Congratulations! You’ve made it to the scholastic finish line. What an accomplishment that you’ve finished college and are getting ready to step out into the world. Perhaps you have a showcase coming up to close out your years of study. But what happens after the showcase? If you’re planning to make the move to Los Angeles, here are a few tips for making the transition to the city in pursuit of becoming a college-educated professional actor.
Have patience.
Agents are important. Building your credits is important. But setting yourself up for the long game is paramount. Before I share any advice, I want to remind you to have patience. This is a marathon, not a sprint, and you’re at the beginning. Everyone’s path will be different, but there are definitely some things that you can do to set yourself up for the best chances of long-term success!
Build your savings.
Hopefully, you’ve been saving some cash over the years. If you haven’t and you’re in need of a nest egg to get you started in L.A., one way that you could spend your first few months after college is finding a short-term job to earn money. If you have the option to stay with family for a bit, to live without paying rent while saving, take it! The more you can save, the better. Money buys you time to get truly oriented to life in Los Angeles. I know, it’s tempting to hop in your car and drive out west as soon as you have a diploma in hand, but you’ll have an easier start if you arrive with a few bucks in the bank.
Establish your safety net.
If you have family in or near Los Angeles, wonderful! If you don’t, start asking people in your community if they know of anyone who lives in the area. Start connecting with friends-of-friends and family acquaintances. Establish a trusted safety net. The more people you can connect with, the better.
READ: 8 Ways to Prepare for the Big Move to L.A.
Find a support job.
When you get to L.A., immediately find a source of income. It’s tempting to paper the town with headshots and résumés, to leap into a class, to go to every party and social gathering, and to start auditioning for anything and everything, but remember—patience. These early days in the city are a great time to save up even more so that when the time comes when you’re so in demand that you don’t have time for a support job because you’re auditioning so much, you’ll have the cash to sustain you.
What kind of job should you get? Find something you genuinely enjoy doing and that utilizes your unique skills. What that looks like will be different for everyone, but consider trying your hand at being a youth acting teacher, office temp, Uber or Lyft drive, private tutor, babysitter, social media consultant, after-school enrichment program leader, executive assistant, personal assistant, data entry specialist, dog walker, freelance writer, etc.
Build community.
Community is everything in L.A. As you know, being an actor involves a lot of solo hours learning lines, reading, auditioning, and driving. This process can feel isolating despite the fact that as actors, we’re social beings. It is necessary for you to have a community of supportive people you can lean on and turn to. Find activities you enjoy (acting-related or not) and make friends! Get out there and connect. While these friendships may lead to business opportunities, the goal should always be to build genuine friendships.
Once you’re settled in, get down to business.
Once you feel settled, have a steady income, and have a few pals to lean on, it’s a great time to get focused on your acting business. You’ll want to get your marketing materials in order—get some fantastic headshots and create those casting profiles—and start submitting yourself for auditions on a daily basis. You’ll want to get into a super acting class to build your skills and to find fellow actors to create original content with. And of course, you’ll want to start looking for an agent.
I wish you all the best as you transition from college to the “real world.” This is a very exciting time—enjoy every moment!
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