Alright! You’re on your way. You’ve got enough experience to fill a starter resume’, you have awesome headshots, you’ve learned a ton in your acting classes, you persevered and are represented by an agent, you’re networking and you even have identified someone who might be a good mentor! Phew that was a lot of work. It’s only the beginning – the beginning of a great journey – that is if you follow through on this last step…
Step 7: Always be a student and don’t go DIVA!
I’m going to shoot straight with you, as I always do on this blog. There are a lot of actors who “make it” in this industry. By “make it” I mean they become pros (in the sense that they legitimately participate in the industry), and book a fair amount of work – you may even start to recognize them in some roles in feature films and TV. And, especially in smaller markets like the Southeast, become pretty well known in their markets. Some remain focused on their art, their work, and their professional relationships. Others, well, become focused on themselves. Don’t get me wrong, this industry requires a fair amount of self-promotion and self-marketing. That’s not what I’m talking about. I’m talking about slowly and insidiously having a fundamental shift in their focus from what they do as an artist to who they’ve ‘become’. You can tell these actors because they have an air about them. They project the declaration that they have “arrived”.
Remember what Mr. Martello said in my high school theater rehearsals (back in Part 1)? He said, “What have you done for me lately?!” There will come times in your career as an actor where you will be tempted to act as if you have “arrived”. It might be at an audition, a shoot, meeting a fellow actor in your agent’s office, anywhere! When that temptation arrives, you must remember this key truth: we are all students. At The Company Acting Studio, this story hangs on the wall and reminds their students that they remain exactly that – forever (as long as they continue to seek to learn):
A Buddhist scholar went to learn from an old Zen Master. The master listened patiently and then began to make tea. When it was ready, she poured the tea into the scholar’s cup until it began to overflow and run all over the floor.
The scholar saw what was happening and shouted, “Stop, stop! The cup is full; you can’t get anymore in.”
The master stopped pouring and said: “You are like this cup; you are full of ideas about Buddha’s Way. You come and ask for teaching, but your cup is full; I can’t put anything in. Before I can teach you, you’ll have to empty your cup.”
Folks, you should always be learning. In acting, you utilize the pool of human emotion that you have experienced. Remember, there are always people who have had an experience that you can learn from. The question you have to ask yourself is are you always willing to be “better” – to become the better you? To remain humble, learn, grow, always working on mastering your craft and running after goals? You had ‘better’ be, because someone else is. But while you’re working on yourself, remember those around you. As you probably already know, in this industry you can fall as fast as you rise. Some actors stay the course and maximize their careers. Others fizzle out. What’s the difference? One decided to remain a student and respectful of other artists around them while the other thought they had arrived. The simple question is, “Will you commit to ‘better’?”
I was wondering something cuz im going to an interview for the williams reynolds agency this weekend is that a good agency to trust or no because if not i will go to the people store one.
Maryam,
I would go to both. Both are legit agencies and by going to both audition/interviews, you can see and decide which one you feel the most comfortable with. Break a leg!
Larry
I no longer have representation, haven’t for a few years, now I am seeking representation again. I have recently submitted to all of the larger agencies in Atlanta as well as a few smaller ones. Have you been made aware of any positive… or negative reviews regarding About Faces Models and Talent in Atlanta? I noticed they were not listed on the SAG website as SAG affiliated. And as with many other agencies I have thoroughly researched, I read both good and bad reviews. I have an interview with them and would like to make the best decision.
Jazzy,
I have heard of About Faces and used to recommend them. However, I have heard that they are venturing into the “talent development” area. That term is usually code for charging talent up front fees. I’d stick with the bigger agencies and even some of the smaller ones that are on http://www.sagaftra.org/agency-relations/sag-franchised-agents. It often takes several rounds of submitting before getting represented. So don’t give up and resubmit to them in 6 months if you don’t hear anything.
In the meantime, market yourself and find a good acting school (like The Company Acting Studio). Take a look at my post here for more tips to jump back into the industry: https://actingcareerinfo.com/seven-steps-to-a-professional-acting-career-part-2/
Thanks for stopping by!
Larry
Hello. I am currently fourteen years old and I know I want to become an actress. Could you maybe give me some advice as to where to begin searching. Since I am so young I haven’t the slightest idea as to where to start. I have gotten many lead roles in schools plays including Annie, Beauty and the Beast, and Grease. Your post has given me some great information I will someday need. Thank you very much for all your help!
Valentina, At your age, keep doing what you are doing! Aside from school, you may want to look into community theater as well. Also, depending on where you live, there may be some local talent agencies in your area to submit to. But watch out for scam agencies. Read this post to know how to avoid them: https://actingcareerinfo.com/scam-agencies-vs-real-talent-agencies/
Last, make sure you have your parents’ support in pursuing these things. It will be essential to your safety and success.
-Larry
Thank you for your reply! I actually searched online and I am now enrolled in an acting course! I am looking forward to my next few lessons and hopefully I will try out for the play in this acting school. Wish me luck!
~Valentina
Hey! I’m moving to NY this summer, i’m only 15 but I have the passion about acting since I was little. But the problem is that my family couldn’t afford to sent me to drama schools or personal coaches and they never supported me in first place, they’re claiming this is “impossible” so I never really developed my acting experience (unless it considered practicing monologues on my free time) and I never went to auditions, because my parents were really against me being an actress… but very soon i’m moving to NYC to my uncles, and I have read each step in your blog, and I did my research, and I understand how though it is and I am more than ready to commit. The only problem is I don’t know where to find good drama school/coach in NY and more than that, where to find a fair agent? There’s only information about Atlanta here.. could you recommend me agents coaches and drama schools?
Amber, here’s a video I did that teaches you how to find reputable resources in the market you are in (or will be living in). https://actingcareerinfo.com/find-legitimate-talent-agencies-resources/
There are tons in NYC.
Hope that helps and best of luck, Amber!
Dear Larry,
I thouroghly enjoy your writing. You are able to tell difficult truths in such a nonthreatening way that your advice seems impossible not to follow. And your lessons apply to every aspect of life, especially this one. Thank you!
Hi Larry,
Great post! Your straightforward writing techniques are like bullets of wisdom that hit hard. I am from Nepal. I am doing my Bachelors in Theatre Arts in Minnesota. Because of my accent, I have done hardly 3-4 plays in which I appeared maybe for half a minute. It is almost time to graduate now and I want to act in films.
So, for a person like me who is from a different country and whose resume is almost a blank sheet of paper, how do you suggest getting started?