How to know when you’re ready for your big break
January 31, 2024
How will you know when you’re ready for your big break? It’s a moment you’ve dreamed about since your were little. You’ve been working your
How will you know when you’re ready for your big break? It’s a moment you’ve dreamed about since your were little. You’ve been working your
True Story: I was recently in SEPHORA lamenting that two of my favorite lipsticks had been discontinued without warning.
The sales associate was offhand and a tad blunt: Yeah, they probably didn’t sell well.
This is what I heard: Lipstick loser.
Yes, it’s time for my annual rant about The Academy’s Big Insult.
Despite the BAFTAs getting on board with a Casting category in 2019 there is still no Oscar for Best Casting even though the current president of the Academy’s Board of Governors is a Casting Director. David Rubin’s credits
To make something one’s own is to take something and adapt it to oneself. Knowing how to do this is absolutely essential in the camera ready universe.
Whether you are auditioning for a project and reading the same script as everyone else or interviewing for a job and meeting all
I wish I knew who came up with the brilliant notion of replacing the traditional New Year’s Resolution with one single word to focus on for the coming year. I’d like to thank them.
Your word is an organizing principle or theme, perhaps even your annual north star, instead of
Gain insider knowledge and a competitive edge + connect with a fun, positive community of like-minded people. In this small, hands-on class you will receive real-time coaching and learn Skills, Strategy & Confidence.
Is hosting a travel show on your vision board???
I’d be enormously rich posting from my villa in Tangier if I had a $ or € for everyone who ever said to me they wanted to host a travel show.
Learn how Kathy McCabe turned the dream into
I know I’m not the target demographic and you may be thinking, huh, Barb, I did not expect this reference, but I was genuinely excited when I read that Quest Love is executive-producing a documentary, Dilla Time – “part biography, part musicology, and part musical meditation” – adapted from Dan
If you think overturning Roe v. Wade has nothing to do with you – or is an act worth celebrating – I invite you to read my story with an open heart.
I am a deeply private person. I have good friends who will read this and say I had
Tsundoku is the Japanese word for all the books you buy but never read. This summer I am determined to make a dent in the pile of books I acquired in 2020 and 2021 but still haven’t read. It’s a little misleading that a solid chunk of the stack is
Owning It means taking responsibility for your thoughts and actions.
Owning it in the camera ready world is essential to how you show up.
My dear friend, casting director – coach – actor – documentary filmmaker, Sean De Simone, joined me on my Camera Ready & Abel podcast to go
I am not here to discuss the Smith-Rock contretemps that distracted from Questlove receiving his first Best Documentary Feature Oscar for the brilliant and emotionally powerful “Summer of Soul” – many far more qualified than me have weighed in – but just after we all watched it happen in shock
I was riveted watching Shonda Rhimes‘ Netflix series, Inventing Anna about “fake German heiress” Anna Delvey. I could not get enough of Julia Garner as Anna + it brings up all sorts of questions about “faking it” which Vivian Manning-Schaffel explores in this excellent piece for Shondaland, including a quote
Cue the Tony! Toni! Toné! It’s my bizaversary.
20 years.
It’s been super easy and smooth sailing the whole way.
Ha! If you believe that, may I interest you in my favorite bridge down the street?
Like Lisa Roth, founder of Rock-A-Bye Baby, I’m an accidental entrepreneur.
Some people will be wrong, and that’s okay – Lisa Kudrow on handling rejection
EVERYBODY asks me how to get on TV. Elizabeth Wagmeister – who didn’t have an agent or a reel when I cast her on Page Six TV – provideS the playbook you’ve been looking for in
SPORTS ANCHOR/PRODUCER
The nation’s best sports section is making a major expansion into daily sports video. And we are seeking someone who can be the face of this new effort as well as contribute production, development and writing skills to our editorial vision.
I’m one of those people who couldn’t read during the pandemic. It was too hard to focus. I needed big print and pretty pictures. Translation: Netflix and Pinterest.
