So you want to be an actor. Now what?

So you got the acting bug.  And, now your wondering....how do I get more work?   How do I get noticed? How do I become famous?!!  Want to be successful in acting?  A few simple steps:

Attitude:
Success in any business comes from being driven to succeed.  You are action oriented.  You get things done, you meet people, you train, you dig, you DO, you.....don't sit around.  Smile and go!

Action:
I see a lot of people sit around hoping to get hired.  They post on Facebook "here I am, I am available". Well, that's OK as an introduction, but from a marketing perspective, that's not a call to action.  If that's all you ever do, and then complain that you don't get any work, its because you haven't made a compelling case for yourself.  Stop complaining that your not getting hired and start taking positive action with your life and your career.

Be Realistic:
I will give you some steps, but the truth of the matter is, only approximately 1% of all actors make it "big" and become a household name.  Don't let that discourage you. Becoming famous usually is not the end game, doing something you enjoy and being good at it is usually all we ever want.  Oh, and to get a little positive recognition every now and again.  To tell you the truth, I would rather never become famous - that's not even on my goal list.  Who wants to constantly dodge paparazzi, have to go out in public in disguise, and have all their personal dirty laundry aired every time you do something? Not me!  I have already been occasionally recognized in public for commercial work (hey, wasn't that you in that _____ commercial I just saw?) Luckily, not too many stalkers or paparazzi from that.  My People Magazine appearance...different story!

Assess your Personal Situation:
What would YOU like to do with this acting bug? Full-time job, Part-time job, hobby, something to do when you retire?  Are you interested in film, commercials, modeling, promotional work, voice-over, theater? You need to know what works for you.  I have a full-time job.  A very demanding 50-70 hour a week job, but I work from home.  That gives me the flexibility to do commercial and voice-over work whenever I want to pop out and do it, but I have a lot of responsibility and expectations during the week.  Theater?  No time! Modeling or promo work? Most of the time, I am too old or too short (I am a realist).  Film?  I like weekends with my family, but occasionally I will take on a good paid role.  I just don't have the luxury of time.  What is your situation?  What is your goal?

Pay or not to pay, that is the question:
When I started, I did some short films, student films and such, to build my resume.  After all, an agent won't sign you until you have experience, and volunteering is the best way to get that experience.  Help out your local school or indie filmmaker.  I still do when I have the time, and if the role is something that speaks to me. After almost 3 years, I have an extensive resume and I know what I like to do, so 99% of the time, I get paid for what I do.  This is not a hobby for me, its a part-time job.  If you don't care about getting paid and just want to have fun and meet people, without the worry of memorizing lines, that's OK!  Background extras are needed in almost every production; (and if your lucky, you will get paid every now and again for that too!).  Just decide whats best for you.

Skills and Education:
Do you have a college degree, play an instrument, have a black belt in Karate, or ride a horse?  Producers are always looking for people with your knowledge and skills for their productions.  List everything on your resume!

Be Professional:
I spoke about this in a blog post last week.  You can refer to that for greater detail, but here it is in a nutshell. Professionals want to hire professionals.  Pretend your in an office, in a suit, this is real.  You are working with your supervisors (producer/director/other crew) and peers (actors) in a professional manner. Grooming, wardrobe, demeanor, arriving on time and doing what your told is what keeps your employed. This is the same deal. Trust me on this! Go above and beyond in your job to her hired, get noticed and get promoted (re-hired).

Recipe for Success:
There are some other things you need to do to be successful.  You need to invest some time and money to get yourself out there properly and be taken seriously.  If you really WANT this, get a part-time job to pay for some of these things.

1. Training.  Group classes, private classes, I have taken many of them.  You can't act unless you know what to do.  Any profession takes proper training.  Google "acting classes" and instructors in your area, or ask other actors who they recommend (and who to stay away from).  There are a lot of great books on the subject and there are some great study groups as well.
2. Casting notices. GoodFaithCasting.com, Durant.com, Movieworknow.com, to name a few, also Facebook groups -- all good places if you don't have an agent and are looking for work.
3. Headshots, Business Cards, Resume, Facebook, Twitter, IMDb, Website - all important tools of the business.  Some are optional, all are ideal.
4. Network.  Get to know others in the business.  Facebook groups, meet-up groups, mixers, festivals, theater groups.  Find them and get involved.  Lots of creative people out there, and you should know them!

Agents & Unions:

Should I get an agent?  Should I join a Union?  Both are complicated questions with no easy answer. 

• Agents:  Once you get training, experience and head-shots, you may want to hire an agent to assist you with casting notices.  Make sure they are reputable. The best place to find one is either the Arizona Production Association site: http://www.azproduction.com/clients.php?id=123 or through the SAG-AFTRA site: http://www.sagaftra.org/agency-relations/sag-franchised-agents  Most of them have web fees or minimal start up fees and all of them take a percentage of your pay.  The percentage and fees depend on if your a union actor or not.  The choice of an agency is very personal. I recommend getting an an appointment with all of them your interested in to see what they have to offer, and who is interested in you as a talent.  Most of the time, if you hire an agent, you have to pay them a commission for any work you may get on your own.  Most contracts are exclusive.  Make sure you ask.  If one says no, find out why and move on.  Usually you are too new, or they have 6 people just like you (look, age).  Don't take it personal.  You can also remain as an independent, but you have to work harder to find your own work.
• Unions:  In states like Arizona, where the right-to-work law prevails and we have no tax-credits for film-makers, union work is hard to come by.  However, we do have some work and there are union actors here.  The union is very structured, organized, strict and pays very well.  If you want quality over quantity, contact the local office to get more information.  To become Union, you have to do some union work, and it can get complicated if your not paying attention.  You can reach the local office for more information here http://www.sagaftra.org/locals/phoenix/about-our-branch and tap into some local resources here http://www.sagaftra.org/locals/phoenix/local-resources

But wait, there's more!
I can't possibly cover everything there, not do I claim to know everything about the business, but I wanted to get you thinking a little, and I wanted to help you get started.  The most important thing is to have FUN! Good luck, I wish you much success in your acting career.  See you on set!

Deb

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