“The person you are is a hundred times more interesting than the best actor you could ever become…..” – Konstantin Stanislavski
Many actors make the mistake of believing that they have to fake a performance in order to create a character. They simply ‘become’ the character, or hide behind it and let their own true personality fade into the background.
This is not what great acting is about.
Exposing The Authentic Self
The most successful actors realise that in order to give an outstanding performance, they need to bring as much of themselves as possible to the role. Each actor comes to the profession with their own baggage full of emotions, experiences and uniqueness. This combination of attributes forms their authentic self. From the moment that we are born, we live a completely different life to anyone else on the planet. We form our own opinions and perspectives about people and situations. We experience various sets of emotions such as love, hate, sadness, anger, despair and happiness. Each person has a completely unique and individual collection of years behind them and it is this background of memories and feelings that can be tapped into to create some excellent performances.
Why Being Yourself Is A Necessity In Your Acting
“Acting deals with very delicate emotions. It is not putting up a mask. Each time an actor acts, he does not hide; he exposes himself.” – Rodney Dangerfield
Being yourself and exposing your own personality when you create a character can summon up vulnerability. You might feel uncomfortable expressing your own emotions or crying in front of your fellow cast members and the audience. You may even feel a little embarrassed at first. However, revealing the vulnerable side of your personality is an enormous strength if you can bring it to your acting work. If you draw upon your own experiences and emotions when relating to other characters on stage or set, then you will be able to create some truly convincing performances. By doing so, you will also encourage your audience to dig deep and get in touch with their own emotions. Audiences understand vulnerability. If you give them something that they can relate to, then this will allow them to make an intense connection with both the character and your performance.
The Challenges Of Being Yourself
Of course, it is not an easy process to bare your authentic self during your performances. We have all been conditioned not to show vulnerability as it is a sign of weakness. Peoples past experiences will vary but generally speaking cultural or familial conditioning provides us with personal inhibitions. Being yourself is something that most of us find hard or even unacceptable when it involves freely displaying certain sets of emotions in public.
Luckily, the Method utilises a tried and tested process which removes these restrictions in behaviour and takes away an actor’s social mask. This allows the true self to shine through.
Character Development
Of course, we don’t just possess one true self. In fact, we all have several versions of our character which are based on various events and experiences that we have faced. This is an asset when it comes to acting as it allows you to play around with the creation of a character until you feel that you’ve found his or her personality. If you feel that the role requires you to be jealous, then remember a time when you were overwhelmed with this unpleasant emotion. The Method will teach you to recall these feelings and sensations based on past experiences and then be able to express them without fear in your performances. However, it is important to keep an open mind when developing a character. Don’t rush in and assume that you know how they would respond in a particular situation. Instead, keep searching your own self to find new ways to play the character. This organic way of letting a character evolve both emotionally and physically from your own set of background experiences will allow you to merge seamlessly into the role.
If you’d like to learn more about how to create truly believable characters and deliver utterly compelling performances that your audience can relate to, then consider taking some Method Acting training. Our 3 day ‘Introduction to Method Acting Bootcamp’ will throw you in at the deep end. You will take part in exercises that utilise the sense in order to activate your own personal memories and connect with a character at a deep psychological level. If you’d like to learn how to create fully believable characters, then apply for our next bootcamp today.
Getting your first paid acting job can seem impossible when you’re new to the industry, but remember, every successful actor was once in exactly the same position as you.
Learning how to be a great actor is, of course, the first thing you need to do if you want to break into the industry, but there are lots of other things you can do to increase your chances of getting that first break.
Understanding what agents, casting directors and other gatekeeper of the profession are looking for is vital. It allows you to present yourself as a professional actor. Master the following and it’s only a matter of application, perseverance and time before you get your first professional acting job.
Headshots
Acting is a profession where how you look matters. This isn’t to say you need to be beautiful to be an actor, but the way you look will strongly influence the types of acting jobs you are offered. Head shots are usually the first thing a casting director will look at when deciding whether they might potentially use you for a role.
Without a set of professional quality head shots you are unlikely to even be considered for acting job. The key thing is to make sure the head shots are taken by an experienced professional and that they actually look like you! It’s no good using photos from 10 years ago or that are heavily photoshopped. Even if you do get an audition you won’t get the part if you don’t look like the person the casting director thought they were meeting!
Your Acting Resume / CV
An actor’s resume CV isn’t quite like a regular CV. It’s all about highlighting your acting experience relevant to the role you are applying for, not just listing your most recent jobs.
As a newbie to the industry, you obviously won’t have any professional credits yet, but you should hopefully have plenty of experience to talk about. Writing a great actor’s CV with a list of the roles you’ve played in drama school and the acting training you’ve undertaken can help prove you are serious about acting and have the skills to be worth auditioning.
