Tuesday, September 21, 2010

How To Get Started As An Actor/Actress

By Susan Withers

Honesty in Your Agency

As enticing as modeling or acting can be, many aspiring talents fall victim to scams perpetrated by unscrupulous agencies. The trick for the person trying to break in is to look for clues to honesty or dishonesty on the part of the agency. You'll want to protect yourself and find an agency that has your interests at heart.

Two words: "fully licensed." That's a good sign the agency is on the level. Also if it's been around for a decade or two, you can start to breathe a little easier. Now you should take a peek at the client list -- see any names you know? Recognizable names mean somebody big trusts the agency, so maybe you can too. You'll really get a good idea of what working with an agency is like when you get your model composites made -- these are what the agency uses to find you work. It'll cost you money, but it's a necessary investment.

Confidence in the Biz

Did you know you don't even have to be tall to model? It's true. Modeling and acting take all types, but the one thing they share is a confidence and a work ethic that pushes them farther than anyone else. Hard work is itself a talent, and it's the one that isn't present when you're sitting around. It's the one you have to develop.

The exciting thing is figuring out what kind of work you want to do, whether print ads, runway work, hand modeling, acting in television or film. Casting directors are always looking for talent to populate shows, like in Southern Florida, where USA Network is filming "Burn Notice" and Fox is producing "The Glades."

How to Get Started

You may fear that yours is not the right face for modeling -- that you're not exotic enough. Worry not, because talent agencies are always looking for people who look like, well, people. You don't have to be nineteen feet tall to be a good model; you just have to have that something. And you can have it at any age, baby to grandparent, and regardless of your modeling or acting experience.

It may seem like a lot to keep in mind. But having a good agency on your side will help you with the getting-started stuff that trips up other people, and help you avoid scams. Model composites are just the beginning. There's lots more to figure out before you get to that first audition, so having the right people working with you makes the process that much easier. - 40732

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