| Getting Started Acting |
How to get Discovered
How is it that some people get discovered as actors? Why does it seem like they don't have to work so hard to get the attention
of agents, directors and casting directors? Why do some people get all the good roles? There is a reason for everything! |
Grab the Casting Directors' Attention
There are several professional ways to grab the attention of someone who
opens self-submission envelopes. A complete answer would fill a book. There
are three essentials before a casting office (or agent/manager) will take
your self-submission seriously. Let's take a look at two of those essentials
today. |
Self-Promotion: A Dirty Word?
Self-promotion: Is it a dirty word? Many of us were taught by our parents to
be modest about our abilities and accomplishments. "Don't toot your own
horn," we were told. We didn't want others to think we were stuck-up or "too
big for our britches," so we kept our talents locked up inside. |
Self-Promotion for the Actor
If you're thinking about becoming a professional actor (or if you already
are), you need to know how to promote yourself. The competition for roles,
especially in large cities, can be staggering, so the more you know about
self-promotion, the easier it will be for you to get your name and face in
front of the people who matter. |
Learn to Hunt
The irony of your profession is that you'll spend more time attempting to work than actually working. In fact, if you made
a graph of all the time spent in activities having to do with developing your career, it would look something like this:
Imagine a circle--a pie chart, if you will. Picture in your mind the barest slice you could possibly cut out of it. That
represents the actual time you spend genuinely working at a paying acting job. |
How to Get a Talent Agent
Getting yourself a talent agent, if you want to be an actor, can be hard as
quite often the individual talent agent or the agency in which they work are
inundated with mailings and applications from hundreds of other budding
actors, just like you. So how you go about getting a talent agent can be
testing. |
Getting an Agent - Finding Talent Agents and Getting Noticed
Franchised agents place the interests of their actor clients above their
own. They do more than just seek out work opportunities for their clients.
They also make sure actors are paid a decent wage, assist the actor
negotiate and sign union contracts and help make the workplace a safe
environment. Choosing a franchised talent agent is one of the most important
choices a performer can ever make. |
How to Find a Talent Agent
First, decide what you want in an agent. Consider how strong your resume is,
what kind of experience you have, whether you are a union member, whether
you have had an agent before, and what kind of work you want to do. You must
look realistically at yourself, your ambitions, your talents, and decide
what kind of agent you need at this stage in your career. |
How to Find an Agent... and Survive
You're looking for an agent. And there are people everywhere calling
themselves agents, advertising for new faces, walking the streets looking
for actors and models. |
What to Look for in an Agent or Manager
Do not depend on an agent or a manager to "make" your career. That is your
job. That is why you must continue to work diligently at self-promotion,
even if you are signed with an agency. |
