Requesting acting advice...?

Question

What do you recommend I should do after I finish my B.A. in Drama/Theater?
Audition directly for professional theater or get a day job and go to community theater?
I really wanna know how does it works up there in New York.
Anything to help guide me would help a lot, thanks!

Answer 1

You go where the work takes you. You can always try for professional theatre first and if it's not working out, go to plan B which would be using commuity theatre to build your resume with good roles until you get better roles at professional venues.

You can have a day job and do professional theatre since most rehearsals take place in the evening anyway. Most actor's have a day job and you always list your conflicts on the initial form when you audition so there's no confusion or hard feelings later on. Of course it helps to have a day job that is flexible with your schedule and doesn't mind working around your rehearsals when they come up.

Break a leg!

Answer 2

I think you best bet right now would be to find a casting agency. They tend to be the least expensive feeler to put out. Start in the phone book and online to find an agency with their own publication of core actors. These agency's will add your head shot to their book for a fee but will most likely not charge you a percentage when they find you work. Granted most of what they find you will be "extra" work or print but it does pay the bills and gets you out mingling (networking) to meet the right people. Also consider shelling out for a couple class that the agency holds since this will get you in front of their major casting directors which then could lead to TV and film auditions. Keep talking to everyone you meet and remember that this is more like a huge family. After just a couple months you will find tons of like minded and situationed brothers and sisters to better guide your next step. I didn't mention theatre because again, this is one big family and you need to mingle to get ahead right now. Besides this family will have the inside on the upcoming stage auditions before most any body else will. You can do it. Get going!!

Answer 3

I moved to NYC right after college and started auditioning. Basically, I came here, got a job, and just started submitting myself religiously to everything I could find in Backstage. You can do it!

Also, DO NOT get suckered into paying up front for ANYTHING. Anything that asks you to pay before you get work from them is a SCAM. True agents only collect 10% after the job is completed.