As the holiday season just passed and everyone’s finances probably got a little tighter, I thought this would be the ideal time to talk about how much it takes to financially start out in the entertainment industry. These suggestions apply to anyone over the age of 4 years old getting involved with theatrical, commercial, voiceover, and/or print activities. Babies and toddlers are different. For example, if someone advises you that your baby, like older actors, needs professional pictures, trust me…they don’t. So lets get started.
Headshots. This one is non-negotiable. You absolutely need a great picture to get you in the door for casting directors. That being said, what you don’t need are $2500 pictures! I have heard the rationale of using a high-priced photographer because of the celebrities they have photographed in the past. An actor starting out does not need the guy who did Nicolas Cage’s pictures. You can get amazing headshots done for between $100-$400 dollars. It takes a bit more work, but with a little effort you can find photographers who are just starting out and ask if they will do a headshot session free of charge in exchange for letting them use your photos to advertise their services.
Please don’t think you can start off with pictures of yourself taken in front of a wall with your friend’s iPhone. You are doing yourself a great disservice and starting out with a handicap if you go that route.
Casting site profiles. Creating a profile on a casting website is one of the cheapest and easiest ways to start auditioning, gaining experience, and hopefully add some credits to that all important résumé. Backstage, for one, is a great one to start with. It has castings across the country and can match your profile to projects and then send you an email letting you know so you can self-submit on it. Will these be the lead in a feature film, not always. They’re often for Web series, short films, theater, and student films. Studio films might be looking for background and day player roles, but they will get you on set and allow you to gain experience with the process. You can create a profile and for only $12.99 a month have access to auditions nationwide.
Later, when you have and agent or manager, you will be able to go out for bigger roles. But do not fret, if you are just getting started, the work you can do self-submitting will be unquestionably be beneficial.
Acting classes. If you are not already a professional actor with credits on your résumé, then having classes on your résumé is the second best way to get in the door. The price on these vary greatly. You can take classes at a top university or take classes with a private teacher. You have to go where your pocketbook allows you to. Google and Yelp are great resources for gaining insight and client feedback for the classes you are considering. For example, using Yelp, search for classes in your area and then check out the individual reviews for feedback on what other actors think about the classes.
Free things that are invaluable. Network, network, and network some more! The guy doing the student film today will be the one hiring you two years down the line. There are tons of meetups for actors. Join a few. Make friends and find out what is going on locally. Listen, ask questions, and learn everything you can.
Attend every free show that you can (community theater, Off-Broadway)! You will see some bad ones that you will learn from, but also some great ones. Everything you see is an opportunity to learn. Are you particularly impressed by someone? Ask who they trained with and where.
Do you have some great performances of your own? Put them on YouTube. Start garnering views and a fan following.
Do a Google search for audition tapes of actors in famous roles. It’s fascinating to see what they did in the room to get those roles. I watched every audition tape for the cast of “Breaking Bad.” They didn’t do a perfect job, some even flubbed the lines, but you can see the acting choices they made which landed them the job.
Parents, if you think acting is what your child desires…take them to kid-friendly live shows. I have seen many a child’s passion ignited after such an experience.
The final checklist item has nothing to do with finances, but it is important to your success. Give yourself time to reflect on your passion, personal commitment, and the time and effort you are willing to make in pursuit of your acting desires. You need tremendous passion to manage the peaks and valley common in this industry. If you are a parent, make sure that your investments in your child reflect your child’s desires so that they can get maximum benefit from acting.
Like this advice? Check out more from our Backstage Experts!
