How to get started in the showbiz industry???

Question

I really want to get started in either the acting or modeling industry, but i am totally clueless. I know it will be a lot of work and i am completely willing to work hard for it. Please only answer if you want to help, not to be negative!
THANKS!

Thanks for the help everyone. And when i say being negative, i dont mean about the criticism part. I mean dont tell me i dont have a chance or whatever. Of course there will be criticism. I know that.

Answer 1

For modeling - If you aren't 5'7 or taller, forget about it. 5'8 or over is best, some agencies won't even accept submissions from those under 5'8. Take some snapshots of yourself - no need to get a proff. headshot yet. Try to wear as little makeup as possible, agencies want to see the real you! Once you have these snapshots, send them in to modeling agencies. Make sure the agencies you send to are legitimate, theres a lot of scammers out there! Some legitimate ones are: Ford Model Management, Elite Model Management, Marilyn Agency, and others. After you submit them all you can do really is wait to see if they like you.

Acting - Please please don't go and contact all the agencies out there if you have no experience. An agency wants to see a resume and headshot - if theres nothing on your resume do you really think they'll accept you in? Try out for plays and student film to get experience, acting classes or workshops are helpful too. Once you have a good amount of work on your resume, you can get a headshot and start submitting to agencies (Again - make sure the agencies are legitimate). If they like you they'll probably call you in for an interview or audition. Once you are represented by an agency, your agent will give you notices of auditions and parts for you to try out for. See, casting directors send agencies breakdowns of the characters their looking for. Agencies then look through the people they represent and pick out the ones who fit the description to audition. Theres a lot more to know about the business then just what I wrote though. What I wrote is just a very vague outline of how the acting business works.

Hope I helped!

Answer 2

I don't know much about modeling but for acting you should get an agent, try www.agentassociation.com to find a legit agency or if you don't want an agency try auditions.com or backstage.com. But you have to remember two things:
1. A legit agent only asks for money when you have been paid, usually 7-10%of what you have been paid
2. You have to be ready for rejection (it sounds negative :( but its just realistic) you may go to 10 auditions and not get any but DO NOT give up, I am sure you are a great actress and they often reject people because they don't look right, this does not mean you are ugly, it just means the casting director always has a rough image in mind of what the person should look like, one day it will be you.

Just wait and keep going to auditions, you will get there- good luck!!

Answer 3

well aside from agreeing with the answers of some of the yappers, i would like to add that maybe it has something to do with showbiz politics and 'palakasan' system..it really pays to have a powerful and well-connected manager like say, boy abunda..though this is a personal opinion, i'm not such a fan of some of boy's talents but as you can see, they are some of the busiest people in showbiz right now. in the showbiz industry anyway, it doesn't matter if you can't act or sing as long as you're a 'hit' with the crowd. it all boils down to business (read:money) and in this very fickle industry, people will really take advantage.

Answer 4

Go and get yourself informed. Read some books on acting, read some plays, there are even books on modeling out there. Being clueless in this buisness is not a good thing, no one will take you seriously. Sometimes help is being negative, an actor and models life is one of rejection and criticism, if you aren't able to deal with it I suggest trying something else.

Answer 5

The professional modeling industry is located in NYC.

As of earlier this year, the height requirement for New York City models was changed to: 5'9" tall and 165 pounds.

This was due to models starving themselves to be thin.


If you are serious, you must live here to pursue that aspect of your career. If you want to be a professional actor, you must live in NYC, if you want to pursue that aspect of your career.

For acting, you must have taken professional acting classes for several years and and performed in plays, especially in Community and Regional Theaters.

Answer 6

Write to an agency with a CV and some headshots. If you're lucky they'll ask you for an audition and if youre good enough theyll put you on their books. They get special criterias from casting directors/talent scouts with the kind of people they need for their production and if you match their criteria then your agent will send off your photo and if the directors and interested theyll ask you for an audition with them.

Answer 7

Get an agent! Then start going to some auditions! It's always good to be an extra in a film first, you usually don't need an agent for that kind of work! Look online for a website of job lists for your general area! Break a Leg!!!!!

Answer 8

First you need to move to LA or NewYork. Then you need to get an agent. then you also have to get classes for acting and modeling. Then if you do get a job great! Most casting directors only want people who have alot of jobs on their resume. So GOOD LUCK!

Answer 9

It's a tough bizz, but you have to start by auditioning and even though you said don't be negative you better be prepared to be criticised. Also you should look for an agent they are the best that would tell you where to begin and what to start with. How to put a photo book together and what your aim should be.

Answer 10

There is a very awesome modeling company called Barbizon, it is for teens and kids who want to be a model, I visited the website, it helped.