7 Tips for Building Your Network in the Entertainment Industry (Even if you live outside Los Angeles)
A strong personal network will generate opportunities and make you more appealing to agents and managers. Here's how to create one.
Use personal recommendations to create opportunities for yourself.
This is the number 1 piece of advice I give to writers looking to break into film & tv writing. Whether you're trying to get a manager, get hired for your first staffing job, or sell your spec script to a studio, your big break is most likely going to come from a personal connection. But inevitably, whenever I say this, writers respond with "But what if you don't have any personal connections?"
I have two answers to this:
1) You probably do, actually, if you just look a little deeper.
Before we go any further, grab a pen and paper and write down 5 potential connectors in your life who MIGHT be able to help you.
You might think you don’t know anyone, but I challenge you to get creative. Think about:
friends
family
friends of friends
co-workers
Twitter friends
teachers
neighbors
parents of kids on your child’s soccer team
have you tried asking your mom? (This might sound like a joke, but the mom network is strong. I have gotten so many recommendations from my mom. They always know someone who knows someone who knows someone).
I’m serious. Write down five names before reading any further. Even if you’re not sure whether they could or would help you.
Okay, I am sure you have done what I asked because my readers are driven to succeed and excellent at following the actionable advice that I give them! We’ll come back to this list later. But first, I want to give the rest of my advice.
2) Personal connections are not something (most of us) are born with. They are something we make.
Saying "but what if I don't have any personal connections" is like saying "but what if I'm not good at writing?"
You're not going to get anywhere until you develop that skill.
Here's how:
Tip #1: Engage your dormant contacts.
Enroll in Jordan Harbinger's FREE 6-Minute Networking Course.
Once you do that, you'll be given the first exercise: Scroll down to the bottom of your text message inbox and message the person you haven't talked to longer than anyone else in your phone. Ask how they're doing and what they have been up to. Try to see if there is anything you can do to help them.
Do this with five people from your contacts every day.
As you re-engage the people in your life and talk about what you both are doing, opportunities will present themselves. Even if the opportunity doesn't immediately present itself, if something does come up later, it will be much easier to ask someone for a favor if you are regularly chatting with and checking in on them. No one wants to do a favor for someone who only hits them up every couple of years when they need something.
One bonus fun thing I have noticed in this activity:
People you're not close with are usually on guard when you reach out with "Hey, how's it going? What have you been up to?" I assume they think I'm about to pitch them my MLM.
But when they find out I have no agenda and just want to hear from them, I can feel their pleasant surprise.
We usually end up having a brief and encouraging conversation.
This will unlock untold opportunities for you.
Tip #2: Ask for what you want.
How are the people in your life going to help you if you keep your goals a secret?
Start being more open with everyone you talk to. Tell them about your writing journey, your struggles, your triumphs, and the projects you're working on. People LOVE pointing out the obscure connections that they have to the entertainment industry. Trust me.
If you are a practical person, look at it this way: People will be more likely to help you if your goals are in the back of their head from a recent conversation.
If you are a spiritual person, look at it this way: The universe will bring you abundant gifts and opportunities, but you need to put that intention out there so that it knows where to work its magic as it conspires in your favor.
Tip #3: Offer value in return.
A big obstacle to intentional networking (especially among sensitive writer types) is the fear of seeming “icky” or feeling like you’re “using” people.
The way to not do that is simple. Just… Don’t use people. Here’s how to network in a genuine, mutually enjoyable way:
1. Only network with people you like.
There are millions of people in this world who can help you.
I am not exaggerating. According to a study by IBISWorld data, there are over 3 million people who work in the entertainment industry in the United States. This means there is absolutely no reason to be friends with anyone unless you legitimately enjoy hanging out with them.
If you’re only befriending people you like, then you’re not using them. You’re friends with them.
2. Start with how you can help them.
There is nothing wrong with asking for a favor.
Your friends want to help you. Doing favors for our friends makes us feel useful and powerful. But this relationship should not be a one-way street. You can cultivate a strong network by constantly seeing if there are ways to proactively help your friends achieve their goals.
Double the effectiveness of this by introducing two of your friends who can help each other to each other.
I am going to repeat this because it is one of the most important and underrated ways to grow and strengthen your network:
Introduce your friends who can help each other to each other.
If your primary aim is to help your friends achieve their goals, then they’re going to respond in kind with gratitute and a willingness to go out of their way to help you.
Tip #4: Seek out the kinds of people you want to know.
As you grow your network, it’s helpful to put yourself in a position where you’re meeting people who can help you.
There are two places to do this. I recommend pursuing both simultaneously for maximum results as quickly as possible.
1) The Internet
There are countless opportunities for you to develop a network of creatives online.