And yet, books were my favorite form of retail therapy, so I have quite the stack vying for my attention now that
I get stuck in The Shoulds all the time – should be thinner, richer, more successful, blah, blah, blah – and write about it from time to time in my newsletter, blog and Facebook community…and dedicated an episode of my Camera Ready & Abel podcast to it.
My dear friend
It was wonderful, well-deserved and long overdue when it was announced May 12, 2021 that Tina Turner was finally inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Today I am inducting Tina Turner into the Manifesters Hall of Fame.
Icon is an overused word but let’s face it, if
SEEKING: EXPERIENCED HOST with DESIGN/BUILD SKILLS for fun, puzzle-based challenge show (think: The Floor is Lava meets Craftopia meets Escape Room).
The vibe is friend/mentor/favorite camp counselor: Fun, Bubbly, Energetic, Likable.
Series shoots up to 3 months Q1-Q2 2021 in Atlanta, GA area (transportation and housing provided). Non-union.
Living from one Blursday to the next these past several months, summer snuck up on me this year.
I am grateful to a childhood friend for tagging me in a Facebook Favorite Books Challenge to spur me to action and listify my Summer Reading List 2020.
Similar to the FB
Nationally syndicated Daytime Talk Show based in NYC is seeking an experienced audience warm up to bring the energy + hype!
This is the official Part Two of How To Gain Career Traction With Two Easy Actions: Commit to your career like you commit to your exercise!
I can’t tell you how many time this has played out in my Television Hosting classes. I ask my students how often do you
This is the official Part Two of How To Gain Career Traction With Two Easy Actions: Commit to your career like you commit to your exercise!
I can’t tell you how many time this has played out in my Television Hosting classes. I ask my students how often do you
Don’t take yes for an answer is fabulous advice when you stop and think about it. Many accomplished people say it was hearing no that motivated them to work harder and achieve their greatness.
I’m a big believer in positive psychology, the yes and ethos of improv comedy and embracing
Are you watching John Krasinski’s Some Good News? It’s taken YouTube and the world by storm since it launched a little over a month ago (2.21M subscribers/50 million+ views and counting.)
I’m waiting for Episode 6 to drop as I type. If you haven’t checked it out yet I don’t
The sudden surge in video conferencing due to working from home has put a spotlight on what’s been true for a long time: Everyone must be camera-ready.
Even if you have never thought about being on-camera (Me? Television?) you were probably on camera before #WFH without realizing it.
Twitter at its best is a wonderful universe. An exchange of ideas for like-minded travelers and lovers of words. Good lighting not required. It’s keeping me company during the long isolating days and nights of the coronavirus, never more so than this week’s 5 Perfect Films, 5 Friends challenge that
But I believe in signs. They are everywhere if we are open to seeing them. I don’t always see them. Sometimes I’m caught up in my own mischegoss.
Yesterday though, day 32 of working from home, I was walking down my Brooklyn block to get some fresh air and my
I love checklists. In my previous How to Zoom Like a Star post I shared tips on best practices around the mechanics of communicating via the many video platforms like Zoom, Skype, Bluejeans, Google Hangouts etc.
I’m optimistic there’s a light at the end of this long tunnel and have added three new virtual TV Hosting/Media Training classes. This is the perfect time to work on skills, stay focused on your big picture and feel good by doing good: 20% of the class fee is going
Zoom Gloom is real. It shows up when that dread one feels for yet another video conference call translates into low, dud spud energy and bad camera angles.
The first thing to do is get in the habit of checking in with yourself because as Gabby Bernstein says, your vibes
What a year last week was! I hope you are doing well and practicing self-care and social distancing. Now that my family is settled and adjusting to the new normal, I am beginning to look outward again. I was having virtual cocktails last night with a teacher-friend and giving them
People ask me all the time: What do I need to do to crush my TV appearance.
