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CHAPTER ONE
THE INITIAL INVESTMENT
My parents spent a lot of money for me to pursue my professional acting career. I took voice lessons, acting workshops, and voice-over classes, and went to Stagedoor Manor for six summers. Every year my father would grumble as he wrote the check for theater camp, but my parents encouraged my creativity, no matter what the cost.
If you want to become a professional actor, you need to invest wisely in your career. An acting career costs money. Prepare to make endless sacrifices, both monetary and emotional. In pursuing these expensive dreams, there will be many unglamorous steps along the way. The audition process is filled with daily highs and lows, yet the possibility of landing a dream role is what propels actors to keep auditioning. Itās hard not to get carried away in the fantasy, but you will likely go on hundreds, if not thousands, of auditions before you earn a penny. No one pays you to go on an audition. Look at your acting career as a marathon, not a sprint.
Opening a Cigar Store
Vocal coach Bob Marks shared this analogy with me: āIf you want to open a cigar store, you need initial investment money. It takes money to rent the store location, buy a cash register, start to advertise, and buy cigars.ā Think of your acting career like that cigar store, as a start-up business. When first starting out, youāll need initial seed money.
To jump-start your career, begin by making a list of start-up costs. Hereās what youāll need to invest in:
ā¢ Head shots taken by a professional photographer
ā¢ Professional head shot prints and postcards
ā¢ Acting lessonsāboth group and private coaching (itās important to have both)
ā¢ Workshops to meet agents and casting directors
ā¢ Acting intensives
ā¢ Vocal coaching
ā¢ Dance classes
ā¢ Subscriptions to reputable audition listings (examples include Backstage newspaper, www.backstage.com, Actors Access, and Casting Networks)
ā¢ Transportation (bus, train, subway, gas, parking, toll) costs to get to auditions
ā¢ Extra money for that Starbucks latte or snack during long audition days
If youāre still in school, your parents will (hopefully) help you pursue your dreams, as mine did. If youāre an adult, youāre in charge of managing your own finances. I suggest that you have an amount in your head that you are willing to spend. How much can you truly afford? Be honest about your potential. If youāre not careful, you can really break the bank. Decide up front how much money you want to invest right away. This will help assuage the pain when the costs start to add up. You donāt need to spend a lot of money for success, but you do need to spend money on good training to gain more confidence when you walk into audition. The ends justify the means.
At this early stage, you need to make sure that you really want to be an actor and that youāre not just an impulse buyer.
Who Am I, Anyway?
Now that youāve created your budget, itās time to get your head shot* and rĆ©sumĆ© assembled. If youāre calling yourself a professional actor, you need a professional head shot so you can start to submit for work. Your head shot is your business card. The photo must look like YOU. Take a quick look in the mirror. What do you see? What color is your hair? Is it curly or straight? Do you wear contacts or glasses, or both depending on the day? Your head shot needs to reflect you as you really are (with a little professional retouching to enhance what you already have!).
An excellent head shot will cost you money. What makes a great photo? Everything from your outfit and makeup to the setting, lighting, and of course, your smile. Your photo should represent you on your best day. Itās always disappointing when an actor comes to an audition and looks nothing like his or her head shot.
AUDITION STORIES
My First Audition
My first audition was for a Stella Dāoro cookies commercial. I looked right into the camera and yelled āStella!ā I booked that one and got my SAG card.
āBONNIE ROSE,
www.BonnieRoseNY.com
How to Find a Head Shot Photographer
ā¢ Ask for recommendations from fellow actors.
ā¢ Check out photographersā websites.
ā¢ Narrow down your choices. Then make an appointment to visit each photographerās studio to meet them and see if you feel comfortable with their vibe. Note: there should be no charge for this meeting.
ā¢ At the meeting, look through their photography books.
ā¢ Ask the photographer for wardrobe requirements and ideas for what to wear at the shoot.
ā¢ See if the photographer can provide a stylist for hair and makeup. Usually photographers have someone they like to work with. Itās worth the extra cost to have a professional there who can help you look your best.
ā¢ If youāre on a tight budget, ask the photo...
