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Actors` Exchange/acting and how to start?

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Expert: - 1/4/2010


Question

me and my sister
hi I'm Daniel,

I'm 16 years old and i really like the idea of being an actor, but i don't know how to start. i know i need a agent but i have no idea how to get one. another do i have to pay for an audition?
i would go to any lengths to become an actor. what should i do??

thank you  

Answer
Acting is a job, so you have to look at getting the right qualifications, which in most cases in North America, means getting a degree or conservatory certificate.
Competition to get into the most respected schools is very high, so you should look at their websites and see what they ask for. They are likely to be attracted to someone who shows a continuing interest in performing, with a series of amateur roles, plus some small professional work in the summer, perhaps.
Through high school, you must use the library, bookstore and internet to broaden your knowledge of the weird world of acting. The same colleges, the same directors and theatres will keep coming up, showing where reputations are being made. Google Bonnie Armstrong, an LA casting director, who is a very useful source.

If you live in a small city with no live theatre or film production,you can only show your acting chops by amateur work or by finding an independent producer, theatre or film, who needs actors. The local college film course often does. In those centres, there isn't much competition, but there's very little work.
If you live in NY or LA, or perhaps Seattle or Chicago, there will be a population of actors, most of whom don't work. In these large centres, there is a large amount of work but even more actors looking for each piece of casting.
 
An agent makes money from the fees the performers get, so they aren't keen on seeing anyone whose work they don't know. Even if you eventually get an agent later in your career, you should count on getting most of your work yourself, so the more you know about the business, the more likely you will be to get work. From your research, you will quickly find that very few actors make enough to live on without a second job.

Theatres and film/TV do not charge for auditions or screen tests. Cheats and thieves live off those fees, real entertainment professionals are looking for the right actor for casting , pick those they see, and don't need to charge.

Lots of work to do before you can get on the acting train. Enjoy yourself on the platform, and have a great trip!

PM

Peter Messaline

Expertise

Career advice for high-school students and beginning performers. Canadian tax advice for artists of all sorts. Research resources for those looking for performance-related answers.

Experience

I am a Canadian performer, tax preparer and writer.
I have supported myself as an arts entrepreneur for thirty-five years.
I am the most-published writer in the business of being a Canadian artist.
I have written on arts tax matters and prepared performer taxes for fifteen years.

Organizations belong to
ACTRA, CAEA, AEA, British Equity.

Publications
CAEA Newsletter
ACTRA Branchline
The Agents Book
Actor's Survival Kit
Tax Kit 2000+
Making It (Federal government career management for culture workers)

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