Actors have to invest in themselves, and no one knows that better than Rikin Shah. “I’m going to class as I actively seek auditions, and I think it’s helpful for my [acting] instrument,” says the Brooklyn-based talent. “Also, spend the money on a quality headshot photographer. I did and have made a return on the investment after only a few months.”
Another investment Shah has made is in Backstage, which he used to book a gig on an episode of “Hackerland.” Though he initially went in for the best friend role, he was asked to read for the lead, “and it just felt so natural for me and clearly the director, as well.”
Shah looks for roles that challenge him artistically. “I’m of the mindset that every character has their own story to tell and, luckily, I’m at the point in my career where I don’t have to worry about being pigeonholed or typecast,” he says.
To find those parts, he uses Backstage. “I have the casting alerts set up to reach my inbox on a daily basis,” he explains. “[Backstage] has a great selection of roles and a very user-friendly interface, more so than other sites that I have used.”
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