How To Get Started As An Actor

I coach 15-20 actors a week, and those that are new to the business often approach me with the same question, “I’m passionate about getting started, but I don’t have the money to pursue things fully. What should I do?” Further, even if they did have the money to take class, they wonder, ”What kind of acting class should I be taking?” There are so many options - audition technique, scene study, Meisner, Strasberg, monologue prep, acting for the camera… and so on and so on. So, how is an actor supposed to know where to start, particularly in a large city where resources are vast and, frankly, a little confusing?

One of my followers from Twitter, let’s call him “Charlie”, send me this email recently:

Hi Erin, 

Thanks for taking a moment and reading this. I am pretty much new to the acting world, I want to try it, I feel some sort of an attraction towards it. However, I do not have enough money to move to LA and or take classes. Where can or do I start? Thoughts? 

Thanks!! 

First off - I want to address his concern about not having enough money to take classes. If you want to become an actor and you expect to make money at it, you must put resources into it -- which includes training. It is a very rare case that an actor can be successful without some sort of training (not to mention other resources needed to be an actor.) I’ve written two “tough love” articles on this topic:

Getting Real - Taking Your Career Seriously

Spending Your Money Wisely

You might also want to look at a recent “BackPage” article on Backstage, where a prospective actor got a dose of reality from one of their staff writers when he asked if it was possible to become an actor without having any money to spend.

The first thing I always recommend to someone who wants to become an actor is to start looking for a place to get training. Like any profession, if you want to make acting a career you’ll need to have good training to build the skills necessary to being an actor. There are classes than you can take in the evenings or on weekends to accommodate your work schedule, and there are affordable options for just about every budget. For beginning classes, I often recommend taking a look at one of your local community colleges, which often have 10-20 week courses for a fraction of the price you’d pay to a professional studio. This will allow you to “try out” acting before making a large investment of money. 

One of the key resources an actor has in building their career is the ability to RESEARCH. There are lots of ways to find out exactly what it means to be an actor:

• Start reading blogs by actors & teachers (like this one: Bite-Size Business For Actors: or my acting blog: The Erin Cronicals.)

• Read books on the business and craft of acting (here’s a list of acting books I recommend.)

• Watch as many movies, plays, musicals and TV shows as you can, and start thinking about what kind of career you envision for yourself. 

• Read biographies on respected actors, directors, writers, and producers. Read plays & screenplays. 

• Subscribe to professional publications like Backstage to start getting to know the industry. 

There are lots of other things I can recommend, but in the interest of time I sent the above information to “Charlie” in the hopes that it would be enough to get him started.

“Charlie” then wrote back:

Hi, Erin. How are you? Thanks for your response. I have done my share of research and took some basic steps towards the acting thing, signed up for actors access, got a head shot etc. I wanted to ask you, what kind of classes should I take? Where? Can you recommend any places in the city which are reasonable? I was thinking maybe commercial work shops to learn how to audition for commercials etc. Let me know your thoughts when you get a moment please. Thanks :) 

My first reaction to this was: Wait a minute, you said you don’t have any money for classes, but you have money for headshots and Actors Access? That seems a bit backwards to me. It doesn’t make sense to spend money on the business elements until you have the artistic elements to back it up. There is no sense in learning about auditioning until you have taken an actual acting class, which will teach you what you need to know once you actually get the job.

It’s baffling to me that brand new actors are being wooed into spending money on things that will be of no value until the actor has some basic training under his/her belt. New York and Los Angeles, in particular, are hotbeds for businesses that prey on new actors with stars in their eyes. So, let me help you wade through the crap and give you some real world advice:

If you want to be an actor, there are no shortcuts. You must be trained. You must put in your time. And you must take it as seriously as a medical student in pursuit of being a doctor or a law student in pursuit of being a litigator. Acting is high profile profession that requires skill, moxie and determination -- anything less is an insult to the profession.

I’ve written these three articles (plus numerous others) that expound on my deep and passionate feelings on this topic:

Take Care of the Newbies- Help Those Who Are Vulnerable

Actor Poachers- Beware - A Fight Against Scammers

If It Seems To Good to Be True (It Probably Is.)


If there are other questions that "Charlie" did not address, please feel free to leave a comment - I may be able to answer them right away, or use your questions/concerns in a future blog post.

Have a comment or question? Leave it by clicking below!

Erin Cronican's career as a professional actor and career coach has spanned the last 25 years in New York City, Los Angeles and San Diego. She has appeared in major feature films and on television, and has done national tours of plays and musicals. She has worked in the advertising & marketing departments of major corporations, film production companies, theater magazines, and non-profit acting organizations. To learn more, check out http://www.theactorsenterprise.org.

Duplicate Names on IMDB

IMDB has long been the “it” database for all things film and television. Many actors consider it a right of passage to have their name added to the database, with the hope that their credits will burgeon and casting professionals will flock to them.

