Tag: Brendan Bald

THIS IS MY STORY…

My name is Brendan Bald and I’m an Actor currently living in Nashville, TN. I grew up in a small suburban town right outside of Annapolis, MD. As a kid, I always knew I wanted to be an actor but never had the guts to actually make my ambitions known. I always though that there was something magical about movies and I always dreamt of being an actor. But working as an Actor seemed impossible to me – basically a pipe dream. So I never pursued acting or theatre in my early years.

I was an athletic kid so I played sports instead. As I got older, I focused mainly on playing basketball – and I was pretty damn good. I received over 20 Division I full scholarship offers to play college basketball. I ultimately decided to play for the University of Vermont. While in college, I continued to dream of becoming an actor. I remember joking around with my friends telling everyone that I was moving to LA after I graduate to become a movie star. We would all laugh but deep down I knew that’s what I actually wanted to do.

During my sophomore year in college I took an acting course. It was an intensive class that combined monologue training, script analysis, and scene study. I absolutely loved it. And I was good at it! I remember my teacher and classmates telling me to consider pursuing theater. But even though this course confirmed my love for acting, I was still grounded in practicality. I just didn’t think that being an actor was possible for me. So I graduated college and immediately went on to law school. I come from a family of lawyers so law school seemed like the most practical thing for me to do. I was never happy in law school and knew that it wasn’t what I wanted to do – but I did it anyways. I was so grounded in practicality that I was suffocating my passions.

It wasn’t until I graduated law school and practiced law for a few years that I finally built up the guts to give acting a legitimate shot. I remember spending hours in my office googling “how to be an actor,” “is 27 too old to start acting,” and “should I quit my job to become an actor.” I reached a point in my life where I had saved up a little bit of money, I was single, and I was completely unhappy with what I was doing. I knew that if I was ever going to make a dramatic career change, it had to be now. So – that’s what I did. I moved to Nashville, picked up several part time jobs, and am pursuing a career in acting full time. It is never too late to follow your dreams!! Life is too short to do something you don’t love!

March 23, 2019
My First Improv Class!

Improv

Is

So

Weird

YET

So

Awesome!

For those that don’t know, I’m pursuing the dream here in Nashville, Tennessee. I am consistently producing written, audio, and video content with the goal of breaking into the entertainment industry.

Ever since moving here in October, joining an Improv class has been near the top of my to-do list.

Last week I finally went to my first class.

I was a little unsure of what to expect. I took some acting classes in college so I figured it would likely be similar to that.

It was weird – but in the most amazing way possible!

Watch me break it down for you…

November 11, 2018
Influencer Marketing 101
If you’re active on social media, you’ve likely noticed that a lot of well-known personalities have started “selling” or “endorsing” products on their social media channels.

They aren’t doing this for free.

Companies are paying these “influencers” for advertising.

So what makes a person an “influencer” and what exactly is “influencer marketing?”

Let me break it down for you…

What Makes a Person an Influencer?

Influencers are Internet celebrities.

They have large followings on social media and naturally carry influence over their followers – hence the name influencer.

Most influencers have a niche personal brand.

They could be fashion bloggers, photographers, movie critics, fitness coaches, cooks, or video gamers – literally anything.

As long as they have a large following, they’re influencers.

The Basics of Influencer Marketing

Influencer marketing isn’t a new concept. In fact, it’s almost identical to celebrity marketing.

In both influencer marketing and celebrity marketing, marketers take a well-known person who carries influence over their target market, and they pay them to advertise their product.

The only difference between traditional celebrities and influencers is that influencers have niche “followers” and wield their influence on social media platforms.

Side note- many traditional celebrities now carry influence on social media as well, further blurring the line between influencer marketing and celebrity marketing.

While traditional celebrities tend to have a broad audience (everyone loves Brad Pitt), influencers have a more tailored audience (mainly gamers love Ninja). This is what makes influencers so attractive to marketers.

Companies can now reach their target demographic through a trusted influencer on platforms that aren’t yet oversaturated with advertisements.

Influencer marketing sounds great in theory. But does it work?

