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Acting Careers Tips
A Working Actor
Technically, a working actor is someone who is paid to perform dramatic (or comedic) works. In order to call yourself a professional actor, you must be paid for your work. Keep in mind that a working actor may have a steady stream of jobs, but not be able to support him-/herself by acting jobs alone. This does not mean the actor is not working, however! The sad truth is that most actors are never really able to settle into a long-time job. There is always the next audition, the next gig... The important thing is to keep getting out there and keep being seen.
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Coping with Stage Fright
School For Film and Television Tip: 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.
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Don't Be a Diva
There are so many "rules" in acting, and one of the biggest is this: The director is god. In other words, if you're going to take on an acting job, be sure you share your director's vision of the role you've been given and of the production as a whole. Check your ego at the theater door (or studio gates, as the case may be). There will inevitably be points of disagreement between you and your director, but don't waste the director's, crew members', and other actors' time by getting into argument on stage (or set). The best way to handle conflicts is to ask to speak with the director after the day's work is done. In the end, however, remember that the director has final say.
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Your Acting Career: Daily Steps
School for Film and Television Tip: Every actor wants to make it in the acting business, but ask what steps they plan to take toward achieving their objective, and they can't answer.
Vague goals of the "I want to be a star" variety leave you feeling like there's so much to do, without giving the clarity you need to figure out the next steps. Setting concrete goals will keep you focused.
Start by drawing up a one-year plan. What can you realistically achieve by this time next year? It's okay to be ambitious—within reason. Don't list "win an Oscar." Do list "go to three auditions." Be as specific as you can. If you want to get some more training, don't write, "apply to acting school." Write, "apply to NYU."
Next, take each of those goals and break them down into concrete tasks with due-by dates. Then each day, do one of those tasks, such as picking up the application from NYU, checking casting websites, or redoing your resume. Have a few "whenever" tasks to do as well, such as learning a new monologue, studying a film on DVD, or attending a meetup gathering, so you'll never have an excuse for doing nothing.
This may seem like a lot of work, but it's worth it. Remember, a daily task can be as simple as making a single phone call. Develop this habit, and by the end of the first year you will be 365 steps closer to a career!
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The Screen Actors Guild and Your Acting Career
If you want to be a film actor, membership to the Screen Actors Guild is critical to your career. Membership insures that you will receive the optimal wages, as well as payments from producers to your pension and health insurance accounts. As a member of the SAG, you will also be able to collect residual payments from your work. There are several ways to get into the union. Visit their website at www.sag.org for membership information.
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Behave Like a Pro
School for Film and Television Tip: Always present yourself as a successful working professional, even if you don't feel like one yet. This doesn't mean lie, pretend, or cop an attitude. It just means you should always exude confidence.
It's a simple matter of common sense. If you always come across as someone who knows her own value, others will be more willing to put their trust in you. Agents want clients who are winners. Casting directors want performers who are reliable and in demand. So if you want to become an actress, park your desperation and insecurity at the door, and let your self-esteem shine through. Drop the word "aspiring" and introduce yourself as an actress. Never undermine yourself with qualifiers, such as, "it was just a tiny role," and always have an interesting, dynamic, or witty answer to the question, "what have you done lately?"
Faking it until you make it is not lying. It's liberating and it's smart. The more you behave like a pro, the more you'll feel like a pro. And the more you feel like a pro, the more others will see you that way, too. Before you know it, opportunities will be coming your way.
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Actors Pay Taxes, Too!
Once you start your acting career, one of the smartest things you can do for yourself is to hire an accountant. It may sound daunting, but a good accountant may be able to save you money year after year. S/he will be able to tell you which of your expenses are tax deductable. For example, did you know that your headshots, postage for mailings, trade magazines and newspapers, classes, and even transportation to and from school and/or auditions are all tax-deductable!
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It Takes More than Talent
School for Film and Television Tip: Before you leap into an acting career, take an honest look at your personality. Do you have what it takes to become an actor? If you answered, "Sure! I've got plenty of talent!" that's great. But it's only a start. Below is a list of qualities that will serve you well on your journey to fame:
Patience. It can take years of spaghetti dinners, lousy parts, and shabby apartments before you get your first substantial break. Can you make the sacrifice without stressing out?
A thick skin. Embarking on an acting career means inviting rejection into your life on a daily basis. It's not personal. It's just the way the business functions. If you want to be happy, don't let it rattle your sense of self.
Motivation: When it seems like there are no opportunities out there for you, do you sit around and whine? Or do you do something about it? Create projects yourself if you have to, but keep working.
A practical streak: It's great that you're creative and artistic, but you need to develop some business sense, too. That part in your friend's student film won't get you an Oscar, but it'll look good on our reel. The dog food commercial your agent set up will pay next month's rent. And learning to file your taxes properly will keep the IRS off your back.
