ACTING OPPORTUNITIES

Here are a few ideas on maximizing your any acting opportunities that might come your way, or creating the opportunities in the first place.

HAVING AN AGENT

An agent can get your face seen in places that you alone could not. This increases the likelihood of you getting work. The more swings you make the more balls you hit! But there are many acting opportunities to be found without an agent. Though nearly all Film, TV, Broadway and Off Broadway productions will exclusively use agent submissions, you can still find work without an agent. Community and Dinner Theatre, student and some Indie films will take unrepresented actors.
The more experience and skills you have the more likely it is that an agent will take you on. An agent makes money when you work, so they will be keen to sign you up if you can show what an asset you will be to them. There is nothing wrong with sending a Resume and Headshot (more on those later), but it’s essential that you send follow-up cards letting the agent know where and when you will be working, so they can see for themselves what a good actor you are.

RESUMES

Resumes help, they help in getting an agent but once you have one, your agent will use it to get you auditions. There are some rules for resumes, here are are the major ones.

Keep it to one page (8.5 x 11), if its more than one page the pages might get separated and details lost.

Make it neat. People have been known to get around the above restriction by using a small font size, its a judgement call but if the type is too small it will be hard to read.

The Headshot should be recent, but use a photograph that shows you at your absolute best.

Make sure that all your contact information is correct, its also an idea to set up an email address specifically for your acting correspondence, this may stop you deleting essential emails.

The big tip for resumes is DON’T LIE! We have all exaggerated something on an application form at some time, but you should be very careful about what you say you can do on your resume. Future opportunities could be endangered if you lie and you will look foolish if you’ve put motorcycle riding down as a skill and on your first day on set you have to admit you just to get the part.

LOCAL COMMERCIALS

The majority of acting opportunities are focused around the major cities like New York and L.A. But other opportunities crop up all over the country, some of which I mentioned in the opening paragraph. The most lucrative can be commercials for local car dealerships, restaurants and large local stores. These are usually produced by local agencies who will normally use local talent because it’s easier and cheaper than flying in someone from L.A. The director will still only hire actors with the relevant skill and look, but you can improve your opportunities if you have a diverse or “ethnically ambiguous” look, i.e. if you can pass for more than one type of race.

Thanks for taking the time to read this article, I hope that it’s given you a few ideas on maximizing your acting opportunities. Follow this link if you are looking for more information on your Acting Career.

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Acting Career | How to Start Your Acting Career

Most celebrities started playing small roles on television and in the movies before they got their big break. So if you plan to start your acting career, chances are you will have to endure the same thing until a director or executive producer sees that you are ready for a major role. For more info visit Acting Career.

Moving Abroad Part 4: Required Documentation for moving Overseas

In order to move and work effectively within your chosen destination it is important that you have organized and obtained the relevant documentation. Failure to do so may result in your inability to legally work or even remain in the country.

When relocating abroad the following documentation is recommended:

1) Visas and Work Permits: If you are planning to work in your new country of residence you require documentation permitting you to do so. This is available in the form of a visa and working permit. A visa is a legal document issued by a country allowing the individual holding it to enter the country for a predetermined amount of time. Working without a visa or work permit is illegal.
Before arriving in your country you must obtain this documentation from the intended destination’s Embassy that is accredited to your current country. In some cases, those moving for work related purposes may have the employer organize the Visa. Further information and entry requirements can be provided by the intended country.
Ensure you are organized and have applied for your visa well in advance before your intended departure, as it may take several months for a visa or work permit to be approved.

2) Passport: All members of the family must have their own individual passport in order to reside abroad. Applications for passports are available online. Obtaining your passport may take anywhere from two to twelve weeks so be sure to apply well in advance to avoid any delays or to effectively address unexpected issues.
Once a passport is issued it is valid for five years. Whilst living overseas it is important to renew your passport in order to keep it valid. Should your passport be stolen be sure to immediately report the situation to local authorities.

