Acting for Beginners: We All Start Somewhere!
Acting for beginners? What does that mean? If you are thinking about becoming an actor, then you need to get started somewhere. Everyone, even the most famous celebrities in the world started with nothing and became worldwide names. If that’s what you are looking to do, acting might just be your door to the entertainment world.
Being an actor can be challenging. You want a career in acting, but you need to find work as soon as possible. Finding a job as a beginner can be extremely challenging and often seems like a feat that only seasoned actors with years of experience can achieve.
Kickstart Your Acting Career
In order to kickstart your acting career and make your mark in the industry, you need to be flexible and willing to explore how you can find work right away as an actor. You might not be the primary celebrity on set, but you will be part of the project.
There is no doubt that becoming a successful actor is not easy. In fact, the path to stardom is filled with ups and downs. However, this doesn’t mean it’s time to give up just yet. There are many actors who started from scratch and went on to become household names, including Meryl Streep, Jim Carrey, Will Ferrell, Glenn Close and Jessica Biel.
Beginners in Acting Should Be Ready for Anything
Coming up with acting gigs for beginners is easier said than done. Each performer has their own way of going about things, but some acting techniques work better than others in different situations. Our acting advice for beginners includes ways to make some cash while auditioning for the parts you are dreaming about.
Acting is a job where you can’t just sit around and wait for opportunities to come to you. You have to put yourself out there, move to Los Angeles, take risks and create your own acting gigs if you want them to materialize. It’s challenging, scary and requires a lot of courage — but that’s all part of the process, right? If you’re new to acting or thinking about making it your career, here are some acting tips for beginners that will help you get started.
Here are our 22 acting for beginners tips:
1 Practice your craft constantly
As a beginner, you need to get good at your craft now, while you still have the time and energy to dedicate to it. Make it a part of your daily routine so that it becomes second nature. You can do this by committing to a daily practice, even if it’s just for 10 minutes a day. That way you are constantly working on your technique and building a foundation that will allow you to grow into an expert.
2 Be Involved in Everything…Nonstop
You can’t just wait for jobs to come to you. You have to proactively put yourself out there and get in touch with people in the industry. Attend meetups, go to workshops, and find online forums where you can engage with people in your field and make valuable connections. Don’t be shy! You don’t have anything to lose.
If you’re passionate about acting, people will be able to tell. If you don’t have a lot of experience under your belt, don’t be afraid to admit it. People often want to help beginners. Offer to help others in the industry whenever you can, whether that’s by answering questions on forums, sharing your work on social media, or giving constructive feedback to your peers.
3 Be confident — but not too confident
While it’s important to feel comfortable in your own skin and believe in your abilities, you don’t have to have a massive ego to be successful in this industry. Be confident in your abilities, but don’t boast or brag. It takes a certain amount of humility to succeed, and that’s something you can’t fake. If you’re overly confident, people will see right through you and you won’t get anywhere. It’s a fine line to walk, but it’s an important one. You want to be confident enough to believe in yourself, but humble enough to recognize that you have to earn your place in this industry.
4 Don’t forget the value of training
The best actors in the world are still constantly training and improving their craft. There are a lot of different ways to do this, such as taking classes, attending workshops and joining a drama or improv troupe. Doing this will not only help you become a better actor, it will also help you build confidence, strengthen your network and give you experience performing in front of an audience.
5 Take risks and be bold
One of the best ways to get noticed as a beginner is to take a risk and be bold. Try auditioning for a part that’s way out of your comfort zone. Take a class in a different style of performing that you’re not used to. Approach people who you admire and ask them for advice. The best way to get over your fear of failure is to face it head on, and the best way to get noticed is to go out and make your mark.
6 Get comfortable being uncomfortable
This industry will push you to your limits and beyond, both mentally and physically. You need to be comfortable being uncomfortable because, at times, that will be the only thing that gets you through the day.
