How I Broke Into: Michael Prywes Interviews Artists and Entrepreneurs About Their Big Break

Kimra Luna is a personal branding and online business strategist.  She helps freedom-seeking entrepreneurs to stand out, captivate their audiences’ attention and monetize their authentic brands online.

As a leading authority on the use of Facebook ads and webinar-based training as both list and brand building tools, she took her business from zero to over $880k in sales and cultivated an email list of over 14,000 subscribers from 50 countries around the world during her first year in business.

Kimra is the creator of Be True, Brand You, her signature online program which has hundreds of students enrolled.  Her Facebook group, The Freedom Hacker’s Mastermind has over 20,000 members and is widely regarded as one of the most interactive, generous and supportive groups for entrepreneurs online.

Kimra has been featured on websites including Forbes, BusinessInsider, Farnoosh.TV, Chris Ducker.com, Female Entrepreneur Association.com and has been a speaker at Nathalie Lussier’s Off The Charts Live.

You can find Kimra on YouTube, Twitter, Pinterest and of course Facebook where she consistently provides advice and guidance to her group The Freedom Hacker’s Mastermind.

Notes from the show:

Freedom hacking is seeking a freedom-based lifestyle through technological advances; freedom is the ability to make your own hours, choose your own clients, etc.

Even though Kimra seems to be an overnight success, she spent 8 years growing online mom's groups and health and wellness groups before exploding with Freedom Hacker's Mastermind.

Facebook is not like email or other social media--no need for email blasts. Instead, people appreciate that you spend time and give value without feeling overwhelmed by information.

"In Defense of Facebook" and "The Gift of Gratitude"

She got her start in concert booking and led a music industry life until the economy collapse in 2008.

She spent the four years prior to her "million dollar year" on welfare.

Social media, especially Facebook, saved her life.

"People want to buy from people, not a logo."

She started her business by messaging potential clients how they would prefer to learn. Their answer? Webinars.

Be True, Brand You is a comprehensive program; it is not "niched down." 

In the age of trolling and mommy/daddy wars, entrepreneurship allows for unconventional parenting.

"Dumb-Ass Stuff We Need to Stop Saying to Dads"

Her superpowers include teaching and being intuitive about people who are givers and people who are takers.

Pat Flynn's Smart Passive Income and Ask Pat podcasts

This podcast hosted by New York attorney Michael Prywes was sponsored by Prywes Schwartz, PLLC, a law firm devoted to artists and entrepreneurs.

This podcast may contain attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee future outcomes.

Charlie McWade is a voice over artist who graduated NYU in 1996 with a BFA in drama from Tisch School of the Arts. Since then, he has worked in television, film and theater. I can tell you that all these years later, when we have gone out for a drink or a slice of pizza, he still has been recognized for his memorable role in the cinematic cult hit ‘Road Trip’ produced by Dreamworks and directed by Todd Phillips. But for the last 15 years, Charlie’s focus has been on voice over work. He has recorded over a thousand TV and Radio spots, lent his voice to several animated series and videogames including the Grand Theft Auto franchise, and has narrated seven full length audiobooks. You can also often hear Charlie’s voice on Nickelodeon.

Notes from the show:

Charlie first discovered acting at Buck's Rock Camp in New Milford, CT.

He breaks down the different departments of an agency and the subdivisions of types of voice overs themselves.

College provided excellent education but did not prepare him for the professional world.

He fell into voice overs by accident.

He recommends taking classes with casting directors. Two of the top casting directors he mentions are Stacey Seidel and Lisa Fischoff at Broadcasters.

We discussed Stephen Colbert's performance of "What a to do to die today" during a  commencement speech.

He recommends Steve Martin's "Born Standing Up" for creative inspiration.

His mentor in the Sanford Meisner technique is Terry Knickerbocker.

He advises diversifying value, creating multiple streams of revenue to deal with the instability of the industry.

To succeed in voice over work, you need to maintain "The Ease."

No performer should be content with his/her technique.

Reinvention comes from getting pushed out of your comfort zone.

Voice over work doesn't lend itself to having a daily routine.

We discussed his FOMO (fear of missing out), and how a voice over artist needs to have a willingness to have a wrench thrown into the gears.

This podcast hosted by New York attorney Michael Prywes was sponsored by Prywes Schwartz, PLLC, a law firm devoted to artists and entrepreneurs.

This podcast may contain attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee future outcomes.

Eva Shure grew up between Manhattan and South Florida. She was a Theater Major at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. While in college, she completed her training at the Second City Improvisation Training Center right outside of Chicago. After finishing at Northwestern, she went on to complete a three-year Masters degree from The Actors Studio. After graduating from school, she starred in the national tour of the Broadway Biopic ”Love, Janis”, portraying the life and career of the singer/icon, Janis Joplin. Eva has also starred on several TV Shows and off-Broadway Productions in New York City. Eva is the Co-Founder of Red Carpet Kids and Red Carpet Improv, an experiential event and interactive education company with its flagship in New York and opening Miami and Beverly Hills this year.

