Where should an aspiring actress live?

Question

I have always wanted to act since I was a little girl (like most little girls, I imagine...lol). A college student, I would like to move to LA upon graduation to pursue an acting career. Unfortunately, my resume is not nearly as extensive as should be an aspring 21-year-old actress' resume. While I have tried to take advantage of as many acting opportunities as possible (college acting class electives, college choral groups, voice lessons), my hometown does not have a community theater... Before moving to LA, should I consider starting in a somewhat smaller venue?...I've heard Chicago, but I was wondering if you had any other suggestions...Thank you!!

Answer 1

I think you're very smart for wanting to finish school first. Living near Chicago however, why not start there doing theatre or even attempting to get an agent depending on exactly how much you have on your resume. You may be able to get one with connections in LA so that you don't come here blindly :-) If you still have another summer break available to you, take advantage of that and try in Chicago. Do an agent mailing 6-8 weeks before your break and advise them of your school status and when you will become available to begin auditioning. If you set the boundaries right away, they will push them but respect them because you did state that up front, that is if you become a hot commodity. Eventually (and it could be sooner than you think) you would have to choose between auditioning and whatever else you're doing so hopefully you'll have some flexibility (or really good friends to cover for you!)

Ultimately if you're talking about being tv or film actor LA is the place to be. If you're wanting to be a theatre actor, of course there's no place like NYC! They each have plenty of work in all three things, but there's no question that there are specialties of sorts. Besides, some big network shows will cast for pilots on both coasts and if you get the show you'd have to move to where they shoot it anyway!

If you want to find a legitimate agent to represent you for commercials, TV & film go to Sag.org. Use the dropdown menu on the right labeled 'resources' and choose 'agent information'. On the next screen, on the left choose 'Find a SAG franchised agent' and follow the directions. You can look up agents all over the US, but there are higher concentrations where the work is (Los Angeles, NY, IL, FL, GA etc.)

Then you can send them your headshot, resume, and a cover letter stating that you are seeking representation and wait to see if they call you in for an interview.

Once you have an agent, they will get you the auditions, but until then you can check out actorsaccess.com. You can also see if your state has a film alliance. Sometimes they post audition information for projects filming locally. For theatre, you can go to backstage.com or http://www.actorsequity.org/castingcall/... If you find the audition on the Equity site, you still may be able to go, as long as their not taking appointments from equity actor's only :-) On backstage.com you have to pay to get all of the info, but the initial search is free and you may be able to see enough info to find out the rest on your own without paying.

Good luck!

Answer 2

You have some good advice above, but carefully sift through it to get what will really help.
There are many more jobs in LA than in NY and there are many other cities to consider. Dallas, Atlanta, San Diego, Denver, any large city that has a SAG office that is open and active.
I would wait until you have more solid experience before trying LA or NY.
I am a retired actor and professor, and I mentor aspiring actors for free. I would be happy to advise you at [e-mail] where I can see your email while answering it. My name is Ken Plonkey and if you do a web search of it you will see where I taught and the names of a couple of the films I was in. Ask me any questions that you have about acting and acting as a career. I look forward to hearing from you. Doc

Answer 3

NY!! Long Island, specifically, has a lot of acting oppertunities. I'm currently with Productions Over the Rainbow. it's very professional, and I think you may just make the age limit. and there's also Theatre Three, for all ages. maybe kids I know from Theatre Three have been discovered there and moved on to commercial acting at the very least. and Broadway, of course. I would also suggest looking around your home town, or somewhere you would like to move, for a John Robert Powers. they're an acting school, that I attend, and with their classes, you are allowed to attend free auditions.

Answer 4

I would definitely recommend LA or NYC. I currently live in Los Angeles, and there's an unlimited number of auditions, schools, and casting directors and agents available here. It is definitely the easiest way to break into the Hollywood scene.

Answer 5

Im an aspiring actress too!!! Good luck, lol, well im 16, and im planning on going to AMTC convention in orlando in january, and your infront of many many important people, but if you cant go there then i think your best bets are nyc or l.a. , you should get an agent too, but im sure you know what to do, lol, but for where to live i say nyc or l.a. im planning on moving to either one after high school, so good luck! but both places are really expensive, so make sure you do your research.

Answer 6

U don't need to move to anywhere --stay where u at and finish school! what u need to do is put some good acting videos on youtube --and if you really have talent --the world will see it and rate it --alot of aspiring actors are being discovered in YouTube --when they have over 2 million views and ratings --and the next day MTV or NBC is calling you to do some shows! its that easy now --the old days of moving to L.A to be discovered is over

Answer 7

New York or LA
Be sure you have your headshots and pursue with passion!
Your resume can be on the back of the photo..you have to believe in your experience and talent...LA would be 1st choice!

Answer 8

i think your best bet is in LA. just go out for tryouts, and give it all your heart. good luck


(P.S. i know this might be a little too out of the way for you, but Paris is a great place for acting oppurtunities)

Answer 9

if you really want it go where it's big - don't just go for a smaller venue if a big city is kinda intimidating, what you need is experience and wherever you can get the most is where you need to head. good luck!!