And I tell everybody the same thing – no matter if they are promoting a book, a tv show, their recipes or relationship advice – The number one way to slay your TV
One of my 2019 goals was to walk the length of Broadway in Manhattan and I had a massive AHA! on my way to completing this:
2019 was both a wonderful year for me and my family and one of great sadness – one of my best friends chose to end his life, a decision I will never agree with and pray hard to accept and understand. Collectively too I sense many of us faced big
Dream of hosting your own House Flipping Show?? Grab your goggles, drill and table saw… A Major Cable Network and long-established Home Renovation Production Company are seeking PAIRS (couples/friends/siblings/co-workers/family) for a head-to-head renovation competition series shooting in Spring 2020. We are looking for enthusiastic, 2-person teams with top notch skills
A global fitness brand is looking for experienced instructors who are fluent in German (native speakers ideal. All ethnicities). Must be…high energy, out-going, engaging, able to motivate people to push to their limits, in great physical shape with a deep knowledge and passion for fitness – and comfortable on-camera. Must be able to
Departure Films is casting 2 experienced television hosts (21+, all ethnicities) who are authentic science enthusiasts to lead new series that explains the science of everyday life in a fun, cool way. Expanding on a popular book series, the hosts will teach kids (ages 6-12) the mechanics, processes, histories and science
I recently had a serious case of The Shoulds: I should have gotten more done this summer; I should have more things checked off my to-do list; I should be further along with my book; I should be thinner, fitter, healthier, more successful…I should be! Here’s the thing, I should
Does this sound familiar: You’re active in the media space. You’re a pundit giving commentary on news programs, a lifestyle expert sharing tips on morning shows or everyone’s favorite guest panelist. You’ve been working hard on your media career for several years and you’ve earned a level of success and
I was out for my walk this morning, thinking and visualizing my goals, as one does, and a memory popped into my head of my daughter when she was a brand new toddler twenty years ago: She got up from playing on the floor and toddled over to our dining
One of my most popular recent posts on LinkedIn was: What is your WHY – your purpose? What drives you to play the long game and work toward your goals? I want to hear from you! I am delighted it resonated with my connections. Yet every single person who responded
I first got into summer reading lists in high school. Back then the lists were assigned and geared towards prepping for the SAT and AP exams. I still remember – vividly – reading Oedipus Rex by Sophocles and Henry David Thoreau’s Walden during my AFS summer in Tunisia between my
The week of June 10, 2019 was a great week for inspiration in action – from Andre DeShields to Jeremy Lin to Gayle King – I need to savor and discuss, to recognize and celebrate these divine turtles always steady in the race; talented, dedicated and consistent, shining brightly but
I love Wine Country on Netflix. Thrilled for Amy Poehler’s directorial debut – and wish I could drop myself into this female-led comedy about old friends coming together to celebrate a 50th birthday in Napa. It’s a fun escape. I’ve watched it twice. What I don’t love, though, is Ana Gasteyer’s
It’s actually two tweaks rolled into a new habit: Ask yourself questions Research the answers If you are not where you want to be in your career, if you are not landing jobs, getting job interviews, auditions, general meetings or even answers to your emails…consider this: It maybe because you
#NOWCASTING: National HOST SEARCH for a KIDS + FAMILY Escape Room show from Universal Kids. PLEASE READ ALL THE WAY THROUGH. SEEKING: Experienced, fun, bubbly, energetic, likeable TELEVISION HOST (21+, all genders, any ethnicity) with comedic and/or improv experience who can lead the flow of the show. The host is
One of the most common misconceptions I encounter daily is the false belief that your talent or skills alone are what get you the job. To be clear skills are important but they are only part of the equation. If you are new to television hosting or anchoring you absolutely
#NOWCASTING: Fun, out-going, BIG multicultural characters for an upscale, life-style focused US cable project in development built around Latin American families/family businesses. Think: The Brazilian-American Lisa Vanderpump running a sprawling business empire OR the Colombian Cake Boss. The Colombian Kardashians (family soap opera) OR The Cuban Chrisleys (family sitcom) The
I often ask my clients and students who aspire to careers on-camera as media personalities, hosts or thought leaders how often they go to the gym. Most say they work-out several times per week, even daily. When I ask how often they practice on-camera to further their careers I get
