In an industry full of people, it can become difficult to fathom making yourself really stand out from every other actor out there. Here are some tips to get you on the right track:

1) Act. Actors act every day. This could be as simple as creating a character for a few seconds or for a few hours. Either way, get out there, practice your craft, and ACT!

2) Take acting classes. In this profession, you should always try to flex your creative muscles. Get in a class where you can stretch it out and really strengthen your abilities.

3) Promote yourself. This can be through social media, email, word of mouth, business cards or a website. What you really want to do here is make yourself known to the public you have around you, because you want them to think about you when they are looking for someone to cast.

4) Get headshots. This is a step every actor has to do at some point. You want professional headshots taken of you, not pictures taken on a phone. Remember, the image you create for yourself is your business card, you don’t want a card with frayed edges, you want one that is clean cut and gets you in the door.

5) Make a demo reel. You can do this in a couple ways: a) put together footage from your classes or films you have been a part of, or b) set up a space where you can do a scene/monologue of you in character. (These are best done on a video camera with some sort of sound equipment to capture the emotions in the scene rather than on a phone, where the image is small and sounds in the room will all be recorded, lowering the quality of the footage.)

6) Get representation. Having an Agent/Manager is a major step in getting the best auditions for your career. They are sometimes able to get you in the room with just their name, however, if you aren’t something they are looking for, you might have difficulty. So find out for yourself who they are, who they already represent and see if you are something different or if you can offer something extra, then push that. They want to know what you will bring to the table!

7) Practice, practice, practice. You are going to be auditioning a lot. When you get an audition, find something you agree with about the piece and about the character you are going out for. This will make it far easier to create the character. Go into the audition and do your best and when it’s over walk out as if it didn’t happen and get yourself ready for the next one. Put your attention forward instead of the past. If you get the call back, great, now it’s time to create that character again newly and see what happens. Look at the audition as a chance to show off your skill, not as a test of how good you are.

 

You know your skill, and you know your talent. You have to be your own best audience member if you want to make it in this industry. Give yourself a standing ovation when you do something you are proud of, and make sure to reward yourself for the things you do right!