If you missed our friend, vibraphonist Nick Mancini, perform with the Nick Mancini Collective in February, make sure to check them out tonight, March 23 at Cafe Metropol from 8-10 PM. $10 cover.

Catch his interview with Nontourage here.

I'm Chris Michelle from RPM Talent Agency in Los Angeles. I work as a talent agent and also head up RPM’s children's department. We are a SAG franchised talent agency that handles commercial, theatrical and print clients. But enough about that...

Getting an agent.

Not an easy task. There are a few ways that I suggest are better than others.

1. Get a referral. If you get yourself cast in a project the casting director, director etc... may refer you. You may also have a friend who is represented by an agent they have a close working relationship with. They may refer you. I'm telling you...I'd rather meet someone through a referral because I already have a second opinion.

2. Send a headshot/resume in the mail. Traditional, but it can work. You should have a SHORT cover letter. I prefer bullet points. (I spend my whole day reading breakdowns and emails so I don't want to spend 3-5 minutes reading your life story. No offense.) . The cover letter should say something about who you are and what you are working on. For example, if you've won any awards for acting, are currently performing in a show, or are taking class at a reputable school (BHP, Groundlings, UCB, UCLA, etc...) put it in the letter. You can include your reel, but make sure you have other copies because you probably won't get it back.

Your resume should be PROFESSIONAL for an ACTOR (not the resume you gave to the temp agency or the fast food restaurant). I know that advice sounds obvious but you'd be shocked by what people send us). Your resume should be printed or stapled on the back of your 8 x 10 headshot (if stapled it should be cut to 8 x 10 and not have a 1/2 inch border hanging out). I'll talk more about headshots in a future blog.

3. Send Postcards. This is one of my personal favorites, especially if it is inviting me to an awesome show. (I love comps to improv shows most!) Send a postcard with your picture on the front (could be your headshot or a still from a shoot or a fun professional pic of you) and a message like, "Watch for me on ‘Leave it to Beaver’ this Thursday" and on the back "I am currently looking for theatrical representation. You can reach me at 310-555-5555." You get the idea. (NOTE: If you currently have an agent and are looking for new representations be sure to give us your personal contact number and not the current agent's.)

4. Open Calls. RPM has open calls. There are a few other agents in town that do the same. Be sure that you check to see if the agency you are interested in has open calls. Call the same week you plan to go, in case they have stopped doing them or changed the day or time. If you go to an open call, you should arrive on time with pics and resume, demo reel if you have it, and at least two monologues just in case. Dress either business or in your own personal style or both but not like a bum. No heavy perfumes/colognes please.

5. Showcases. Some agents go. I went to ONE in 2006 and it was put on just for me by a kids management company. I don't like 'em. I don't usually go. They are not my scene. I'd rather see a play or an improv show. However, other agents at RPM do go to them and find amazing talent. Be careful if you are paying to be in a showcase. Do your homework to see who's going to be invited and who has attended in the past.

Those are my top 5. I'm sure there are other ways to get an agent. We love creativity. So try your own approach, but make sure that your tactic isn't going to make your targeted agent uncomfortable and that you don’t break the law. Sorry, stalking isn't creative and it doesn't work. One last thing: some of my "do not do this" scenarios probably sound crazy, but if I feel they are common enough to mention. They’ve probably happened...more than once. Type at ya' soon!

My quest to uncover the best hut-and-shack eateries in Hollyood.

Having grown up in Texas, I developed a deep love of Mexican food at an early age. When I moved to Los Angeles from the East coast, I was thrilled by the wondrous possibilities offered by brightly lit Mexican restaurants with live musicians and valet parkers. That first year I was unemployed, had no kitchen and subsisted on a wheat-free diet (don’t ask). While I savored the occasional evening dining at fine and family Mexican restaurants, I had practical needs on a day to day basis. I needed quick, cheap, delicious food that met with my restrictive diet. Enter Yuca’s. Two carnitas tacos for $3.50. Applause.

I never really knew Taco-love until I bit into Yuca's carnitas Taco with soft corn tortillas, tender juicy pork dripping with I-don’t-want-to-know-what-it-is-but-can-probably-guess juices, and topped with onions and cilantro. It’s been a while since I ate Yuca’s every day for lunch, and I decided to revisit my beloved tacos today. All my love came flooding back.

Yuca’s is a tiny eatery in a parking lot next to a liquor store in the upscale meets starving artist meets hipster meets Armenian neighborhood of Los Feliz. The permanent structure houses the kitchen and its square footage is smaller than my car. There are some mismatched chairs and wobbly cocktail tables scattered near the shack. Usually, Socorro Herrera or her daughter Dora greets you at the window, and writes down your order and your name with a ball point pen on a paper plate. That’s the plate you’ll be eating on. While you wait for you name to be called, you can kill time by reading the article about how Yuca’s won a James Beard Foundation “America’s Classics” Award. That’s one way to know you’re in good hands. The other is to notice that the place is packed with people from all walks of life shoveling food into their happy happy mouths. One time, as I was leaving Yuca’s a swarm of paparazzi almost knocked me over as they descended on the place. I don’t know if some celebrity was dining there or if fifteen camera-toting journos were craving a carnitas taco or other tasty treat at the same time. I find either possibility perfectly plausible—the food is simply delicious. Yuca’s, 2056 Hillhurst Ave., Los Feliz, CA 90027

We caught up with Irina Slutsky (our old PodTech buddy and host of the new Vloggies Show) for an interview while we were in Austin for SXSW. This time, we were the interviewees!! Check out the interview here.

To see the other movers and shakers she interviewed, take a look here.

And watch out for more Nontourage SXSW coverage in the coming weeks!

So, while Sarah is up in San Jose listening to panels talk about the future of technology & television at Video on the Net, Sandy, our long lost Blonde, is back in LA (technically Burbank) if for only the day! Sandy is rehearsing with the cast of Jersey Boys for an appearance...TONIGHT...on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. This will be her late night debut!

So, have that extra cup of coffee today and stay up to catch The Tonight Show, or if you really need those extra zzzz's be sure to set your TIVO!

Knock 'em dead, Sandy!