How to Get Your Acting Career Off the Ground
From the outside it appears that actors lead glamorous lives and get all the perks, but for most actors getting their career off the ground isn't always easy. Not everyone will make it to Hollywood, but if you know your ultimate goal as an actor there are things you can do to help launch a successful acting career. Determination and talent are only two small factors in a multi-faceted career that requires education, training and even a little business knowledge.
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Instructions
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Enroll in an acting class or a university drama program. You may already be a natural when it comes to slipping into character and convincing an audience you are someone else, but professional acting classes teach you more than just how to act. You will learn how to take direction, read a script and may even get some insight into the local business, such as casting calls, theater houses that are auditioning and talent-agent recommendations.
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Put together a portfolio and resume containing information about training you've received, acting jobs you've worked, special skills that may assist you when it comes to playing certain roles and references to directors you have worked with in the past. An actor's resume differs from typical employment resumes in that it contains information about your appearance, union affiliations and credentials. Always ask permission from a director before listing him as a reference, and make sure he will give you a positive recommendation.
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Have headshot photographs taken. When you are shopping yourself around to different casting directors, they will want to know what you look like before you even audition. Include your headshots with your resume and portfolio. You need two headshot photos, a commercial photo in which you are smiling naturally and a legit headshot photo that portrays you in a dramatic, but thoughtful pose.
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Seek out casting calls for local plays, commercials, television shows and films. A good place to start looking for film work is local universities and colleges. Film students are always looking for amateur actors willing to appear in their film projects, and though many of them do not pay, adding independent films to your portfolio builds relevant experience that will assist you later in your career.
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Join an actor's guild in your area. Actor's guilds not only help you find agents, directors and potential work, but they allow you to network with others in the business. Networking is an imperative part of any freelance career, and as an actor you are a freelance artist. Whether you're in Hollywood or a small town in New England, who you know in the business will determine how far you go.
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Interview with talent agents. Send your resume, headshots, portfolio and cover letter out to reputable talent agencies and follow-up until you get an interview. Talent agents help you find work, and they don't get paid until you get paid. Beware of agencies that ask you to pay them to help you find work.
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