Are you trying to break into Hollywood? There are about 70,000 actors in the United States alone and not all that many jobs.
So, you’ll need to have a real plan to succeed in the acting world.
Let’s go through how to become an actor without falling on your face.
Get the Right Education
You’ll need marketbusinesstech to be prepared for your new acting career, and the best way to do that is through education.
You can start off by taking different types of acting classes. Take a look at art schools in your area that offer programs. Some types of acting classes you may want to consider include:
- Improv classes
- Audition practice classes
- Scene study
- Vocal practice
- Commercial acting
Eventually, you’ll probably want to get a degree and go to acting school. A BA or a BFA is a great choice. If you want more training, you can always go on to do a masters’ degree at a drama school.
Move to the City
If you live in the middle of nowhere, you’ll likely need to move to a city with a prominent production scene. Los Angeles and New York City are the stereotypical thetechboy choices.
But, Atlanta, Las Vegas, Chicago, San Francisco, Vancouver, and Toronto all also have huge film and movie scenes.
Put Yourself out There
There’s no such thing as a role you’re too good for, when you’re first starting out. Go to any audion you’re offered, even if you think it sounds embarrassing. Cat food commercial, a body in a murder show — if it pays, go to the audition and commit to the role.
Of course, this rule doesn’t apply if a role would ask you to do something that you’re not comfortable with. There’s a line between something that would be embarrassing and something you just can’t do, so know your limits when you’re acting.
Practice Practice Practice
When you’re wondering, “how to become an actor?” like most other professions, the first step is practice. You need to sharpen your skills and keep them up to snuff if you want to become an actor. If you can’t find a venue to practice your acting, make your own. Practice your acting skills in your mirror, if you need to.
Make your own short videos for Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, or other online platforms. Plus, acting and creating content for social media won’t just help you practice your acting skills, it will also help you get your name out there.
And, being able to write and shoot your own projects will help you out when you’re furthering your career in the future.
While you’re practicing, you’ll also want to work on creating a reel. This will help you gain attention. You’ll also be able to use your reel when you’re looking for representation or putting yourself out there for acting jobs.
Get Representation
To be a successful actor, you’ll need to get an agent as soon as possible. Usually, you’ll need some sort of basic amount of work before you get an agent.
Agents have contacts and connections to help you get jobs and pull you along in your career. They can also help protect you from scams or predatory companies. When you’re becoming an actor, a good agent is an invaluable resource.
You’ll likely have more success finding an agent if you’re already a member of an acting union. That’s because union actors are easier to find more work for.
You’ll need a certain amount of work before you qualify to join the union, which is why it’s important to take as many jobs as you possibly can when you’re first starting out on the acting scene.
You may have to interview at multiple agencies before an agent decides to sign you. Don’t get frustrated — they may just be looking for a different type. Just keep hustling, and an agent will sign you before you know it.
Add More Special Skills
While acting requires particular skills in itself, you can also hone special skills to help you stand out from the crowd. Sometimes productions will want an actor to be able to do something that may not be commonplace, and may not want to train them.
For example, speaking different languages can be a great choice for getting you more acting jobs. Horseback riding is another common special skills. Other special skills that you may want to add to your resume include:
- Doing different accents or dialects, such as a British accent
- Playing musical instruments, like the piano or the flute
- Proficiency in different types of dance, such as ballet or salsa dancing
- Driving a car or a motorcycle (and being licensed to do so)
- Skiing and other winter sports
- Ice skating or rollerblading
- Singing
- Experience working with animals
- Knitting, quilting, and other arts and crafts
- Experience playing team sports, like ice hockey, football, or soccer
- Stage combat
- Training with different sorts of weapons
- Public speaking
You can take classes to learn these skills, or practice them yourself online. Once you have your skills up to snuff, it’s time to start listing them on your resume so that casting agents know about everything that you can do.
Become an Actor in a Snap
With hard work, dedication, and luck, you will be able to start the path to become an actor. Get ready for lights, camera, action!
Do you need more career advice? Make sure you take a look at the rest of the career and acting advice articles on this website for more.