Successful Actors
Advice to anyone who wants a career as an actor.

Be on time.
On a big film the money is going out the door at about 30 grand every 20 minutes. On a network TV show the rate is only a bit less. If you are ten minutes late for a job that pays five hundred bucks – you will be very disliked by the producer and everybody that works for him. People will scream at you. If you are late for an audition, the casting director will worry that you won’t get to the job on time. If you are late for a job, that casting director will also have people screaming at her. And further more there is no such thing as an eight-hour day in show business. If you cannot work a long day, you are unsuited for success in show business.

Be an early riser.
If you want to be in the movie or television business, you must be the kind of person who can get up at 5 in the morning. If you work in the theatre, your early rising will fall about 10 AM – because you work into the night. But if you plan on working in this industry you would do well to make early rising a lifelong habit. The early starts and long hours mean that you will be spending about half your life with co-workers. If you are a pain in the butt – you will be heartily disliked by other people who are also working 12 hour days. Word will get around and it will be harder to get work. Therefore be nice to people no matter what. You have to keep your ‘creative juices’ flowing during the entire 12 hours. If you don’t love doing this kind of work, being on for 12 hours is impossible.

Well groomed and clean.
You are not the part. Even the guys who play bikers and bums wear deodorant and have clean teeth. Your breath must be pleasant. A co-worker who literally stinks will get a reputation and lose opportunities because of it.

No complains
Those actors on sets who do complain about the dressing rooms, the food, the director, the co-star, the costume people, the lack of work, the hours, the script and pretty much anything. They are labelled as complainers and are rarely appreciated or tolerated for very long.

Good value from you
When you habitually give 100% of your energy to the work – you will get more work.

The fact is, auditions are a nerve wracking experience for actors. They’d rather have their eyebrows plucked. Unfortunately, they’re an essential part of being an actor. So by following these steps you’ll have the best chance of getting the part.

In getting the audition in the first place, you or your agent are going to have to submit a photo and resume to the casting director. Sometimes you’ll get an open call where anybody can come down but these are the exception, not the rule. Most auditions are by invitation only.

If you are called for an audition you will usually be given what are called “sides” or a few pages of a script that you will have to read at the audition. In theater you may also be required to have some kind of monologue ready.

The first thing to do is read the script and prepare for the part. Find out everything you can about the character you’re going to be playing. The lines aren’t important yet. Just commit your focus to the character. How old, where from, how the character feels about other characters in the story. Only after you know everything you need to know about the character do you start learning your lines. Use whatever method you feel most comfortable with. You won’t be required to know the whole script at the audition but be prepared.

Before you go to the audition, dress for the part. Wear clothes that fit the character and the story. If you’re playing a cowboy don’t get dressed up in a business suit. You don’t have to go out and rent spurs but wear clothes that suggest the role. Jeans and boots for this role will do fine.

Warm up for the audition just like a pitcher warms up before a ball game. Do some stretches and vocal exercises. Go over your lines. Don’t go in there cold. It’s normal to be nervous but in preparing yourself you won’t be as nervous and you’ll be able to relax a bit.

When you get to the audition, sign in. You may have to wait for others to read for the same part. Be patient. Avoid talking with the other actors. They will only try to distract you. Focus on what you came there to do.

When actually reading for the casting director, be prepared for anything. Some may sit and chat with you a few minutes and others will just get right down to business. Forget that this is an audition. Do the performance as if you were actually in the production. You only get one chance to make a first impression. Make the director believe that you ARE the character. They want you to be the best person for the role because that means their job is completed.

There are some things not to do when reading for the casting director. Don’t suck up. A sincere compliment is fine but a casting director will know when you’re just grovelling. Aside from shaking his hand when you enter, never touch the casting director. Finally, don’t trash the office. Some hyperactive actors will actually do this in the heat of performing a physical scene. This is a definite way NOT to get the part.

After you’re done with your reading the director will let you know when they’ll get back to you. Leave it at that. Don’t make a scene. Just be professional and leave.

If the casting director likes your performance you will be asked to come back. At this time there will be fewer people auditioning and more people watching your performance. Maybe some producers, directors and writers. Wear the same clothes that you wore to the first audition and put in the same performance. Don’t second guess yourself. If they called you back then they liked what they saw the first time. Don’t mess with success.

Keep records of each audition. Make notes of what things you did and what you think you can do better the next time. If something went very well, make a note of what it was.

The more auditions you do the better you will get at them.