I have not yet read Ramin Setoodeh’s Ladies Who Punch but a lot has been made of the passage and leaked video of Elisabeth Hasselbeck tearing up her note cards, storming off set and refusing to return after a public dressing down by Barbara Walters on-camera. “F**K this!” is her
Seeking upscale restaurants and lounges with unique concepts, parent-child partnerships and/or spectacular locations and a camera-friendly staff + stylish, diverse clientele for a TV project in development exploring the exciting front of house/back of house dynamics of a successful business. Must have a minimum of 25 employees and have been
I have a very unscientific theory why Albert Einstein is a household name synonymous with genius: He was a famed wit with a wonderful sense of humor. His theory of relativity certainly has a daily impact on our lives but so does James Crick & Francis Watson’s discovering DNA and
One of my core messages as a Media Coach is Everyone Needs To Be Good On-Camera. Not because you aspire to be on television but because in a sea of social media content, video rules and if you’re not creating fresh, custom video content you’re missing a huge opportunity. Regardless
The Favourite is the most polarizing film I can remember in ages. Among my avid movie-viewing friends, one camp vehemently loathed the storytelling and fish eyed lens – worst film I’ve seen in years! – while the other adored everything about it including Olivia Colman’s Oscar-winning performance as Queen
Sunday, February 24, 2019 is the 91st annual Academy Awards. And for the 91st time, no one will take home a gold statue for casting. This vexes me all year round but never more than in the weeks between the announcement of the nominees and the telecast, because wherever there are
“If you don’t know where you’re going, you’ll end up someplace else.” —Yogi Berra It’s always the right time to set goals. One of my goals for 2019 is to blog more 🙂 Fact: Success takes determination, focus, and effort. Working aimlessly without a plan is the hamster wheel approach and
What’s the scariest thing I can do? is one of the most popular personal growth prompts, especially at the beginning of a new year when many of us are writing our goals. Eleanor Roosevelt said Do one thing every day that scares you. George Addair wrote Everything you want is on the
Like Christmas, my annual Hosting for Home Shopping, Infomercials & Branded Content class with Sean De Simone only happens once per year and this year it’s July 21st in New York City. There is a lot of opportunity in this space for experienced hosts, lifestyle experts and influencers but it’s
NOW CASTING: Young, fun, bubbly Interior Designer/Production Designer/DIYer with a passion for kid-friendly spaces! Departure Films – the producers of: Flip This House, Rehab Addict and Get Out of My Room! – are taking the design outside for a Kid-Family Backyard Makeover show for a major US cable network. Must
NOW CASTING: Seeking Interior Designers, DIYers and Carpenters to Host KIDS BEDROOM MAKEOVER show for major cable network (male or female, all ethnicities, looks 20s to mid 30s.) The vibe is your favorite camp counselor: Fun. Bubbly. Energetic. Likable. Must be bondable (i.e. will pass a background
NOW CASTING: That Guy Everyone Wants to Have A Beer With If you are that guy – late 20s to early 40s/any ethnicity – a major US cable network is looking for you to Host an immersive experiential series in development. I wish I could say more but this fun
NOW CASTING! Abel Intermedia is seeking women of color who own upscale barbershops or salon/day spas for a series in development with a major US cable network. Looking nationally for bold, vivacious, dynamic, unfiltered, fun characters in their late 20s to 50s. To be considered and for more information please
NOW CASTING: We are working with a major US cable network on several series in development and looking for Dynamic, Charismatic, Unfiltered Big Personalities in the following categories across the US: REAL ESTATE Captivating men and women (20s to 50s, all ethnicities) who dominate the screen working in the luxury
…and the Oscar for casting goes to… I wish! Welcome to my annual list of Casting Directors who did not get nominated for an Oscar because there is still no Academy Award for casting. A casting “branch” was created by The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 2013
Are You Ready To Fall In Love? Forget dating app hook-ups, say goodbye to ghosting and start looking for the one. We are looking for American men and women from across the United States (20 to 35-ish, all ethnicities, heterosexual and LGTBQ) who want to take part in a ground-breaking
“Do The Work, Identify Your Intentions, Know Your Worth, Don’t Be Tempted By Shiny & know that things are subject to change so REMAIN OPEN” – Bevy Smith I’m starting off 2017 sharing the incomparable Bevy Smith’s professional story because it could be your story. Bevy made it happen.
