Many people, when you tell them that you want to be an actor, will scoff. Don’t listen to them. They’ve heard myths about the one in a million nature of showbusiness and think you’re a dreamer who wants to be the next Dicaprio; they think the answer to “how to become an actor” is “be incredibly lucky and have industry ties”.
However, most people realize that acting is a career choice like any other. There are tons of actors out there that you have probably seen, like Fred Melamed, that aren’t household names. This is an example of an actor who is successful, and most likely has a good deal of money — but isn’t famous, or rich.
Add to this the tons of working actors in the world of theatre who occasionally do film rolls and you have a job that covers all ends of the spectrum.
This article will walk you through some practical tips on how to become a professional actor.
Train
Sandy Meisner once said that he wished the stage could be as thin as a tightrope, so no unworthy people could walk on it. This might have been a bit of an exaggeration, but the point is there — everybody thinks they can act.
No one can sit down and play a Chopin piece on the piano without training. However, you can play Hamlet just by picking up a copy of Shakespeare. One of the hardest roles in the entire language can easily be played by a master actor or a complete novice.
However, to act well is a completely different matter. Just because you can act right away, doesn’t mean you can act well. Make sure you find yourself a great class or training program to teach you all you need to know.
Acting training runs the gamut, with Lee Strasberg’s emotional recall-based Method on one side and David Mamet’s objective-based Practical Aesthetics on the other. It’s best that you find a great teacher, like those at Actorsinactionconservatory.com, to teach you everything you need to know.
Get a Headshot
When you’re auditioning for parts, you’re not going to have a lot of time in the room for the auditors to get to know you. Get yourself a great headshot, so that everyone can remember your face.
In the audition room, your headshot stands in for you. Who knows? — yours might even get passed around by a different production that you didn’t even audition for.
Audition
At the end of the day, the best way to learn is to fail. As an actor, you’re going to have to get used to rejection — most of the job is looking for your next job.
How to Become An Actor
Many people think the question of how to become an actor is a silly one. However, at the end of the day, it’s just like any other craft. Get yourself some training, prepare the materials, and look for opportunities and see how you fare.
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