What does it take to become an actor?
So, you woke up and decided to become an actor, or perhaps you’ve been dreaming of making it as a star of stage and screen since you were little. While some are content with acting as a hobby, many are trying to make a sustainable career out of it. The million dollar question is, how can you obtain that? What do you need to become the next A-Lister? Here are just a few insights on what’ll be beneficial to you on your path to becoming an actor.
Always be working on and honing your craft
Whether you’ve been acting for one week or 15 years, it always helps to be polished and on top of your game! Taking dedicated acting lessons and courses, or taking part in local theatre are extremely helpful to you. The more you keep at it, the better prepared you’ll be for that big audition. Of course, there’s always that dreaded money issue. Don’t fret! Try to keep an eye out for any local theatre communities to take part in. You don’t have to pay to join, and you’ll meet tons of likeminded people to learn from on your journey.
Keep your finger on the pulse and manage your time wisely
Plenty of actors would love to commit full-time to auditioning for projects, but auditioning doesn’t put bread on the table. If you want to become an actor, it’s imperative that you strike a nice balance between auditioning and work. There will be times where an audition will directly conflict with your 9 to 5, or even other auditions as well. The auditioning lifestyle is a process, so don’t freak out if you haven’t landed a gig after 6 months in a big casting city. These things take time. As for finding auditions, thankfully the Internet is here to help! Plenty of websites such as Veriscouts.com are available with all the latest audition postings in your area.
Learn to live with rejection, but don’t throw away your opportunities
The single hardest challenge you’re going to face as an actor is dealing with rejection. Lots and lots and lots of it. The entertainment industry is an extremely challenging place to navigate, but you can’t let it get to your head if you want to make a career there. Everyone on some level struggles with rejection, but standing tall in the face of it and continuing to put yourself out there is the trademark of a dedicated actor. Another thing you can’t let impact your decisions are your self-image. Not everyone can look like Brad Pitt, but not everyone needs to look like him! There are casting directors seeking people of all shapes, sizes, and backgrounds, and if you find the opportunity, take it! Even if you’re competing against ten people or 10,000 people for a role, you always have to take the opportunities lest you spend night after night wondering if you should’ve.
Hope these tips helped you in your quest to become a superstar, if only even a little. Be sure to check back here in the future for more tips and advice to make it in the Entertainment Industry!