3) Birth Certificate: In the event that your passport is lost or stolen, alternate forms of identification may be required in order to replace it. Having a birth certificate on hand will ensure you are prepared should this event occur.

4) Residency Permits: Some countries may require you to hold a residency permit in order to live there. To determine whether your intended destination requires you to hold a residency permit contact your representative embassy in your intended destination.

5) Medical and Dental Records: This form of documentation is not always compulsory. As party of entry requirements some countries request the provision of medical certificates for long-term residents or students. To find out whether you are required to provide medical records for your intended destination contact your representative embassy in that country.

6) International Drivers Licence: This will aid in transportation during the initial stages of your move. This document will legally allow you to drive in most countries. Depending on your intended destination, you may be required to apply for a local drivers license after a certain period of time.


Coming Soon: Financial Issues to Consider

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Moving Abroad Part 3: Renting or Buying Abroad

An individual may choose to move abroad for many reasons. One may be required to work or study even move over for family or personal reasons. Having a friend or family member in your country of destination is always beneficial, as they may be able to help in the difficult task of finding and consequently renting or buying property. If you do not have a friend or relative currently in your intended destination do not stress, just be extra cautious whilst searching for your home.

For those moving for work or study related purposes, you may have already been offered accommodation. If accommodation is not offered, be prepared- it may be difficult to find suitable accommodation, so allow yourself plenty of time.

Before starting your search for a home, ensure you set yourself a budget to stick to. Ensure you include costs such as bond or renovations, legal fees during the process and the estate agent. It is recommended that you allow yourself an extra ten percent on which to fall back on, if costs prove to be more than initially expected.

Checking out the property market in your intended destination is imperative, to ensure you have a good idea of what you are getting yourself into. Start your research early by searching the internet for suitable accommodations. Look at a few different sites to compare prices. When looking for a residence to rent or buy opt to perform business through larger reputable companies. Request references if necessary. If it is possible you may request to speak to people who have previously done business with the company.

For each residence you make a serious enquiry about ensure you request a detailed description and/or photos. A floor plan may also be requested. Ensure you enquire about the surrounding neighbourhood and any facilities you may require such as access to shops and public transport. Ask as many people as possible for advice, particularly any contacts in your future destination. Remember, this will be your new home so it is important that you find a location you can be happy and comfortable with.

The representative embassy in the intended destination may also be able to provide information on buying or renting homes in the country.

Whilst there is no typical process when buying or renting abroad, there are some basic steps that may give you an idea of how to proceed.
1) Find an estate agent: Look for someone who makes an effort to determine your areas of interest, your budget and your needs. Obtaining an estate agent will allow you to view a variety of locations in which to buy or rent. The estate agent should also be able to provide you with further contacts to aid you in the later stages of purchasing or renting your home.

2) View the property: During this stage it is important to remain objective and keep and open mind. Do not fall in love at first sight. Gather as much information about the property as possible.

3) Agree on a price: Depending on the country (in some countries negotiating is looked upon as offensive or illegal) you may be able to negotiate a price.

4) Sign the preliminary contract and make a deposit: Once a price has been agreed on a preliminary contract is required. Before signing anything it is recommended that you obtain the services of a lawyer in your intended destination, to offer another opinion and ensure all proceedings are legal. Your estate agent may try to persuade you that a lawyer is not necessary and that they will be able to take care of all aspects of the deal. Obtaining the services of a lawyer would be more beneficial as the estate agent does not have the correct qualifications to aid you in the legal and financial side of buying or renting your home. The representative embassy in your new location will be able to provide you with a list of lawyers from which to choose. If you elect to not employ the services of a lawyer, ensure the following:
a) The land on which your home is being built is fully paid for. Some developers may borrow against the land and in the event that they become bankrupt the local authorities will reclaim this land and consequently your house.
b) If you are purchasing a property that requires renovations, ensure you thoroughly check planning laws to ensure that renovations are allowed on your property.
c) Ensure the previous owner had no debts, as these may become your responsibility.
d) If you intend to rent your home, be sure that this is legal.

