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Successful Actors Talk About Their Training
Back Stage asked prominent actors to talk about where and why they trained. As you will read, some attended conservatory programs and universities, some studied with legendary teachers, some trained in far-off lands, some learned from their childhood camp directors--and one learned by watching his parents onstage as he grew up.

All but one agree the training was well worth it. Or so they believe now. Many struggled with a few of their classes. Well, one class. Ballet was almost universally loathed by our actors, particularly the men. Indeed, movement classes in general were questioned. One of our actors couldn't understand how he'd ever be called upon to play an animal after graduation, but Joe Manganiello now plays a werewolf on "True Blood" and looks back on that pretend-you're-an-animal acting exercise with gratitude.
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Selecting the Shot
How to choose the most effective headshot Your headshot is your ambassador to the industry. For people who don't know you, it's your best chance to make a strong impression and compel them to bring you in. For established relationships, it's your chance to refresh your image, remind them how fabulous you are, and inspire them - all key tactics in furthering a career. But once you've had your shoot and received the proofs, you have to decide on a final image. In this digital age, with photographers providing so many proofs, how do you choose?
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Representation
How to get noticed (and maybe signed) by a talent agent It may be early for Christmas, but go ahead and make a list for Santa anyway. Tell him which agents you want to work with, whether or not you want to freelance or be exclusive, and if you are looking for commercial representation as well as legit. Making a wish list for Santa certainly won't guarantee a contract, but it will force you to think about what you want from an agent: the type of representation that you are looking for, whom you want to work for, and the ideal terms of the relationship.
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Commercial Acting
How a 30-second spot can keep on paying for years to come You're an actor waiting for the break that will jump-start your career. Try commercial acting and you may find that 15 seconds in a commercial spot is the little investment with the large return you've been waiting for.

While commercials may not seem as glamorous as the stage or film, they can be invaluable to an actor, both financially and professionally. A single commercial spot can provide an actor with a substantial income boost and possibly lead to future roles in film and television.
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Dinner Theater
Learn the ropes, get paid and gain valuable experience in an undervalued genre Misconceptions have tarnished the image of dinner theater. Some actors believe that if they accept a role at a dinner theater, they'll have to work for low wages, be forced to wait tables, and perform in an amateurish production. Contrary to all the myths, many dinner theaters pay a moderate salary, only in rare instances do performers double as waiters, and several venues in the country mount productions that have been on Broadway.
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Directing Theater
New York stage directors reveal what they look for in actors and everything else! There is nothing more satisfying than seeing a play in which all the elements are perfectly brought together. As a member of the audience, you may not think about who is behind the beauty that you are enjoying, but all those elements, from the writing and acting to the set design and sound, do not magically jell together on their own. They are merged by the skills of marvelous, talented directors.
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Rules of the Runway
Fifteen Steps to a Successful Modeling Career A pretty face can make a model, but hard work and smart decisions make a career. Modeling is a competitive field where finding the right agent and building a proper portfolio are just as important as smiling for the camera. In order for a modeling career to work, the model needs to be prepared to take risks as well as learn how to deal with the industry and keep up with trends. It's also important to keep in mind the demands of the business and the energy required to complete a single shoot. For aspiring models and working models who want to keep work coming, here are fifteen steps on how to build a modeling career and make it last.
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L.A. vs. New York
Find out when the time is right to make the move out west New York is still the world's center for theater (any regional company worth its pay in dirt holds auditions here, and even theater companies on the West Coast look for actors in New York), but L.A. has always been the heart of film and TV acting...So what to do if you're an actor who wants to be on TV, audition for studio films, but still spread your wings theatrically? Maybe you can have the best of both worlds.
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Regional Theater
The best acting jobs aren't always in NYC If you're having hard time finding acting gigs in New York City, you may discover that the grass is greener, and offers more room to grow, in regional theater. Many actors are drawn to New York by the bright lights of Broadway, but the lights can burn just as bright in regional theaters, found in every state and in most major cities, where numerous opportunities await. Regional theater is the birthplace of many new works that find their way to New York, both on and off-Broadway. At the same time, regional theater can showcase New York's best work in theaters across the country.
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Showcase Yourself
Put up your show for under $700, and the agents and casting directors will come (if you're good). A few years ago no one had ever heard of Rutgers graduate Aaron Stanford. That all changed, however, after the 2002 release of the indie hit "Tadpole," in which Stanford played a precocious teenager who develops a crush on his stepmother. The actor went on to have a successful career, including a stint as the title character of ABC's "Traveler" and a starring role in the recent indie film "Flakes."

