How to Become an Actor: Step by Step Guide to Starting an Acting Career

Actors portray characters to educate and entertain audience. The job requires natural talent, good interpersonal skills, ability to memorize and interpret roles.

It requires practice, passion, stamina and loads of confidence in your ability. Today more than ever acting is very lucrative and there are many platforms to express your talent.

The job is very challenging and competitive because of huge number of people seeking fame. You could earn regular income as an actor however only a selected few become stars.

To learn the craft you need appropriate training, certification and determination. Here is a step to step guide on how to become an actor.

Step by Step Guide on How to Become an Actor

Different Types of Performing Art

The performing art is very broad and has different aspects. Common types are choreography, singing, dancing and acting. More are stage recitals, voice over and singing.

Acting Techniques and Methodology

An actor should develop his craft to succeed. There are different acting techniques such as Stanislavski system, lee Strasberg’s method and Stella Adlers technique.

Other notable techniques are Meisner, Practical Aesthetics, Uta Hagem method, Viola Spolin approach and Michael Chekhov method. 

How to Start an Acting Workshop

Where to Act

An actor portrays characters in television productions, movies and plays. They also lend their voice to commercials and children cartoons.

Actors are seen on stage plays, documentaries, home videos, movies and television productions. They work in music videos, YouTube videos, voiceover and different entertainment medium. You find actors on podcasts, local plays and commercials.

• children cartoons
• stage plays
• documentaries
•  home videos
• Movies
• television productions
• music videos
• YouTube videos
• Voiceover
• Podcasts
• commercials.

The Career Basics

The career basics include memorizing scripts, auditions and characterization. You work both live and on prerecorded acts such as movies.

You need to pass an audition to become one of the casts. Most time the actor works as extras, supporting roles before headlining or becoming a leading character.

Acting Skills

There are certain skills you need to perform credibly. You should be creative, have the ability to memorize scripts with excellent communication skill. You need passion, determination, persistence and physical stamina.

• Creative
• ability to memorize scripts
• excellent communication skill
• passion
• determination
• persistence
• Physical stamina.

Tools of the Profession

Tools of the profession are stage lighting, digital cameras and microphones. Others are motion picture software, costumes and scripts.

• stage lighting
• digital cameras
• microphones
• motion picture software
• costumes
• Scripts.

Actor Remunerations

Actor’s salaries and remunerations depend on many factors. They need to sign contractual agreements based on the amount agreed by both parties.

Some include the geographical location, type of production and expertise of the practitioner. Hollywood stars earn six figure incomes based on popularity, job description and brand.

They are able to attract such huge earns because they add lots of economic value to the production. A new actor in America could earn $20 per hour based on the producers.

Make Money with Voice Over

Steps to Become an Actor

So your dream is to become a successful actor, enjoy your craft and earn good pay. The step to become one differs with each individual.

High School Theater

A good place to start developing your skill is high school. Early training accounts for many actors and musicians success.

High School Theater is full of drama, plays, recitals and stage plays. Such classes introduce student to the performing arts and is guided by a trained thespian.

The student learns different acting technique, speech and dramatization. They also learn script writing, editing, stage lighting and production.

The students build confidence and have a foreknowledge of what acting entails. There are also acting groups and associations. Many actors have leveraged on the early couching to launch acting careers.

Join a Play House

Popular television, stage and movie stars launched their careers by joining a play house. A play house focuses on stage drama presentations.

They have directors, producers, script writers and actors. Find one in your locality and apply to join.

You could start with stage decorations, equipment handling, lights and small roles. Try auditioning for acting roles in such establishments.

Get Educated

Many actors go through university and obtain degrees. You could study for a bachelors and masters degree.

Enroll in an acting school to obtain a theater degree. The schools provide professional tutors in different aspects of performing art.  

Different Training Institutions

There are different training institutions that offer acting. They are Commercial acting schools, performing art school, community college and university education.

Associate Degree in Theater and Acting

You could get an associate degree in acting and theater. The courses include basic costuming, history of cinema, acting fundamentals and entertainment.

Bachelors Degree in Acting and Theater

Many universities offer degree program in theater arts. The programs usually run for 4 years with an award of bachelor’s degree in theater arts.

Course offered by such institutions are dramatic techniques, audition workshops, performing projects and Shakespearean/cultural performances.

You might decide to further the education by acquiring a master’s degree in acting and theater. Courses to expect are practicable business of stage, dramatic interpretations, script interpretation and traditional history.

If you are so inclined further the education and obtain a PHD.

Acting Institutions

• Play House
• High school
• Private Couching
• Universities
• Performing Art Schools
• Acting Schools

Potential Career Choices

Bagging a degree in theater and performing art opens many career choices. Apart from a career as an actor you could offer different services.

Top choices include becoming an acting coach or opening an acting studio. Others are producing, directing, acting, and set designing. 

Related career choices are film/video editing, camera operations, and animation. More are announcer, multimedia artist or explore you music and singing.

Acting Career Choices

• acting coach
• opening an acting studio
• producing
• directing
• acting
• set designing
• film and video editing
• camera operations
• animation
• announcer
• multimedia artist
• Singing.

Build a Resume

A good resume should accommodate all your productions. Make sure it covers stage productions, commercials, short dramas, and stage work.

Hire an Agent

Every actor needs an agent to find credible work. An agent offers huge network of possible clients, productions and auditions. It is not compulsory to have an agent however working with one could provide lots of opportunities.