» 25 Things Every Actor Should Know Before Coming to Hollywood

#25: Know That ActorGuru.com Wants You to Be A Successful Actor

actorguru — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 00:26:21 +0000

Wherever you are in the world; ActorGuru.com wants you to be a successful actor. Remember, you don’t necessarily have to come to Hollywood in order for you to be a consistent, working actor. Just know that I am in your corner and want the best for you. My goal is to continually expand our website to give you the tools and knowledge you need to make it as an actor. You will see that our site is different in that my knowledge about the business is precise and comes from experience. I’ve been there.

So feel free to ask me questions and leave comments here. You will see over time that I know what I’m talking about. I have a wealth of knowledge about the business and have been eager to share it with others.

#24: Know That You Should Never Forget Where You Came From

actorguru — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 21:27:29 +0000

Take a look around. Because when you start booking jobs as an actor, things are gonna change. You’re gonna change and so is your ego, so watch it. If you have a good support system now and good friends, you’ll want to keep them. You will need them when you become a big star because by then, most of your friend will not really be your friends. Even if you never get “famous,” once you start working professionally as an actor, everything changes. You can become a very successful actor without necessarily becoming famous, so do not be concerned about the “fame.”

When you start working, the most important thing I want you to watch is your ego. Your ego will make you do crazy things. Your ego will tell you, you need drugs. Your ego will cause you to be rude to people. Your ego will make you think that you are “above” everyone around you. Your ego will make you forget where you came from. And all because your acting career is starting to take off.

Never forget where you came from. You are humble now but it is only because you want to be famous. If you only want to become an actor because you want to be seen, then your ego has already taken over and it will be difficult for you to become a successful actor. Why? Because your energy is focused on self-gratification. Those types of people do not last in the entertainment business. They eventually self-destruct in some form other another.

No, you should want to become an actor because you enjoy being creative, you enjoy entertaining people. Always keep your attention to be focused on making others happy. You want to be able to walk down the street and have people come up to you and say, “We loved your movie!” or “We love you on that show!” Then, you can smile and remind yourself of how wonderful it is to be in a business where you can make other people smile.

Never forget where you came from.

#23: Know That You Need A Regular Job

actorguru — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 18:31:32 +0000

Unless you’re coming out to Hollywood with a ton of money already in the bank, it’s most likely that you will need to financially sustain yourself with a regular job to pay the bills. A lot of actors don’t necessarily like the fact that they have to work while trying to establish an acting career, but this is reality. It’ll probably be your reality as well, so be prepared. It’s a humbling experience but what else are you gonna do? Move back home? Go back to where you came from when you run out of your savings? A lot of actors do that. But, I encourage you not to give up so easy.

Finding a job should be one of the first things you do when you arrive in Los Angeles. The important thing is to find a job that’s flexible enough to allow you to go on auditions. Working at night may work but be careful as you’ll want to be awake for your auditions! And remember, being late to an audition is a big no-no.

So what do you do? Be up front on your job application from the beginning. Let the hiring person know that you are an aspiring actor and may have to go on auditions. Inquire about the occupation’s schedule. What are the hours? Will you be able to make your auditions? Is it a part time job? Is the hiring manager willing to work around your schedule? Anyway, below are some jobs that may be somewhat flexible. There are a ton of other flexible jobs to choose from out there; these are just a few, so don’t get discouraged. Just make sure you can pay your bills and keep your lights on when you get out to L.A. Do what you gotta do.

1. waiter
2. working in a fast food restaurant
3. extra or background work
4. casting assistant
5. production assistant
6. personal trainer
7. sales person
8. make-up artist
9. home-based business
10. care provider or babysitter

#22: Know the Difference Between an Agent and A Manager

actorguru — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 06:27:40 +0000

Legitimate agents are always “franchised” by the Screen Actor’s Guild. Franchised simply means that they have taken the necessary legal steps in becoming a business and gained all the necessary licenses in becoming an employment agency. That’s basically what a talent agent is; an employment agency. They work on your behalf to help get you an audition. They don’t get the job for you, you get the job, they get you the audition. Agents, with the help of your photo and resume’, solicit you to casting directors for roles for film, television, commercial, voice-overs, Internet work, etc. Think of agents a people who try to “sell” a product–which is you.

On the other hand, managers are the ones who help “develop” the product–which is you. A good manager will guide and groom you into becoming the great actor or actress you believe you say you are. They work personally with you to make sure you’re on top of your all-around “game” and they usually work with the agents on your behalf. The part you have to be careful about is that anyone can be a manager. There are no “franchised” managers with the unions. Some are legit. A lot are scammers. The great part is that if you find a good one, managers can help you get a good agent, refer you to good photographers and help you with an overall plan to succeed as a professional working actor.