How to start an acting career

To start an acting career you must decide what type of actor you want to be, get an education and some experience in acting, and create an acting reel. For more details on each step and further steps you can take to start an acting career, use this guide:

• Decide what type of actor you would like to be. First, you have to decide what type of actor you would like to be. Are you aiming to get into film and television or do you want a career in the theater?

  Certain actors want and achieve both of these acting career paths, however, trying to figure out the specific acting career you want to have can influence what steps you take and when you take them.

  This is also a question as to what type of acting you want to pursue, as in drama, comedy, or any other subcategory. Again, some actors can have versatile careers in many different genres of productions.

  However, when starting, it helps you to set a clear intention as to what type of acting you want to pursue. Take stock of whatever your strengths are and determine what type of acting you want to pursue.

• Practice by yourself at first. Then start to practice at home. Take cues from films, TV shows, or recorded plays that display the type of acting you wish to pursue. Try to imitate the actors you see.

  When doing this it is also highly beneficial to record yourself on camera, so that you can play your performance back to yourself.

  Even more beneficial is to get honest critiques on your performances from friends, family, and especially anyone that works in theater, acting, or an entertainment-adjacent industry.

• Get literature on acting. There are many great books on acting, Stella Adler's 'The Art of Acting' and Konstantin Stainislavki's 'An Actor's Work' are considered by many to be two of the greatest books on acting.

  However, there is so much other great literature on the subject. Do some research and read as much as you can.

• Consume other media on acting. In addition to books, there is a wealth of knowledge about acting in other formats, and the great thing is that much of this is free. Check out different podcasts and tutorial videos on the craft, and again seek to digest as much as possible.

  There are also paid options in these areas, such as online courses like Masterclass, however, before spending too much money, make sure you gain enough knowledge and even some experience.

• Go over play scripts and screenplays. You should also purchase or download play scripts and screenplays. It is important to familiarize yourself with the structure of these creative documents as well as the formatting.

  Nearly any production you go on to be involved with, whether it be in a theater or on film, will have a script that lays out the story and characters' dialogues. Knowing how to read and memorize certain portions of scripts are essential tasks for any actor.

  In addition, you can also see what kinds of parts you gravitate towards when reading play scripts and screenplays.

• Join a community theater program. These are ideal opportunities for people that want to pursue acting but don't have any experience. It gives you the ability to develop confidence in front of an audience and just in general as an actor.

  It also has the benefit of one of the most important parts of acting which are interacting with other actors. You also can try out a variety of roles and see what kind of productions you are most suited to and enjoy the most.

• Sign up for acting classes. Once you have a good initial foundation of what type of acting you want to pursue, take some acting classes. Many communities have small acting workshops that are appropriate for beginners, and these usually aren't very expensive.

  Acting classes can enhance valuable skills like focus, memorization, and improvisation. They also give you the opportunity to be mentored by an instructor and give you a chance to collaborate with other aspiring actors.

  Acting classes can also sometimes lead to unpaid and paid acting gigs.

• Apply to a formal acting program. This is not a requirement. Hhowever, many actors do choose to go this route. A formal acting program will expose you to essential knowledge and skills needed to become a good actor.

  Formal acting programs help with learning how to use your body and voice to communicate specific emotions, and how to approach classical and modern scripts and plays. Another huge benefit of a formal acting program is that it will present you with networking opportunities.

• Take any acting opportunity you can find. As a beginner it is important to not turn down most acting opportunities.

  This means productions like student films or plays at local theaters. Even if the end result is an overall bad production, they are useful experiences nonetheless. You are sure to take away something that can benefit you along the way. And these also present opportunities for additions to your acting reel, which we cover just below.

• Create an acting reel. Participating in student films, short films, and tapped theater productions are also a great way to start building an acting reel. An acting reel is an edited video of your most strong work as an actor. It is absolutely crucial that you develop one.

  The great thing about acting reels is that they are just clips, so even if the production you were in was lacking, you only need a piece of it that showcases your abilities as an actor.

  Your acting reel should be in a frequent state of evolution, where you are continually adding more clips of impressive performances, and editing out those that are less flattering, or feel dated. It would be advantageous to seek out a good video editor when creating your acting reel.

• Establish a strong social media presence. Social media represents a unique opportunity for actors in particular. Many can become self-made this way by gaining large amounts of followers or even paid subscribers.

  You could create a low-budget sketch comedy show or some short form films with you as the lead. Social media is critical to promoting yourself as an actor and getting noticed.

• Get professional headshots. Get headshots from a professional photographer. This can be expensive, but it's well worth it. However, you should only pursue this step, once you feel you have enough training and an impressive acting reel.

  Your headshots will be used when submitting for auditions or trying to find an agent or manager, in addition to your acting reel of course.

• Move to Los Angeles or New York. These are by no means the only places you can become an actor, Chicago for instance, also has a thriving theater scene.

  However, if you are looking to break into TV and Film, Los Angeles is probably still the most sure route. If you want to act on Broadway, you need to go to Broadway, and move to New York City.

  Both of these cities, as acting hubs, also have an immense amount of acting resources that you can utilize.

• Go on auditions and get rejected. Auditioning is one of the hardest parts about being an actor.

  You are liable to go on hundreds of auditions and be rejected the majority of the time. This isn't the case for every actor of course, but learning to deal with rejection and finding the fortitude to keep going is an essential skill needed for most actors.

• Try to obtain an agent or manager. To excel in the world of acting you need to find proper representation, this means getting an agent or manager.

  This step is easier said than done. However, you can contact talent agencies and management companies, and provide them with your acting reel. When you are just starting out, it's a good idea to look for smaller agencies and management companies, as they are more likely to respond to your queries.

  And even if you can somehow get representation from a large scale talent agency or management company, this isn't always the best option for new talent. These large companies tend to put a lot of focus on their premier clients, such as famous movie stars, or veteran theater actors.

  At a smaller agency or management company you are likely to find representation that is hungry for new talent and much more prone to helping you find acting work.

  If you utilize most of the steps in this guide you will have a good chance of becoming an actor and starting a creatively fulfilling career.