browse a well-promoted site.
These are the name Casting Directors of tomorrow. If you jump
on the bandwagon now, you will be that much ahead of the game
when EVERY actor in town is on the web.
I know people who spent thousands of dollars to get
a website. I can't afford that. How can I afford you?
Professional Web Design prices are based
on the time it takes to complete a project. If you're building
a site from scratch, it can take a few weeks of full-time
and overtime work to get a site up and running. Clearly this
is unacceptable to an actor, who is often operating with a
limited budget. To solve this dilemma, we've taken the time
to develop a series of ten templates which are basically layouts
with specific color schemes and image fonts that are not only
aesthetically pleasing, but very professional. These layouts
use the same principles of design that the top professionally
designed corporate and major websites use. Because we've already
done the groundwork, our service to you is merely applying
your individual content, which doesn't take as long, hence
we can offer great savings to you, the client.
What about the free hosting sites
out there with their own page building tools? Why can't I
do this for free?
You can, but unless you already have
a knack for graphic design and layout, your site will probably
end up looking like those personal sites with vacation pictures
that flooded the early days of the web (and are still out
there). That being said, there's always a way for you to do
it yourself and not spend any money. But would you rather
be concentrating on your craft, or figuring out how to build
web pages?
What else is a website good for?
Besides promotion, you can create a site
to do whatever you want. You can add customized features to
existing packages for an additional hourly rate. We're perfectly
happy to discuss your desires and needs with you, and provide
a recommendation that fits within your budget.
What do you mean by promotion?
Put your web address on your resumes,
your business cards, in your e-mails, on your cover letters,
etc. Always mention your website to not only industry professionals,
but family, friends, acquaintances, etc. Word of mouth is
how you guarantee more and more hits.
Is having a website going to guarantee
me more auditions?
Nothing can be guaranteed. But I can
tell you from firsthand experience that having your own website
can help you to book jobs that you otherwise wouldn't be thought
for. Some of your best contacts via the web will be up and
coming producers and directors with more time to explore your
site. And you might just be hired outright, based on the content
you've put on the web.
But if I want to stand out from the crowd, aren't I
going to have to spend all that extra money for fancy animations,
buttons, bells & whistles?
Customized Flash design, fancy rollover
effects and the like are only good if you're really into that.
My years of experience has taught me that simplicity is often
the best design. You want your website to focus on YOU, not
your web designer's ego.
How do I get my site up on the
web?
After we design your site, we will provide
you with the complete website on mini CD. This will serve
not only as your backup copy, but you can also upload it to
whatever web hosting service you choose. Also included on
the CD is our handy "How to Get My Site On The Web"
tutorial booklet in PDF format that you can print. Unfortunately
we are unable to provide web hosting services at this time,
but hope to have that capability in the future. That being
said, our handy guide will give you our recommendations for
some of the best free to low cost hosting servies out there,
such as Yahoo! GeoCities.
Sounds great! So how do I do business
with you?
Give us a call, or send us an e-mail.
We'll get in contact with you and can either consult with
you over the phone, or meet with you to discuss your needs,
budget, and provide a recommendation. We will never try to
sell you something you don't want. Once we agree on a package
and completion date*, you can pay us by cash, check, money
order, or via Pay Pal. Once payment is received along with
your pictures, resume, bio and other content, we will complete
your site and deliver it by the agreed upon deadline.
* Completion times vary by project size.
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