Show Reels
A show reel is a professional actor’s ultimate weapon as it leaves nothing to a casting director’s imagination. It shows them exactly what you can do, so they can see straight away that they are dealing with a real actor who is worth their time.
Your show reel needs to be a high quality recording that demonstrates the true range of your acting abilities. Knowing what to put in an acting show reel can be tricky which is why it’s important to get professional advice wherever possible.
Many people making their first steps into the professional acting world won’t have a show reel yet, so if you can put one together it can be a big advantage. This is one of the reasons we include a high quality show reel as part of our Ultimate Acting Programme as it gives our students yet another head start over the competition!
Finding an agent
Hollywood legend Bill Murray famously doesn’t have an agent, but that’s because he spent years getting to a place where he is so in demand, he can get away with it. For the rest of us, and especially people new to the profession, having an agent does two vital things.
First, assuming you’ve found a good agent, they will know the game inside and out and be able to guide you to success much more easily and effectively that you could yourself. They will be able to get you into auditions and connect you with people you otherwise would never have had access to, making it much quicker for you to start getting auditions.
Second, having an agent shows you’ve already convinced an industry player that you have the necessary skills to make it. This in turn makes you more attractive to other people in the business and makes you seem like less of a risk.
Self-promotion
Even if you have an agent, understand that you will still need to be an expert at self-promotion to succeed in this business. These days, you can do a lot of the hard work from the comfort of your own home by maximising your online presence.
Make yourself a website using a popular, easy-to-use platform such as WordPress and get your head shots, CV and show reel up there. This gives you something to link people to online where they can quickly see what you have to offer. A professional-looking website is also increasingly seen as a sign that you are serious about your chosen career.
Once you have your site, make sure to promote it on social media and use it as a point of reference when contacting agents, casting directors and other people you want to work with.
Networking
Promoting yourself online is important, but you definitely shouldn’t overlook connecting with people face-to-face. The old adage “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know” is still around for a reason – there is some truth to it.
Of course, the reality is that it’s both what you know and who you know, as all the contacts in the world won’t get you acting jobs if you can’t actually act. But assuming you already have the skills, it’s a good idea to know the right people and make sure they’re aware of what you can do and the kind of work your looking for.
Learning how to network as an actor takes time. Make sure you start going to the right kinds of events, including local theatre festivals, launch nights and actors’ groups and you can soon start to make useful connections. Remember, other actors aren’t always rivals, they can be useful contacts who can pass on opportunities and put in a good word for you.
Ace Your Auditions
There are so many tips and tricks about how to ace an audition out there it can be overwhelming. This is why audition technique is a key part of our professional development package. It’s not just about what to do once you get in front of an audition panel though, you also need to know which kinds of auditions to go for.
When putting yourself out there, you have to understand where you fit. Be realistic about the kind of roles people are actually likely to cast you in and don’t expect to be playing the lead in a West End show straight out of the gate. Apply for roles that suit your age, look and level of experience and you’ll make it much more likely to get that first job you can begin to build on.
Dealing with rejection
There’s no getting away from it – being an actor means learning to deal with a lot of rejection. Remember, even really successful actors often spend significantly more time auditioning than they actually do acting.
You need to be prepared to accept rejection calmly and professionally and always remember to thank people for the opportunity. Throw a tantrum or try to argue your case after a casting director has already made their decision and they’re likely to remember you for all the wrong reasons. If you want that casting director to give you another shot in future auditions, make sure you leave them thinking of you as a polite professional.
Professionalism
Giving off a professional impression needs to be on your mind at all times when looking for work. This covers everything, from making sure your head shots, CV and show reel look the part, to your conduct at every stage of the audition process.
Pay attention to the basics, like turning up on time, learning your lines, looking appropriate for the role and knowing people’s names and that will speak volumes. People want to know that you will act like a professional if they give you the job, so don’t underestimate the importance of making the right impression from the beginning.
Learn how to become a professional actor in 1 year
There are two things you need to be a professional acting – the ability to act to a high standard and the business knowhow to take those skills into the industry and get work. On our 1-Year Ultimate Acting Programme we teach you both sets of skills, meaning you won’t just know how to act like a pro, you’ll also know how to find and win the acting jobs you need to turn your dream into a reality.
Our programme also includes a career development support package that will set you up with everything you need to start winning roles, including head shots, an actor’s CV and a professional quality show reel.
The 2016-17 Ultimate Acting Programme starts in October and the deadline for applications is 8th June for auctions on 15th June. To find out more please take a look around the rest of the site or feel free to get in touch.
Getting your first paid acting job can seem impossible when you’re new to the industry, but remember, every successful actor was once in exactly the same position as you.
