Actor Tips – Creating a Character Biography

Posted on February 5, 2012 by admin

I vividly remember sitting in one of my first acting classes. After the initial greeting and overview of the course, the acting teacher handed out a play and requested we perform a character biography on one of the characters.

I was ecstatic. I’ve always heard about performing various forms of character development, and was looking forward into learning the different processes to accomplish this goal.

Creating a character biography will serve to be one of the greatest forms of character development as it creates a realistic, humanized version of a character.

We all have our history, and we all have our unique stories. It is throughout these stories our personalities, convictions, inhibitions, fears, goals, desires and aspirations are built off of.

While there are literally hundreds of different ways you can create a character biography, I have outlined several of the most important and effective means of reaching this goal.

Read the Script

While this tip may seem a little arbitrary, many actors decide to create a character biography without fully understanding and analyzing the script. The script will serve as your very basic outline for the history of your character. Look for key scenes that disclose personal information about your character. Search for suggestive dialogue or actions to give you a glimpse into the past or upbringing of your character.

If vital information is not present, then you must create a biography based off personality cues and your own imagination.

First Half of Life

When starting out, it is best to begin your character biography for the first half of the character’s life. You may separate into each year, or generalize the biography. However, no matter what, be as specific as possible – create memories from the character’s childhood. Create friends, teachers, crushes, bullies or important figures. Be as creative as possible; however, keep the creative choices within the scope of your character.

Present Life

This may be a little easier as the script will likely give you a great deal of information regarding the present situation of your character; however, the small details of your character’s life will not be as easily exposed. Describe the current living situation of your character, his best friends, his enemies and his aspirations for this time period. Again, be as specific as possible, but stay within the realm of your character and his world.

Future Goals

While this may be a little strange to be included in a biography, include an entire section regarding your characters future goals. What does he want out of life? When does he want to accomplish this? What steps will he need to take? All of these questions help form a fully functional person as each of us have our own unique goals that help guide us from day-to-day.

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Actor Tips – Creating a Character Biography

Posted on February 5, 2012 by admin

I was ecstatic. I’ve always heard about performing various forms of character development, and was looking forward into learning the different processes to accomplish this goal.

Creating a character biography will serve to be one of the greatest forms of character development as it creates a realistic, humanized version of a character.

We all have our history, and we all have our unique stories. It is throughout these stories our personalities, convictions, inhibitions, fears, goals, desires and aspirations are built off of.

While there are literally hundreds of different ways you can create a character biography, I have outlined several of the most important and effective means of reaching this goal.

Read the Script

If vital information is not present, then you must create a biography based off personality cues and your own imagination.

First Half of Life

Present Life

Future Goals

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Local Dinner Theater in Southern New Jersey and Philadelphia

Posted on February 1, 2012 by admin

Dinner Theater is a creative way to spend a night out. It can also be less expensive than a show in the city that does not come with dinner. Whether it be a family outing, a first date or a girls night out, dinner theater is a lot of fun for all.

Die Laughing Mystery Productions
This theater company that works in southern and central New Jersey won’t disappoint. The actors actually sit around the room with the audience as the food is being served and then perform in between courses. It’s a great way to be a part of the show as well as trying to figure out whodunnit! Check out the website for shows, scripts, times and more. The company is located in Freehold, New Jersey, but check them out to see locations for shows.

New Candlelight Theater
See premier shows like “Miss Saigon,” “The Wedding Singer,” and “Bye, Bye, Birdie” while you an enjoy your dinner. Food, such as stuffed shells, fish with lemon and turkey breast is served buffet style. Wine and alcohol costs extra. The actors and crew will help serve and accommodate you while you are getting your meal. This theater is located in Ardentown, Delaware which is only 24 miles, about a half an hour, from Philadelphia.

Bistro Romano
Mystery Theater in Society Hill in the heart of Philly. “Unravel the clues and crack the case.” The show begins an hour after the hors d’oeuves are served. Enjoy chicken, salmon or pasta as well as soup or salad for your main meal. Dinner is usually $ 32.50 and the show itself is $ 10.00 making the total $ 42.50 per person.

