How Should I Pursue An Acting Career?
From taking voice lessons to developing a thick skin, here are answers to the question, “What is one thing you would offer someone pursuing a career in acting?”
- Take Voice Lessons
- Be Financially Prepared
- Find A Personal Acting Coach
- Be Patient and Persistent
- Talk to Actors, Directors, Producers, and Anyone Else
- Move to a Smaller City
- Network as Soon as Possible
- Have a Side Gig as You Pursue Acting
- Develop a Thick Skin
Take Voice Lessons
One recommendation for someone pursuing a career in acting is to take voice lessons. These voice lessons are important because they can help an actor learn how to project their voice and how to use their voice to convey emotion. Maintaining your voice allows the actor to be consistent in their performances, regardless of the size of the stage or the audience.
Tasia Duske, CEO, Museum Hack
Be Financially Prepared
Getting started as an actor or an actress requires certain preparation. Attending countless auditions, memorizing lines, and practicing in your spare time consumes a lot of time. You may find it hard to find a middle ground between giving it your all and also working to finance your dreams. It may turn out that you will have to take only a part-time job in order to pursue a career in acting, which means you should have some savings hidden away when it gets hard.
Natalia Brzezinska, Marketing & Outreach Manager, US Visa Photo
Find A Personal Acting Coach
One thing you could offer someone pursuing a career in acting is to help them find their own personal acting coach. This can be expensive, but it could be well worth the investment to help further their career. You could also help them by providing resources and advice on how to audition, what kind of headshots to get, and what type of training they should pursue.If you have connections in the industry, you could also help introduce your friend or family member to other professionals who could help further their career. For example, if you know a casting director or agent, you could introduce your friend or family member and put in a good word for them.
Aviad Faruz, CEO, FARUZO
Be Patient and Persistent
The one thing I would offer to someone pursuing a career in acting is to be patient and persistent. Regardless of how talented you are, it takes a lot of work and persistence to make it as an actor. Be willing to work hard and put in the time and effort required, even if it feels like progress is slow. Don’t give up on your dream because it’s difficult to get ahead. If you are truly talented and persistent, success will come.
Admir Salcinovic, Co-Founder, Pricelisto
Talk to Actors, Directors, Producers, and Anyone Else
Do your research. Talk to actors, directors, producers, and anyone else who might be able to give you insight into what a career in acting entails. Read books and articles about acting. Go to see as many plays and movies as you can. The more knowledgeable you are about the industry, the better you’ll be at making informed decisions about your career.What do you want to achieve as an actor? Do you want to be a movie star? A Broadway star? An indie film, darling? The answer to this question will help you determine what kind of acting career you should pursue. If your goal is to be a movie star, you’ll need to move to Los Angeles or New York City and start auditioning for film and television roles. If your goal is to be a Broadway star, on the other hand, you’ll need to focus on auditioning for stage roles in New York City. There’s no wrong answer here; it’s just essential that you have a clear idea of what your goals are before making any decisions.
Lukasz Zelezny, SEO Consultant, SEO London
Move to a Smaller City
Many aspiring actors are under the impression that they need to move to a larger city to pursue a career in acting. While it is true that there are many acting jobs in New York and Los Angeles, there are also many opportunities in smaller cities. One of the best pieces of advice I could give someone pursuing a career in acting is to move to a smaller city. It is easier to get noticed in a smaller city, and it is easier to get hired in a smaller city. Many small cities have theater companies that are always looking for new talent. By moving to a smaller city and pursuing a career in acting, you will have a greater chance of success.
Luciano Colos, Founder & CEO, PitchGrade
Network as Soon as Possible
Start networking as soon as possible. Many of the breaks that you will get as an actor will have to do more with who you know, and how you network with them. You want to get plugged in with people who are connected to open roles for shows, movies, and series. Try to network as much as you can and start shaking hands and kissing babies. This will go a long way in helping you launch your career in acting.
Scott Krager, Founder, TubeSplit.com
Have a Side Gig as You Pursue Acting
It’s crucial that people follow the career path that brings them joy and fulfillment. For some that may be acting. However, the vast majority of actors don’t experience overnight success. They work long and hard, often with a very limited paycheck, before finding steady acting work. To help offset the cost of pursuing the dream actors can freelance or do contract work around their auditions or performances. Maybe they teach acting at an afterschool program or write scripts for a business trying to grow its YouTube presence. Flexible, yet steady work is out there and will give aspiring actors a financial cushion as they work toward their true calling.
Kelli Anderson, Career Coach, Resume Seed
Develop a Thick Skin
Growing a thick skin is essential for people pursuing a career in acting, I believe. Actors face criticism on almost a daily basis. That’s a part of their job. Don’t take criticism and rejection to heart – it’s nothing personal. As an actor, you need to stay emotional and open. At the same time, you just cannot let nonconstructive criticism and badmouthing in.Haters gonna hate. Your fame and social media presents will attract them, that’s for sure. Still, you don’t have to be liked by everyone. The same applies to your stage performance. Do your thing, filtering out which comments can help you grow and get better at acting from those doing nothing but harm. Having a thick skin will let you continue with your acting career, without distraction and worries.
Agata Szczepanek, Community Manager, LiveCareer
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