The only failure is not to try.

George Clooney

Are you looking for ways to excel at an acting career? Landing a role in Hollywood is every actor’s dream, and it must be your too if you are here. Many say that acting is the hardest career to pursue, but that can’t be further from the truth. If you want to become a successful actor in the world of acting, here are some acting basics you should know.

  1. Never stop learning
    Experienced actors will tell that acting is a craft. You can never know everything. The dynamic keeps changing, and the only way to excel at acting is to keep learning how to act. There is always room for learning in acting, so keep training with your coaches even when you feel you have scaled the height of excellence. You can also sign up for acting classes. Sign up for a variety of different courses with acting styles you have not tried before. Try everything and get out of your comfort zone. Try your hands on acting roles at your local drama classes. Attend those films and plays at that corner theatre and watch different crafts. Maybe that is what will earn you a ticket to Hollywood.
  2. Commitment is key
    Acting is not like most careers. Some acting jobs will require you to shoot in a location far from home and family for even months on end. If you are not dedicated and invested physically and emotionally, acting is not for you. Acting can put a strain on your social life and relationships. Acting also requires a 100% commitment if you are going to land a significant role. You need to invest in excellent skills, talent agents, and coaches to succeed.
  3. Audition! Audition! Audition!
    You will not be cast in a Hollywood role as soon as you start your acting career. You will find yourself taking up some jobs you never imagined. However, never stop auditioning. Even if you don’t get the role, you will be making yourself known. As I have previously said, casting and film directors give the job to someone they know. Make your presence felt and give your best in every audition. Auditions will also help you to practice your craft with different roles. There is no better way to learn to act than to actually act! The best success story I have herd is of an actor who auditioned eight years in a row for the same role. He finally did not just get the part but sat on the casting committee. All the unsuccessful auditions you show up on will eventually earn you a seat at the table.
  4. Don’t wait for work to come to you.
    When starting out as an actor, it is recommended that you find your niche or range and stick to it. It is crucial to show casting directors and filmmakers that you are capable of being a great actor. However, it is essential to get out of your comfort zone. Try new opportunities and reach beyond your range. The best way to try a different range is to keep learning. You never know where your talent lies if you don’t try new things. You can also find that you are better in other areas than in your niche. As we have mentioned, you never know when your breakthrough will come!
  5. Build lasting relationships with people in the same field
    In acting, you cannot make it solo, no matter how talented or skilled you are. Even your papers will not get you through some doors. It is essential to be a nice person and leave the mean face at home! People will remember you by how you treat them and your character. Build relationships with fellow actors and actresses. They may be the ones to alert you of a life-changing opportunity to tomorrow. Make connections with aspiring actors at the drama club and build something big. Be kind to everyone you meet. The PA you meet today might be a talent agent or even casting director, and they will surely remember you when you show up to an audition.
  6. Be persistent
    Opportunities come to those who go looking for them other than those who just sit in their apartments waiting. Go for those auditions as many ties as you can. Do not falter at rejection. It’s part of the acting. Take up those small gigs that seem useless and degrading. They are your stepping stone to bigger and full-time jobs. Get featured at your local garage commercials and until you can land a gig to appear on a billboard. Persistence will get you where talent and skill won’t.
  7. Practice patience
    Rome was not built on a single day, right? Neither was any successful career in acting. Read the success stories of your icon. You will realise that they did not land that life-changing opportunity in a single try. You might land a lime-light role when you are in your 40s, but that does not make you a failure. Aduba, who plays Suzanne in Crazy Eyes, tells how she had completely given up acting when she landed the role. Chrissy Metz, whose role is Kate Pearson, also got her breakthrough role in This is us when she has just decided to move back to Florida after endless fails at landing a significant role. So, what am I saying? You never know when your break will come. Be patient and keep fighting!

Actors Takeaway:
Acting Basics

Acting is for everyone if they are committed and persistent. Make sure you have a vision before you go into acting.

RELATED ACTORS RESOURCES

WILL I MAKE IT AS AN ACTOR – THINGS YOU MUST DO
QUALITIES OF A GOOD ACTOR – PERSONALITY CHARACTERISTICS THAT MAKE GREAT ACTORS
ACTING EXTRAS – HOW DO I BECOME AN EXTRA?
HOW TO ACT IN FRONT OF CAMERA
ACTING COACH – DO ACTORS HAVE ACTING COACHES?
THINGS ACTORS SHOULD DO EVERYDAY – 7 DAILY THINGS YOU SHOULD DO TO SUCCEED
PERCENTAGE OF ACTORS THAT MAKE IT – ITS LESS THAN YOU THINK
ACTING ROLES – FIND ACTING AUDITIONS AND CASTING CALLS