Coping with Stage Fright

Your agent calls with great news — you got the role! It's your first major break of your acting career and you're…terrified. Your heart is pounding. You can't breathe. The phone slips from your sweaty palms.

Most people suffer from performance anxiety from time to time. We all want to look good in front of people, whether it be a small group or an audience of thousands. For actors, stage fright is part of the territory.

Being a little nervous is a good thing. Feeling awed by your famous co-star or the role itself can motivate you to work hard and surpass yourself. But too much stage fright can blow an acting career. Follow these tips to get your jitters under control:

Know your stuff. Nothing will make you more nervous than being unprepared. If you need to, hire a coach or take a cold reading class.

Don't forget to breathe. Try this exercise: Exhale completely. Then wait a moment at the bottom of the breath for the inhalation to come naturally. When you feel the impulse to breathe in, allow your lungs to fill with air. Exhale without holding your breath. Repeat. Continue for a few calming breath cycles.

Get moving. Movement helps dissolve nervous tension. Pace, jog around the block, shadow box, jump up and down, shout. Do whatever feels good.

Start giggling. Try to get yourself laughing, even if you have to force it. You'll trigger endorphins which should help you feel more relaxed.

Learn more about the mind-body connection. Take lessons in the Alexander Technique or the Feldenkrais Method, both forms of mind-body work that can help with stage fright.

Seek professional help. Find a therapist or an acting coach who specializes in helping actors overcome performance anxiety.

Avoiding Phony Agents

With so many dreamy-eyed hopefuls trying to break into the acting business, scams abound. Swindlers seduce aspiring actors with promises of representation and stardom and wheedle fees out of them through flattery, intimidation, and phony job offers.

Remember, an agent only takes his fee (about 10 percent) after he's procured work for you — never before. A legitimate agent will never ask you for an agency fee, a processing fee, a resume filing fee, or any other fee up front.

It's perfectly acceptable for an acting agent to ask you to have new headshots made or suggest you take an acting class. It's even okay for him to recommend a handful of photographers and teachers. But if he tries to make you work with a particular photographer or acting teacher, it could be a rip-off. Walk away. Same thing goes if he promises you work and stardom or if he tells you he usually charges a fee, but he's making an exception in your case. Most importantly, if you show up for a photo shoot or audition and feel uncomfortable in any way, don't walk — run! Trust your instincts and get out of there. Your safety is more important than your career.

If you've been scammed or abused by phony agents, contact your Attorney General's office or the Better Business Bureau. Then hit the online acting forums and warn your fellow actors! The only way to stop these criminals is by exposing them for what they are.

For more information, check out the following link:
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/services/model.htm

Starting Out as an Actor

Before anyone considers a career in acting, the main question many young performers have is how to become an actor in the first place! First, you need training. This can come in the form of acting college, training seminars, or even one-on-one personal coaching. Give yourself an ample amount of time to hone your craft. By the most general standards, that would be approximately one year of intense training.

After training, invest in a good set of headshots. You don't need to break the bank, but do try to select a photographer whose work looks professional to you. A great place to find photographers is at the photo printing houses that with reproduce your headshots for you. You can look these places up online.

Next, you'll need a resume. At this point in your career, high school productions are acceptable to list as experience, provided you are under the age of 25. Now, if you don't have a lot (or any) experience, list your educational background. This counts, especially if you've trained at a prestigious school or with a great teacher.

Now you're ready to start auditioning!

Trying New Acting Classes

Choose acting courses that best suit your needs. You should be seeking acting training that will help you to develop your strengths and assuage your weaknesses. Don't be afraid to try new things. Every chance to add new and different skills and training to your repertoire is a good one; you may discover new strengths that you never knew you had. Take a look at classes that scare you or put you off. These are often the best indicators of where you need to improve, so why not dive into some acting classes in NYC?