Learning how to be a great actor is, of course, the first thing you need to do if you want to break into the industry, but there are lots of other things you can do to increase your chances of getting that first break.
Understanding what agents, casting directors and other gatekeeper of the profession are looking for is vital. It allows you to present yourself as a professional actor. Master the following and it’s only a matter of application, perseverance and time before you get your first professional acting job.
Headshots
Acting is a profession where how you look matters. This isn’t to say you need to be beautiful to be an actor, but the way you look will strongly influence the types of acting jobs you are offered. Head shots are usually the first thing a casting director will look at when deciding whether they might potentially use you for a role.
Without a set of professional quality head shots you are unlikely to even be considered for acting job. The key thing is to make sure the head shots are taken by an experienced professional and that they actually look like you! It’s no good using photos from 10 years ago or that are heavily photoshopped. Even if you do get an audition you won’t get the part if you don’t look like the person the casting director thought they were meeting!
Your Acting Resume / CV
An actor’s resume CV isn’t quite like a regular CV. It’s all about highlighting your acting experience relevant to the role you are applying for, not just listing your most recent jobs.
As a newbie to the industry, you obviously won’t have any professional credits yet, but you should hopefully have plenty of experience to talk about. Writing a great actor’s CV with a list of the roles you’ve played in drama school and the acting training you’ve undertaken can help prove you are serious about acting and have the skills to be worth auditioning.
Show Reels
A show reel is a professional actor’s ultimate weapon as it leaves nothing to a casting director’s imagination. It shows them exactly what you can do, so they can see straight away that they are dealing with a real actor who is worth their time.
Your show reel needs to be a high quality recording that demonstrates the true range of your acting abilities. Knowing what to put in an acting show reel can be tricky which is why it’s important to get professional advice wherever possible.
Many people making their first steps into the professional acting world won’t have a show reel yet, so if you can put one together it can be a big advantage. This is one of the reasons we include a high quality show reel as part of our Ultimate Acting Programme as it gives our students yet another head start over the competition!
Finding an agent
Hollywood legend Bill Murray famously doesn’t have an agent, but that’s because he spent years getting to a place where he is so in demand, he can get away with it. For the rest of us, and especially people new to the profession, having an agent does two vital things.
First, assuming you’ve found a good agent, they will know the game inside and out and be able to guide you to success much more easily and effectively that you could yourself. They will be able to get you into auditions and connect you with people you otherwise would never have had access to, making it much quicker for you to start getting auditions.
Second, having an agent shows you’ve already convinced an industry player that you have the necessary skills to make it. This in turn makes you more attractive to other people in the business and makes you seem like less of a risk.
Self-promotion
Even if you have an agent, understand that you will still need to be an expert at self-promotion to succeed in this business. These days, you can do a lot of the hard work from the comfort of your own home by maximising your online presence.
Make yourself a website using a popular, easy-to-use platform such as WordPress and get your head shots, CV and show reel up there. This gives you something to link people to online where they can quickly see what you have to offer. A professional-looking website is also increasingly seen as a sign that you are serious about your chosen career.
Once you have your site, make sure to promote it on social media and use it as a point of reference when contacting agents, casting directors and other people you want to work with.
Networking
Promoting yourself online is important, but you definitely shouldn’t overlook connecting with people face-to-face. The old adage “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know” is still around for a reason – there is some truth to it.
Of course, the reality is that it’s both what you know and who you know, as all the contacts in the world won’t get you acting jobs if you can’t actually act. But assuming you already have the skills, it’s a good idea to know the right people and make sure they’re aware of what you can do and the kind of work your looking for.
Learning how to network as an actor takes time. Make sure you start going to the right kinds of events, including local theatre festivals, launch nights and actors’ groups and you can soon start to make useful connections. Remember, other actors aren’t always rivals, they can be useful contacts who can pass on opportunities and put in a good word for you.
Ace Your Auditions
There are so many tips and tricks about how to ace an audition out there it can be overwhelming. This is why audition technique is a key part of our professional development package. It’s not just about what to do once you get in front of an audition panel though, you also need to know which kinds of auditions to go for.
When putting yourself out there, you have to understand where you fit. Be realistic about the kind of roles people are actually likely to cast you in and don’t expect to be playing the lead in a West End show straight out of the gate. Apply for roles that suit your age, look and level of experience and you’ll make it much more likely to get that first job you can begin to build on.
Dealing with rejection
There’s no getting away from it – being an actor means learning to deal with a lot of rejection. Remember, even really successful actors often spend significantly more time auditioning than they actually do acting.
You need to be prepared to accept rejection calmly and professionally and always remember to thank people for the opportunity. Throw a tantrum or try to argue your case after a casting director has already made their decision and they’re likely to remember you for all the wrong reasons. If you want that casting director to give you another shot in future auditions, make sure you leave them thinking of you as a polite professional.
