Do you live for the stage or screen? Do you enjoy playing a part and pretending to be a different person? Would you like to turn these hobbies into an exciting career?
Have you ever considered becoming a professional actor or actress?
In this article, we'll talk about how you can pursue a career in acting and the necessary traits and qualities you'll need to have.
What Do Actors and Actresses Do?
Most people are familiar with actors and actresses and what they do for a living. These individuals play characters in movies, shows, theater productions, and more.
Actors and actresses spend much of their time on a stage or set, although they may also spend time in a studio performing voiceover or music, depending on their specific role.
Common tasks actors and actresses perform include:
- participating in auditions
- memorizing lines and cues and rehearsing scenes
- participating in interviews, press conferences, and other events
- training for specific roles
- singing or dancing for specific roles
Actors and actresses often start by performing in commercials or community productions for little or no pay. They may have to work other jobs to make ends meet while pursuing acting.
However, those who make it to the top often earn large paychecks and live luxurious lives.
The vast majority of professional actors and actresses fall somewhere in between; they earn a livable wage from small or moderate productions, but they may not be considered wealthy.
Actors may work a variety of hours in many different working conditions, depending on the needs of the production and related media engagements.
What Qualities Are Needed to Become an Actor or Actress?
The best actors and actresses are empathetic, able to relate to the characters they play, and can take on their personalities.
They are comfortable being in front of a camera or audience. They speak clearly, whether they are performing their lines, giving interviews, or interacting with the public.
Acting is a highly competitive field, so aspiring actors and actresses must be resilient. They must be able to handle frequent rejection and respond positively to constructive criticism.
Actors and actresses must be highly creative and have strong memorization skills.
Singing and dancing ability is not always necessary, but many actors and actresses perform roles that require these skills.
Finally, having technical knowledge of production techniques, stage and set equipment, and more can be beneficial to actors. They must often be willing to learn new skills and abilities for specific roles.
So, do you have what it takes to pursue an acting career? There are many different paths you can follow, but following the general steps below may give you the best chance of success.
Step 1: Study Acting
The majority of professional actors and actresses have received some amount of formal training.
If you are still in school, find out if your school offers drama classes. Audition for your school's stage productions.
If you are attending college, take acting or drama classes as electives, or pursue a degree in drama, theater, or acting. Consider attending an acting school to really hone your skills.
Even if you are out of school, you can take community classes on acting or attend drama workshops and boot camps.
All of these experiences can help you take a deep dive into the techniques and skills that are crucial to a successful acting career.
Step 2: Build Experience
If you want to make money as an actor or actress, you need to practice first.
Audition for as many school, church, and community theater productions as you can. When you land roles, learn all you can from the rehearsals and performances to refine your skills.
Find out about local casting calls for commercials or other small, entry-level productions. Audition for as many as you can fit into your schedule.
Make sure some, or all, of your performances are recorded. You are going to need video clips of your acting ability to take your career to the next level.
Step 3: Create a Resumé and Supporting Materials
As you gain experience, you'll want to create a resumé including that experience. Whether the work was paid or not, you can include it in your resumé.
Have a professional photographer create a headshot for you. This is an 8x10 detailed photo of your face. You'll need to submit this, along with your resumé, when you apply to auditions and casting calls.
Finally, you'll want to create a demo reel that showcases your acting ability. This is where all of those video clips of your performances will come in handy.
Your demo reel will give producers and directors a brief first impression of your skills. Only include your best clips in the demo reel.
Step 4: Attend Casting Calls and Auditions
Apply for higher-level acting jobs by submitting your resumé, headshot, and demo reel.
You can find these jobs by searching online platforms. You may also hear about them through word of mouth.
You may get a lot of rejections at first but don't get discouraged. Remember, acting is an extremely competitive field. It can take a long time to get your foot in the door and become established.
Keep attending casting calls and auditions. Learn from your rejections and continue honing your skills. Eventually, the hard work will begin to pay off.
Step 5: Hire an Agent
Once you have added noteworthy professional experiences to your resumé and demo reel, you may want to take your career to the next level. The best way to do that is by hiring an agent.
Agents act as marketing and legal advocates for those they represent. They are often responsible for negotiating contracts and helping their clients secure top-tier projects.
Agents don't get paid until their clients do, so keep in mind that finding an agent can be difficult when you're just starting out.
Use your resumé, headshot, and demo reel to try and convince agents that you are worth taking a chance on, and be patient.
Once you secure a good agent, the sky's the limit for where you could take your career.
Become an Actor or Actress Today
Becoming an actor or actress can take time, patience, and determination. It is not for the faint of heart. However, it can be a fun and rewarding career for those who put in the work to make it to the top.