“Writer Twitter” has its drama and downsides, but I have heard of dozens of success stories as well. It’s a great place for like-minded people to connect and offer support to one another. There are also more private, specific forums that cater directly to aspiring creatives, like the Stage 32 Community.
Once you start putting yourself out there in whatever online medium you choose, your orbit will collide with other people who are doing the same thing. Pull them into your network and see how you can help one another.
2) In Person
Just because you don’t live in Los Angeles doesn’t mean you can’t meet people out in the world.
Here are a few suggestions for places to create and strengthen relationships in your entertainment industry network:
Plan a yearly LA trip
If it’s within your budget and scheduling capabilities, I recommend trying to plan at least one in-person trip to LA each year.
When clients of mine are in town for only a short period of time, they often find it easier to convince contacts to meet up with them because they only have a small window of opportunity. Hollywood types are notoriously flaky, so we actually end up hanging out with our out-of-town friends more than our local friends because we can’t reschedule the meeting.
Try to find an excuse to get out here: a friend’s film screening, a pitch fest, or even just a vacation gives you the opportunity to put in some facetime with the locals.
Writer-Focused Conferences
The Austin Film Festival is a tentpole networking opportunity that every writer should try to get out to at least every few years.
But there are tons of other writer-focused conferences, retreats, and film festivals. Do some research and see if there are some near you. You won’t even have to drive very far if you live in Rhode Island, Omaha, Birmingham, or Nashville, just to name a few.
With a little research and a little courage to get out of your comfort zone, you can find situations that will put you in direct contact with writers, directors, and executives. It can cost as much or as little as you can afford. If you can spare the time and money, I recommend investing in your network.
It will inspire you to keep up the energy you need to focus on your craft every day. If you maintain those relationships long term, the opportunities that will happen as a result will pay off in dividends. But if you don’t have money, you can still invest your time in attending screenings, events, or happy hours and making the most of your involvement there.
Do something in-person at minimum once a quarter.
Your career demands it.
Fellowships & Workshops
In-person fellowships like the Stowe Story Labs or NYSAF Fellowship are competitive to get into, but the relationships you make with mentors and participants will last a lifetime.
(Can vouch. I was a mentor at three Stowe retreats last year and plan on going back for even more in 2024. And my client who participated in NYSAF in 2023 raves about her experience and is continuing to cultivate the deeply inspiring relationships she has made with her showrunner mentors).
The key is to make sure that you go into these programs with the intention to follow the rest of the advice I’m outlining here (provide value, keep in touch, only network with people you genuinely like, etc.) If you’re lucky enough to be admitted into a prestigious program like these or any other TV and feature writing fellowships, make sure that you’re making the most of that experience.
Any networking opportunity should result in 1-2 really strong friendships. No need to try and take on more than that.
Tip #5: Make friends in unexpected places.
As much as networking within the entertainment industry is helpful for your goals, you should also befriend people who have nothing to do with what you’re trying to do.
The best opportunities (and inspirations) come from serendipity. You increase your chances of crossing paths with someone life-changing when you mix up the kinds of paths that you’re on. You never know who might be able to help you, and this help can come in unexpected ways.
Don’t just network with entertainment execs and writers. Make friends at your gym. Talk to strangers at the airport. Befriend the people in your apartment building who work in other industries.
The strongest networks go beyond the immediate and the obvious. Make sure that the relationships you have and the conversations you engage in are as diverse as your community is.
You’ll be pleasantly suprised at what can come from that.
Tip #5: Be consistently helpful to your desired mentors.
The best way to get someone you admire to be your mentor is to add value to their life.
Maybe you have experience in an area they need to know more about (for example, you’re young and knowledgeable about slang and they are old. Or they are young and career-focused, while you know what it’s like to be a parent). Maybe they’re seeking someone who can help teach them how to use LinkedIn or Excel. Maybe you have great TikTok follow recommendations.
Don’t just guess. If you’re lucky enough to have a conversation with someone whose career you admire and want to emulate, listen carefully when they talk. They are human, therefore they will inevitably mention or a complaint or pain point in their life.
Find a way to solve that problem for them and give that solution to them for free.
If you don’t know how to solve any of their problems, learn the skill necessary to do so.
But what if you don’t want to solve these specific problems because they’re boring and you want to spend time doing creative things like writing??? Suck it up and do the work anyway. I want you to succeed and achieve your goals. Building a strong network is the best way to get there. But that doesn’t free you from having to pay your dues.
I did not promise 7 “easy” tips for building your network.
Tip #6: Take advice and recommendations.
This tip is simple, fun, easy, and educational.
When you find someone you think would be a great mentor, don’t directly ask them to be your mentor. That’s a huge commitment on their end and an awkward thing to ask. Instead, try asking them one specific piece of advice based on what you know about their career.