Professionalism
Giving off a professional impression needs to be on your mind at all times when looking for work. This covers everything, from making sure your head shots, CV and show reel look the part, to your conduct at every stage of the audition process.
Pay attention to the basics, like turning up on time, learning your lines, looking appropriate for the role and knowing people’s names and that will speak volumes. People want to know that you will act like a professional if they give you the job, so don’t underestimate the importance of making the right impression from the beginning.
Learn how to become a professional actor in 1 year
There are two things you need to be a professional acting – the ability to act to a high standard and the business knowhow to take those skills into the industry and get work. On our 1-Year Ultimate Acting Programme we teach you both sets of skills, meaning you won’t just know how to act like a pro, you’ll also know how to find and win the acting jobs you need to turn your dream into a reality.
Our programme also includes a career development support package that will set you up with everything you need to start winning roles, including head shots, an actor’s CV and a professional quality show reel.
The 2016-17 Ultimate Acting Programme starts in October and the deadline for applications is 8th June for auctions on 15th June. To find out more please take a look around the rest of the site or feel free to get in touch.
Getting your first paid acting job can seem impossible when you’re new to the industry, but remember, every successful actor was once in exactly the same position as you.
Learning how to be a great actor is, of course, the first thing you need to do if you want to break into the industry, but there are lots of other things you can do to increase your chances of getting that first break.
Understanding what agents, casting directors and other gatekeeper of the profession are looking for is vital. It allows you to present yourself as a professional actor. Master the following and it’s only a matter of application, perseverance and time before you get your first professional acting job.
Headshots
Acting is a profession where how you look matters. This isn’t to say you need to be beautiful to be an actor, but the way you look will strongly influence the types of acting jobs you are offered. Head shots are usually the first thing a casting director will look at when deciding whether they might potentially use you for a role.
Without a set of professional quality head shots you are unlikely to even be considered for acting job. The key thing is to make sure the head shots are taken by an experienced professional and that they actually look like you! It’s no good using photos from 10 years ago or that are heavily photoshopped. Even if you do get an audition you won’t get the part if you don’t look like the person the casting director thought they were meeting!
Your Acting Resume / CV
An actor’s resume CV isn’t quite like a regular CV. It’s all about highlighting your acting experience relevant to the role you are applying for, not just listing your most recent jobs.
As a newbie to the industry, you obviously won’t have any professional credits yet, but you should hopefully have plenty of experience to talk about. Writing a great actor’s CV with a list of the roles you’ve played in drama school and the acting training you’ve undertaken can help prove you are serious about acting and have the skills to be worth auditioning.
Show Reels
A show reel is a professional actor’s ultimate weapon as it leaves nothing to a casting director’s imagination. It shows them exactly what you can do, so they can see straight away that they are dealing with a real actor who is worth their time.
Your show reel needs to be a high quality recording that demonstrates the true range of your acting abilities. Knowing what to put in an acting show reel can be tricky which is why it’s important to get professional advice wherever possible.
Many people making their first steps into the professional acting world won’t have a show reel yet, so if you can put one together it can be a big advantage. This is one of the reasons we include a high quality show reel as part of our Ultimate Acting Programme as it gives our students yet another head start over the competition!
Finding an agent
Hollywood legend Bill Murray famously doesn’t have an agent, but that’s because he spent years getting to a place where he is so in demand, he can get away with it. For the rest of us, and especially people new to the profession, having an agent does two vital things.
First, assuming you’ve found a good agent, they will know the game inside and out and be able to guide you to success much more easily and effectively that you could yourself. They will be able to get you into auditions and connect you with people you otherwise would never have had access to, making it much quicker for you to start getting auditions.
Second, having an agent shows you’ve already convinced an industry player that you have the necessary skills to make it. This in turn makes you more attractive to other people in the business and makes you seem like less of a risk.
Self-promotion
Even if you have an agent, understand that you will still need to be an expert at self-promotion to succeed in this business. These days, you can do a lot of the hard work from the comfort of your own home by maximising your online presence.
Make yourself a website using a popular, easy-to-use platform such as WordPress and get your head shots, CV and show reel up there. This gives you something to link people to online where they can quickly see what you have to offer. A professional-looking website is also increasingly seen as a sign that you are serious about your chosen career.
Once you have your site, make sure to promote it on social media and use it as a point of reference when contacting agents, casting directors and other people you want to work with.
Networking
Promoting yourself online is important, but you definitely shouldn’t overlook connecting with people face-to-face. The old adage “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know” is still around for a reason – there is some truth to it.
Of course, the reality is that it’s both what you know and who you know, as all the contacts in the world won’t get you acting jobs if you can’t actually act. But assuming you already have the skills, it’s a good idea to know the right people and make sure they’re aware of what you can do and the kind of work your looking for.