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Skulls & Thugs

Posted on January 30, 2012 by admin

I know that you’re curious about my newest skulls. Don’t worry. I won’t hurt you. I’ve met my quota for the month. You’re safe. At least for now. But why don’t you pull up a chair and grab yourself a beverage and let me tell you about my two latest acquisitions.

These two beauties came from a couple of thugs that I ran into the other night. I was up late doing my work when I had a craving for an order of Ali’s onion rings. Ali’s is a great little greasy spoon of an eatery that just so happens to have the best onion rings on the planet. She even makes her ranch dressing from scratch. It’s orgasmic.

Anyway, I get to Ali’s and I’m waiting at the counter for my order when these two goons walk in. They start waving their guns around and using obscene language and telling everyone to get down on the floor.

Okay, first off, I’m not getting on the floor for anybody. Gun or no gun. Let’s be honest, this wasn’t the first time I’d ever been in a situation where guns were involved. And I highly doubt that it will be my last.

Everybody in the place did as they were told except me. These guys weren’t anything to worry about. They were just a couple of meth heads jacked up and wired for sound. Easy prey. They were in total bafflement when I didn’t comply with their orders.

After a brief exchange of verbiage and a couple of sly moves by yours truly, I was able to gain the upper hand and subdue the assailants. I’ll spare you the details as I hate to brag on my own abilities.

Long story short, I saved the day and brought the two thugs back to my domicile and questioned them. I found out something very odd. They were actually hired by someone. No kidding. They were hired by this guy who was pissed at Ali. What Ali did to the guy is irrelevant. The point is, after some rigorous information gaining methods, they relinquished the name of their employer.

Funny thing, the name they gave…was your name. Looks like I’ll be exceeding my quota for the month and you’ll become the newest addition to my collection.

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Customer Review: NetTalk’s Bargain Phone Service Starts Off Strong, Then Call Quality Plunges

Posted on January 27, 2012 by admin

My home is in an area where cell phone service is spotty. One minute, my cell phone has three signal-strength bars, then the next minute, I have zero bars in the exact same spot. In hopes of getting more-reliable calling abilities, I set out in search of a home phone service in December 2011.

My initial goal was to get a traditional landline phone because of its dependability during power outages. Unfortunately, the cost was quite substantial and not within my current budget. Next, I turned to my cable company, but I found out the $ 25 monthly price it advertises doesn’t include about $ 13 in monthly taxes and fees.

Finally, I investigated Web-based phone services. The price for Vonage seemed steep at $ 26 plus taxes/fees, so I chose to take my chances on another service called NetTalk. It got a solid review from PC Magazine, and customers on Walmart’s website also sang its praises.

At the time of my purchase, the device needed to establish service (the NetTalk Duo) cost $ 70, with a $ 9.95 shipping charge. I purchased directly my unit from NetTalk so I could have the assurance of a 30-day, money-back guarantee. The cost included one year of phone service, resulting in a monthly cost of about $ 6.67 for the first year. In future years, I’d pay only for the service itself, which is currently priced at $ 29.95 annually (plus tax). The service includes free calls to the U.S. and Canada, call waiting, caller ID and call forwarding.

My experience with the NetTalk Duo got off to a strong start. It was easy to set up, compatible with my Internet router and seemed to work well with the new digital cordless phones I’d purchased. Sometimes there was a one- or two-second delay in me being able to hear the people I called, but I was willing to live with that.

About three weeks after I began using the NetTalk Duo, the real problems began. I started to hear a noise while having conversations that sounded like someone trying to dial an outgoing number. It sounded like two or three buttons on the phone being pushed, even though I was the only person at home. The person on the other end of the call could not hear these sounds, but I found them loud and disruptive to the conversation. As the problem worsened, I had one incident in which the tone sound started and would not stop. I finally had to hang up to end the call; I couldn’t hear the person I was talking to at all.