Craig Saslow is originally from Long Island, NY and attended the Cornell Hotel School. After graduating from school, Craig started working in the Hospitality Industry in Los Angeles - learning every facet of operations and service. After moving back to NY to work with Todd English and several prestigious restaurant groups, Craig leveraged his acumen and knowledge to co-found Red Carpet Kids. He brings his 15+ years of experience in the Hospitality world into the realm of experiential entertainment.

Notes from the show:

After being rejected by banks, they found help through the Small Business Development Center at CUNY Baruch College.

They received a loan from Renaissance Economic Development Corporation.

"It's a blessing in disguise not to know everything that will go wrong. Sometimes it's better to jump in and learn on the fly."

Vetting vendors, such as publicists and general contractors, by calling references is not necessarily enough.

"Improvisation is a life skill."

"Don't cheap out on hiring."

"CraigsList is a lot like Loehmann's: you really have to look, but at the end of the day, you find something spectacular."

The press always needs stories; use "Help a Reporter Out (HARO)."

The low-tech secret to partnering with luxury brands such as the Four Seasons, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Lincoln Center. Hint: anyone can do this.

Book Recommendation from Michael Prywes: Blue Ocean Strategy by W. Chan Kim and Renee Mauborgne

This podcast hosted by New York attorney Michael Prywes was sponsored by Prywes Schwartz, PLLC, a law firm devoted to artists and entrepreneurs.

This podcast may contain attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee future outcomes.

Naomi Grossman is best known for her portrayal of the fan-favorite, “Pepper” on FX’s American Horror Story: Asylum. Previously, Naomi wrote, produced, and starred in her second hit solo show, Carnival Knowledge:  Love, Lust, and other Human Oddities, which enjoyed a twice-extended, sold-out run and rave reviews (“Recommended” by LA Weekly).  It was then reprised at the world-famous fringe theatre festival in Edinburgh, Scotland, where it received more critical praise (4 stars: The Scotsman, Broadway Baby, Fringe Review) and a transfer to London’s West End (Leicester Square Theatre).  It later went on to have a successful run Off-Off Broadway. Naomi’s first solo show, Girl in Argentine Landscape, also received critical acclaim (LA Weekly, “Pick of the Week”) and earned her an LA Weekly Theatre Award nomination for best solo performance.  Naomi toured with Girl to Chicago's Single File Festival, the Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Festival, the New York International Fringe Festival, and screened a subtitled video-version on the big screen in Argentina. A former member of the esteemed Groundlings Sunday Company, as well as alumna of Improv Olympic, Naomi has written, produced, and starred in numerous comedic shorts under her “Red Meat Entertainment” banner, which have screened at the LA Comedy Shorts Film Festival, the TriMedia Film Festival, the Connecticut Film Festival, the Dam Short Film Festival, the Faux Film Festival, the Los Angeles Comedy Festival, the Wet Your Pants Comedy Film Festival, the Action On Film International Festival, and the Hollywood Reel Independent Film Festival.  Naomi also made a cameo in the feature film,Table for Three. A graduate of theatre from Northwestern University, Naomi has acted in several of Chicago’s illustrious, long-running, cult comedies:Cannibal Cheerleaders on Crack and Shannen Doherty Shoots a Porno at the Torso Theatre, as well as Attack of the Killer B’s and White Trash Wedding and a Funeral at the Factory Theatre.

Notes from the show:

Naomi started acting and comedy with KidSkits in Denver

Started LA quest for acting success by reading Backstage West.

Los Angeles is not a theatre town.

She recommends going to Paley Center for Media, watch solo shows by John Leguizamo, Eric Bogosian, Lily Tomlin, Spalding Gray.

Here are Naomi's book recommendations:

The Luck Factor - Dr. Richard Wiseman

The Secret - Rhonda Byrne

Ask and It Is Given  - Esther and Jerry Hicks

You Are a Badass - Jen Sincero

There's No Business Like Soul Business - Derek Rydall

Failing Forward - John C. Maxwell

A Year in Van Nuys - Sandra Tsing LohRecommendation from Michael Prywes:Essentialism - Greg McKeown

A-ha moment: "I'm not acting. I'm a professional mailer. If these people won't cast me, I'll cast myself."

Naomi's biggest mistakes: "Waiting for success to come to me. And not getting jobs that used my brain."

How Naomi plans her day: "LISTS!"