What happened? Two years before "Tadpole," Stanford was one of the shining lights at the Rutgers University actors' showcase..."
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Theater for Young Audiences
How adult performers are making serious money in children's theater Whether you're on the stage or behind the scenes, working in children's theater isn't just for kids. The audience may consist of young people, but the creative teams that put the shows together are made up of hard-working, talented adults.

Children's theater (or Theater for Young Audiences, as designated by Actors' Equity) is a burgeoning field and has the most attentive (and simultaneously, attention-lacking) audiences you can find.
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What to Negotiate For
on a Nonunion Shoot Working under a union contract--whether AFTRA, SAG, or Equity--provides an actor with many built-in protections, including preferential working hours and conditions; pension, health, and welfare benefits; minimum guaranteed fees; and additional compensation for the producer's continued exploitation of the actor's recorded performance...

...Actors not working under a union agreement, however, must negotiate for even these minimum safeguards. The following--some of the key protections of a collective bargaining agreement--are items that actors should aim to include in a nonunion deal.
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Screen Masters
20 Performances Every Actor Should Watch Here they are: the best of the best. These are performances you can watch any time you want to remember the big picture, the reason that you are going to all those auditions.
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The Dance Issue
Step into a better career with NYC's top dance programs Dance is one of the most difficult disciplines for a performer to master. But for those who strive for versatility and success, learning the right steps is an essential component in becoming a triple threat. As a competent dancer, you will become much more appealing to casting directors in theater-dominated New York City, where flashy musicals rule the industry.

Whether you picture yourself leaping through the air in a ballet or mesmerizing the audience in a modern dance number, there are countless dance schools throughout the Big Apple for you to choose from.
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Flexing Your Voiceover Muscles
The very best voiceover artists are, first and foremost, actors. It's no secret that the very best voiceover artists are, first and foremost, actors. Some of them may not ply their acting skills on stage or on camera, but they are amazing actors nonetheless. In fact, when I'm taking on new voiceover students or clients, one of the first things I bring up is their acting journey--where they've been, what they've learned, and what they've accomplished.
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Membership Benefits
How joining a theatrical ensemble can open doors for your career Finding a steady outlet for your acting skills is no easy task. A typical actor's routine consists of scouring casting notices and going on endless auditions, hoping for that one shot in the dark that will lead to a paying job. Theatrical membership companies, i.e. repertory organizations in which the same actors are utilized in various productions, can offer a solid foundation for both actors who are just starting out and those looking to enhance their credentials. For working actors, the benefits of joining an ensemble are obvious. A membership offers steady work and in many cases a steady income. Joining a troupe will also increase your chances of being spotted by an agent or casting director.
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Spotlight on Regional Auditions
Make the most of your experience at a regional combined audition. Attending a regional combined audition can be like playing the cymbals in an orchestra: You sit patiently in a stiff tuxedo, waiting for your big moment of crashing truth, and then, before you know it, it's over. Actors may plan several months for the big day, drive overnight to get there, and pay for a hotel room, and when their few seconds in the spotlight are over, they're left like Peggy Lee, wondering, "Is that all there is to a regional combined audition?"
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Showcase Yourself
Put up your show for under $700, and the agents and casting directors will come (if you're good). A few years ago no one had ever heard of Rutgers graduate Aaron Stanford. That all changed, however, after the 2002 release of the indie hit "Tadpole," in which Stanford played a precocious teenager who develops a crush on his stepmother. The actor went on to have a successful career, including a stint as the title character of ABC's "Traveler" and a starring role in the recent indie film "Flakes."

What happened? Two years before "Tadpole," Stanford was one of the shining lights at the Rutgers University actors' showcase...
More - From Showbusinessweekly.com...

A Checklist for Successful Auditions Will you be going out this pilot season? Check below if you have

_ a theatrical agent or manager who can get you television auditions

_ solid contacts/relationships with casting directors who cast pilots

_ gone out on television auditions in the past year

If you checked one of these boxes, there's a chance that you'll get at least one audition for a pilot this year. Are you ready? Use the checklist below to make sure you are prepared.
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