I contacted NetTalk via its online technical support system and submitted a trouble ticket. I received a prompt response, and a technician sent a firmware update to my NetTalk device. When I reported back that the problem continued after the software was installed, I received a response which said, in part, “Unfortunately the issue you are experiencing is a VoIP issue called ‘DTMF Talk Off’ which affects many different VoIP providers. The vocal sounds made by you or the other party are being misinterpreted by the system as the push buttons on your phone, which it is making a misguided attempt to repeat. Women’s voices are particularly prone to this…”

I’d like to hear from users of other Web-based (also known as voice over IP) phone services like Vonage, Ooma and NetTalk. Have you dealt with call quality issues, including those described here? Please share your good and bad experiences so we can all be more-informed shoppers.

For more tips on avoiding customer service nightmares and saving money, visit my blog: Who Cares About Customers?

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Surviving the Aftermath of the Holidays

Posted on January 23, 2012 by admin

Three tips that really help pay the bills and keep one afloat during these trying times are surprisingly, simple, easy and uncomplicated to accomplish.

Tip One

Pay only part of each utility bill for the next two months. This will keep your servers satisfied and understanding to some extent. However, servers may add the dreaded late fees to your next bill, but at least you won’t have ‘shut off’ alternatives to worry about. And with winter invading the entire country, that would be tragic.
Stall all card payments made for Christmas shopping until March. Don’t sweat, credit ratings are the least of your worries, and they will make little difference, if any at all.

Tip Two.

If you can get in a few more hours of work, go for it, every extra bit helps. It’s not wrong to ask your boss, infact, most often it shows courage and desire to survive versus giving up the need to live!
If extra hours are not available, don’t loose hope, instead follow strict guidelines for your next shopping trips for at least three months.
Cut down on ‘name brands’ and expensive meat cuts. Inexpensive meat cuts are just as tasty (often have more flavor) and only requires inventive cooking styles.
Cut down on shopping trips. It saves gas and the unnecessary commodities we can do without after the many splurges over the holidays.
Family ‘food throwdowns’ are an awesome way to get the whole family involved making great food dishes with less expensive ingredients for family dinners. They always work and are so much fun. They give a whole new concept to meal time, trust me!

Tip Three.

Get ready for this one, it’s the kicker tip!
Avoid the bars, movie halls and eating out. Yes, these are major throwbacks on your wallet, and my friend, the best money saving tip you can follow without too much regrets.
If you can car pool or better still walk to work, do it, gas is not getting any cheaper, so why fight it. Embrace it.
Instead of letting local gyms eat away at your wallet, close membership and use that cash to catch up on utility bills, while getting your workout (and more… in satisfaction) by walking to place of work and back.
Cut out the unnecessary luxuries like theraeputic massages, nail makeovers and restyling hairdos for two months. You’ll feel yourself again when the bills are caught up and the unnecessary luxuries begin again!

And in the end, three months from now, when you jingle at your pockets and you hear the sound of paper instead of coins, you know you’ve won the battle on surviving the aftermath of Christmas.
Now would be a good time, to start paying off credit cards in small amounts.

A good new year resolution….. tear up those credit cards before the next celebration. A magic rule of thumb to follow……buy only what you can pay for upfront.

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How to Close a Sale when a Customer Doesn’t Want to Sign a Contract

Posted on January 21, 2012 by admin

One of my biggest challenges as an inside sales person for a small phone company is, if I want to earn commission on a new sale, the customer needs to sign a contract with us. This isn’t always as easy as it sounds because there are plenty of customers out there who are simply opposed to signing any sort of agreement.

In fact, out of every 10 customers I talk to, I average 3 who don’t want to commit for any length of time. Some of them like the idea of being able to shop around whenever they want. Others don’t know if they’ll be in business that long and some simply feel I should be offering our best rates on a month-to-month basis.

Overcoming their hesitation is somewhat challenging and there are some that I can’t sell to. However, I do manage to ultimately sell to a good portion of those customers by making a little extra effort.

