My name is Lisa Gold and I am an industry expert having over 10,000 hours of professional stage and on camera experience. I moved to New York in 1996 with my sites set on Broadway and somehow made a RIGHT turn into the networking, education and training biz. Seeking the ultimate flexible day job, my friend Tony Nation and I decided to buy a small mom and pop networking company called Actors Connection in 2000. Whew, we had no idea what we were in for but somehow have managed in the last decade to grow the studio into the #1 Networking/Educational facility it is today. I found out I love business and the creative aspect of owning and running one, and though it was something that took me by surprise, I must say that every day it lights me up and turns me on. Go figure.
I′m the daughter of a comedian father and a stay at home mom. Somehow I ended up being this loudish, funny, very outgoing singer, dancer, model, actress, waitress…and now a trainer and coach/consultant in the area of show business education for actors.
I attended North Carolina School of the Arts and also the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music before leaving to study acting and singing privately with several fabulous coaches and teachers in both LA and NY. My first professional gig was as a singer/dancer in “Hooray for Hollywood”, doing 5 shows a day, 6 days a week, at Carowinds theme park in Charlotte, NC when I was barely 16. To this day I’m surprised my parents let me go there for the entire summer on my own!
In the few short years since then (tee hee) I’ve also had the privilege of performing for Presidents, Astronauts (the 20th anniversary of the first lunar landing) and in a ton of musicals. One of the highlights of my acting career was the three months I spent working on the soap, All My Children, as I’ve been a fan almost since the beginning of the show…ok, now you know I’m a bit older than I may have earlier implied.
What I do these days
I created Act Outside the Box to empower actors who want to build a career, not just get a job. Even with many actors gaining representation, getting auditions and gigs through Actors Connection, I still saw this huge gap for many more. Since I had developed so many wonderful relationships with so many agents and casting directors over the years, I had the opportunity to really listen to what they were looking for, and needing from, actors. I heard time and time again that most just don’t realize that this is a business and that truthfully, talent just isn’t enough. Just like love I guess…which may be why I′m still single at 48, but I digress.
I began to study traditional marketing, then social media marketing, and with my own business background and skills, combined with what I learned over the years from these industry professionals, I created a business curriculum that delivers this very important information. This stuff isn’t taught in any school – I’m sorry, one class or a semester in college, taught by someone not currently in the biz, is totally insufficient to navigate the tricky waters of the business of show!
Why I do it
As a child my fondest desire was to be up there on that stage, accept my Emmy/Oscar/Tony/Grammy etc., and travel to exotic locations, walk the red carpet and go to fabulous parties. (You, too?) But after years as a performer, and then the years of listening and learning at AC, I realized I loved making an impact on a lot of lives, not just my own. I’m just a big softie, wanting to be a contribution to others and end the “starving artist” syndrome, that’s all. Now I dream about, talk about, and love working all aspects of Act Outside the Box. I enjoy most being up on my “new” stage and teaching the business to actors so that they (again, you) can have a real shot at attaining your dreams. Not the airy fairy stuff that is promised elsewhere…we all know those people and places abound, but to genuinely inspire folks to take ACTION to produce their own results. There really is no such thing as that mysterious “big break”. It’s hard work over time. There, mystery solved.
How to connect with me
I love to help actors start and build their careers, and I can help you too. I′ve created evening seminars, all day workshops, audio and video downloads, DVD’s, CD’s – you name it. There are so many ways for you to get the vital info you need, it might be hard to choose! You already know the SHOW, now you can learn the other half, the BUSINESS.
And for those that want a little more personal attention and would like to work with me privately, I have several coaching options available, from email programs and Skype consults, to one on one consults customized for individual attention. I also have a monthly group mentoring program that’s affordable and a combination of in-person meetings, teleseminars, and social networking events.
I can help you get from your great desire to be a working actor to having a fully functioning, income producing acting career in much less time that it would take you to figure it out on your own!
Looking forward to meeting you!