But what happens when you go onto IMDB and you notice that someone has taken your name? Is there any recourse? Take a look at a question that I received recently from Sierra:

Hello Erin,

As mainly a Theater actress, I have had little experience or need for IMDB (yet…).  However, recently I was told I had an IMDB page, which made little sense because I have no film credits besides some minimal work in Los Angeles.  In AFTRA, SAG & AEA, my union name is “Sierra Rein,” and when I searched for this on IMDB this page came up.  However, the one credit associated with this name - “The Professor” - has nothing to do with me (unless I’m having amnesia about playing “Rea”), so I figure this is another actor with my name…although that would be quite remarkable, since my name is pretty unique.  Or, perhaps the person who submitted the information entered it wrong (either by mistake or on purpose).

What do you know about reclaiming an “actor” page on IMDB, even if I actually don’t have any credits to reclaim it? Or do you think I should just let it be until I book something that has some “heft” to claim my name back on IMDB?  What are my options?

Thanks for answering!

- Sierra Rein

Hi, Sierra. Thank you so much for your question! It’s a common frustration, so I’m glad you’ve given me a chance to address it here.

IMDB, as you know, is the leading database on film & television. It includes both union and non union work that has been premiered for an audience (paying to non paying.) As you mentioned, you have cleared your name through your union, which means that no one else can officially have your name. But because IMDB it features non-union work, there are situations (particularly with common names) where there are multiple people with the same name.

So, what can you do to remedy this? There are two things that come to mind:

1) You can buy a membership with IMDBPro, which allows you to create your own page. When you create it, it will remind you that there already is a Sierra Rein listed, and it will ask you if you want to claim that one or create a new one. You'll have to create a new one, and you'll be listed in the system at Sierra Rein (II).

2) Rather than creating your own page, when you get your first IMDB-worthy credit, make sure that the producer knows that the Sierra Rein in the system is not you, and that s/he’ll need to add a new listing for you. This means that when s/he adds your credit, and a warning pops up that “there is already a Sierra Rein listed. Use this one?” s/he’ll need to add a new person to the system.

There's not much else you can do, unfortunately. Hopefully one of the above will work for you. Let me know if you have any questions, and good luck with your career!

Have a comment or question? Leave it by clicking below!

Erin Cronican's career as a professional actor and career coach has spanned the last 25 years in New York City, Los Angeles and San Diego. She has appeared in major feature films and on television, and has done national tours of plays and musicals. She has worked in the advertising & marketing departments of major corporations, film production companies, theater magazines, and non-profit acting organizations. To learn more, check out http://www.theactorsenterprise.org.

Leave 'Em Wanting More

Photo by Rob Ireton

Ah... single life in NYC. Strangely (or sadly) it’s a lot like you see on “Sex and the City” -- except without the huge apartments and amazing shoes. Being single in the city means that there’s an opportunity for connection around every corner. Thus, even a trip to the grocery store or laundromat is pressure-laden, requiring clean clothes and sparkling wit. The result is that there are a lot of lonely people vying for the one last guy or gal who hasn’t been snatched up yet.

It occurred to me the other day, as I marveled at the industry contacts I’ve made in social settings... just how much building a promising career is like trying to find a promising relationship. Stay with me. The analogy will hold up, I promise. I mean, look at the paragraph above. Pull out the word single and insert actor, and we’re dealing with the same thing. So, I theorize that the success of both single-dom and an acting career hinge on this unspoken golden rule: Leave ‘em wanting more.

Don’t believe me? Think back to the last time you had a first date. (Those of you who are married may have to reach waaaaay back. Others, like me, probably have plenty to choose from due to an intense lack of second dates.) On that first date, you don’t want to tell your whole life story. You don’t want to rehash past relationships or open up old wounds. You want to engage your listener and make them so enraptured that they can’t think of anyone but you. You want to leave ‘em wanting more so that they are inspired to call you again for that second date, and the third, and so on.

So, how do you do that in your meetings and auditions? How do you leave ‘em wanting more (and how does dating relate even in the slightest?)

1) Choose Your Objective
To start, you have to make sure you’re clear on the objective of the encounter. You might think that when you have that first meeting with an agent that the objective that day is to be signed. However, unless the agent is a one-person operation, getting signed that day will most likely be impossible. There are many hoops to jump through when sigining -- getting approved by other agents in their office, the perusal of your materials, etc. Therefore, the objective for this encounter should be (drum roll please...): To get to the next encounter! This means that for an initial agency meeting, your goal should be to get to the next meeting. At a first audition, your objective should be to get a callback. By keeping your eye on the step that’s right in front of you, rather than 5 steps ahead, you’ll have an easier time creating an experience that makes them want to see more.

2) Relax (aka Don’t Try So Hard)
So, if we agree that the best way to approach an encounter is to think only one step ahead, this should go a long way in helping you achieve step 2 -- RELAX. You don’t have to win someone over completely in that first meeting. You simply have to wow them enough that they want to see you again. By relaxing, you allow the other person to relax too.

