As an actor I have had the privilege of being able to work with some seriously talented people. I have also had the privilege of learning from them. But, what has been a real surprise is when I started directing and producing, how much I learned from working with actors again.
It just goes to show that there is always more to learn, no matter how much experience you think you’ve got.
If you are just starting out or have been acting for a while and want to review your approach, here are my top 10 tips for actors:
1. Know Your Castmates – You’re going to be spending a lot of time with them, so you may as well get to know each other! It’s important that you know each other’s names, where they come from and what they do when they’re not in rehearsals. Most importantly though, it’s important that you find out something interesting about each person. This way you can identify what motivates them and helps them perform at their best.
2. Treat Everyone With Respect – There will be lots of people on different levels involved in bringing a show together but everyone deserves respect for their role in making the performance happen. That includes stage management (particularly if it’s us!), front of house staff and
I wanted to share with you the top 10 tips from my book, 365 Days of Acting. I hope they’re helpful!
1. Read a lot.
2. Watch actors you admire and pay attention to what they do.
3. Make friends with other actors who are dedicated to their craft and respect where you are in your career.
4. Don’t put off starting your acting career.
5. Learn about the business side of acting by taking classes or going to seminars or workshops.
6. Practice your craft every day so that when you get an audition, you’ll be prepared and confident (even if you don’t get the part).
7. Get yourself noticed by casting agents, producers and directors — even if it’s just an email or phone call letting them know that they should keep an eye out for you!
8. Be professional at all times– even if someone else isn’t being professional towards you!
9. Push yourself outside your comfort zone and take risks — it will help you grow as an actor!
10. Keep working hard on your acting skills– there’s always room for improvement!
Actors are often so busy getting up for auditions, rehearsing for shows or working on their craft that they forget to take care of their bodies. This is a huge mistake and will ultimately catch up to you if you do not take care of yourself now.
If you ignore your body when you’re young, it will be much more difficult to get back into shape once your body starts to age.
Here are 10 tips to help actors stay healthy and in shape:
1. Learn your lines. The most important advice for an actor (especially for those who are just starting out) is to learn your lines and be off-book by the first rehearsal. Be prepared and be professional.
2. Be on time. There is nothing more unprofessional than being late to a rehearsal or performance, or both. When you arrive late, it is a sign of disrespect to everyone involved with the production.
3. Be open to feedback. As an actor, you should always be open to feedback from others – directors, producers, fellow actors – because they may see something in your performance that you do not see yourself and they can help you improve your performance by pointing it out.
4. Be willing to take risks and fail sometimes. Do not play it safe all the time – as actors, we need to constantly try new things in order to grow as individuals and performers; if this means failing once in awhile, then so be it!
5. Always be prepared for anything – whether it’s bringing along extra clothes in case yours get dirty during rehearsal or having copies of your script with you at all times so that other cast members can practice their lines if need be – make sure that you’re ready for anything that may come up during
1) Take it seriously. Remember, acting is not a hobby. It’s a business. If you want to be an actor, treat it like a real job. Never stop learning and never stop working hard.
2) Study your craft. Actors should always continue to study their craft. If you put the work in now, good things will happen later down the line.
3) Be yourself. Authenticity is essential to becoming successful as an actor. Never pretend to be someone else in your acting career or in life in general.
4) Work hard at acting classes and workshops. An acting class is where you’ll learn the most about acting, so make sure you’re putting a great effort into every class and workshop that you attend.
5) Make smart choices about the people you surround yourself with. You are who you hang out with! When choosing friends and colleagues, go for those that are positive and have integrity.
6) Don’t get taken advantage of by scam artists who promise to help you become famous overnight or get casting directors to fall in love with you if you just pay them some money first. Trust your instincts! If something seems too good to be true, it probably is!
7) See as many plays as possible and
1. Be professional.
2. Be on time.
3. Take direction well.
4. Be attentive in class and on set, even when you don’t know what’s going on.
5. Be honest about what you know and don’t know.
6. Dress appropriately for auditions, classes and rehearsals.
7. Know your lines, blocking and cues like the back of your hand. “I have a cold” is not an excuse to not be prepared!
8. Bring the script with you to rehearsals in case the director needs to make changes; if possible, bring a copy for yourself as well as one for him/her so that you can mark it appropriately (if permitted by the director).
9. Always have a pen or pencil with you to take notes during auditions, classes and rehearsals (iPhones are great for this!).
10. Leave your ego at home – this includes being respectful to other students and classmates as well as staff and faculty members at school or work.
1. Know Your Character
2. Find the Core of Your Character
3. Physicality is Everything
4. Love What You Do
5. Maintain a Positive Attitude
6. Have Confidence in Yourself and Your Abilities
7. Be Prepared
8. Always be Learning
9. Keep Yourself Busy, but Don’t Get Discouraged If Things are Slow
10. Networking is Key