Let’s Look at the Data…

According to Social Media Today…
- 67% of marketers believe that influencer marking campaigns help them reach a more targeted audience.
- 61% of consumers rely on social media as the most important source of information when shopping.
- Influencer marketing can generate up to 11x the ROI of traditional advertising.
In addition, the Digital Marketing Institute reports …
- 70% of teens trust influencers more than traditional celebrities.
- 86% of women use social media for purchasing advice.
- 49% of consumers depend on influencer recommendations
- Influencer Marketing Campaigns earn $6.50 for every dollar spent.
The numbers speak for themselves. Influencer marketing is here to stay.

The next question you probably have is, “how do I get in on this sweet action?”

How to Get in the Game

You can either approach influencers yourself or pay a marketing company to do it for you.

Hiring a marketing company will make your life a lot easier. Marketers know the best way to contact influencers, how much to pay, what sort of campaigns are successful with your market, etc…

But most small businesses don’t have the resources to hire a big marketing firm.

The good news is that you can get started on your own.

Here’s an example…

Say you’re a barbershop owner who’s looking to increase business with influencer marketing. What’s your first move?

You need to slide into a few DMs!!

Find local influencers on Instagram and send them Direct Messages.

Ask if you can pay them to come to your barbershop, get a haircut, and then post about their experience. You may have to do some negotiating with price but that’s all it takes.

Conclusion

The Internet has turned millions of people into influencers. Social media is the new Hollywood and marketers have taken notice.

The marketing opportunities are there and the numbers speak for themselves.

Time for you to slide into the DMs and get in on the action!
November 5, 2018
Why I’m Obsessed With Touring Gettysburg

If you know me, you know that I’m a huge history buff. I was a history major in college and now spend a lot of my free time reading history books.

I’m a nerd through and through – and damn proud of it.

Out of all the historical sites in the country, Gettysburg is my all time favorite to visit. I’ve been a total of seven times.

No, this isn’t an advertisement for Gettysburg Tourism. I just wanted to rap about why Gettysburg is such an awesome place to visit.

Gettysburg 101

So if you know your civil war history, go ahead and skip this section.

I’m going to break down the battle of Gettysburg into its simplest terms…

On July 1^st 1863, Union troops faced off against Confederate troops in the small town of Gettysburg, PA.

The battle lasted three days and was the deadliest of the civil war – over 51,000 casualties.

In the summer of 1863, the Confederates were winning the war. They had a lot of momentum and were in the midst of an offensive campaign.

A Confederate victory on Northern soil would have been a major blow to the Union.

SPOILER ALERT. Union troops defeated the Confederates and sent them back into Virginia. This was a major turning point in the war.

Okay, so flash-forward to Gettysburg in 2018.

Touring the Battlefield

The Gettysburg battlefields are beautiful and well preserved. You can tour them on your own or with a tour guide – both I recommend.

Observational towers are placed throughout the park and offer a bird’s-eye view of the landscape. They are worth the cardio workout to climb up – trust me.

You’ll enjoy touring the Gettysburg battlefields even if you aren’t a history nerd like myself. The views are that good.

But the more you learn about the battle, the more you’ll appreciate it.

Gettysburg Museums

The Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center is great place to kick off your trip.

You can watch a short educational video about the battle. This is perfect for those who aren’t up on their history before visiting. It’ll give you a good baseline before you tour the battlefields.

If you’re into museums, you need to check out the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum. It’s not free but it’s well worth the money.

You can also tour a massive Cyclorama at the visitor center that depicts Pickett’s Charge. This thing is awesome and should be near the top of your to-do list.

The Food is Damn Good Too

The Food in Gettysburg is out of this world!

Hunt’s Battlefield Fries & Cafe is probably my favorite. They have the BEST cheesesteaks and fries. My mouth is watering just thinking about it.

There are also a lot of civil war era restaurants. They go all-in too. I’m talkin lanterns, full 19^th century costumes, and civil war memorabilia on deck. I recommend Dobbin House Tavern if you’re looking for this kind of vibe.

No trip to Gettysburg is complete without hitting up Mr. G’s Ice Cream. Two scoops of chocolate chip cookie dough will do the trick.

You can always just do what I do – hit Hunt’s Battlefield Fries for lunch then walk right over to Mr. G’s for dessert.