In my seminars and soirees, I often use the first date analogy when talking about relaxing. This relates a lot to how much info to give and how much to hold back on. Imagine this: you’re on a first date, and your date asks, “So, tell me a little bit about yourself.” And you say:

“I’ve been dating since I was 16 years old (including 4 years of intense dating in college), so I really know what I’m doing in the dating world. In fact, I think you might say that I’m one of the best undiscovered daters in the city. I’m looking for a relationship that is passionate and thrilling, but also calm and steady. It also has to be romantic, but not too romantic. I don’t want to get tied down to one specific way of dating. I know I am going to be an amazing mom, and I think that right now I want to have 3 kids. No, wait 4 kids. No, wait, I mean 3 kids. Actually, it doesn’t matter because I know that I have what it takes, and if I can just find the right guy who can see me for “me” I’ll be able to start having kids right away. I am amazing at keeping my apartment clean, paying bills on time, and shopping. I’m an incredible cook. I don’t have much money right now, but I know I’ll be able to make tons more money in the future if I could just find a stable partner. All I want is to be a good wife and parent. I mean, is that so wrong?”

(crickets)

You cringe, but this is what actors do every day in agency/CD offices around the country. In an effort to show how much they WANT this, they spew up every last little detail about their desires and expound positive traits, and leave the agent/CD to clean up after the spill.

“Well, I’ve been acting my whole life but I’ve never been able to find an agent. I’m really good at comedy and drama and want to be able to do TV and film and theater and musicals and commercials and print. Oh, and voiceover -- my Aunt says I have a really good voice for radio...”

You see my point? Relax! If you wouldn’t do that on a first date, you really shouldn’t do it in a meeting or audition. I promise, if you think of the dating analogy you won’t have trouble censuring yourself. Just withhold... a little. Keep something of yourself close to the vest, while still remaining open. It’s difficult, but definitely a skill you should cultivate.

3) Take control and make it about them
The more you can take control over a meeting and make it about the other person, the better you’ll be about creating a mystique about yourself. Face it, we all have egos and like talking about ourselves, especially when someone is genuinely interested. It makes up want to be around that person more and more. So, take every opportunity to inquire about the other person. What makes them so right for you, anyway? If you think of your meetings and auditions as business exchanges, it will help you think of yourself as an equal who is there with a job to do.

Also, consider than with the amount of anxiety that actors naturally feel, agents & CDs tend to have to take care of actors a lot. Imagine how enticing it would be to have you take care of THEM for a change? The more control you have in the meeting, the easier it will be for them to relax in YOUR hands.

4) Leave “while the iron is hot”
One of my favorite jokes about quitting early has been, “I want to go out on top, like Seinfeld.” Seinfeld was at the top of its game when the series was ended. This made the buzz and desire for the show hotter than ever. One key component of leaving folks wanting more is if you end the encounter before things get stale, before you both run out of things to say. I’m convinced that some of wonderful first dates that people have do not become second dates may have been because Date 1 lasted too long. If you spend a large amount of time with someone, you may be thwarting your attempt to get a second meeting. Cutting the time a little short creates a sense of loss, a loss than can only be re-won by them bringing you back again. So, honestly, don’t worry that you only have 5 minutes in that audition room. That’s plenty of time to intrigue someone. This hold try for the amount of time in the room, and also the length of your audition materials. Make them call you back to see the rest of your goods. Trust me - a 2-minute monologue or 32 bar song is plenty of time to show them your stuff, but also short enough to leave ‘em wanting more.

What other dating analogies can you infer from this article? Shoot me an email and let me know your thoughts- I’d love to know ways you have left people wanting more! Or, if you need some support on how to handle any of the above 4 ideas, let me know. Perhaps it just a little pep talk you need, or perhaps your career would benefit from a little bit of coaching. I always offer a free consultation so we can get to know each other and you can see if this kind of coaching would be right for you. I would be honored to be a member of your team.

Have a comment or question? Leave it by clicking below!

Erin Cronican's career as a professional actor and career coach has spanned the last 25 years in New York City, Los Angeles and San Diego. She has appeared in major feature films and on television, and has done national tours of plays and musicals. She has worked in the advertising & marketing departments of major corporations, film production companies, theater magazines, and non-profit acting organizations. To learn more, check out http://www.theactorsenterprise.org.

Mailing Rate Change

Photo credit: Unidentified Appelation

Just wanted to give you all a quick update about mailings -- the post office has changed their rates again. According to the USPS website, here are the current rates for actor mailings as of 10/29/11:

Postcards: $0.29
Large Envelope with Headshot/Resume (2 ozs or less in weight): $1.08

Note: Adding a piece of cardboard to your headshot mailing (to keep it from bending) will raise the price of your mailing significantly.


Have a comment or question? Leave it by clicking below!

Erin Cronican's career as a professional actor and career coach has spanned the last 25 years in New York City, Los Angeles and San Diego. She has appeared in major feature films and on television, and has done national tours of plays and musicals. She has worked in the advertising & marketing departments of major corporations, film production companies, theater magazines, and non-profit acting organizations. To learn more, check out http://www.theactorsenterprise.org.