Acting Resources
There are many resources that will help improve your acting
skills which can be found on-line or at your local library. However,
the most accurate and informative acting resources will be found at
schools designed for acting education. There are also actors national
conferences designed to help actors looking for work.
Here are the five top acting resources and suggestions for the aspiring
actor:
· Become a member of an actors union. You will have more rights
as an actor if you are a member of an actors union—and more access
to acting resources that will assist you in finding work.
· Secure a talent agent. Find a talent agency that represents
clients looking for the kind of work you want. For the less experienced
actor, some agents will be very good at finding you smaller parts at
first, and building your resume until you reach the larger roles you
ultimately seek. Some agents have more connections in television, some
in film and some in theatre—depending on where you want to start
and what your particular talents are. Remember, most actors do not stay
with the same talent agent throughout their career—if you feel
the need to seek a new talent agent to represent you, start looking.
Do not settle for less than you deserve.
· Obtain some measure of acting education. As I mentioned, establishments
designed to help and educate actors are some of the best resources out
there. It is recommended that every actor, no matter how experienced
can benefit from acting school. Experience is a great teacher, but the
director you are currently working with (if you are presently in a show)
will not have the same resources that an institute of actors education
will be able to provide.
· Don’t be afraid to seek coaching for your audition monologues.
After all, you will receive a lot of feedback and direction from the
director of whatever show you are in if you get the role. It is definitely
not “cheating” to seek guidance while preparing to audition.
Some of the best acting resources are teachers and tutors at acting
schools, but there are also public acting workshops that can help you
prepare your piece(s). I would also recommend preparing more than one
piece for your audition—both very polished. Just in case the casting
members want to see more the first time around.
· Follow some basic rules of thumb to help you stay in character
when going into an audition. First, wear comfortable clothing—you
want your character to be comfortable on stage. Do not dress the part—i.e.
no costumes for your audition. Second, make sure you have the space
you need before you start the audition—if there is a chair in
the way, move it—do not try to move around it. And break a leg!