Selling Your Specialty Act To Hollywood by Shaunnery Steevans

Reviewed by Jamy Ian Swiss (originally published in Genii January, 1998)

This is a practical little no-frills manual on how to market your novelty skills as a specialty act to the Hollywood film and television community. The essence of this approach, which differs greatly from selling yourself as a name feature, is aptly summarized by the author on page two: "You don't have to be Copperfield, Bozo the Clown or the Amazing Anybody to land jobs. Why? Because nobody casts by ability. They mostly cast by looks. And then the price. I know because I've lost many jobs simply because I wasn't the right type they were looking for. Regardless of what anyone may tell you, most of the time Hollywood doesn't need or want an expensive celebrity specialty act. Why should they pay the amazing Joe Amazo a half million dollars to vanish a card when anyone can do it?"

If you can grasp the essence of the author's points, you will know if this book will be useful to you. It comes complete with a sample resume, a list of agents, information about unions and more. Once more, let's hear from Mr. Steevans: "Get used to that term, 'Specialty Act'. Because whether you're rollerskating, cracking a whip or humming on a kazoo, that's what you are. A specialty act. or a variety, novelty, vaudeville act." If you want to try to market yourself in this manner, the modest investment in this simple guide probably wouldn't go to waste.