Learning how to network as an actor takes time. Make sure you start going to the right kinds of events, including local theatre festivals, launch nights and actors’ groups and you can soon start to make useful connections. Remember, other actors aren’t always rivals, they can be useful contacts who can pass on opportunities and put in a good word for you.
Ace Your Auditions
There are so many tips and tricks about how to ace an audition out there it can be overwhelming. This is why audition technique is a key part of our professional development package. It’s not just about what to do once you get in front of an audition panel though, you also need to know which kinds of auditions to go for.
When putting yourself out there, you have to understand where you fit. Be realistic about the kind of roles people are actually likely to cast you in and don’t expect to be playing the lead in a West End show straight out of the gate. Apply for roles that suit your age, look and level of experience and you’ll make it much more likely to get that first job you can begin to build on.
Dealing with rejection
There’s no getting away from it – being an actor means learning to deal with a lot of rejection. Remember, even really successful actors often spend significantly more time auditioning than they actually do acting.
You need to be prepared to accept rejection calmly and professionally and always remember to thank people for the opportunity. Throw a tantrum or try to argue your case after a casting director has already made their decision and they’re likely to remember you for all the wrong reasons. If you want that casting director to give you another shot in future auditions, make sure you leave them thinking of you as a polite professional.
Professionalism
Giving off a professional impression needs to be on your mind at all times when looking for work. This covers everything, from making sure your head shots, CV and show reel look the part, to your conduct at every stage of the audition process.
Pay attention to the basics, like turning up on time, learning your lines, looking appropriate for the role and knowing people’s names and that will speak volumes. People want to know that you will act like a professional if they give you the job, so don’t underestimate the importance of making the right impression from the beginning.
Learn how to become a professional actor in 1 year
There are two things you need to be a professional acting – the ability to act to a high standard and the business knowhow to take those skills into the industry and get work. On our 1-Year Ultimate Acting Programme we teach you both sets of skills, meaning you won’t just know how to act like a pro, you’ll also know how to find and win the acting jobs you need to turn your dream into a reality.
Our programme also includes a career development support package that will set you up with everything you need to start winning roles, including head shots, an actor’s CV and a professional quality show reel.
The 2016-17 Ultimate Acting Programme starts in October and the deadline for applications is 8th June for auctions on 15th June. To find out more please take a look around the rest of the site or feel free to get in touch.
Getting your first paid acting job can seem impossible when you’re new to the industry, but remember, every successful actor was once in exactly the same position as you.
Learning how to be a great actor is, of course, the first thing you need to do if you want to break into the industry, but there are lots of other things you can do to increase your chances of getting that first break.
Understanding what agents, casting directors and other gatekeeper of the profession are looking for is vital. It allows you to present yourself as a professional actor. Master the following and it’s only a matter of application, perseverance and time before you get your first professional acting job.
Headshots
Acting is a profession where how you look matters. This isn’t to say you need to be beautiful to be an actor, but the way you look will strongly influence the types of acting jobs you are offered. Head shots are usually the first thing a casting director will look at when deciding whether they might potentially use you for a role.
Without a set of professional quality head shots you are unlikely to even be considered for acting job. The key thing is to make sure the head shots are taken by an experienced professional and that they actually look like you! It’s no good using photos from 10 years ago or that are heavily photoshopped. Even if you do get an audition you won’t get the part if you don’t look like the person the casting director thought they were meeting!
Your Acting Resume / CV
An actor’s resume CV isn’t quite like a regular CV. It’s all about highlighting your acting experience relevant to the role you are applying for, not just listing your most recent jobs.
As a newbie to the industry, you obviously won’t have any professional credits yet, but you should hopefully have plenty of experience to talk about. Writing a great actor’s CV with a list of the roles you’ve played in drama school and the acting training you’ve undertaken can help prove you are serious about acting and have the skills to be worth auditioning.
Show Reels
A show reel is a professional actor’s ultimate weapon as it leaves nothing to a casting director’s imagination. It shows them exactly what you can do, so they can see straight away that they are dealing with a real actor who is worth their time.
Your show reel needs to be a high quality recording that demonstrates the true range of your acting abilities. Knowing what to put in an acting show reel can be tricky which is why it’s important to get professional advice wherever possible.
Many people making their first steps into the professional acting world won’t have a show reel yet, so if you can put one together it can be a big advantage. This is one of the reasons we include a high quality show reel as part of our Ultimate Acting Programme as it gives our students yet another head start over the competition!
Finding an agent
Hollywood legend Bill Murray famously doesn’t have an agent, but that’s because he spent years getting to a place where he is so in demand, he can get away with it. For the rest of us, and especially people new to the profession, having an agent does two vital things.