During your first few years in the industry, you will be pushed outside of your comfort zone again and again. You have to be able to recognize when this is happening, embrace the feeling and use it to grow as a performer.
7 Don’t be afraid to fail – failing is learning
When you first start out, you are bound to fail. This is a normal part of the learning process and part of growing as an actor. What’s important is that you don’t let that failure stop you from pursuing your dreams. Every failure is an opportunity to learn. What did you do wrong? Why did you do wrong? How can you avoid that in the future? Every time you fail, you get one step closer to succeeding.
8 Don’t be a slave to your ego or passions
Many actors fall into the trap of playing only the roles that they’re passionate about, regardless of whether they’re a good fit for them. While it’s important to be true to yourself and not take roles that don’t suit you, you also have to be realistic.
Actors are often more successful when they play roles that they don’t necessarily love, but understand and can do well. This is especially true for beginners who don’t have a lot of options.
9 Jump on every opportunity you get
This might seem like a no-brainer, but it’s important to get as many acting experiences under your belt as you can. The more auditions, workshops, and on-camera experiences you rack up, the more prepared you’ll be when that coveted acting gig comes your way. Plus, jumping on every opportunity will help you get comfortable with the process of auditioning and working with directors and producers, which is always a good thing.
10 Network, network, network
If there’s one thing that will lead to more auditions, jobs and connections for you, it’s a strong network. You can’t just sit back and hope agents and casting directors will find you — you’ve got to make sure you’re putting yourself in their line of sight. Make a list of every possible connection you have, from fellow actors to instructors, family members, childhood friends and anyone else who might be able to help you get in the door. Follow those people on social media, send them emails and reach out to them in any way you can, so you can stay top of mind.
11 Get in the Audience
Whether you are in Hollywood or any other metro area that hosts shows, you need to be in the audience. If in Los Angeles, you could get paid to be an audience member (which will help your bottom line), but the real reason you need a seat is to see how the shows are put together. Every audience member gets a bird’s eye view of how the show functions and it’s an amazing opportunity.
You get to see a well oiled machine from the outside and it’s better than hands on experience, in some ways, as you reflect on where you belong in the process (and why you fit there.) Add the extra cash you receive for clapping, and it’s a win-win.
12 Don’t wait for the perfect moment
Whether you’re on your first day of class or you’ve been working as a full-time actor for years, one of the best pieces of advice for beginners is to not wait for that perfect moment to start. There will never be a perfect time to jump in — you just have to do it. It’s easy to get caught up in self-doubt and worry that you don’t have enough experience or skills to succeed. But the truth is that you never know what you’re capable of until you try. Get out of your head and just go for it.
13 Get involved in workshops
If you’re taking acting classes, get as involved in them as possible. The more you put into your classes, the more you’ll get out of them. Then consider acting workshops. Usually weekend type retreats, you get to focus solely on your craft, away from your distractions in life.
Reach out to your fellow classmates to see if you can help each other with scenes outside of class. If you’re studying at a big university, you can check to see if there are any smaller workshops happening at the same time that you can get involved with. Smaller workshops can be a great way to get more personalized feedback on your work.
14 Build a portfolio
As soon as you start getting some roles, start building a portfolio of your work. Whether you’ve done a commercial, short film or web series, you can upload those to a site like IMDB or the Breakdown website where casting directors and producers can find you and your work.
You can also build your own website to showcase your work and connect with people. As you do more projects and get experience, you’ll have a great place to showcase that work and show that you’re serious about your career.
15 Get out of your comfort zone
If you want to be challenged and grow as an actor, you have to get out of your comfort zone. Whether that means taking on a role that’s different from the parts you usually play or trying out a new skill like sword fighting, you have to push yourself and do something that’s out of your norm. You never know what acting opportunities you could find yourself in if you’re not afraid to push your own boundaries.
16 Find student films to Make a Reel
If you’re looking for ways to jump start your acting career without having any professional credits, look into working on student films at your local film school. Because many of these projects are low-budget, you can get valuable experience and credits that can help boost your resume. You can also network with other people in the film industry who are often eager to help young actors get their start.