Naomi shares a treasure trove of information, advice, and emotional experiences. She talks about her darkest days, and the time she realized she "arrived." She also gives a comprehensive rundown of her special visiting artist lecture at Northwestern University, twenty years after Ethan Hawke's memorable lecture.

This podcast hosted by New York attorney Michael Prywes was sponsored by Prywes Schwartz, PLLC, a law firm devoted to artists and entrepreneurs.

This podcast may contain attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee future outcomes.

Jim Dooley is an Emmy Award-winning composer/songwriter with a diverse repertoire spanning the film, television, video gaming and live theatrical industries. He has earned accolades for his solo work as well as proud collaborations with many of the top names in music.

Jim is a graduate of New York University, and upon completion of his degree, moved to Los Angeles to study the art of film composing at USC with prolific scoring legends Christopher Young, Elmer Bernstein and Leonard Rosenman. He joined Media Ventures (now Remote Control Productions) in 1999 and collaborated with Hans Zimmer on DreamWorks’ “Gladiator” and as an additional composer, arranger and orchestrator on Columbia Pictures’ “The Da Vinci Code,” Disney’s “Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl,” DreamWorks’ “The Ring,” and many others. Two projects featuring Jim’s music were also honored with Oscar nominations.

In Television, Jim has written original music for shows on NBC, ABC, FX, CW, and Lifetime and his music on the critically acclaimed series, “Pushing Daisies,” won him the Primetime Emmy Award for “Best Original Music Composition for a Series.”

In film, Jim composed has composed for many live action films, and animated films such as “Madagascar,” “Madagascar 2,” and the Penguins of “Madagascar.” the Oscar-winning “Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit,” and “Operation Got Your 6” featuring First Lady Michelle Obama.

Jim’s expertise in other mediums can be found in the complex, interactive scores for best-selling videogame titles such as “Epic Mickey,” “Disney Infinity: Marvel Super Heroes,” “Infamous” and “SOCOM 3: U.S. Navy Seals,” “U.S. Navy Seals: Combined Assault.”

Jim is currently scoring TNT’s hit drama “The Last Ship” with collaborator James Levine. He recently emerged into the Sports industry with his theme for the 2015 Senior PGA Championship, heard on both NBC and the Golf Channel.

Some topics we discussed:

Jim's introduction to "Stairway to Heaven" and "Welcome Home (Sanitarium)"

The percussion of Danny Elfman's "Nasty Habits"

Patelson's Music Store in Manhattan

The New York Times article "Cultivating the Art of Serendipity"

Ordering music from (and finally releasing through) Varese Sarabande Records

The joy of handwritten takedowns

"You don't take as much ownership if you don't figure it out yourself."

Playing a tragic Gladiator theme at Hans Zimmer's birthday party

How an expert swinging a golf club correctly is more difficult than an expert playing a concerto 

Ideas from Oliver Sacks's "Musicophilia"

J.K. Rowling's commencement speech at Harvard about the importance of failure

This podcast hosted by New York attorney Michael Prywes was sponsored by Prywes Schwartz, PLLC, a law firm devoted to artists and entrepreneurs.

This podcast may contain attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee future outcomes.

Pang-Ni (Bonnie) Landrum, a recovering Big 10 mascot and daughter of an Asian tiger mom and a Southern military cop dad, has written on both comedy and drama shows including Malcolm in the Middle and JJ Abrams’ Six Degrees. She has sold pilot scripts to Sony, Touchstone Television and E! A co-founder of SeaGlass Theatre in Los Angeles, she also writes and produces the micro web series, The Aftermooners. Through Words Empower Media, Pang-Ni and co-creator Jennifer Quintenz, publish anthologies of short stories written by fellow television writers to benefit non-profits. In 2014, their inaugural release, EMPOWER: Fight Like A Girl raised funds for the Lupus Foundation of America while the proceeds for the upcoming EMPOWER: Mind Over Matter will go toward brain cancer research. Follow Pang-Ni on twitter and periscope: @pangni.

Recommended sites:

Deadline.com

Variety.com

HollywoodReporter.com

TVbytheNumbers.Zap2it.com

TubeFilter.com

Recommended writing books:

Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott

On Writing by Stephen King

Save the Cat by Blake Snyder

Biggest mistake: "Not keeping in touch."

Smartest move: "Learning how to draw from my life." 

When she knew she really broke into television writing: "1) When the money I was sending my mom was more than what my dad was sending her for alimony, 2) when my former writing partner and I were on Malcolm in the Middle & we got picked up for a second season

Productivity Hack: Using Siri to record thoughts while driving

This podcast hosted by New York attorney Michael Prywes was sponsored by Prywes Schwartz, PLLC, a law firm devoted to artists and entrepreneurs.

This podcast may contain attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee future outcomes.