COMMERCIAL SECRETS-All the TIPS to BOOKING Commercials and Voice-Overs Your Acting Coach Never Told You with John McKinney, Ex-Advertising Creative and current CD, Pomann Sound

Saturday, November 7, 2015, 10am ET / 7am PT

3pm. You've taken all the classes. You've done the private coaching thing. You've even networked with casting directors. So how come you're still having trouble getting work as a commercial actor?

Maybe it's time you talked to someone who actually hires commercial actors. Truth is, it's the ad agency who chooses the talent, not agents or casting directors. And advertising people often have very different ideas about what qualifies as good acting than film and theater people do. Which may explain why even the most talented legit actors can leave commercial auditions feeling confused and defeated.

So what qualities are those agency honchos looking for when reviewing casting reels? What are the most common mistakes actors make in auditions? And what are the secrets to interpreting those confounding and often silly-sounding TV and radio scripts?

Why not spend a Saturday with an ad guy and find out?

This enlightening, information-packed seminar aimed at helping actors master the peculiar rigors of commercial auditions. Conducted by John McKinney, a casting director, voiceover actor and former award winning copywriter with over 20 years experience in creating and casting national ad campaigns. Using a combination of lecture and hands-on mock auditions, this unique seminar/workshop will give you all the information and tools you'll need to decipher any commercial copy and deliver it in a way that is not only fresh and vibrant but that is also conceptually in line with the tone and manner that ad agencies are looking for. By the end of this class you'll be able to approach any audition with confidence and never again have to ask, "what the heck do they want with this copy?"

Some of the subjects covered in the seminar include:

-Behind the Scenes: Who chooses commercial talent and what they look for. Understanding the ad agency point of view. -Do's and Dont's: The most common mistakes commercial actors make. -Legit acting vs. Commercial acting: How they are different and how they are the same. -Script analysis: Secrets to interpreting ad copy correctly. Actors will learn how to identify copy by type and what the tone of delivery is for each. -Audition Clinic: How to interact with casting directors and translate bad or confusing direction into useful adjustments. -Product categories and how they affect tone and manner. -Understanding brands and "brand personality." -Presentation: On-camera tips, wardrobe, microphone technique and more!

John will work with each actor on-camera with a variety of commercial copy demonstrating these NEW important principals of commercial acting. Don't miss an intensive that will change how you approach and audition for commercials!

Space is limited!

Miss your chance? No worries. Actors Connection offers numerous seminars dedicated to the voice over acting in New York City. Sign up today!

TESTIMONIALS:

"I really enjoyed your commercial secrets class I attended last Saturday at Actors' Connection. You really have the business or advertising agency insight that others cannot offer. I now view commercials on TV or radio differently. I recognize aspects I never did before. I will try to instill in my auditions all the little things, and attention to detail you have made me aware of. I hope to continue my voice over training in the coming months and will stay in touch. Thanks again for all your help." -Carl Pluchinotta

"I found John's all day Saturday Commercial Secrets Class to go like a flash. And I took notes like I was back in college. The reason for all the note taking was that John did not just speak in glowing generalities. He gave us tons of useful insights, including specific guidelines for interpreting copy that we could put to use right away. I highly recommend his class to all. Thank you, John." -Tom Murphy

"Just a quick note to tell you how much I appreciated John McKinney's class this weekend - it was informative, empowering and entertaining, and I gained the perspective I needed to approach both auditions and jobs with much more confidence. John revealed the hierarchy of creators and decision makers "behind the curtain" and showed us how to identify cues right in the copy to eliminate the guess work in auditions. I would highly recommend this class to anyone pursuing commercial work!" -Elena Zazanis

"John McKinney's class encapsulates a wealth of information for any actor. He gives brilliant insights to the world of advertising and subsequently how an actor can give a truthful performance in any commercial circumstance. I highly recommend John's class for all actors, you will not be disappointed!" -Keith L. O'Brien

"This was one of the most enjoyable, entertaining, and informative industry classes that I've attended, and it was all because of John. He really knows what he's talking about, and, since he's a former copy writer on the national level, he has the insiders point of view of what works and what doesn't for commercial auditions. Between the exercises, antidotes, and instruction, the five hours really flew by, and I can tell you first hand that after taking this class, the way I approach commercial copy and auditions has completely changed for the better. I would recommend this class both to those who are looking to get into commercials and the seasoned professional." -Kelley Swindall

"John McKinney's 'Commercial Secrets' class was amazing! I've been doing radio and TV commercials for over 20 years. It was enlightening to learn things that I never knew about the business and especially to discover the 'behind the scenes' secrets from a casting standpoint. This is a must for every commercial and voice-over actor!" -Sharon Geller

"Thank you thank you thank you! What a wonderful class of great industry secrets about commercial acting. John's candid nature, witty delivery and years of experience in all facets of the industry position lends very well to him teaching this class. I was really happy I was part of the experience." -Lynne Darlington

"I took John's "Commercial Secrets" workshop as an additional support to my other TV Commercial classes I have been taking. To my big surprise this workshop ended up being much more educational and informative than expected. I've learned not only how the industry operates from the actor's perspective, but also from the perspective of people involved behind the scene. In addition, John shared with us so many of his practical tools on how to interpret and deliver a script in the most productive way . If one tool didn't help you with interpretation, there are many other tools that you can use. Bottom line: All this knowledge gained from just one day of this workshop now allows me to feel more prepared and relaxed during audition as well as to be my best while delivering! On top of that, John is very passionate about what he does and it shows every step of the way. His very friendly and open personality made me feel at ease during the whole time. Great workshop!" -Elena Rassolova

"I took this intensive and found the information to be very helpful after taking several commercial classes." -Barbara Govan

"I thought the intensive was great. John had great examples, made us all participate (experience or no experience) and shared all of his knowledge from years of experience on what would be helpful to us. You can tell he is very passionate about what he does and his energy was great. I knew the class would be interesting, but it was better than I thought it was going to be." -Dawn DePhillips

"I found Mr McKinney very informative. He gave wonderful insights regarding the commercial business and his friendly and upbeat demeanor made the class very enjoyable." -Christine McMahon

John McKinney