I’m often asked what to do and what not to do to become a working actor.
There is no magic password. Luck will play a massive role in your career as an actor, but here’s what worked for me. I’m only recommending what I’ve done personally or what I wish I would have avoided.
The big caveat to the advice below is that COVID-19 has greatly increased the amount of auditions that are being done exclusively “on tape”, meaning actors record themselves performing their scenes then send that video online to agents or casting directors.
Don’t pay any agency or manager to represent you. It’s proper for agents and managers to be paid by taking a commission of income from jobs you book. Agencies take a standard 10% commission and managers take 10-15%.
Save money and get good headshots. Avoid the “4 Looks for $100!” deals. Look for a reputable photographer with well-exposed shots that aren’t overly dramatic or goofy. And don’t get black and white headshots. The last photographer I worked with is Paul Smith—use his work and his prices as a reference.
Don’t let parking tickets add up. Pay them.
I won’t recommend a specific acting class or coach because I didn’t regularly take classes or work with a coach. If you decide to, find a class with actors that frequently work on projects you want to work on—be it sitcoms, single-camera dramas, plays, etc. Make sure you feel like there are actors in class that are much, much better than you.
Explore Los Angeles before you pick your neighborhood. Casting offices are all over town, so you will spend a lot of time in transit. Public transportation in Los Angeles exists but having a car will make life much easier. And if you have a car, make sure the parking in your neighborhood isn’t a nightmare.
Once you’re in LA, join Actors Access and submit yourself for student films and short films. Show up ten minutes early to auditions and bring a printed headshot and resume. Student films and short films are ideal projects in which you can learn the rhythms of being on set and the technical processes of filmmaking.
Watch a lot of movies and TV series. Listen to the commentary tracks. Read interviews with your favorite actors, directors, producers, and writers. Get familiar with the lingo.
Stealing this from Rob Delaney: work harder than anyone around you.
This one too: Be nice.
Most importantly: find something other than acting you love doing and make sure it’s something you can do alone. Building model boats, hiking, reading, writing, painting, dancing, drawing… It’s necessary for your mental health to have an activity you enjoy that you can do without the approval of gatekeepers.
