do I HAVE TO work for a tv network or as a movie actress to develop a career in acting without starving?

Answer 1

no...you can become US President...remember Ronald Reagan???

Answer 2

No, but if you don't act enough to pay the bills, you might have to take on a day job (hate to bring it up, but waitressing is pretty common).

Just wondering, if you want to develop an acting career without working for a tv network or as a movie actress, what kind of actress do you want to be?

You can try your hand at commercials or live theatre, but once again, you'll probably need a day job. Even tv/movie actresses have to have day jobs at first (the GREAT majority of people you see in tv and movies aren't actual celebrities, and therefore they're probably struggling to some degree)

Answer 3

ACTING MYTHS

"Reprinted from ACTOR'S TOOL KIT, THE SEVEN ACTING MYTHS
by Bob Fraser

Myth #1 - YOU HAVE TO START YOUNG
This commonly held belief is far from the truth. Although starting young will certainly give you more time to perfect your craft, many stars have started "late."
Phyllis Diller started her career at age 38 after raising a family and spending almost twenty years as a newspaper writer.
Richard Farnsworth was over fifty before he began his acting career. When he won an Academy Award nomination for his role in Comes a Horseman, it came as a surprise to many in the industry that this 'newcomer' had been around since the '30's - as a stuntman.
There are literally hundreds of these examples. No matter how old you are, if you love it - TRY.

Myth #2 - IF YOU HAVE TALENT ... YOU WILL MAKE IT
Although it's important to have some talent, any reasonable observer can point to dozens of successful actors who might be considered 'talent challenged.' In fact, depending on talent alone is a strategy for disaster. There are many other skills (mostly business skills) that lead to success as an actor. If you're talented, great. But don't depend on your gifts for success. It's mostly hard work.

Myth #3 - AN ACTOR MUST BE OUTGOING
Not at all. In fact, I'd say that the opposite is closer to the truth. Most of the stars you watch and enjoy are basically shy people. It is under the cover of a role that actors seem to be demonstrative. If you are shy or retiring, you are like most successful actors. Don't sweat it.

Myth #4 - ACTING CLASS WILL RUIN YOUR NATURALNESS Wow, this one is really off base. In fact, without some training it is unlikely you will get to the top ranks of the acting profession. Agents look for training. Casting directors look for it.
And it goes without saying that education has rarely hurt anybody.

Myth #5 - HAVING AN AGENT GUARANTEES YOU WILL WORK There is no doubt that having a salesman for your acting business is beneficial - but signing with a good agent rarely happens before you have already achieved some level of success.
Actors who think an agent will automatically get them to the top, rarely get there. Agents are not magicians - they are salespeople who develop leads for your acting business.
Period.

Myth #6 - YOU CAN BECOME AN OVERNIGHT SUCCESS
This almost never happens. In fact, a brief study of the careers of very successful actors will convince you that the average time it takes to get into the ranks of regularly employed actors is about 9 years.
Like becoming any sort of professional (doctor, lawyer, architect) this is a business that takes time to accomplish.
That's why they call it 'paying your dues.'

Myth #7 - ACTORS MAKE THE BIG BUCKS
No. This is totally wrong.
Sure some do ... and their salaries are publicized to the skies. But the reality is that the large majority of actors make very small paychecks and they don't make them very often. Go to SAG's website and see the statistics. Just making a decent living as an actor is a huge challenge.
Bottom line: Don't go into acting for the money. If you want to act, do it. And do it for money as often as possible.
But don't kid yourself ... this is hard work and the pay is nothing to write home about - unless you have the tenacity, business skills, and work ethic to get to the very top.
I hope you do.

Here's some good advice from the cadets at West Point:
RISK more than others think is safe.
CARE more than others think is wise.
DREAM more than others think is practical.
EXPECT more than others think is possible.
posted by Luvs2Act @ 1:02 PM
Source(s):
http://www.actingresource.blogspot.com/...

Answer 4

IF you are doing theatre/acting for the money get out now. You can not approach it as if it is a job, it is an art that if you are lucky is also a job. The fact that you are even asking this suggests that you lack the commitment that it takes to embrace the art.

If you can do anything else, and find happiness, then do it. The trials and dissapointments of acting are too great to put up with if you dont have utter and absolute devotion to the art and craft.

But, if you can only find happiness on the stage, a couple of pointers (this from almost 30yrs in and out of theatre/film). Get training-- voice, dance and acting. The more skills you have better chance you have of landing gigs. Getting cast is an odd process that depends on so many varibles that you need to minimize as many variables as you can. Be nice to everyone--you dont know who's the brother or sister of who. The PA or assitant stage manager taking your vitals at the door to the audition might be the director's lover/ex/financier, and being testy when signing in will surely get back to the director. The guy pulling focus can always screw up your shot leaving you on the proverbial cutting room floor. On stage, never miss an entrance cue. On set, hit your marks. Always, Be on time.

Remember, looks might get you cast once, but lack of talent and skill stays with you forever.

And dont denigrate screen work. While looks can often get people cast on screen, it takes a good actor to work the long hours required and be consistant enough for multiple takes. Yes its different from stage work, but its no less challenging artistically. And more people get to see you, and the checks are bigger.

But again, IF YOU CAN FIND ANYTHING ELSE THAT MAKES YOU HAPPY, DO THAT. And if you have to ask yourself the question, you probably can find something else.

Answer 5

Hmmm... This is a very crucial topic in the acting life. If your parents make a good amount of money, I suggest you just go for a small TV commercial or a 30 minute pilot episode. If the director likes your "stuff" they will probably send some recommendations out. If you ever get into your first film, try your best, dont slack off just because you're in already. If you film is successful, you will most likely get out chances, you will probably get lots of money in the beginning, but try and maintain your acting status when you were BIG. Do not slack off is the big one.

GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR ACTING CAREER

Answer 6

Check out your own town for local productions. Dinner theater , smaller play houses, thaeter for children. In kcmo we have The New Theater., Music Hall ,Cotorie theate, American Heartland and many more. All use a lot of local actors. I see many of the same actors in various theaters in town. So I know They are working full time. [I go to the theater a lot]. I was a theater major in college. If good get you egutity card and come to Kansas City

Answer 7

More than likely you will not get a network contract. Most actors do bit roles on tv and do temp-work when not performing.

Answer 8

Or you could just be good at acting/performing/reading the news. Then you wouldn't have to starve.

Answer 9

actual, isn't some thing i might want to pursue blindly. appearing heavily isn't "appearing" or "interpretations". i'm unable to grant you a answer. i have no connections if I did i could not percentage. Ask or seek for suggestion from from the top of your theater branch.

Answer 10

No, in fact you'd probably do better if you didn't. Like others said, you could try working in theatre, but you'd probably still need a day job...

Answer 11

you don't ahve to starve yourself at all !!!! just work hard got an agent, headshots take classes you know that kinds of stuff.