In two weeks I'm going to California to check out the area. Because I am trying to pursue a acting Career.

Question

I need advice from a experence Actor

Answer 1

Good luck. Be advised that this is the absolute slowest time of the year here in LA. Pilot season finished about a month ago and all the prime time shows are on hiatus. But if all you are doing to coming here to "check out the area", then I guess it's OK. I have no idea where you are from, but keep in mind that LA is a very large place and actors and aspiring actors are spread out all over from Pasadena to Venice to Sherman Oaks to North Hollywood, etc. There are good places to live and some very bad ones. My advice is NOT to live directly in Hollywood. It's a dump. Besides, if you actually decide to move here, and can get some auditions, then those auditions will run you all over the LA area. I had auditions in Manhattan Beach, Santa Monica, North Hollywood, Studio City, Hollywood, Culver City, Beverly Hills just to name a few. So take a look at a map of LA and take a look at how far those areas are from each other. You are literally running all over the place, so don't think you need to be in the heart of Hollywood to be close to the action.

I've said this to other people, so I will say it to you. Be prepared to be eaten alive as this is a dog eat dog environment. Do everything you can where you live now to make sure your dream can be realized. It is very, very hard and sometimes very discouraging work. You need to have some sort of credits on your resume so make sure you are trying to be part of every play and production (from community theatre to student films to local stuff) you can RIGHT NOW - before you move. Also realize that it is not cheap. Your rent can be more than what some people are paying for a mortgage. You'll also need quality headshots. And I mean QUALITY as your headshot is your business card. My recent headshots (with a guy I would recommend in a heartbeat) was almost $500 + makeup. Then you'll need to get those reproduced which will cost anywhere from $200-$300 dollars as you'll need both theatrical and commercial headshots - if you don't know the difference, then you are NOT NOT NOT ready for LA. You also need to be training. Some of the best studios in LA will cost up near $300 month. And the person you train with says A LOT on your resume. I've been able to get meetings with agents partly due to whom I am taking classes from.

You'll also need a job that will pay the bills (because acting won't - especially in the beginning) and even if you are able to get the vaulted SAG card, you still won't be making a lot of money - 95% of SAG make less than $7000/year. This job will also have to be able to give you the freedom to audition at almost a moments notice (like 2 hours). And that's no BS. My manager has called me at 11am asking if I can be in Hollywood by 1pm. Good news is that most auditions are the following day. And the rare few give you a few days notice.

Finally, NEVER NEVER EVER get hooked up with ANY outfit that charges you a fee to represent you. Any legit agent will only take 10% of anything you make and a manager will take 15%. But of course, you have to book a paying gig for this to happen. And if you are booking paying gigs, then you are on your way.

I hope I haven't discouraged you too much, but you need to have an idea of what you really are going to face. Feel free to contact me if you have any other questions about coming out here.

Answer 2

Be sure that you are are a very well-trained actor, and studied acting at the best colleges, with a well-recognzied theater department, or, with recognized acting coaches.

L. A., is not the place to go unless you already have a very strong, solid, resume. If you are an untrained want-to-be actor, stay at home.

Los Angeles, will chew you up, and spit you out, in a heartbeat!
You will need a car.

If your plan is to go to L.A., untrained, on a whim, stay home.

Answer 3

By California, do you mean L.A.? Are you a film or theatre actor? There are a lot of opportunities in San Diego, San Francisco, and probably a lot of other cities. Take a look around.

Answer 4

You will want to check out North Hollywood (NoHo district). There is a tremendous small theatre troup called Zombie Joe's Underground Theatre that does tremendous inovative work. It will likely rock your being if you are really serious about theatre.

Answer 5

See you in the restaraunt when you come over to say, "Are you finished with that sir? Can I take it away for you?"

Answer 6

Find a good job in a hurry.

Answer 7

hollywood is saturated with bullshit. its a "parade of dillusion" where eveyone thinks they will make it. soooo.....

go for it! just expect a lot of weird ****...

also, if you will sleep with anything with a hole, that will help you tremendously

good luck!