At this stage you will be required to make a deposit or pay bond. If you are building or buying off a plan, you should not be required to pay the full amount up front. Many factors may affect the length between the signing of the preliminary contract to completion. Before signing the contract ensure you enquire as to the exact processes that will occur in regards to your home.

5) Completion: This stage requires the signing of further documentation and contracts and the payment of the final balance (if buying a home). May financial institutes recommend that people borrow and pay in the currency of the country they are buying in, in order to minimize risk and confusion. It is important to use official channels to transfer money during all transactions as this will provide you with records in order to claim insurance or refunds if necessary.

Coming Soon: Required Documentation for moving Overseas

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Moving Abroad Part 2-Your New Home: What do you know about it?

Before deciding to move, you should do some research on your intended destination. Every country is different and unique. Moving to a new country means you will become immersed within an entirely different culture. If you have not properly prepared for this event it will come as quite a shock to you, as all of the traditions you are familiar with are replaced with new and foreign ones.
There have been recommendations suggesting a pre-move visit to view the housing markets and job prospects; however this is not always possible nor is it particularly feasible. If however the aforementioned is a possibility, visiting your possible future destination will give you the opportunity to view the cultures and customs associated with this new country. It would also make the process of finding accommodation much easier.

In the event that a pre-move visit is not possible it is important to research and find as much information as possible about the country in which you intend to live. Start by researching information available on the internet. Here you will find a broad range of information on any topic you care to learn about. Try participating in an online forum. This will give you the chance to communicate with people who have visited or are currently living in your intended destination. Take this opportunity to voice any questions or concerns you may have.

Some information you might like to familiarize yourself with will be political, social and environmental factors of the country. These may be quite different to those you are normally accustomed to, so by learning as much as possible in advance you will ensure you are prepared and not in for any unexpected surprises once you relocate.

Learning about the social ideals of your intended destination will optimize your chances of settling in quickly and becoming comfortable with your new environment as you will be able to identify with new friends and work colleagues and socialize in a culturally appropriate manner. In the long run this will make adjusting to your new life significantly easier by creating a friendly and supportive environment within your new home.
Researching your possible new location is also important in regards to knowing the safety level and required security measures of your particular country. Some countries may be in a state of war or may have been declared dangerous, an important issue to be aware of. For information on your intended destination locate travel reports on your government website, which will be able to provide updated information on the current state of the country.

Coming Soon: Part 3 - Renting or Buying Abroad

Moving Abroad Part 1 - Finding and Evaluating Employment Overseas

Moving Abroad Part 1 of 9 - Finding and Evaluating Employment Overseas

Many people move abroad for work related purposes. Even if you are not moving abroad for reasons such as these, a permanent change in location will probably mean that you at some stage will be working in your new country.

A wide variety of work exists in most countries. This section will provide you with information on finding jobs and evaluating how suitable they will be for your situation.

Firstly, decide what it is you require in a job. Will you be building on previous skills or starting something new? How long will you be planning to work for?

There are several different ways in which an individual may search for work overseas.
The most common method of seeking employment is to do it yourself rather than rely on an agency. Start searching for work over the internet. If you begin searching after you have moved to your intended destination, try searching in local newspapers. Once you have identified suitable job, apply by following the instructions set out in the job advertisement. Application requirements will vary according to the type of job you are applying for, so ensure you read the application details carefully.

