Career Building Guide

Feeling stuck? Use these 7 Career Builders to Keep Your Career on Track!

1. ATTEND & SEE AS MUCH THEATRE AS POSSIBLE - See school plays, church plays, Broadway, Street Mimes, Community Theatre, Regional Theatre, High School, Dinner Theatre, College productions, even Garage Productions - whenever you can see a performance see one. By watching others you form your own asthetic sense and develop your own approach. Go see a play tonight if possible - don't worry if it's "good" or "bad" theatre JUST GO! [Movies/Films are great too!]
2. READ EVERY PLAY YOU CAN GET YOUR HANDS ON - form a play reading group and read plays with your friends outloud; if you haven't seen the plays just visualize in your mine's eye as you read. Don't continue to see the same shows over and over thinking you can copy the performances you've seen other actors do. Develop YOUR OWN intuition and imagination - that's what acting is.
3. STUDY ACTING/DANCE/VOICE IN A CLASS - Professional performers attend class throughout their entire lives. You must exercise your skills as a performer - you need to workout! So get in acting, singing, tap, jazz and ballet class today. If there is no class available stretch out on your own, sing to yourself and or memorize a Shakespearian verse so you can recite it outloud.
4. VOLUNTEER AT YOUR LOCAL THEATRE OR DRAMA CLUB - assist with anything they'll let you do - hand out flyers, answer phones, stuff envelopes, help paint sets, organize props, or sweep the stage. Many theatres use volunteer ushers. Ushering is a great way to see theatre for free - so check it out. Learn everything you can about every aspect of the theatre - knowing what goes on backstage can only help you better understand what goes on onstage.
5. TALK TO WORKING ACTORS - ask questions: When did they get started? Do they sing, dance and act? Who gave them their big break? - Do they have acting tips or audition suggestions? - How did they get started? When and why/how did they know they wanted to be in the performing arts as a profession? What sort of work do they do when not performing?
6. AUDITION, AUDITION, AUDITION: Audition for anything you can - Just audition - don't wait until you're "ready". Look at auditions as an opportunity to PERFORM - for an audience that can help you!
7. READ ABOUT THEATRE - Reading is great for everyon but especially for professional and young actors. Read biographies of famous people, books about theatre, the acting craft, or find a book on Casting Directors. The following books are excellent: AUDITION by Michael Shurtleff, and HOW TO BE A WORKING ACTOR by Mari Lyn Henry and Lynn Rogers.