Expert: Peter Messaline - 2/6/2011

Question
Hi there my name is Andy im ive been acting professionalyfor 6 months now im in off a off broadway play "parayers for the ghetto". However I have limited access to auditions and want to book more acting jobs including commercials,plays, and film.

My question is....where Can I find work besides backstage? any online websites you can refer me too.


Thanks

Andy Lemos

Answer
If you are in a professional production now, you already have the best set of resources.
Get to know your cast members and listen for their experience.
What are people around you doing?

'limited access to auditions' could mean a lot of things.

If it's a matter of free time to get to them, then you'll have to organise the rest of your life, making sacrifices to free up time and attention for the acting ambitions.

If you live way out, and your description of the production you're in simply means that it's a small company, then your casting will depend completely on what people think about you and your work. Get in the local action, casting, production, acting, all sorts of resources -- anything to be visible on the professional landscape. In a small centre, there will not be enough work to attract agents and casting people.

Wherever you are, people's personal trust in you is very important, and knowing what's happening and how things work locally is essential. By all means Google "<your district> casting", but realise that without experience or training you will still rely on people liking you enough to take a chance on you. You will discover far more people ready to rip you off, promising all sorts of success but really just taking their fee.