As you are offered positions, it is important you evaluate them carefully before you accept. Whilst attending interviews feel free to ask as many questions of them as they of you. Ask about the organization as a whole and to see references. It may also help to search their website online.
If you are being offered a contract make sure you examine it extremely carefully and that you agree to all outlined terms before you sign. Ensure you fully understand all details of the contract and that it details all financial conditions (such as currency wage is being paid in and when you will receive your first pay check). If you are still in your original location (i.e. have not yet moved to your new destination) it may be worthwhile to let your lawyer inspect the contract. It may also be an idea to find out the repercussions of breaking the contract if the new job does not work out. During negotiations, some employers may offer plane tickets back to your country of origin upon completion of your job, however do not always follow through. To ensure this does not happen, request an open-ended or round trip ticket in advance.
Some jobs online may sound too good to be true, and in many cases they are. Avoid jobs offering quick easy money- this is particularly true for women as these jobs often turn out to be prostitution rings.

Organizations aimed at helping people find work overseas exist, and are particularly beneficial as they eliminate the need to thoroughly investigate and research job opportunities and in many cases may organize visas, work permits and accommodation for the successful applicant.
If you hold a professional qualification it may be worth applying for work via the submission of your resume to a recruitment agency. As above, these eliminate the need for intense research into the job or company and may also provide the required documentation for working overseas.
Another method utilized in finding work abroad is obtaining a transfer through the current place of work. Some work places are able to offer posting overseas through international links. For more information it may be worthwhile contacting the human resources department in your place of employment.

Before arriving at your intended destination, plan ahead and take extra copies of your resumes and other relevant documentation in order to pursue other types of employment abroad. This will increase your chances of obtaining a job suitable to your needs.

Coming Soon:
Section 2 - Your New Home: What do you know about it?

Guide To Moving Abroad - Introduction

With the current direction our new President is taking our beloved country many might be thinking of moving abroad. Specificly those who prefer to provide for themselves instead of looking for a government handout. It's time to face the reality that those looking for a free ride, if they don't already, will soon out number those of us who prefer to prosper through our own efforts. With that in mind I will be providing a nine part guide to moving abroad. So fasten your seatbelts, tighten up those back braces and get ready for all the information you will need to plan that big move. This guide is valued at $40 but will be yours at no cost just for being a regular visitor to http://infoyoucrave.blogspot.com/.

Guide To Moving Abroad - Introduction
Moving down the street can be hard enough, let alone moving to a completely different country. Despite being one of the most exciting times of your life, it can also be particularly stressful, especially if you find yourself unprepared for what lies ahead. This guide aims to provide you with the necessary information to ensure as smooth a transition as possible to your new destination.

Coming Soon: Finding and Evaluating Employment Overseas

KURTIS THE STOCK BOY AND BRENDA THE CHECKOUT GIRL

In a supermarket, Kurtis the stock boy, was busily working when a new voice came over the loud speaker asking for a carry out at register 4. Kurtis was almost finished, and wanted to get some fresh air, and decided to answer the call. As he approached the check-out stand a distant smile caught his eye, thenew check-out girl was beautiful. She was an older woman (maybe26, and he was only 22) and he fell in love. Later that day, after his shift was over, he waited by the punch clock to find out her name. She came into the break room, smiled softly at him, took her card and punched out, then left. He looked at her card, BRENDA. He walked out only to see her start walking up the road. Next day, he waited outside as she left the supermarket, and offered her a ride home. He looked harmless enough, and she accepted. When he dropped her off, he asked if maybe he could see her again outside of work. She simply said it wasn’t possible. He pressed and she explained she had two children and she couldn’t afford a baby-sitter, so he offered to pay for the baby-sitter. Reluctantly she accepted his offer for a date for the following Saturday. That Saturday night he arrived at her door only to have her tell him that she was unable to go with him. The baby-sitter had called and canceled. To which Kurtis simply said, “Well, let’s take the kids with us.” She tried to explain that taking the children was not an option, but again not taking no for an answer, he pressed. Finally Brenda, brought him inside to meet her children. She had an older daughter who was just as cute as a bug, Kurtis thought, then Brenda brought out her son, in a wheelchair. He was born a paraplegic with Down Syndrome. Kurtis asked Brenda, “I still don’t understand why the kids can’t come with us?” Brenda was amazed. Most men would run away from a woman with two kids, especially if one had disabilities - just like her first husband and father of her children had done. Kurtis was not ordinary - - - he had a different mindset. That evening Kurtis and Brenda loaded up the kids, went to dinner and the movies. When her son needed anything Kurtis would take care of him. When he needed to use the restroom, he picked him up out of his wheelchair, took him and brought him back. The kids loved Kurtis. At the end of the evening, Brenda knew this was the man she was going to marry and spend the rest of her life with. A year later, they were married and Kurtis adopted both of her children. Since then they have added two more kids. So what happened to Kurtis the stock boy and Brenda the check-out girl? Well, Mr. & Mrs. Kurt Warner now live in Arizona , where he is currently employed as the quarterback of the National Football League, Arizona Cardinals and has his Cardinals ready for an appearance in the Super Bowl. Is this a surprise ending or could you have guessed that he was not an ordinary person? It should be noted that he also quarterbacked the Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI. He has also been the NLF’s Most Valuable Player twice, and the Super Bowl’s Most Valuable Player. And on his way to the super bowl.