ICYMI corporate and personal manifestos have replaced mission statements. Manifestos are not new and they are all around us. The Declaration of Independence is a manifesto as is Dr King’s I Have a Dream speech. This is what a good manifesto does: Clarifies your vision and purpose while connecting us
I’ve been following many threads about L’Affaire Billy Bush. Many young television hosts have asked what could one do differently in a similar situation, because if you work in the Celebrity Industrial Complex, it is almost guaranteed you will encounter some version of this. Cajoling the talent goes with the
I was multi-tasking as per usual when I heard a ping and these words caught my eye: What to do when positive thinking doesn’t work. I’m a positive thinker by nature but 2016 has been a hella hard year for many of us from personal challenges to the exceptional number
Aside from my family, the New York Rangers one day winning The Stanley Cup again and maybe Idris Elba becoming a friend, nothing warms my heart like great feedback from a client. Yes, my ego enjoys the boost. But more than that it confirms my purpose: To help people be
A month ago, on Easter Sunday, we brought Baxter home from Sean Casey Animal Rescue in Brooklyn. An enormous yellow lab, we joke Baxter is part Labrador, part polar bear and all Abel. What little we know of Baxter’s backstory (or Baxstory – get it?), he was picked up on the
Is it just me or does your dad send you tons of email forwards? I don’t know how he has time for golf or gets anything done in retirement with all the email forwarding he does. The good news is he finally learned to cut and paste and bcc… I
Podcasts are all the rage. So I was flattered when Mike Janela invited me to be a guest on his podcast. Mike took one of my TV Hosting Classes in 2015 and ran with the idea of focusing on what you can control in your career: Marketing yourself. Guess what? Not
If you’ve ever painted your apartment you know it is 90% preparation and only 10% holding a brush to transform a room. Making a successful entrance – and by extension making a good impression – is much the same. The work you put in before you arrive makes all the
Wondering what to give the performer, guest expert or job seeker in your life? Help is here with the 2nd Annual Abel Intermedia Gift Guide. How About Give The Gift Of… A paid subscription to Netflix, Hulu or Amazon Prime so they don’t have to keep using your login information.
Please forgive the click bait title. I’m experimenting with following best practices marketing advice from successful bloggers. The subtitle is Everyone Needs a Haka. Because developing your personal Haka will allow you to nail every audition and interview. Most of them, anyway. Mental preparation is huge. We talk about getting in
I had the pleasure of prepping a client over the weekend for the Forbes 30 Under 30 Summit today. It’s a side bonus to be inspired by the people you work with. I am grateful – and impressed. Not the least because I really didn’t have it together in my
I’m trying something new: A 10-Day Cleanse. Today is Day 3. I know I’m late to the party. How are so many of you so cheerful and functional doing this? What motivated me to give up sugar, caffeine, wheat, dairy and cocktails for several days? A nagging, lingering case of
Any sports fans out there? Ya Gotta Believe is the rallying cry of the New York Mets. They are currently leading the National League’s eastern conference. If they continue to believe they are poised to make the playoffs this year. They haven’t always believed. The team has had many legendary,
I am an unabashed Anna Wintour fan. At an age when most people are slowing down for retirement (she’ll be 66 in November) Anna is firing on all cylinders: Editor of Vogue, creative director of Conde Nast, career maker, cultural influencer, economic driver. Of course I find her hugely intimidating.