One of the first things I attempt to do is explain how the contract benefits the customer. I believe the majority of customers who hesitate when asked to sign a contract do so because they believe the agreement is one-sided. And, as someone who has read our contracts, I have to admit they do seem that way at first glance.

In my specific case, I can remind the customer we are guaranteeing a certain rate or discount for the length of the contract. This does make my customers much more comfortable when they sign it.

If there’s still some doubt, I then take the time to explain exactly why we require the contract. In our particular case, to get lower rates, we have to commit to contracts with our vendors. When I explain it that way, most of my customers do understand why I, in turn, need to have them sign an agreement too.

If all else fails, I look for some sort of extra incentive to offer them. This isn’t always possible and what I can offer does vary quite a bit depending on the size of the customer. But, I have found that even a small extra incentive (such as a one-time $ 10 credit) will often be enough to get a customer over that final hurdle because it shows we are willing to invest in them in order to get their business for the long-term.

As I said before, this doesn’t work for every customer and there will be some that won’t sign a contract regardless of what I do. But, by making the extra effort the first time they tell me no, I have definitely increased my sales commissions.

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Tax Checklist: Don’t Overlook These Important Deductions

Posted on January 19, 2012 by admin

Now that the holidays are over and you have hopefully kicked off the new year on a positive note, the next big hurdle is to prepare for tax season. That means getting your receipts together, going through tax records and getting your accounting paperwork in order. Here is a short deduction checklist to jump start your efforts:

Travel expenses. Traveling for business purposes can involve hotel rooms, airfare, dry cleaning and other expenses that can quality for deductions.
Professional fees. All fees paid to lawyers, CPAs, consultants and other professionals for business purposes can generally be deducted in the year they were incurred.
Home office. If you use a portion of your home for conducting your business, which includes meeting with clients or administrative work, you can most likely also deduct a portion of the indirect expenses related to your home office like utilities.
New equipment. Don’t forget to deduct that new printer, computer, camera or fax machine if they are used for business.
Educational expenses. College courses, seminars, books and DVDs used to grow your business or enhance your skill sets may qualify as tax deductions.
Energy saving improvements. Don’t forget to deduct energy-efficient improvements that you may have made to your home. Energy saving appliances, windows or doors can all qualify for additional deductions.
Job hunting deductions. Unfortunately for some, unemployment has been a stark reality this year. However, you can deduct some of the expenses incurred while looking for a job. If you traveled, hired an agency or had a resume prepared, you can most likely deduct those expenses.

It’s important to take all the deductions you can to come out ahead this tax season. The best tip is to hire a professional tax preparer to ensure that you properly itemize the most deductions with the least chance of being audited.

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Taj Mahal: Avoiding Tourist Guides, Protecting Your Wallet and Preserving Your Sanity

Posted on January 17, 2012 by admin

More than 3 million people each year visit Agra to see what is perhaps the grandest architectural wonder of the world-the Taj Mahal. Many tourists are so excited to be able to view this monument and take the perfect picture, they are quite surprised by the logistical and bureaucratic challenges, and other nuisances on their way to the Taj Mahal. Unfortunately, Agra is rife with beggars, scammers and touts that can ruin your vacation. The worst of these pesky nuisances is the “guide.”

There are two types of guides in Agra. The authorized, licensed, educated guide speaks several languages (including German, French, Spanish, Mandarin and Japanese) and is knowledagle about the history, architecture and stories surrounding the Taj Mahal. You can find his information from either your hotel concierge, or your travel guide. Be advised, he gets booked months in advance.

The other is the ubiquitous guide, extremely friendly at first, then progressively becoming more annoying and obnoxious. He will invade your personal space, gawk at you or your female companions, talk nonsense in thickly accented English, want to borrow your sunglasses or cap, and try to sell you stuff you don’t want. Finally, he will insist on being part of every photograph you take in front of the Taj. When you tell him to take a picture of you and your spouse, his buddy will quietly sneak up and stand behind you. Your best bet is to identify and disengage this type of guide.