It is nice to hear something good about a pro athlete, instead of the trouble that one of them is getting in off the field. I am sure that there are alot more of these nice, heart-warming stories about pro athletes, like Warrick Dunn purchasing a home for a single mother every year and others. It would be nice if the media would report more stories like this! I hope you enjoyed it.

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In her most controversial and fiercely argued book yet, Ann Coulter calls out liberals for always playing the victim -- when in fact, as she sees it, they are the victimizers. In Guilty, Coulter explodes this myth to reveal that when it comes to bullying, no one outdoes the Left. Guilty is a mordantly witty and shockingly specific catalog of offenses which Coulter presents from A to Z. And as with each of her past books, all of which were NYT bestsellers, Coulter is fearless in her penchant for saying what needs saying about politics and culture today.

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Guilty: Liberal "Victims" and Their Assault on America

Why We Fight

by Andrew Klavan

This is by way of a friendly response to the estimable Jay Nordlinger, Senior Editor at the likewise estimable National Review. Jay wrote a strong column yesterday openly saying what I’ve been hearing many conservatives express tacitly ever since the election. Reflecting on the media’s disgraceful distortion of the characters of George W. Bush, Dick Cheney and Sarah Palin, he wrote:

“It seems to me that the Left has won: utterly and decisively. What I mean is, the Saturday Night Live, Jon Stewart, Bill Maher mentality has prevailed. They decide what a person’s image is, and those images stick. They are the ones who say that Cheney’s a monster, W.’s stupid, and Palin’s a bimbo. And the country, apparently, follows.”

I’ve been hearing and reading prominent conservatives and Republicans say nearly as much on television, in print and in private conversation ever since the election. They say Sarah Palin can never make a comeback. They say the fight for small government has been lost. They say we can’t have immigration reform that protects our borders. They say we have to distance ourselves from “embarrassing” commentators like Rush Limbaugh or Ann Coulter.

No, no, no, no. What the right is experiencing at the moment is a phenomenon called “cultural para-stimuli.” You can read all about it in Tom Wolfe’s wonderful novel I Am Charlotte Simmons. It’s sort of like peer pressure on steroids. It was discovered by Nobel Laureate Victor Ransome Starling, who found that when he surrounded normal cats with cats whose behavior had been bizarrely altered by brain surgery, the normal cats began acting like the crazy cats all around them.


That’s us–surrounded by the mainstream media. So steeped are we now in their lies about our representatives, their ridicule of our commentators, their demonizing dismissal of the causes we know are just, that we’ve begun to adopt their attitudes toward ourselves! And perhaps chief among the lies they’ve sold us is the lie that they’ve won, that the media are theirs for good and all, and that Americans are going to be hoodwinked and brainwashed by their constant barrage of misinformation forever.

Well, only if we let them. And only if we in the media surrender first.

