Q: I was wondering how someone can take their regional fame and notoriety from another talent and use that to help launch a career in the entertainment business? I am a college wrestler and have placed 4th in the 2004 Olympic Trials. I have become pretty well known at my college and in the national wrestling community. I was wondering how I could use the small fame I have established from wrestling and use it to explore other opportunities?

A: The line between a career in sports and a career in entertainment isn't as solid as you might think! People watch sports for entertainment, and in that case the professional athlete is a highly trained entertainer. You just might find that the skills that have made you a successful wrestler and top-tier athlete, can help you break into the entertainment world.

For starters, having any kind of name recognition is half the battle for a struggling performer. If you have a national credit to your name as an athlete, you're already a step closer to being recognized by entertainment professionals and casting directors. With any luck you can keep people's attention for longer and get them to give your resume a closer look.

Many athletes have made the leap from sports careers to entertainment. Michael Jordan channeled his fame as a basketball player into a hit career in feature films and celebrity endorsements, most notably his commercials for Hanes and Nike. Duane "The Rock" Johnson started out as a star college football player, but was unable to continue his career due to a series of injuries. Using his natural charisma and athletic physique, he entered into the world of professional wresting, a mix between sports and soap opera. From there he built up a star persona, and successfully made the leap to big-budget Hollywood films. The list of notable athletes who have transitioned to the entertainment world is enormous, but plenty of lesser known athletes also cross-over. Commercials, endorsements, and promotions play a huge role in the world of professional athletics, and anyone who wants to succeed has to learn how to market themselves, which is another key skill when trying to break into the business.

There are also plenty of opportunities for athletes in the world of reality television. Many shows feature expert professional athletes and trainers to challenge or train cast members, and Spike TV even has as a show called Pros. Vs. Joes about normal guys challenging professional athletes! Similarly reality show producers tend to pick cast members with interesting backgrounds like a successful athletic career. It also helps to be in extremely good shape. You hardly see a reality show on the air that doesn't have at least one current or former athlete in the cast. Your peak physical condition and outgoing, confident demeanor will give you a leg up in getting cast on television. Additionally the skills, strength, and agility you develop in sports could also suit you for body-doubling or stunt-doubling work in television or movies. They could also qualify you to act as a technical consultant in your area of expertise.

Excelling in sports requires strength of character, rhythm, stamina, charisma, and confidence. These also happen to be key traits for success in the world of entertainment.

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