~ Lisa Gold
Guest Teachers
Tracy Costa
Tracy Costa has been a working professional actor for over 10 years. Like most of us, she has also had all sorts of day jobs including teaching artist, administrative assistant, crisis counselor, staffing associate, and once she even played a pigeon at the Queens Zoo.
In 2005, Tracy began her Virtual Assistant Company, Gal Friday’s Office, and hasn’t had to have a job interview since. When she isn’t auditioning or doing voice-over work, she is assisting Lisa Gold with her administrative and technical needs (and she needs!). She is also a Certified Professional Resume Writer and opened up ResumeRev in 2010 so she could help other people find their dream jobs.
Gary Ploski
Gary Ploski is an actor and a technologist. Finding his passion for acting in 1999, he has performed in a variety of classical and contemporary shows as well as in short films, webseries and feature film projects. Gary is also the creator of a webseries called “Cast to Curtain” in which he documents the behind the scenes process of an actor.
His passion for acting is only equaled by his passion for computers due to Radio Shack’s Tandy TRS-80 from waaaaaaay back. Currently he is an Instructional Technologist at Sarah Lawrence College teaching students, faculty and staff about topics including social media, RSS, sustainability and more.
He not only talks the social media talk, he walks the walk. Gary launched and completed the first Twitter anti-smoking advocacy campaign using the hashtag #losethecig.
Bob Johnson
Bob Johnson is a published playwright, journalist, comedy critic, photographer and author. He currently earns most of his living working in communications positions in the worlds of theater, dance, music, and higher education.
Bob coaches individual clients in video editing, Photoshop, web design, social media and promotion. He is the videographer and web series developer for Act Outside the Box, and a social media consultant for Actors Connection and Singers Forum. Little known fact: his favorite role as a performer was “Toto” in his high school production of The Wizard of Oz.
Chris Lucas
Chris Lucas has been a professional actor for twenty years, working steadily only for the last ten, however. What changed that? Chris finally realized that it’s all about the business side and that concentrating on marketing and networking can be as effective and enriching as working on your craft.
Thanks to focused mailing and research, Chris was able to, among other things, book a recurring voice-over role on a hit video game franchise, featured roles in Emmy winning productions, finance a one person stage show, and launch a major motion picture about his father’s life starring Stanley Tucci and directed by an Academy Award winning director we cannot yet name (deal is almost signed!) Chris did all of this by stepping “outside the box” and making ONE phone call.
Chris’ goal is to show fellow actors and performers how simple it is to expand and improve their contact list, keeping themselves in the minds of casting directors, producers, directors and the rest of the decision makers who really matter in this business.
Amy Eidelman
Amy Eidelman is a certified image consultant and make-up artist with over seven years of experience working with artists and other professionals. Her mission is to help people discover their unique style and empower them with the tools and knowledge to communicate that in all aspects of their image.
Amy previously worked as a skincare and product expert for Sephora for over four years where she trained employees nationally in color, complexion, skincare, fragrance and hair care. She has also held positions as a sales and merchandise manager for some of her favorite retailers which include Bloomingdale’s and Saks Fifth Avenue. Before pursuing her passion for fashion and education, she received her B.F.A. from the University of Michigan in musical theatre and performed in regional theatres such as Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera, Northshore, MUNY Opera along with local venues such as the Supper Club and the Laurie Beechman. Amy is a member of AFTRA and Actors Equity. For more information check out www.eidelmanimage.com
Jean-Marc Berne
Jean-Marc Berne is president of Berne Media Enterprises, a creative media consulting and production company that also specializes in the Spanish marketplace. A busy voice talent and voice over coach as well, Jean-Marc is fluent in English, Spanish, French and Haitian Creole.
His voice over credits include audiobooks and commercials including Bud Light, McDonalds, Pfizer and Western Union, just to name a few. He has also produced and consulted for companies such as HUD, the National Fair Housing Alliance and the National Alliance of Public Charter Schools. He recently voiced the role of the World Grand Prix commentator for Disney Pixar’s upcoming ‘Cars 2’ in Spanish. For more info on Jean-Marc Berne and Berne Media Enterprises, please visit: www.nextcat.com/jeanmarcberne.