First, assuming you’ve found a good agent, they will know the game inside and out and be able to guide you to success much more easily and effectively that you could yourself. They will be able to get you into auditions and connect you with people you otherwise would never have had access to, making it much quicker for you to start getting auditions.
Second, having an agent shows you’ve already convinced an industry player that you have the necessary skills to make it. This in turn makes you more attractive to other people in the business and makes you seem like less of a risk.
Self-promotion
Even if you have an agent, understand that you will still need to be an expert at self-promotion to succeed in this business. These days, you can do a lot of the hard work from the comfort of your own home by maximising your online presence.
Make yourself a website using a popular, easy-to-use platform such as WordPress and get your head shots, CV and show reel up there. This gives you something to link people to online where they can quickly see what you have to offer. A professional-looking website is also increasingly seen as a sign that you are serious about your chosen career.
Once you have your site, make sure to promote it on social media and use it as a point of reference when contacting agents, casting directors and other people you want to work with.
Networking
Promoting yourself online is important, but you definitely shouldn’t overlook connecting with people face-to-face. The old adage “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know” is still around for a reason – there is some truth to it.
Of course, the reality is that it’s both what you know and who you know, as all the contacts in the world won’t get you acting jobs if you can’t actually act. But assuming you already have the skills, it’s a good idea to know the right people and make sure they’re aware of what you can do and the kind of work your looking for.
Learning how to network as an actor takes time. Make sure you start going to the right kinds of events, including local theatre festivals, launch nights and actors’ groups and you can soon start to make useful connections. Remember, other actors aren’t always rivals, they can be useful contacts who can pass on opportunities and put in a good word for you.
Ace Your Auditions
There are so many tips and tricks about how to ace an audition out there it can be overwhelming. This is why audition technique is a key part of our professional development package. It’s not just about what to do once you get in front of an audition panel though, you also need to know which kinds of auditions to go for.
When putting yourself out there, you have to understand where you fit. Be realistic about the kind of roles people are actually likely to cast you in and don’t expect to be playing the lead in a West End show straight out of the gate. Apply for roles that suit your age, look and level of experience and you’ll make it much more likely to get that first job you can begin to build on.
Dealing with rejection
There’s no getting away from it – being an actor means learning to deal with a lot of rejection. Remember, even really successful actors often spend significantly more time auditioning than they actually do acting.
You need to be prepared to accept rejection calmly and professionally and always remember to thank people for the opportunity. Throw a tantrum or try to argue your case after a casting director has already made their decision and they’re likely to remember you for all the wrong reasons. If you want that casting director to give you another shot in future auditions, make sure you leave them thinking of you as a polite professional.
Professionalism
Giving off a professional impression needs to be on your mind at all times when looking for work. This covers everything, from making sure your head shots, CV and show reel look the part, to your conduct at every stage of the audition process.
Pay attention to the basics, like turning up on time, learning your lines, looking appropriate for the role and knowing people’s names and that will speak volumes. People want to know that you will act like a professional if they give you the job, so don’t underestimate the importance of making the right impression from the beginning.
Learn how to become a professional actor in 1 year
There are two things you need to be a professional acting – the ability to act to a high standard and the business knowhow to take those skills into the industry and get work. On our 1-Year Ultimate Acting Programme we teach you both sets of skills, meaning you won’t just know how to act like a pro, you’ll also know how to find and win the acting jobs you need to turn your dream into a reality.
Our programme also includes a career development support package that will set you up with everything you need to start winning roles, including head shots, an actor’s CV and a professional quality show reel.
The 2016-17 Ultimate Acting Programme starts in October and the deadline for applications is 8th June for auctions on 15th June. To find out more please take a look around the rest of the site or feel free to get in touch.
Confidence is hugely important for an actor. You need to have a lot of self-belief if you’re going to put yourself out there and find work, but even more fundamentally you need it when acting if you are going to convince others with your performance.
While it’s certainly true that some people seem more naturally confident than others, it’s not just down to a mix of genetics and having the right upbringing! Whoever you are, no matter how naturally confident you feel, you can learn to believe in yourself as an actor if you take the right steps.
Know your stuff
People often say you have to “fake it ‘til you make it”, but wouldn’t you rather not have to fake it? This is very much the philosophy behind method acting – we don’t want you to fake anything, we want you to learn how to unlock your potential and harness what’s already inside you to create something real.
This is how you increase your confidence as an actor too. The goal is not to learn how to mimic what you imagine confidence looks like! We want you to put the work in to gain the skills and experience so you will feel genuinely confident in your abilities. After all, if you know you’ve got the chops, why wouldn’t you feel confident about it?
Faking confidence (if you can pull it off) might well open a lot of doors for you, but when you’re up on stage or in front of a camera, if that confidence isn’t based on something real, it will soon show. Being exposed for a fraud won’t do anything for your long term confidence, so make sure you really know what you’re doing and your confidence will continue to grow with each success.