You may get hit with a massive food coma but it’s well worth it.

Ghost Tours

Full disclosure – the ghost tours are a bit cheesy. BUT that doesn’t mean they aren’t fun. Given the massive death toll from the battle, it’s no surprise that the town is haunted as hell.

Just make sure you go when it’s dark out. There is nothing scary about hauntings in broad daylight.

Ghost tours also make for a great date night!

In Summary

With the breathtaking battlefields, amazing museums, and delicious food, Gettysburg is a remarkable place to visit.

You will never run out of things to do in Gettysburg. Spend a weekend and take full advantage of everything this city has to offer.

Hopefully you now see why I’m so obsessed with visiting this place.

If you need any more tips for when you make your visit, feel free to reach out! I could basically be a tour guide at this point.

November 4, 2018
That Time I Thought an Entire Movie Theater was Built for The Mummy Returns…

Yes, this really happened.

I was 10 years old and clueless about everything – except maybe Pokémon. Oh, and Goldeneye for Nintendo 64. I was a savage at Goldeneye. I could literally beat it with my eyes closed (pause). With no cheat codes either (if you know, you know).

Anyways, back to the story.

This was in 2001 – the days when kid birthday parties reigned supreme.

Entire classes would be invited. We’d eat pizza, drink soda, and run around with minimal supervision. I’m getting excited just thinking about it…

That year for one my friends birthday parties, we went to see The Mummy Returns in theaters.

I remember being psyched about it. Going to the movies was one of my all time favorite things to do – it still is. Right behind Chipotle and touring Gettysburg (I’m such a nerd, I know).

Anyways, I hadn’t heard of The Mummy Returns but was excited nonetheless. I knew it had something to do with mummies – and mummies are badass (obviously).

So on the day of the party we all met at the birthday boy’s house. There had to of been at least 30 of us there. We somehow packed into two vans and hit the road.

I remember everyone in the van raving about the awesome new movie theatre we were going to. I hadn’t heard of it so I got even more excited.

When we pulled up, I almost shit my pants.

The movie theater was named Muvico Egyptian. It looked as if it belonged in ancient Egypt. The entrance was lined with Shaquille O’Neal sized Pharaohs and Anubis statues.

I was in total awe.

How had I not heard of The Mummy Returns?

The movie was so big that they freakin built a whole movie theater for it!

Or so I thought.

I don’t think I’ve ever been more excited for anything in my life. I got a big bucket of popcorn, a soda, and sour patch kids (this is still my go-to). I was in in heaven.

We then filed into the theater, which of course looked exactly like an Egyptian Pharaoh’s tomb (swoon).

This movie was already my all time favorite, and I hadn’t even seen it yet.

It was finally show time.

I don’t think I blinked once. I was entranced. There were swords, guns, mummies, pharaohs, and even killer insects (scarabs).

Side note – I thought the killer scarabs were real for the longest time. They scared the shit out of me. I vowed never to visit Egypt because of them.

Aside from my deep fear of scarabs, I loved every minute of the movie. I wanted to watch it again the second it was over.

I remember thinking how lucky I was to have seen a movie in a theater that was exclusively built for that movie. I thought it was a once in a lifetime experience.

It was years before I found out the theater had nothing to do with the movie. Muvico was a chain of theaters and they all were Egyptian themed. I was devastated when I found out.

Around that same time I also found out that The Mummy Returns was actually a sequel. SMH. I was so embarrassed. How could I have been so dumb?

Regardless of the harsh truth, The Mummy Returns remains one of my favorite movies.

The bliss of that day lives vividly in my imagination.

A good movie seen at the perfect time in your life can transport you into a whole new world. A new fantastic point of view. No one to tell us no. Or where to go. Or say we’re only dreaming…

If you didn’t sing that in your head, we shouldn’t be friends.

The Mummy Returns didn’t win any Oscars and may have received a mere 47% on Rotten Tomatoes, BUT it was one of the best movies I’d ever seen.

Anyways, I hope you all enjoyed my little anecdote.

Movie magic is real people! Don’t let anyone tell you different.

Peace out!

P.S. Brendan Fraser is due for a major comeback. You heard it here first!

November 2, 2018