HAVING FUN IN YOUR WORK:

By: Brian Gilleece

Listen, this is all serious stuff. You should take your work seriously, this industry seriously and your career seriously BUT that does not mean you need to be Serious...

If you are not having fun and having FUN in your work having success is going to be hard to achieve. A #1 is being a person that people (casting) wants to be around AND doing great work...

So Lets check out some FUN ways to do that!!! You might even learn some things for your personal life! :)

1.) DROP THE POWER ACT: Next time you meet someone, relax, step forward, tilt your head towards them, smile, and show that you're the one who is honored by the introduction -- not them....Nelson Mandela did it, Bill Clinton did it.....Try it out.

2.) EMBRACE THE EMBRACE: Try this: The next time you walk up behind a person you know, touch them lightly on the shoulder as you go by. I guarantee you'll feel like a more genuine greeting was exchanged.....Should you go groping casting directors around town...Well thats a sweet way to make it into the news BUT.... Do you know an industry friend, see them at an event? Perhaps go the extra mile and show some genuine sincerity.

3.) BE A SOCIAL NINJA: SJ masters use their interest, their politeness, and their social graces to cast an immediate spell on you. As soon as you learn a little about someone, ask how they did it. Or why they did it. Or what they liked about it, or what they learned from it, or what you should do if you're in a similar situation.

No one gets too much recognition. Asking the right questions implicitly shows you respect another person's opinion -- and, by extension, the person....I.E Turning your google alerts on to track someone so in the off chance you meet them BOOM "Congrats on the thing at the place, such an accomplishment"

4.) YOU DONT NEED TO WHIP IT OUT: Of course not literally. Don't try to win the "getting to know someone" competition. Try to lose. Be complimentary. Be impressed. Admit a failing or a weakness. Don't be afraid to show a little vulnerability. People may be (momentarily) impressed by the artificial, but most people sincerely like the genuine.

5.) DONT BE "THAT" GUY: You know the moment: You're having a great conversation, you're finding things in common... and then bam! Someone plays the networking card. Remarkably likable people focus on what they can do for you -- not for themselves.

6.) BE A REAL CLOSER". Go back to the beginning. Shake hands again. Use your free hand to gently touch the other person's forearm or shoulder. Say, "I am really glad I met you." Or say, "You know, I really enjoyed talking with you." Smile: Not that insincere salesperson smile that goes with, "Have a nice day!" but a sincere, appreciative smile. Making a great first impression is important, but so is making a great last impression. But don't worry: When you help people feel a little better about themselves -- which is reason enough to be kind -- they'll like you for it.

BE BEN AFFLECK....BUT DONT LIKE "BE" BEN AFFLECK: So can you do all this in the audition room? Probably not, no should you! Can you do it on set, YUP, and focusing on being a better social communicator and influencing people can directly benefit your career.

Ask Ben Affleck, do ANY OF US think he is a great actor? Or is he just real good at shaking hands and kissing directors?

See what I did there...

Ben is KNOWN as a top guy who is 1.) Fun to be around 2.) Gracious and generous 3.) Engaging and down to earth 4.) Responsible and focused... So regardless of his acting... Guess what, he gets to be in great films like Gigli!