Look, the American media are in a bad way, a disastrous way. Movies, TV, literature–instead of illuminating vehicles for art and entertainment, they’ve become like the Matrix, replacing reality with a plausible leftist imitation. Journalists especially have so shamed themselves in their coverage of the last election–hounding Sarah Palin’s daughter and Joe the Plumber while all but ignoring Barack Obama’s ties to Illinois corruption, and his long and deep association with the racist anti-American Jeremiah Wright–that it’s going to take them years to recover. When people shame themselves that badly, they don’t admit it in a hurry. They savage their critics instead and continue their own shameful practices as a kind of defiant denial–anything rather than look in the mirror and confront what they’ve turned themselves into.

So yeah, we’re on our own for now. But we’re not unarmed and we’re in no way defeated. We have great politicians like Sarah Palin–who could well be president in not eight years but four–honest newsmen like Bret Baer and genius commentators like Rush–and Ann Coulter, who’s only about ten times smarter, funnier and more talented as a satirist than Jon Stewart or Bill Maher will ever be. The left can’t out-argue these mind-warriors so they try to ridicule, disdain and isolate them, to make us feel ashamed that we admire and respect them. And they tell us they’re finished, washed-up. Why, just look, it must be true: it’s right there in the newspapers and on TV.

They’re lying. The left has to lie for the simple reason that they’re wrong and we’re right, their policies don’t work and ours do. Look at the cities that liberal politicians and programs have devoured like locusts. Look at the liberal states that can’t rein in their spending even as they go broke. Look at how environmentalists have made us energy-slaves to monsters overseas. And look at how leftist, anti-patriotic and anti-religious policies in Europe have turned a once-great culture into a corpse that is being consumed by Islamo-fascist bacteria as we watch.

Hey, listen, our soldiers have to get shot at in the cause of liberty. All we in the media have to do is keep telling people the truth. Lies and insults are all the left has got to sling against us. They only win if we start to believe them.

Natalie Dylan Auctions Off Virginity For Offers Of Up To $3.7 Million

Bidding in the auction for the virginity of Natalie Dylan, a 22-year-old student from San Diego, Calif., has reached absurd new highs. The Daily Telegraph has the story, saying that the price has now hit $3.7 million:

Last September, when her auction came to light, she had received bids up to £162,000 ($243,000) but since then interest in her has rocketed.

The student who has a degree in Women's Studies insisted she was not demeaning herself.


Natalie Dylan has appeared on the Howard Stern show and is conducting this transaction through Nevada's Bunny Ranch brothel. Natalie Dylan photos are readily available online and are, unsurprisingly, a popular search term.

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Gators Clear No. 1 in AP poll; Utah second

Florida is No. 1 in the AP Top 25. Utah is perfect at No. 2, though not perfectly happy.
Texas and Southern California also claimed to be the best — but media voters didn’t think so.
The Gators received 48 first-place votes and 1,606 points in the poll released early Friday, after they beat Oklahoma 24-14 in the BCS national title game.

Utah, the only team in major college football to go undefeated this season, got 16 first-place votes and 1,519 points. “I thought we had an outside chance,” Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said in a telephone interview with the AP. “There was enough national sentiment, I thought we might get the No. 1 slot. It wasn’t to be.”

Florida won its third AP national championship and second in the last three seasons. Steve Spurrier and Heisman Trophy winner Danny Wuerffel led the Gators to the 1996 title.
No. 3 USC received one first-place vote. Texas was No. 4 and will have to settle for finishing ahead of fifth-ranked Oklahoma.

The Longhorns beat the Sooners in the regular season and thought they deserved OU’s spot in both the Big 12 and national championship games.

The Utes from the Mountain West Conference swept through their regular season, while Florida and Alabama from the SEC, Texas and Oklahoma from the Big 12 and Southern California from the Pac-10 jockeyed for position in the national title chase.

