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Acting Jobs Tips
Acting Jobs and Industry Connections
Keep in touch with the industry community. They will be your peers, your support group, and hopefully your connections to better acting gigs. Go to the plays of your friends and get to know the cast, crew, and any management. Watch new movies and television shows to see which way the industry is headed. If you like a show, find out who casts it. There are several seminars in larger cities you can attend and meet agents, casting directors and managers. Go to as many as you can to network and learn the names of important players in the film and/or theater community.
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Acting in Industrial Films
School for Film and Television Tip: Industrial films are corporate PR pieces or those boring educational films we all grew up with. Before you groan too loudly, keep in mind that industrials represent an acting job with a paycheck. They give you the chance to build your resume, hone your skills, and possibly even get your SAG card. If that's not enough to convince you, maybe this will: director Robert Altman started his career in industrials.
Industrials are a great opportunity for newcomers. The producers of the films look for actors who won't distract from the corporate message or the educational content, so it's fine with them if you're not a big name in the business. If you have the "professional" or "corporate" look, you have a good chance of being hired.
You can find production companies in the Blu-Book Production Directory, or you can try Googling "industrial film production companies" or "film and video production." With a little research, you'll soon be landing jobs most actors don't even know exist!
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Paying Your Dues in Acting Jobs
You have to pay your dues in the industry before you land the ultimate acting job. Yes, you may think that you're going to land job after job, but the real story is this: There is no such thing as an overnight success. You have to be around for a while, and show that you're willing to work before you begin getting reasonable breaks. So work on that film for free. Do some favors. People will remember you, and then they'll be more inclined to employ you later on.
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Advancing Through Acting Jobs
When starting out in an acting career, take as much work as you can. Yes, you should shoot for excellent roles from the start, but expect to be rejected in the beginning. Do extra work, do favors, and do non-union work until you are able to join SAG, AFTRA, and/or Equity. If you can only get in to student films than do as many as possible. As long as you are working, learning, making connections, and gaining exposure, it is not a wasted experience. The good acting jobs will come with time, and when you encounter them, you will be a more experienced actor.
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Acting Jobs in Pilot Season
Pilot Season runs from January to March every year in Los Angeles and New York City. If you want to get in on it, you should plan on arriving in December, so that you can set up a base of support. Get to New York in December, and begin doing monologues for casting directors and agents. Inquire about general auditions. Send out headshot postcards to remind your contacts that you're still in the business, active, and available.
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Recovering From Acting Job Rejections
Don't take rejections from acting jobs personally. If you have a bad audition, or if you botch a performance, don't get depressed, just move on to the next audition. If you don't get a job, it's nothing personal. Not getting a part just means you did not get a job, it doesn't mean that you're a bad person. Remember that everyone has a slow period in his or her acting life. During a tough spot, keep yourself focused, and remember your passion for your art (the reason you're in the industry in the first place).
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Professionalism in Acting Jobs
One of your biggest assets in acting jobs is professionalism. You show professionalism through both your attitudes and your actions. Always be courteous, no matter how you are treated. Always arrive to a set or rehearsal (or performance!) on time. Keep good notes on your connections to make the relationships more personal. Always follow up; it shows that you care. Be respectful to both your peers and the industry professionals with which you are meeting.
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Acting Jobs and Persistence
When seeking acting jobs, persistence counts. First of all, you should display persistence in your training. Never give up honing your craft. Secondly, you need to display persistence in your contacts. Always market yourself, look to make connections. Lastly, show persistence in your application. When mailing casting directors, call to confirm that they've received your application. Afterwards, send in a headshot postcard every six weeks.
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The Cycle of Acting Jobs
There is a natural cycle in the process of moving through acting jobs. It begins with an examination of you. You need to know what your motivation is, where your goals are set, and what your relative strengths and weaknesses are. You also need to know what the industry wants: what kinds of roles are available, and what kinds of actors are in demand. Almost always, the summertime hits a slump in auditions. Don't lose hope; business picks up again in the fall!
