Acting Success In 10 Steps

By Bob Fraser

As fall approaches, a lot of actors are getting ready to make the big move to Los Angeles or New York to begin their career. Here are three old-timers with some advice (and a warning or two) for actors who are just setting off on their career.

"Behind the phony tinsel of (Show Biz) lies the real tinsel." ~ Oscar Levant

"Half the people in (Show Biz) are dying to be discovered – and the other half ... are afraid they will be." ~ Lionel Barrymore

"You can take all the sincerity in (Show Biz) – and stuff it in the navel of a gnat ... and still have room left over for 3 caraway seeds and an agent's heart." ~ Fred Allen

Well, while these stalwarts are unlikely to be topped by the likes of me, I will add my 24 cents (adjusted for inflation). What follows are ten steps that you must take if you expect to have the acting career you've always dreamed about.

1. Think for yourself. Don't listen to the advice of other actors who are just getting started themselves. If you listen, you will hear a lot of bovine leave behinds – much of which starts with the words, "In this town..."

Most of this balloon juice is useless – and sometimes worse.

2. Find a decent place to live. Living in a garret is all right if you’re a French impressionist painter – but living like a starving artist is a good way to become a starving artist and stay that way for a long time.

Unlike painters, actors are rarely discovered after they’re dead.

3. Take classes. There are two very good reasons for this. First you will learn a lot from the acting teachers in LA and NY (There are many good ones.) And secondly, you will begin to meet people. Since our business is one of constant collaboration, it's a good idea to get started on this part of your career immediately.

4. TCB. Take care of business. What this means is looking out for your finances in a realistic way, budgeting for your career needs, saving for a rainy day (I'm surprised athow many people think it doesn't rain in Show Biz – it does, and often), and generally acting like a responsible business person.

Even if that's not you, ACT like it is.

5. Take care of yourself. Stay healthy. Although, thanks to technology, there are increasing opportunities for dead actors, why go to that extreme just to get another credit? Eat well, exercise, drive carefully and don't ingest too much. (Food, drink or drugs.)

6. Relax. Getting your career started is probably going to take awhile – and there might be some pain involved. Keep in mind that pain is inevitable... misery is optional.

Breathe deeply. Take up a hobby. Pay attention to the rest of the world. Anxiety, frustration and worry will not make things go any faster.

7. Be nice to others. This sneaky ploy works in all walks of life.

8. Don't become a critic. A lot of newcomers think that they will impress others with their criticism of others that it's a way to look smart. Believe me, you won't impress and you won't look smart. You'll just come off as an amateur wannabe. Instead, do what the stars do.

Smile and say what the stars say: "That was quite a picture!" "Well, what can I say - amazing!" "You really had me going there." Etc.

This is not called lying, this is called professional courtesy.

9. Remember why you're here. It helps a lot if you decide before you get here, that you're here because you want to act for money.

Workshops, Equity-waiver, experimental films, etc. are all fine to keep your ‘instrument' tuned – but they can easily become a "way of life" – if you are not determined to make money at this.

10. Make a plan. I know this is a lot like homework, but the results of sitting down for a few hours and really determining what you want out of your acting career, are truly amazing. Remember, "A bad plan, vigorously executed, is better than no plan at all." ~ Patton (the general, not the actor)

Well, ten is a nice round number…

But if I were to go on to eleven, it would be this:

Do everything you can to be a happy person, right now.

If you think you can grouse today and then be happy someday ... in the future, I'm here to tell you that happiness just doesn't work that way. Putting off happiness until 'someday' almost always guarantees that you will be unhappy forever.

As a wise man once pointed out, 'If you can't be happy where you are, it's a cinch you can't be happy where you ain't.'

Okay, now you are warned and advised. Go be wonderful.