Be prepared
There’s a reason the Scouts have “be prepared” as their motto. They believe that if you always know “the right thing to do at the right moment” you will be able to cope with any situation. This is the root of confidence – believing you can handle any situation you find yourself in. So how do you do that as an actor?
Preparing for an audition or performance includes the obvious things, like learning your lines, researching your role and looking the part, but there’s more to it than that. Method acting means learning how to produce genuine emotion on demand, so that whatever feelings you are required to portray as an actor, you know you can call them up when needed.
Having a repeatable process for doing this means you can deliver the goods every time and you’re not leaving anything to chance. Method acting training teaches you how to develop that repeatable process so you can always be prepared for whatever is required of you as an actor.
Get experience
All the training in the world will…help you a lot, actually! But it’s also important to get out there and get experience. Building confidence means having the courage to go outside your comfort zone and show yourself that you can not only survive out there, but thrive.
For an actor, this means getting out there and actually acting in front of people over and over until it no longer seems so scary. However nervous you might be before a performance, getting through it and to the applause at the end is guaranteed to help build your acting confidence.
Whether you have to start small in local theatre productions or amateur short films or are lucky enough to get professional work right away it all helps. Putting yourself out there and doing it, succeeding and then doing it again is the way to build genuine self-belief that will help propel you to each next step in your career.
Learn from the best
Copy successful people and you’ll have the confidence of knowing that what you’re doing works. After all, if something works for Robert De Niro or Christian Bale, why wouldn’t it work for you? Knowing you are using a winning formula is one of the surest ways to boost your self-confidence as an actor. And what is that winning formula? Why, method acting, of course!
80% of Oscar winning actors this century have been method actors, which really ought to tell you something. And if they can do it, so can you! These Academy Award winners have provided a blueprint for acting success that you can learn to emulate. Do that and you’ll be absolutely justified in believing you have the necessary skills to give a great performance. And once you know that, then guess what? Everyone else will be able to see it too!
Gaining confidence in yourself and your acting abilities certainly isn’t an overnight job, but with the right help and the willingness to learn and apply yourself you can become as confident as anyone.
Looking for a way to really build acting confidence? Why not apply for our 2016-17 Ultimate Acting Programme starting in October? The deadline for applications is 8th June and auctions are taking place on 15th June. Need to know more? Please feel free to get in touch with your questions.
“be someone that everyone wants to work with“
Acting can be a tough business. Bagging a promising audition is a big deal, and you need to do all you can to get the job, lest you end up picking up shifts at your local pub for another few months.
So when you arrive at the audition, prepared and eager to read the part, how can you increase your chances of being chosen? That’s simple: be someone that everyone wants to work with. Easier said than done, I know, but invaluable advice if followed correctly.
So, how do you become that person that everyone in the room can’t wait to spend more time with? Well you might be naturally charming and funny, but the most important thing is that you are professional. In particular, you keep your dignity even when the going gets rough. A good reputation is a valuable thing, and getting yourself known as the cool, professional actor may do more for your career than you’d expect.
Be Cool, Yolanda
Trying to get yourself known as a cool actor doesn’t mean you need to turn up in a leather jacket and sunglasses with a cigarette on the go. It’s all about the way you react to situations. So yes, in an audition setting, at first the casting director will not be aware of what a dignified person you are to work with, but when they send their assistant out to tell you your audition is postponed, or ask you to read some new material on the spot, there is your chance to show them.
Being kind and understanding towards everyone, whether it be a producer or lowly assistant when they approach you with unexpected news is incredibly important. If you are not selected for the role, those working on the project do not stop being of use to you. Scowling at them and huffing as you leave the building will not exactly give them a good impression of you as a professional actor. And should you encounter them again auditioning for another job, your chances will look a lot better if you accepted your last rejection with kindness and dignity.
Likewise, when you are working on a project, you need to make yourself a ‘solver’ of problems, not the ‘creator’ of them. There is a high chance that you will be working with many of the same people on later projects, and if you want to be selected for them, you need to give everyone you interact with the impression that you are easy to work with and always keep calm no matter what happens- and achieving this needn’t be difficult.
How to Keep Your Cool
Whether you’re a naturally calm person, or tend to have a bit of a temper, everyone can get frustrated in an audition situation when the stakes are high, just as things can feel stressful on the last few days of rehearsal. And there are a few techniques you can use to always stay calm and dignified.
