The clown at your child’s birthday party, a Broadway show, your friends fighting over the last potato chip—all of these are forms of entertainment. The word comes from the old French entretenir, meaning to keep, or support. We talk about theatrical entertainment as shows, visual entertainment as the things you like to look at, and audio entertainment as music.

When you work in entertainment, it is crucial to be able to connect with and attract audiences. But it’s equally important to understand the business side of the industry and be able to set yourself apart from the crowd.

One of the best ways to do this is to find inspiration in other entertainers, whether it’s their performance style or the way they run their businesses. But don’t forget to stay true to yourself. When you ask to meet with someone in the entertainment industry, be clear and specific about why you want to learn from them.