21 Acting Tips You Can’t Live Without

STOP! Save these acting tips to your favorites.

I wish I new these acting tips when I was starting out.

It would have made the last 17 years as an actor a little easier to handle.

So do it!

Ok that let’s begin.

You can find a ton of generic acting tips online.  However, many of these sites have outdated information on what it really takes to be a successful actor.  Most of them are written by non working actors! I know because I have seen them all!

This is the main reason I began this website. My mission is to empower actors all over the world with real life value they can use to build a career as an actor in this competitive industry.

How am I Qualified To Give Acting Tips?

I have been making a living acting in TV and Film for over 7 years. I started in New York City then moved to Hollywood where I make my home.  So far it has been an incredible journey full of life long lessons and experiences I will never forget.

I can not express to you how fortunate I am to look at my resume and feel proud of the decision I made 17 years ago to become an actor. I was 15 years old when I caught the bug and haven’t looked back since.

I have trained with many great teachers, attended 4 years of an intensive conservatory training, and worked on some of the top shows with 7 full years of paychecks! Yes I do I live off the royalties that continue to grow each year. It can happen for you too!

I hope this article will be a source of  fuel for your actor journey.  Rey Valentin

My Top 21 Acting Tips

1. Have a Burning Desire:

If you want to become an actor then you better feel it in your gut! You have to have a burning passion to want to put up with all the challenges that will come your way. You have to feel that there is nothing else that will making you happy (career wise) if your not doing it.

This means living for the high of the performance. This burning passion will fuel you when you want to quit and uplift you when your doing what you love.

2. Study The Classics

It so funny to me to see people that think they can just pick up some lines and become actors. Are you kidding?! You may be the funniest man in your circle. You might have a talent for accents. You might even possess the ability to create moving characters.

However, when you add the pressure of the moment. Along with performing in front of critics, audiences, directors, casting directors, and thousand or even millions of dollars of production costs laying on your shoulders things change dramatically.

This is where your technique of the craft helps you. Study the proven classics that have helped so many actors. An actor never stops training. Its like the gym! Whether you train privately or take the conservatory approach. Do not skip this step!

3. Be A Copycat

Modeling success is the shortcut to success. While, training I read every autobiography and bio book from actors I admired. Here is a chance to sit with successful actors entire careers and absorb the gems that made them shine.

Reading these types of books will also give you a sense of what it really takes to make it as an actor. So instead of People Magazine or the latest Celebrity gossip pick up a bio and take notes.

As you read more and more of them you will see strong patterns in the ones that still have thriving careers. Model yourself after the ones that make an impact on you emotionally.

4. 1600 Submission An Hour

Nothing pisses off casting directors more than actors that show up not looking like their head-shots. When I met Gary A Marsh CEO of Actors Access he shared a story that stuck with me about head shots.

Nowadays with electronic submission casting directors can receive over 1600 head-shots in one hour for each role on a major TV show!

Most casting directors have only 3 to 6 hours to cast 10 actors. So if a casting director likes your head shot and decides to bring you in and you don’t look anything like your head shots it’s a complete waste of every one’s time.

Not only will that casting director never call you back but you just blew a great opportunity to meet influential producers and casting directors. Look like your head shot. Ladies avoid the glamour look.

Keep it very simple with neutral colors. No brands. The picture should give us a sense of your natural essence.

5. Confidence Will Get You An Agent/Manager

There is tons of material out there to help you find an agent or manger. However, very few people empathize the real reason an agent or manger decides to work with an actor.

YES you have to have talent that is a given. However, the single most important factor when you are staring out is PURE CONFIDENCE.

I don’t care if your 7 years old or 70. Confidence is very attractive and agents and managers want to be around it.

They understand that you will not have a ton of credits under you belt but with the right exposure you could land some work.

So before you go out an mail your head shots all over town do a confidence check. Ask your friends and family to write down 5 traits they see in you. If confident is one of them then you in heading in the right direction. If not. Well get some by working on it in acting class.

6. Control Your Image On Google

Having a good quality website is important for a few reasons. One it gives casting directors a place to see your work online with having to upload or download your material. The second reason which is my favorite is the control over your image.

Each time you post a picture on your website GOOGLE tags it. This means if you Google your name you should see pictures of YOU. So ladies all those pictures from all the sexy photo shoots should go here.

Facebook is cool but having your own self hosted wordpress site will give you more control over the names of the pictures. Google your name then look under IMAGES. If you don’t see over 3 pages of your images then you got work to do!

7. A Strong Dose of Industry News

I love to read the trades with my morning cafe. There various ways you can read them. Online or Print. These trade journals like Variety will give you up to date info on projects.

Study the press and learn more about the business side of the industry. Also envision yourself reading the trades!

Acting Tips Overload Yet?

It’s ok. I suggest you review these 7 acting tips. Which ones are you making part of your actor journey. Which ones are you weak in?

The best thing you can do for your acting career is to be in action mode daily. After all it’s one of the words you will hear the most. ….AND ACTION!!

So go ahead review. Also leave your comments below.

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