The right attitude: It's all about the fame, the money, the glamour, right? Wrong. It's about the passion and the craft. Day in, day out, going out there and doing it again. Make sure you love it.
A self-nurturing instinct: You've just received your fiftieth agent rejection, your landlady is threatening to evict you, and even your most supportive friends are hinting it's time to get a real job. Do you berate yourself for your failures? Or do you draw a hot bath and pamper yourself? The ability to treat yourself lovingly even when everything is going wrong will keep you sane and centered.
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If the Description Doesn´t Fit...
Art imitates life. Pretty much every type of human being is or can be portrayed on screen or on stage. That means there are a lot of jobs out there that will be perfect for you. However you need to know your "type." Spend some time with your agent, manager, or teacher to objectively pin-point your strengths, both physically and in terms of your craft. Stick to auditions that best showcase you. If on occasion you find an audition that doesn't seem to match your type, but you still feel strongly that you could carry the role, speak with your agent about getting an audition anyway. It never hurts to be seen.
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Financing Your Acting Career
A key part of beginning (or transitioning into) your acting career is insuring your financial stability. Make sure that you have a supply of cash in place before you begin, taking into account the higher costs of urban living. Spend some time researching banks and credit unions in the city, noting interest rates and checking fees. Search for affordable housing. Keep in mind that this could take some time as well as trial-and-error situations. Commit yourself to a reasonable budget; you don't want unpaid bills delaying the start of your career.
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Student Films and Your Acting Career
Acting in student films is a valuable way to gain both experience and exposure. Each spring, New York's film schools offer numerous opportunities for working in student films. Participating actors get to work with the industry's up-and-coming directors. A role in a student film allows you to practice your acting skills while enhancing your resume. Student films are often shown at international film festivals, providing a valuable opportunity to display your acting talent.
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Press and Publicity for Actors
If you're just starting out as an actor, is it worth it to hire a publicist? Probably not. Unless you've just completed a major project such as your first feature film, the best bet is to keep your publicity confined to mailings to industry professionals. However, if you do have a major announcement to make, it's not a bad idea to hire a PR writer to write up a press release. Press releases are a great way to get news out about advances in your career. Publicists who specialize in promoting actors are relatively easy to find on the Internet. There's a good chance, too, that your press releases will be distributed online as well, through such newswire services as PRWeb and iNewswire.
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Connections in Your Acting Career
A huge part of your career is fostering and maintaining connections. Create an evolving database as you meet acting industry professionals like casting directors, actors, agents, and managers. Be sure to record details about them: where they are from, what they do, and with whom they have worked. Maintaining accurate details helps to strengthen the bond of each connection by making it more personal. If you follow up on any your meetings, be sure to record the results.
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Developing Your "Type" of Acting Career
Part of setting up your acting career is recognizing your “type.” This means having a strong idea of your identity and the strengths and weaknesses that it entails. Take note of the roles you've felt the most comfortable with in the past, and what roles you are currently auditioning for. Don't be afraid to ask friends, family, co-workers, and past directors about their opinions of your personality. This feedback will help you learn to capitalize on the roles most suitable for you.
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Getting Involved in Student Film
How do you get involved in a student film? Check the notices in Back Stage and other industry publications. Check the casting boards at the School for Film and Television and NYU every semester. Online groups are another way to get daily listings of audition notices. The most direct way to get involved in a student film is to call the film departments of local universities and inquire about student films. Follow up your research by sending in your resume and headshots.
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Networking Your Acting Career Online
There are two primary websites that handle networking online in New York City, a must for the acting careers of budding thespians: Actor's Access (www.actorsaccess.com) allows you to submit yourself for projects within the city as well as Canada and the West Coast. NY Castings (www.nycastings.com) allows you to submit headshots and resumes directly to casting agents and casting directors through their electronic database. Both websites allow actors to submit and host their own video portfolios. There are also plenty of online groups that allow you to network with other professionals. A quick search in any search engine will bring a number of results you can sort throught to find the most appropriate community for you.
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Promoting Your Acting Career
The Internet opens the door to many opportunities to network yourself without ever making copies, postcards, or taking on many of the other costly endeavors that were the only choice for actors of the past. One of the best things to do to keep people informed about your career is to email periodic announcements of upcoming shows and appearances. You may also consider building a website that hosts your headshot(s), resume, and brief bio.
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Creating an Acting Life
Your foray into life as an actor will be made much smoother if other aspects of your life are in order. If you're moving into a new city, spend some time setting up a comfortable apartment. Even if you share a space, be sure you have an area that is quiet enough for your private time. If possible, set aside part of your living space for your work as an actor. This “office” will help to create a physical focus for your budding career. Join a gym. Involve yourself in the local community, especially in the arts.