In case you missed it, last week Cara Delevigne had a verbal dust up with the hosts of Good Morning Sacramento during her satellite media tour promoting the movie, Paper Towns. As the clip of the “awkwark exchange” went viral, the ladies at The View naturally weighed in. Whoopi thought
Taking chances almost always makes for happy endings – Barbara Corcoran Raise your hand if you love Shark Tank. It’s one of the few programs my whole family watches together. Naturally, j’adore Barbara Corcoran. If you don’t know (where have you been??), Barbara is the ever stylish Shark who famously
I hope no one notices that I’ve re-posted-as-blog-post two weeks in a row. But seriously, John Waters’ RISD Commencement Address is a Must Read, Must Flag, Must Share. He reminds us How To Be. I had the pleasure of meeting John Waters when he was a guest on the original
I don’t always have time to write but I always make time to read and I am a subscriber/regular reader of The Lefsetz Letter, a music-industry centric daily blast, er, rant, from critic and analyst, Bob Lefsetz. (Here’s an amusing “Who The Hell is Bob Lefsetz?” article from Wired.) I
In case you missed it, the 88th Scripps National Spelling Bee finals were last Thursday, May 28th. Vanya Shivashankar and Gokul Venkatachalam were this year’s co-champs – the Bee ran out of words after Gokul nailed “nunatak.” (A nunatak is an isolated mountain peak projecting through the surface of surrounding
MAY the fourth be with you! I love theme days like Pi Day and May The Fourth Be With You. If you’ll indulge me in a Yoda/Obi Wan moment: You have the force within your grasp. Success on-camera in the Galactic Media Empire – whether you are a host, actor
A lot of us have ideas. Sometimes even great ideas. But how many of us are able to go from idea to execution to distribution? Like you, I have notebooks, journals, scraps of papers and Pinterest boards full of ideas. Slowly but surely I am putting ideas into action –
Many of you were kind enough to take the time to comment on my repost last week of Dr Darcy Sterling’s blog “Rejected. Thank you – I appreciate it – and am feeling the need to dwell a bit longer – Rejected Pt 2. This section especially resonated: “I told
Warm hello from the Lazy Blogger. I have missed you. What pushed me to pop my head out of the deep, dark casting rabbit hole was this post about rejection from my friend and client, Dr Darcy Sterling. It’s a wonderful, healthy reminder that we all face rejection from time
Hi Friends! Here’s my latest fun casting opportunity. October Films is an absolute pleasure to work with and this is a great chance to get some screen time + experience in a studio. Read through for details. Must be able to work NYC local. Hope to hear from you! CASTING:
All my life I wanted to be somebody, I see now I should’ve been more specific – Lily Tomlin Inspired by Lily Tomlin and a Facebook post by my fab friend and client Dr Darcy Sterling, this New Year’s blog is all about How To Create Your Vision Board. This
Did you see The Interview yet? I haven’t but unless you have been under a giant holiday rock this December you cannot have escaped the mishegas that was/is The Sony Hack. A ton of attention has been focused on the email exchanges between executives and the ensuing fallout. In case
You asked for it, you got it: The Abel Intermedia Gift Guide 2014. Okay, you didn’t ask for it but if you are stumped on what to get the performer, guest expert or job seeker in your life, I’ve got some suggestions. We all know we only get one chance
Mes Amies, I am irked, vexed, rankled. With more important headlines lately I’m not sure you’ve noticed the most recent Intern vs Media Entity lawsuit: Anthony Tart vs The Wendy Williams Show. I leaned in when this update from Deadline hit my desk because I have been genuinely shocked by assistants
Want to know how to get free coaching? Watch HOUSE OF DVF on E! (Sundays at 10pm ET/PT). Sure, the whole concept of the show (looking for a DVF brand ambassador) and the weekly challenges are a contrivance but through it all Diane speaks the truth. Lean in and listen.
Warm hello from The Lazy Blogger. The excuses are piling up like unread issues of The New Yorker. Every week I ask myself, “remind me why I blog?” Desperate for some inspiration I looked heavenward and then I looked at my computer screen and noticed this gem in my inbox:
It’s election day in the United States. You know what that means? Don’t give away your power. Vote! As Patti Smith sings, People Have The Power! Last week I re-posted to Facebook Ian Mortimer’s article from The Guardian listing the 10 Greatest Changes of the Past 1000 years. I think I
Warm hello from your lazy blogger. I had kids birthdays to celebrate, work commitments, allergies that turned into a head cold, being a supportive parent through my daughter’s college application process… Yep. I had excuses. Life always gets in the way. Life is never not going to get in the
Last week I retweeted this inspirational quote: Never give up on a dream because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway. It got a bunch of retweets and favorites and then this heartfelt response: sorry I don’t agree…I feel like its been so