The Mountain West does not have an automatic bid to the BCS — it’s not considered a strong enough league to deserve one — but the Utes earned their way in.

Utah was seventh in the final regular-season poll, but that perfect record looked much more impressive after the Utes beat Alabama 31-17 in the Sugar Bowl last week.

“All you can do is go out and beat the people on the schedule, which was exactly what our guys did,” Whittingham said. Whittingham proclaimed his team No. 1. USC’s Pete Carroll had already done that after the Trojans’ 38-24 victory in the Rose Bowl against Penn State.

Texas coach Mack Brown followed suit, proudly touting his Longhorns as the nation’s best after a 24-21 victory over Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl this week.

Whittingham said he would vote his team No. 1 in the USA Today coaches’ poll, even though the American Football Coaches Association has agreed to have all its voters place the winner of the BCS national championship game first on their ballots.

Utah did receive one first-place vote in the coaches’ poll and finished fourth.
Whittingham isn’t worried about losing his vote.

“That’s their call,” he said. “I have to look out for my players.”

Brown said he would vote for his team, too, but Texas was not listed first on any ballots. The Longhorns ended up ranked No. 3 in the coaches’ poll, right behind USC.

Carroll has never had a vote in the coaches’ poll, always skeptical of the way major college football crowns a champion.

Florida’s Urban Meyer became the 17th coach to win multiple AP national championships.
“I’ll tell you, we’re going to enjoy a big win, we’re going to enjoy the national championship,” he said, brushing off questions about other coaches claiming their team is best. “Let someone else worry about that. Gators are No. 1”

Alabama’s loss to Utah dropped the Crimson Tide to No. 6 in the final poll.
TCU, Utah’s Mountain West rival, finished seventh, followed by Penn State, Ohio State and Oregon.

Boise State led off the second 10, followed by Texas Tech, Georgia, Mississippi and Virginia Tech.

http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/28569176/

Cheryl Holdridge dies at 64 - popular Mouseketeer

Cheryl Holdridge, the beautiful blond actress who first gained fame as a Mouseketeer on TV's "The Mickey Mouse Club" in the 1950s, has died. She was 64.Holdridge died Tuesday at her home in Santa Monica after a two-year battle with lung cancer, said Doreen Tracey, another former Mouseketeer.

What's amazing is that Cheryl and I have gone through so many things together, I'm glad I could have been there in the end too," Tracey said Thursday.Holdridge was 11 years old in the spring of 1956 when she auditioned and was hired for "The Mickey Mouse Club," which had debuted on Oct. 3, 1955, with 24 talented youngsters who sang and danced and yet came across as the kids next door.Holdridge joined the Mouseketeers in the second season of the show, which ran until 1959.

She quickly became part of the core group that appeared on the famous Mouseketeer roll call at the start of each show, along with Tracey, Annette Funicello, Tommy Cole, Cubby O'Brien, Sharon Baird, Bobby Burgess, Karen Pendleton, Lonnie Burr and Darlene Gillespie."She was a good technical dancer, but I think she was picked mostly because she had this angelic look and a great smile; she's known for her smile," Tracey said. With a laugh, she added: "We used to try to keep her quiet when she started singing because she sang off key."The other reason Holdridge was included in the core group was that "her fan mail was quite high, and they need those ratings," Tracey said. "We were trying to win over the American public, which we did."Annette had the highest rating, but Cheryl came pretty close."During her Mouseketeer days, Holdridge appeared in some of the show's episodic serials, including "Boys of the Western Sea" and the "Annette" series.

Unlike some of the other Mouseketeers, Holdridge didn't have trouble finding work in television as a young actress after hanging up her Mouse ears.She went on to play Wally Cleaver's girlfriend, Julie Foster, for two seasons on "Leave It to Beaver." And she had guest roles on shows such as "The Rifleman," "Bachelor Father," "My Three Sons," "Bewitched" and "The Dick Van Dyke Show.""

