DO’s
Know Your Product. If you don’t believe you have something important to offer, why should anyone else?
Share Info. Think of networking as sharing valuable information which may help someone else. Do you know about an audition? Let your network know. It will come back to you.
Ask for Help. Think of asking for support (information, contacts, help) as a sign of strength, courage, and wisdom.
Network Constantly. Integrate networking into your daily activity: rehearsal, riding the elevator, a coffee shop, setting up auditions.
Follow Through. Be genuine in your offers of support and information to others. Follow up promptly on your promises and on contacts given to you.
Seek to Help. Be friendly, sincere, and more interested in how you can help someone else than what you can get for yourself.
Listen. Pay attention to others’ needs. You may be able to help, and establish a valuable contact in doing so.
DON’Ts
Think of Yourself as a Taker. Think of yourself as giving something to someone else, not taking something you don’t deserve.
Keep Score. Give of your own resources without expecting a return–others will naturally want to reciprocate.
Go It Alone. You’re happy to help your friends, aren’t you? They’ll be happy to help you, too.
Be Afraid to Ask for Support. Everyone needs help sometimes, and people are usually flattered to be asked for advice and assistance, especially if you follow it and let them know how well it worked for you.
Push. If your focus is on results rather than relationships, you’ll appear to have a selfish agenda, and people will be less likely to offer help.
Quit. You are going to be rejected but don’t take it personally, and keep your goal in sight. Remember this is business.
