Mentoring for young adults starting a career in entertainment helps a new assistant, production assistant, coordinator, performer or creative build the structure the industry does not hand out: a weekly plan, money habits for uneven paychecks, a system for contacts and follow-ups, rest that survives 12 hour days, and a clear view of what the next step is. A Blackburn mentor meets one on one by video anywhere in the United States, or in person in Los Angeles, with early morning, evening and weekend times built for people whose days belong to someone else’s schedule.
Why the first years in entertainment are hard to structure
- Assistant years are long and loosely defined. Desk, set and office assistant jobs are how many careers start, with long hours and little formal training. Our guides to getting into the film industry and a first job in media explain the roles.
- Work is project based. Federal data describes performing assignments as usually lasting from one day to a few months, with periods without work in between (BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Actors). Many crew and creative jobs follow the same pattern.
- Pay is uneven. A good month and a lean month can sit side by side. See budgeting with irregular income.
- Unions and eligibility rules matter. Many performer and craft jobs are covered by unions with their own joining rules, for example the performers’ union SAG-AFTRA. We are not advisers on membership; we help clients keep track of what they have learned and what they are working toward.
- Nobody checks your goals. A boss will tell you what they need today. No one asks where you want to be in three years, or whether you are any closer.
What a mentor works on
- A weekly plan that fits the job. Protecting a few hours for your own writing, reel, classes, auditions or portfolio, even in a 60 hour week.
- Follow-through on relationships. A simple contact list, thank you notes, check-ins with people you met on the last job, and a habit of doing it every week.
- Money habits. A baseline budget, a cushion for gaps between jobs, and tracking what you earn. Mentors do not give financial or tax advice.
- Health basics that survive the schedule. Sleep, meals and exercise planned around call times and late nights.
- Decisions. Stay in a role or move, freelance or staff, Los Angeles or elsewhere, and how to talk to family about it.
- Resilience after rejection. A routine for the day after a pass, a cancelled show or a lost job, so momentum comes back fast.
Who this is for
- Recent graduates who just moved to Los Angeles for an assistant or production job. See moving to LA to act and moving to Los Angeles in your 20s.
- Assistants at agencies, management companies, studios, networks and production companies who want a path beyond the desk.
- Performers balancing a survival job with auditions. See an actor survival job routine.
- Former young performers starting adult careers on or off camera.
- Young adults in industry families starting their own careers. See mentoring for teens and young adults in entertainment families.
How it works
- Call (888) 305-5422 or complete the short assessment at get started.
- A free 20 minute intro call by video.
- We match you with one mentor, usually within two business days.
- 60 minute sessions weekly or several times a week, with text and phone contact between sessions. Times include early morning, evening and weekends.
- Sessions are private. If a parent or someone else helps pay, they receive updates on engagement only if you agree in writing.
Mentoring is not career representation, acting coaching, therapy or job placement. We never promise jobs or bookings. If what is going on is more than structure and follow-through, Blackburn Clinical Services, our sister practice, offers therapy and psychiatry for people who work in entertainment. If you are struggling with your mental health, a licensed professional is the right step; in a crisis, call or text 988.
Grew up performing and now changing direction? See mentoring for former child performers.
Related
- Mentoring for entertainment industry families
- Mentoring and coaching for actors and creatives
- Early career mentoring
- Recent college graduate mentoring
- Balancing a creative career and a day job
- How to get into the music industry
Common questions
I work 60 hour weeks as an assistant. When would sessions happen?
Mentors offer early morning, evening and weekend times, and sessions are by video, so you can meet from home or wherever you are that day.
Will a mentor help me get a job in entertainment?
A mentor will not place you or represent you. A mentor helps you plan, follow through on applications and relationships, and keep building your own work, which is what tends to move careers forward.
Do you work with actors and performers too?
Yes. Performers use mentoring for routines, submissions, money habits and resilience between jobs.
My parents are paying. Will they hear what I say?
No. Sessions are private. A parent who helps pay can receive updates on engagement only if you agree in writing.
Do I need to live in Los Angeles?
No. Sessions are by video anywhere in the United States. Los Angeles clients can also meet in person.
Can a mentor advise me about union membership?
No. Each union sets its own rules, so check the union directly. A mentor can help you keep track of your plan and next steps.
Get started
Starting out in entertainment and want structure? Call (888) 305-5422, email contact@blackburnmentoring.com or start with a short assessment. A member of our team reviews every assessment personally and sets up a free 20 minute intro call.
Free, by video, 20 minutes, with a member of our team. Weekdays 9 to 5 Pacific.