How to Become an Actor

How to Become an Actor

edits by:Alex, Glutted, Eric, Sondra C (see all)

The good news is there are more acting jobs today than there have ever been in the past. The bad news is there is more competition now than there ever was before. Achieving any kind of success in this business means years of perseverance and sacrificing time and money to dedicate to your craft and auditioning for roles.

Steps

1. 1
   Before you do anything, start gathering information and doing research. Many people say they want to become an actor, but they really don't realize what it is they are saying. Talk to other actors, i.e. other people who are already doing what you say you want to do. Check out industry papers and websites like Variety.com, Backstage.com, Showbusinessweekly.com, Hollywoodreporter.com and so forth. Invest in some books written by casting directors who will tell you what they are looking for in the audition room, such as How to Book Acting Jobs in TV and Film. Try and get an idea of what an actor does from day to day when he/she is not yet working regularly.
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2. 2
   Get an education in acting. If you want to become an actor, you must study the craft. Acting isn't for everyone, so try taking a college class. That's the best way to see if you really want to make it your career.
3. 3
   Major in Theater at college. You will be doing productions and shows in front of a sizable crowd which is great practice for becoming focused on what your doing: performing in front of a large audience.
4. 4
   Look into taking summer camps and workshops to increase your knowledge and improving your skill. Some of these can be intensives where months worth of material is compressed into a period of 2-3 weeks.
5. 5
   Hire an acting coach to iron out kinks in your technique. A person like this can give you the personal attention you need, finding where your weak spots are; something like a professor in a big class might not be able to pick up on.
6. 6
   Try your hand at community theater. This can be a step above college theater if the theater is in a city known for its acting community. Get a role in one of these productions and you’ll be with others who are polishing their craft just like you and are from a higher level of competition.
7. 7
   Promote yourself become pro active about your acting career, look for online sites that give you access to audition notices, sign up with a reputable site like castinguploads.com or any other site that will allow you to be pro active about your career.
8. 8
   Get an Agent, decide whether or not you need a manager. At least you’ll have the experience and education behind you at this point to have a good chance at landing a reputable agent who will be able to go out there and get you work.
9. 9
   Don't forget about the business aspect. This is often overlooked. If you are an actor, you are going into business for yourself and need to treat your career as such.