17 Develop a website and Social to showcase YOU
Many schools and coaches will push you to create your website with a talent agent or casting director in mind. While that’s a good place to start, don’t forget that it’s your website.
You want to use your website to showcase the real you — what you’re about, what kind of work you do, what you love about the industry — so that anyone who visits can get an idea of who you are.
Your website is a great way to show casting directors and producers who you are and what you stand for — and it’s also a great way to connect with potential clients and booking work.
18 Don’t be too proud to try something new
It’s absolutely essential to expand your skill set as an actor, but it’s also important to try new things you might not feel fully comfortable with. You’ll grow as a person, gain new skills and get out of your comfort zone — all of which will help you in your acting career.
If there are types of roles or skills you’re interested in developing, but aren’t sure how to go about it, reach out to someone who has those skills. You can ask your fellow actors, instructors or members of your network for advice on how to get started. Or, if you’re feeling extra bold, you can reach out to professionals in your areas of interest and ask them to mentor you.
19 Confidence is key
This is a repeated theme throughout this article, but it’s worth reiterating: you need to believe in yourself and your abilities if you want to succeed in this industry. Don’t let your insecurities hold you back. Remember, everyone started somewhere. Even the biggest stars had to start out small, and they all faced their fair share of rejection and failure along the way.
If you’re feeling low on confidence, take some time for self-reflection. What makes you unique? What do you want to improve on? How can you get better at your craft? Figuring out the answers to these questions can help build your confidence and get you ready to take the industry by storm.
20 Develop a consistent presence and voice
As a beginner, you’re probably not in a position to be picky about the roles you take on, but you can be picky about the way you present yourself. Think about the way you look, act, move and speak. Do you have a unique presence and voice? Is there something about your look, your persona or your speaking style that makes you stand out? Whether or not you’re in a position to be picky, you should definitely do everything you can to make yourself stand out from the crowd.
If you already have a presence and a voice, great! But if not, now is the time to start developing it. Writing in a journal or keeping a blog can be a helpful way to do this. It’s also a great way to get your name out there and build a consistent online presence.
21 Take acting classes
Taking acting classes can be a great way to get started in the business, meet new people and learn more about the industry. If you’re in high school, college or early in your career, there’s probably an acting class you can take to get a taste of the real world. And if you’re out of school, there are plenty of online acting classes you can take to level up your skills.
Taking classes and workshops will help you gain valuable experience and meet other actors and filmmakers who can help you get where you want to go. Plus, having “graduated from an acting program” on your resume is a great way to get noticed.
22 Stay in shape
If you’re just starting out as an actor, it’s important to stay in shape and be as healthy as you can be. Why, you ask? Well, for starters, studios often require their talent to take health tests before filming, and those tests often include blood tests and other types of screenings that can be difficult for people who are out of shape.
Beyond that, it’s important to note that actors are often not hired based on their skill or talent, but based on how they look. Studios hire actors who look a certain way because they think they will be able to attract an audience. Whether you like it or not, you’ve got to look good if you want to find work in this industry. So eat healthy, exercise and get enough sleep to be your healthiest and happiest self.
You Can be an Actor
Acting for beginners is not a term that will stick with you for very long. You will pick up skills and jobs moving quickly in the entertainment world. Many people have dreams of becoming an actor, but they don’t know where to start. This is the most important thing to remember: you have to start somewhere. There is no one path to success as an actor. You have to find what works for you and get out there and do it. If you are dedicated and passionate about your craft, it can be a very rewarding career choice.
Conclusion
These tips will help you find work ASAP, but remember that nothing is guaranteed. Acting for beginners is overwhelming so it’s important to stay humble and always be prepared for rejection. Also, remember that there’s no such thing as overnight success. This industry takes time and hard work, so don’t get too discouraged if things don’t happen right away. Instead, take these tips as a starting point, and get to work!