There are thousands upon thousands of actors in
Los Angeles alone -- each one hoping for that one
big break that will launch their career. The sad fact
is that only a few people ever make it as actors and
even fewer make it beyond a few “b” film roles and
television appearances.
So, what can you do to help your chances of
success?
For all the things you can’t control (how you look,
how you sound, etc.), there are a few things you
can do that might just make the difference between
getting the part and continuing to work as a waiter.
Here are a few tips to keep in mind:
Being an actor is not the easy life it may seem.
There are often long periods of financial insecurity,
huge amounts of competition along with multiple
forms of rejection that make the overall process
that much more difficult. But many actors will never
succeed simply because they ignore some of the
most basic elements and can’t get out of their own
way. Give yourself the best chance at success by
following these eight simple rules and you’ll quickly
find that you’re already ahead of the game.
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1. Learn Your Craft: Too many people think that
acting is easy. Just like any art form, acting is
a craft and must be mastered. Take acting
classes, watch other actors and take the time
to hone your craft.
There are a number of top tier actors who
make a point of working with acting coaches to
be sure they remain at the top of their game.
You can never know too much.
2. Never Be Late: This might seem obvious, but
there are hundreds if not thousands of actors
out there who simply can’t tell time. Casting
sessions are usually just a few minutes and
are scheduled at odd times like 7:25 or 6:50 on
purpose. Be early or don’t bother showing up.
Patience weighs thin at a casting session and
few things will hurt your chances more than
being late.
3. Know Your Lines: Again, this might seem
obvious, but there are too many actors who
learn a few of their lines and then try to “wing
it” and fail miserably. Spend time preparing
your lines. Prepare not only what you’re going
to say, but how you’re going to say it.
4. Don’t Rewrite Your Lines: Never, ever, ever
say something other than what’s in the script.
There’s no better way to offend a writer then to
come up with your own lines. If you want to
write your own dialogue, then become a writer.
5. Listen, Listen, Listen: I repeated this one three
times because I’m hoping you’re listening.
Listen to what you are being told. Sometimes
the casting director or writer or director will
give you a bit of direction prior to the audition
or during the audition on a particular line. Listen
to what they’re saying and take the time you
need to process it. If it’s during an audition,
more often than not, they will be happy to give
you a few minutes to incorporate the new
direction into the lines. So ask for it if you need
it.
6. Make Sure Your Headshot is Accurate: There
are few things more annoying then getting a
headshot that looks nothing like the actor who
shows up. Be sure your headshot accurately
portrays who you are now. If you’ve gained
weight, cut your hair, gotten a few years older
then
make sure your headshot shows this. Your
headshot won’t be the one getting the job and
you certainly won’t either if you look
completely different than what people were
expecting to see.
7. Commit!: Actors who genuinely commit to a
reading are fun to watch. They literally
transform themselves into a character. By
committing fully to the reading, you will not
only dissolve any nervousness, you’ll show the
decision makers that you should be considered
because you can play the part with a genuine
passion.
8. No Excuses!: So, you couldn’t learn your lines
because you lost your power? Too bad. You
were an hour late because you were stuck in
traffic? Aw, sorry. You had to rush your dog to
the vet and didn’t get the script? Better luck
next time. The fact is no one cares that you
had any of these incidents crop up. Life
happens and sometimes things go wrong and
in a normal world, this might be taken into
consideration. But know that no matter what
excuse you think you have to get you out of a
particular situation, there are dozens of other
people happy to take your place.
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