How to Become a Professional Actor in the Dog-eat-Dog World of Hollywood

Introduction

It's a dog-eat-dog world out there, and the entertainment industry is no exception. The competition to become a professional actor is fierce, but you can learn how to stand out from the crowd by following these tips:

Formal training.

• Formal training. The best way to get started in acting is to take classes and work with a coach. A good coach will help you identify what kind of roles work for your type, and then help you develop the skills necessary to land those roles. It's important that you find a coach who believes in your potential as an actor, but don't be afraid to shop around until you find someone whose style jives with yours!

• Getting an agent and manager: Once you've found an excellent coach, the next step is getting representation from a reputable talent agency or management company that can open doors for you in Hollywood—and who knows? Maybe one day they'll send your resume over to Pixar!

Landing an agent or a manager.

• You'll need to be living in LA, obviously.

• You'll need to be in the right place at the right time for someone who already has a good headshot and resume (and is perhaps underrepresented or non-white) to see you and take a chance on you.

• You should have a good headshot, acting resume, and a reel that shows off your best skills.

• It helps if you can act well under pressure—that is, taking direction from directors/producers/casting agents/editors (or whoever else might want to give direction).

Preparing for success.

When you're preparing for an audition, it's important to do your research. You should make sure that you know who wrote the play or script, what other roles are available in the show and whether or not your character could potentially be recurring. It's also helpful to see other people's interpretations of this role on screen or stage (if your character has been portrayed before). If you have an opportunity to meet with a casting director prior to the audition, take advantage of it! They may ask questions about why they would want someone like you playing their role and how they can envision working with you.

This is where having an agent comes in handy because they don't have time for all these conversations—they'll let us know exactly what we need when we need it so we can focus our energy elsewhere (like rehearsing!). If possible, try practicing at home where there aren't distractions like kids running around making noise while mommy tries listening while reading lines from her script off-camera."

Keep your head in the game.

In order to do well in this business, you have to keep your head in the game. That means staying focused on your goals and not allowing yourself to be distracted by other people's success. If someone else gets a part that you wanted, don't let it make you feel bad about yourself or discourage you from continuing to work hard toward your own goals. Just remember that they had something they worked harder at than you did—and if they succeeded without being as hardworking or talented as you think they are, then that just means there's more work for YOU out there!

Let me know if you're ready to sign with me, I don't like to waste my time on people who aren't serious about making it.

• Confidence is a good thing, but it's not the only thing. You will need to be humble. The last thing you want to do is come across as arrogant or cocky.

• Go in prepared, with knowledge of what you are talking about. If there are questions about your past work experience, know how to answer them and be able to explain why you want this job over any others that might be out there at the moment.* Be willing to take risks and be prepared for failure; if something doesn't work out the way you planned, learn from it and move on! It's all part of the learning process.* Don't get discouraged when someone doesn't hire you right away—it's sometimes difficult finding an agent who represents actors just starting out (especially if they haven't landed any big roles yet).

Conclusion

I know this article might have seemed a bit intimidating at first, but if you're serious about being an actor, then it's time to get started. Don't be afraid of rejection or criticism; keep on pushing forward with your craft and don't let anyone stop you from achieving your dreams!