Our reputations as Disney players opened doors," Holdridge told the Chicago Tribune in 2001 during a Mouseketeer autograph session at a Disney memorabilia show in Bloomingdale, Ill., that drew a crowd of more than 1,000."Directors knew we understood how to move on camera, how to hit our marks and say lines. Doreen and I went up for many of the same parts. We both did 'Ozzie and Harriet' and 'Bachelor Father.'

"Holdridge left the business in 1964 when she married Lance Reventlow, the son of Woolworth heiress Barbara Hutton, "because that's what you did then. You married and stayed home." eventlow died in a plane crash in 1972. In 1994, Holdridge married Manning Post, a prominent West Coast Democratic Party fundraiser and advisor, who died in 2000.Holdridge was born Cheryl Lynn Phelps on June 20, 1944, in New Orleans and moved to Los Angeles when she was 2. Her mother, Julie Austin, was a former Ziegfeld Follies featured dancer and comedian and encouraged her to express herself through dance.After her mother married Herbert Holdridge, a retired brigadier general, he adopted Cheryl in 1953.At 9, she was selected by George Balanchine to perform for the New York City Ballet Company in a Los Angeles production of "The Nutcracker Suite."

Her first screen appearance was a small role in the 1956 musical "Carousel."Then came "The Mickey Mouse Club.""She certainly was a very pretty blond and just had a very winning personality," said Lorraine Santoli, author of "The Official Mickey Mouse Club Book" and a former Disney publicist who worked with the Mouseketeers as adults in the 1980s and '90s.As an adult, "Cheryl was the most joyous person, is the best way I can put it," she said. "She saw the positive side of everything."Holdridge enjoyed joining other former Mouseketeers at shows and appearances at Disneyland, Santoli said."She got such joy out of it, she really did, and she was so proud of the fact that she was an original Mouseketeer."Tommy Cole said Thursday that "Cheryl was one of the loves of my life, especially because we were like family.""Being one of the prettiest girls on the set, I always considered her Miss Sunshine," he recalled. "She'd walk into the room and this ray of sunshine would happen every time she smiled."Cole was among the former Mouseketeers who visited with Holdridge on Monday night. And, he said, when he heard that she had died two hours after he left her side, "a little bit of sunshine went out of my life."

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-cheryl-holdridge9-2009jan09,0,7949485.story

Sports Collectible Retailers Hope to Recover from Disappointing Year

It’s not a question of if the sports card industry lost money in 2008. It’s only a question of how much.

At the hobby shop level, the majority of retailers surveyed by Card Trade magazine this month are reporting their sales were down for the year, with some reporting declines of as much as 50 percent compared to 2007.

“Another a year like this, and I think I’m going to close,” said Ralph Brierly of Maine-ly Sports Cards in Solon, Maine. He estimated his sales were down 30 percent from last year and said he’s not optimistic the economy is going to turn around any time soon.

Dean Katz of Charm City Cards in Timonium, Md., said his sales were down for a fourth consecutive year and says the industry needs to restructure its product offerings. “There’s too much supply and not enough demand,” Katz said. “Plus, the average box of cards is now around $80. The whole climate of business has changed these last four to five years.”

Rob Vandorick of All-Star Baseball Cards in Las Vegas said his 2007 sales were down 27 percent from a year ago, and added it might have been worse had it not been for some aggressive end-of-year promotions. He also believes the best way to get collectors to increase their spending in the coming year is with more focus on lower-priced cards.

“If any new product lines are coming for 2009, we need lower SRPs,” Vandorick said. “People are only buying what they can afford and are not going after the glitz and glam.”

A handful of retailers said their sales were about the same as last year. Diane Stahura of Cheap Seats Sportscards in Whiting, Ind., was one of them, and she was thankful to be able to hold the line on sales in such a down economy. “I’ve been very, very fortunate,” Stahura said.

http://www.sportscollectorsdigest.com/article/sports_collectibles_retailers_bad_year