Make sure that your question is:
Not something whose answer is easily Googleable.
Something that demonstrates you have thought deeply about this topic.
Something that only they can answer.
Based on their specific career experience (i.e., don’t ask them about what it’s like to work in a comedy writers’ room if they’ve only worked in dramas).
Short and answerable (“What is the most important thing I can do tomorrow to advance my career?” “What book do you think every aspiring writer should read?” “What is your favorite TV pilot script?”)
Then go out and actually take that advice! Next time you see them or when you follow up with them, you can talk about how you implemented their wisdom and what the results were. Or if you read a book they recommended, you can talk about what parts of it resonated with you.
Then you can ask 1-2 follow up questions based on your experience. Now you two have a shared interest, and they have an emotional investment in your success. In taking that person’s advice, you become an extension of them. You have also demonstrated that you’re trustworthy and reliable. You’ll do the things that you say you’ll do. This person now knows that if they give you advice, you will actually go out and put it into practice.
This will make them more likely to respond to your questions in the future.
Rinse and repeat.
The more you do this, the more time they will be willing to spend talking to you and advising you. And the more time they spend doing that, the more invested in your success they will be.
That’s how you make someone your mentor.
But wait, there’s more!
You don’t just have to do this with mentor figures. Anyone you meet has the potential to recommend a movie they love or a series they’re obsessed with. If your town is anything like Los Angeles, people trade restaurant recommendations like currency.
After every conversation, write down what that person recommend to you (Don’t forget to make a note of who recommended it!)
Now actually go do that thing. Then follow up and check back in about how it went. Keep doing this, and you will have so much good will, you won’t know what to do with it. Plus, you’ll get to discover delicious restaurants, entertaining shows, and fascinating books.
There is no downside.
Tip #7: Put yourself in serendipitous situations.
You never know what could result in a “big break” for you.
Most likely, you’re not even going to recognize the big break when it happens. These snowballs start off small, in a seemingly insignificant conversation that leads to an introduction that leads to a conversation that leads to a party invite that leads to a partnership that leads to a project that leads to a job offer. But the one thing I can guarantee is that you will not start any of these snowballs from your couch.
Say yes to things. Go to the events you’re invited to, even if they sound pointless. Talk to someone new when you’re there. Take your headphones out of your ears at the coffee shop.
Get dinner by yourself (And put your phone away! It’s making you unapproachable).
Take risks by putting yourself into deliciously unfamiliar situations. Keep in touch with the people you meet. Networking is a numbers game, and racking up those numbers can be one of life’s great adventures if you let it.
Tip #8: Talk to strangers.
Don’t overthink this one.
You’re not going to come across as awkward. If you practice the previous tips in this article, you will do this in a genuine, helpful, productive way. When you’re out and about, when you’re traveling, when you’re running errands, when you’re in an elevator, don’t be afraid to strike up a conversation. 99.9999% of the time, it won’t result in anything. But all those chats will be good practice. You’ll build confidence. You might even make a friend.
The more friends you make, the more personal connections you have.
Keep doing this until you forgot why you started. Cultivate your network because you love the people in it and genuinely enjoy talking to them.
Then when you need a recommendation or a favor, you’ll have no trouble calling in that help.
Remember that list of five connectors you wrote down?
Pick a name from the list. The person you’re closest to. Think about how they can help you with your script:
Do you want them to read it and give you notes?
Do they know someone in the industry they can send it to?
Is there some other element of feedback or advice that would be helpful at this stage?
Now call, text, email, or reach out in whatever form of communication feels most natural for you and your relationship. Tell them what you need. Ask politely if you can send them your script.
They might say no! That’s okay. Putting yourself out there is good practice.
But what if they say yes?
Now your snowball has started, and the results will surprise you.
EXTRA CREDIT: Repeat this process with the remaining four names, one every day for the rest of the week.
Now that you have made a habit out of reaching out, you are learning to feel comfortable with the scary feeling of asking the people in your life for help.
This should be your takeaway:
People are way more receptive and more helpful than you thought they would be.
You are capable of doing this, and you are excited to put the rest of these tips into practice to build your network even wider.
If any exciting developments or good news happens for you as a result of putting the advice in this article into action, please let me know! It doesn’t need to be career-related. If you had a suprisingly positive experience that resulted in something that befitted your life in a meaningful way, I want to hear about it.
How did it feel? What happened? What did you learn?
Email me the results of your homework: audrey@audreyknox.com
Since you referenced “the mom thing”…When I think about networking it reminds of words from a Barbara Streisand song my mom would play for us as a kids… “People who need people are the luckiest people in the world…”. Happy Friday!!