Here are nine areas to consider and a scam to avoid.

1. People always tell me I have natural talent and that I should be an actor. It sounds like fun. How do I know if I have any talent? I don’t want to embarrass myself or waste my time.

It takes much more than natural talent to be a successful actor. You also need:

• The ability to take someone else’s words (the script) and make them sound believable and sincere, as if they were your own. With proper training, this skill can be learned.
• A strong desire to act and the ability to persist is essential.
• Some funds to invest in training, headshots and a professionally recorded showreel (a showreel is a DVD containing short clips of an actor’s work – it doesn’t have to be professional work).
• A solid marketing plan and a list of people to send your showreel to.

There are some people who have natural talent that are not always successful. I’ve seen people who I thought would never ‘make it’ go out and get jobs. I’ve also seen those who are naturally talented never get any work. In my opinion, what most people call ‘talent’ is really a combination of ability, desire, preparation and persistence.

2. I’ve heard that the same people (especially celebrities) take all the work. Is this true?
There are 100s of Theatres, TV stations and Film production companies working on projects. Yes, it is true the top names will get a lot of work, but they can only play one role at a time – leaving many other parts for other actors to get their teeth into. It is physically impossible for a handful of celebrities or a small group of people to do all the work!

Casting Directors and Agents are constantly on the lookout for fresh new actors. Anyone with proper training, a good showreel and enough drive has as good a chance as ever to break into this industry.

3. Do I need to join Equity to be an actor?
Not necessarily. You can still work as an actor if you’re a non-Equity Member, but people in the industry like to know that you’re a member – it shows that you’re a professional – and it’s also a bit of a status symbol. Equity is the Actor’s union – it is the only union for Actors in the UK. To become a member, you need to have done a professional job. So, once you get your first professional acting job, you’re in! Equity is good to be a part of, as it will protect you should you need to negotiate terms and conditions with an employer. Your Agent (if you have one) will usually deal with this, but it’s good to know that the union is also on your side.

4. How much money can I make in this business?
A lot. Top actors make six and even seven figure incomes. If you’re lucky enough to be cast in a Soap, for example, you can earn over £60,000 a year.

But don’t quit your day job! It can take years of perfecting your talent and marketing yourself before you reach this level of success. Non-union jobs pay as little as £150 a week and West End Equity salaries start at £500 per week. While these fees are not astronomical, they are a good starting point.

5. Can I do this if I have a ‘day’ job?
Yes. In fact, it will probably take a few years before your acting career is established enough to be your sole means of support. In the meantime, you’ll need to invest some of the money you make in your day job in things like training, headshots, showreel production and marketing expenses to get your acting career off the ground.

6. But how do I do both? Do they hold auditions on evenings or weekends?
Unfortunately not. Most auditions take place during normal business hours.

Before you can get work, you need to market yourself. This is done by consistently sending out headshots, showreels and CVs (which can be sent after hours), and following them up with phone calls, which can be made during lunch time or breaks. When the call comes to audition, take a day off or make some other excuse to duck out of work for a while. Most auditions take only 15-20 minutes.

7. Tell me about Agents. Do I need one?
An Agent’s job is to send your details (usually your headshot and CV) to Casting Directors and Directors, and follow up with them on your behalf. They will take a percentage of your fee when you are booked for a job. The percentage can vary depending on the Agent, but roughly it’s about 12% for Theatre and 17% for TV and Film work.

Agents serve a very useful function in the casting chain. They represent a wide variety of actors. Most Casting Directors and Directors prefer to work with Agents rather than call the actor individually. It helps save time.

An Agent will usually come to see your work or watch your work on a showreel. If they like what they see, they will sign you up to a contract. The contract will lay out what their percentage is and other contractual details.

If a reputable Agent wishes to sign you up, it’s probably a good idea to go for it – as long as the contract provides an “escape” clause if the relationship doesn’t work out. Make sure you have a lawyer review the document before signing.

Before you agree to be represented by an Agent, check their reputation with other actors and Casting Directors. You should quickly be able to find the names of the best Agents in your area.

If you cannot get an Agent to represent you, you can still get work on your own by sending your headshot, showreel and CV directly to Casting Directors and Directors – and then following them up religiously!

8. Do you need to live near London to be a successful actor?
No. However, most London Agents will only represent clients who live and work in the same market, as they are close enough to get to auditions and bookings quickly when the call comes in. In most major UK cities there will be an acting community and Agents that you can work with in your local area.

9. How do I get started?
Here is my 7 step approach on how to get started in acting:

Beware of any Agents or agencies that ask for money up front to market you. A good Agent will NEVER ask for money to market you. They will do so free of charge in the belief that they can get you work – that’s when they get paid.

Unfortunately, there are some disreputable individuals that might try and get you to pay a fee to join their agency – they usually justify this fee as ‘marketing expenses’ of some kind. Steer clear of this. Reputable Agents won’t do this.

Here’s how to stop this from happening to you:

1. Never give any money up front to an Agent, Manager or anyone who promises to get you work. A legitimate Agent or Manager gets paid their 12% or 17% fee AFTER they get you the job – never before. There are, however, reputable on-line casting services that will send you leads for a yearly fee of several hundred pounds. There is no guarantee here, but these casting services offer a good source of leads. ‘Leads’ are potential castings or auditions.

2. A legitimate Agent or Manager will NEVER make promises or ask for money up front for anything.

Investigate anyone who claims to be an Agent or Manager by:

• Calling Spotlight, the UK Actors’ Casting Directory.
• Talking to experienced actors in your area.
• Asking for a list of at least 10 other actors who have worked with them so you can check references.
• Trusting your gut instinct – if it feels fishy or sounds too good to be true, it probably is!

I hope you’ve enjoyed my Report and I look forward to providing you with more important acting information in the future.

Best wishes

Brian Timoney

P.S. Sign up on the right hand side for my Acting Reports and Tips to advance your ability and career