The onslaught will begin as soon as you exit your vehicle in the parking lot. An extremely friendly man will start a conversation with you or begin escorting you to the eco-friendly cab area. Unless you strongly discourage him (repeatedly) in the first few minutes, this person will become your de facto guide and you must pay a hefty sum (INR 500-1000, roughly $ 10-20) to get rid of him.

Then you will encouter the footmuff seller. This person, often a child 10 years old, will first give you footmuffs as a gift. If you accept without bargaining, or asking the price, you will have to pay whatever he asks, which will vary based on the seller’s assessment of your financial status and savvy. INR 10 (about 25 cents) is a fair price for a pair of footmuffs although foreign tourists can expect to pay INR 50-150.

The distance to the Taj Mahal from the parking lot is a 10 minute walk (or a 5 minute ride). Most likely, the driver of your parked car will recommend an eco-cab, perhaps because he wants you to avoid beggars and other nuisances, or perhaps he has received a commission from the eco-cab driver. If you decide to hail a cab, you will need to make sure it has only one driver. If a driver’s friend or apprentice, or your footmuff seller’s friend rides with you in the front and you do not tell him to dismount, he has become your guide and you must pay to get rid of him.

Your cab ride will end a hundred meters short of the Taj Mahal complex entrance. Here you will be offered samples of handcrafted miniature Taj Mahals and pill boxes made from marble and semi precious inlaid stones. Unfortunately, unless you are an expert, you may not be able to judge its value (or its material) and you risk being seriously ripped off. Your best bet for buying Taj related memorablia is a government approved handicrafts store, in the main shopping areas of Agra, Jaipur or Delhi.

Admission to the Taj Mahal involves standing in line to buy tickets. Here too, you will encounter friendly men who will walk up to you to help you buy tickets at the discounted Indian rate. You might be able to save on the tickets (although they will be checked again), however, you will have bought yourself a guide.

Since admission for Indian nationals is very affordable, guides will be available for pestering even inside the Taj garden. They will offer to take your photograph, or invade your personal space with a running commentary. If you have been strong so far, do not cave in and maintain your disinterested and aggressive stance until the guide has left your presence. You will realize after a few more steps that you are in front of Taj Mahal–the most beautiful architectural gem in the world, and you have yourself and your family to enjoy and take it its magnificient view.

More on the Taj Mahal: Local Travel Tips
$ 1 roughly equals 50 INR (Indian Rupee)

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Protecting My Home While I’m on Vacation

Posted on January 10, 2012 by admin

A major concern for me while my family and I are vacationing is the security of our home and the valuables it houses inside. My family takes significant measures to make sure our house stays safe while we are out of town. Here is a look at how we protect our home when we are out of town on vacation and how the measures we take cost very little.

House-Sitter

To make sure our house is secure while we are away, we have a friend stay at the house. We do not board our dogs so we need someone there to care for them. Our house-sitter’s presence at the house reassures us, and our house looks like we are home when we are really 2,000 miles away.

Very Careful With Who Has Access to my House Key

I am very careful with who I give a copy of my house key to. I do not want everyone and their grandmother having access to my home. The people I give my key to are very close family members and friends. I do not want anyone taking advantage of our trust while we are away on vacation.

Perimeter Checks Prior to Leaving the House

Prior to leaving the house for our vacation, we perform perimeter checks. Basically, we want to make sure all windows, doors and gates are locked securely. We double check each window and door as a precaution. I would much rather be safe than sorry when it comes to home security.

Leave Lights On

Whether my family is gone for five minutes or five days, we have adopted the habit of always leaving a few lights on. This gives our house the appearance that someone is home and awake. Essentially, this is a burglary deterrent and is a habit I have maintained for most of my life.

Neighbors

Because I live on a very small block, it would be pretty hard to break into my house and not have my neighbors hear. Neighbors keep an eye for trouble around our house when we are gone and keep us informed if anything does happen.

The last thing I want to worry about when I go on vacation is the security of my home. That is why we take measures to protect our valuables and our home, so we can enjoy our much deserved vacation.