The Working Actor

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  • Advice

    Referral Riddle, Contact Conundrum

    The director and I got along really well. I could tell he was sincere when he said, "If you ever need a referral, let me know." How do I use this offer to my advantage?

  • Advice

    Art vs. Commerce, Critical of Critics

    "I've gotten my first bad review. It stung a little, but the pain has subsided now because I know that I am a good actress, and my director, my fellow actors, and the audience were happy."

  • Advice

    More Perfect Union, Bard Games

    I recently finished a leading role in a national tour of a classic Shakespeare play, which I got rave reviews for. There was one problem: my castmates.

  • Advice

    Swinging Lessons

    I recently landed a role as a swing at the only Equity theater in town.  I overlooked the notes about the swings also doing stage crew work.

  • Advice

    Scar Scare, Card Concern, Director Distress

    I don't go to many auditions is because I had an accident when I was little. I'm self-conscious about these scars, and I'm really scared I'll be rejected for jobs because of them.

  • Advice

    Playing Doctor, Preying Agent

    Most of my acting credits are in Equity-waiver theater from about seven years ago, and I'm not a member of the Screen Actors Guild. I took time off to go to nursing school, finished school, and am currently working as a registered nurse, but I want to get back ...

  • Advice

    Extra Benefits

    A certain casting office hired me for three days. They fitted me in a period costume and wanted my hair to be all one color; I had to be shorter than 5 feet 5 inches and of white European descent.

  • Advice

    School Rumination, Get the Picture

    I see people my age on TV and in films and wonder if that could be me if I were in New York or L.A. Might it be more advantageous for me to get closer to the centers of the industry?

  • Advice

    Stop Signs, Early Checkout

    I believe acting is a calling. If it's your calling, then you've simply got to do it. If you haven't yet found the person who sees your gifts and wants to cast you, that's fine. It doesn't matter. Keep learning. Keep offering your talents.

  • Advice

    Dialoguing Down Memory Lane

    Working Actor columnists Jackie Apodaca and Michael Kostroff chat about ink-stained good times gone by.