Meetup.com

One of the things that young artists have to realize is that they can't succeed in this industry alone. While just about everyone hears the terms "networking" and "connections," it's ambiguous what these actually mean.

The truth is, I don't really know either.

The League is based in New York (duh) and even though there are plenty of people working in and aspiring to work in the entertainment industry, they seem to be hidden in the woodwork, waiting till the rains come to wash them out.

I have no idea where I'm going with that.

The point might have been that you actually need to seek out like minds in this city. True, being actively involved in a lot of different things can bring you connections regardless (being an actor in New York and doing shows and films found in Backstage is a great way to do this), but as a writer, it's a little more difficult because your craft is so incredibly solitary.

But "network" you must. You must find the assistants, the upstarts, the people whose ambition meshes with yours and so I wish to mention one important, incredibly useful source:

meetup.com

It is exactly what it sounds like. It's a site that hosts communities of like minds whose goal is to MEET UP, to get together, to share ideas - to physically get bodies together in a room. The idea behind this site is nothing short of invaluable, and it's in every artist's best interest to make sure that it succeeds. So create your logos, get your business cards made, and start creating your own buzz among the people who will ultimately count most: your peers. The site and most groups are free to join. While there is a fee to form a group, there is nothing wrong with joining an already established crowd.

But naturally writers, while selling yourself, don't forget to keep writing.

(New York screenwriters! We're big fans of New York meetups, "NYC Screenwriters Meetup" and "SCENE NY Film and Media Industry Network." Check our links list for the pages of meetups we enjoy, and we just might see you there.)