1. Rationalise what has happened
If you didn’t get the part, calmly think about why that might be. Instead of cursing the names of the casting directors, think about why you might have missed out this time. Maybe you weren’t quite right for the role, or didn’t have enough time to prepare properly. It could have just been bad luck, and someone may have turned up that just looked more suited to the character. Whatever the reason, it happened, it wasn’t meant to be, and you need to accept it and move on. Taking out your anger on those casting, their assistants or other auditionees will do you no favours in the long run. Look at what you could do better next time, and stay positive.
2. Don’t be a toxic sharer
If rehearsals are going badly and the director is grinding on your nerves, the last thing you should think about doing is taking your anger out on social media. Even if your privacy settings are turned up as high as they can go, publishing anything to the internet is risky, and has the potential to seriously damage your reputation. Try to resolve the problems yourself, and keep that Twitter page looking professional.
3. Visualise how you should react
Whatever has happened, before you lose your temper think about the best response you could possibly have, and try to achieve it. If that’s a little tricky, think about the calmest person you know, and try to replicate how they would react to the particular situation.
4. Try some calming techniques
If you suffer from anxiety, you may already be aware of the benefits of breathing techniques, but they can also be used as remedies for stress. After a stressful day, or perhaps during a break, try some of these 10 minute breathing exercises, to help you reduce your stress levels a little. Meditation may help to keep you calm too, as can regular exercise in your spare time.
5. Apologise properly if you ‘lose it’
You’re not perfect, and no one expects you to be. Sometimes you might end up flying off the handle, and it may be unavoidable in certain situations. If it happens, the important thing is to deal with it correctly. Give yourself some time to recover your composure before returning to the room and apologising to everyone present that was involved. Explain your frustrations and seek a solution if possible, but most importantly, leave them with the impression that you are genuinely embarrassed and apologetic that you allowed yourself to lose your temper.
Being Your Authentic Self
At the end of the day, casting directors want to see you as you really are, and if you truly are cool and professional, that will shine through in your behaviour and composure. They don’t want to feel like you’re ‘acting’ when it comes to your personality, and they don’t want to see a façade.
In this way method acting can be helpful, since it will help you present truth in both your personality, and your reading. It can help you ‘turn it on’ in the right moments, helping you to give a very natural, yet impressive audition.
Keeping your dignity and remaining professional is an important skill, and no less valuable to an actor than actual acting ability. A reputation can make or break a career, so building yourself a good one is an extremely worthwhile endeavour.
Want to learn more about how method acting can help you perform better in auditions? Why not take a look at the range of acting courses we offer?
Auditioning is a craft in itself. Unfortunately, there are many good actors who never see the light of day due to poor audition technique.
The Importance of Rapport
It’s not just about how well you act in the audition room; it’s also about how well liked you are by the people auditioning you.
I had an agent once who said to me;
‘Brian, sometimes it’s whether the auditionees fancy you or not.’
I know it might seem savage, but he did have a valid point.
Let me explain. Someone who auditions well not only has talent but they also have the ability to seduce the audition panel. They know how to get on their right side and make people want to work with them.
This is called building rapport. When you are in rapport with someone, you feel like they are on your wavelength. You like them. The thing is, you can deliberately build rapport with someone through good interview technique. It’s a skill. Something you can develop.
We Like People Like Ourselves
Here is one that you should try out for yourself. You don’t need to go into the audition room either to try this out. You can do this with anyone. It’s called mirroring. Basically, when you are in conversation with someone, start to mirror their body language and vocal tones.
If they cross their legs, you do the same. You wait a second or two after they have done it, then copy them. If they fold their arms, you do the same.
Listen to how they talk. Are they loud and direct or quieter and slower in speech than you? Match your speech with theirs.
I know what you’re thinking: ‘They are going to notice I am doing this.’ Not so. You will be shocked how many people never pick it up. However, their unconscious mind does pick it up and they start to believe you are just like them. We human beings are always on the lookout for people who are similar to us. We like people like ourselves.
Try it out the next time you are out with a friend. You could even tell your friend and practise with each other and see how it feels.
Don’t Say ‘No’
Another useful tip for when you’re in an acting audition is to try to avoid the word ‘No’. When you say no, it is a sort of rejection and brings the conversation to an abrupt halt. If you can, don’t say no and find a way to continue the train of thought.
Obviously, if you have to say no because it’s important in order to be clear, then do so. But practise trying to turn a no into a yes.
Does that sound tricky? Well, here is a short video from a live acting seminar I did on how to not say no in audition. I give you a real example from an audition I did many years ago.
Acting auditions are nerve-racking experiences and any tool you can use to swing the decision your way is worth adopting. Remember: you will be doing the audition panel a favour. They want to like you and give you the part. You will be solving a big problem for them.
The other reason audition panels like to get on with the actors they cast is that you may have to spend a long time working together – and who wants to work with someone who is a pain? Much better to cast someone who is similar to you.
Want more useful audition advice? Why not sign up for one of my method acting courses?