Page 31 - Tattnall County

event is by invitation only! The purpose of Connect NYC is to connect aspiring talent with top fashion and entertainment agents, managers, and casting directors. Connect NYC is an opportunity for models and actors to bridge the gap between small town USA and the Big Apple.

Dylan and his mom prepared for the trip and the week after he got out of school for the summer, they were off to New York. While at Connect NYC, Dylan performed in three categories in front of over 20 of New York’s top agents. He walked in runway review, performed a host script, and performed a blind character scene. The funniest was the character scene. Only a few seconds before going on stage, Dylan was given a character to act out on stage! No prep

time! He “nailed” this one becoming an instant auctioneer. Dylan said that watching Barrett Jackson a lot paid off! Once the performing was over, it was a waiting game again. Within a couple of hours he would know whether or not any agents were interested in him. There were no guarantees. The news was better than ever expected! Out of over 50 performers, Dylan was in the top three in call backs with the agents. The next day was booked out for Dylan. He and Michelle spent all day in taxis going from agent to agent attending private meetings. Flying home the next day, they could not have been happier with the results and Dylan’s success!

Within a week, Dylan got a call from Stephanie, his “mother agent” at

Halo. Dylan was wanted in NYC for the summer ASAP! Another of Halo’s models, Harley Strickland, was going for the summer as well. Their moms few to NYC within the next few days to “apartment hunt” for the aspiring teens! Dylan and Harley, along with Harley’s aunt, lived their summer only three blocks from Times Square. Once Dylan arrived he had to report to the three agencies he was representing…FFT, Inc., Frontier Booking, and Shirley Grant

Management. Dylan stayed busy with the agencies attending three to four castings/auditions a week. Some of the castings he attended were for Chaptix, Royal Pains, and Law & Order SVU . Dylan met some awesome people and made great contacts.