*IMPERATIVES*

An Active ACTION Artist Workshop

​The Imperatives:
The First Three  imperatives are ones that require some work and urgency on your part—BUT I (Tom) am putting these to you within the context of how I and the Agency and our industry associates can provide MAXIMUM ASSISTANCE to addressing the challenges and completing the tasks.
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1-We must present complete video and/or audio audition reels for every A-T-G artist, in every performance area that the agency and artist have mutually agreed upon.  “Present” (verb) means:  posted on website/s for public (client) access, and on file for immediate submission by agent to potential or current client/s, audition calls, invitations, or others as agent sees fit.

2-We must ensure that we are prepared technically, logistically, and psychologically to create “new” audition readings, “self-tapes,” unique video/photo/voice samples, call-back additional material, etc., in EVER-SHORTER-TIMEFRAMES-OF-NOTICE.  For better or for worse, the mix of current technology and peoples’ expectations is now driving requests for unique submissions in as little as 6 to 24 hours.  We need to be able to meet those requests to the best of our abilities and to the highest levels of professional quality we are committed to. WITH YOUR OWN PHONE!!

3-We must complete all unfinished aspects of every artist’s agency file, whether taking the workshop or not--e.g., photos, info forms, contracts, song lists/repertoire, resume/s, anything else on checklists or previously agreed upon.  All these materials must be in agency’s possession no later than APRIL 14.

4-The Management/Marketing Imperative is to continue seeking, more aggressively and more cleverly, access to the kind of work we are all trained and experienced to do better than anyone else in the region.  We’re the ones with *by far* the most educational and experiential training among our artists as a group, than anyone else.  It is imperative that on the management side, we (I) find more and effective ways of making that known and actionable (accidental pun) to the people who need our excellence.

​Tactics:
We shall arrange a series of CLASSES/WORKSHOP-SESSIONS in which ACTION artists can work together, discuss, get instruction/feedback/advice, create materials, with the expectation of increasing success in the “Three Imperatives.” 
 
--I (Tom) want to encourage you, in the strongest possible terms, to participate in these sessions.

--Artists who participate fully will be, by definition, among the most prepared members of our Team-ACTION-Talent for auditions, submissions, and *work.*  The agency will proceed accordingly when seeking opportunities and submitting for projects.
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--As per our standing policy, artists who have contracts with ACTION Talent Group and whose agency files are at- or actively-nearing-completion may participate in A-T-G classes with no fee cost/s.

​--These classes have an enrollment cap.  “First come—First served.”  (Note--students, ‘recruits’ or ‘newly-onboarding’ artists may be included as participants at agency discretion.)  There is also a “minimum enrollment” for holding the class.

--Although the current offering will happen in Des Moines area, we will be seeking potential future opportunities (time, space, schedule, etc.) in eastern-ish Iowa, Omaha/Lincoln, Minnesota, eastern-ish Dakotas.  That said, artists in those areas who can arrange it are welcome to participate in the Des Moines offering.

--ACTION-T-G will arrange for workshop space, basic recording equipment and gear. Usable faux-advert texts are currently available in Green Room page on ATG website (Thanks, Angela Stettler!) and can be used, when suitable, by participants.

--Please consider that this type of opportunity could/would cost a person up to several hundred dollars to participate, in most other circumstances.  If sufficient participation is not reached….the option will not pass this way again.

​The shape of the plan

--we aim to hold two, 1.5-to-2-hour sessions per week over a 4 or 5 week period (12-20 hours of workshopping.)  This is our objective. We will still hold the workshop if we are limited to fewer hours, and will do our best to accommodate people’s ("unchangeable") conflicts.

--in keeping with professional norms ("dark Mondays"), we are penciling in Monday evening/s for one of the two sessions each week.

​--if you sign on, we will use all of our time as efficiently as possible….and the expectation will be that those signed on will make every possible effort to attend all sessions (with the exception of  agreed-upon pre-existing conflicts.)

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​Please complete the brief questionnaire below to help us sort out our time options.  The options in play below derive from a) direct input from a sampling of A-T-G artists, b) experience, and c) ongoing study of ‘best practices.’
Completed forms must be submitted no later than Monday, March 13, 10:00 pm.