How do I get back into the loop?
I've been doing more stand up.

Should I join a class?

I was more focused on acting as a hobby than a working actor. I'd like to go full out now.

Classes are a good place to start.

And how about research---any acting business books people want to recommend? I'd suggest a few, but I bet others will name them and I'm curious about all your favorites...

I don't know if taking a class will get you back in the loop, but working on your craft and meeting new people always helps. Perhaps you will form a theater company with the people you meet, put up a play, invite agents who will love you ... and you will be back in the loop big time!

I think the most important thing for an actor is to be seen -- anywhere -- because you never know who's watching.

Good luck.

Ron

www.ronbrownheadshots.com
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0114583/

quote:

Originally posted by jason75:
How do I get back into the loop?
I've been doing more stand up.

Should I join a class?

I was more focused on acting as a hobby than a working actor. I'd like to go full out now.

Dear Jason,

Absolutely!

Joining a good class is an excellent way of getting back your acting "chops." Lay-offs of any kind are always detrimental to your career, and a classroom situation is a great place to get 'back into the loop' in a safe and supportive environment.

I noticed you're doing a lot of standup comedy lately... you may want to check out The Concerned Citizens Brigade and get involved with a more ensemble-oriented group of actors -- standup tends to isolate you from other performers when you need to be forming working ALLIANCES with them. The much more interactive and improvisational environment couldn't hurt, either.

If you possess strong comedy skills along with equal acting ability, it's like a license to steal -- I believe that there are more high paying acting jobs for such a performer than any other kind.

So get out there and kick some ass.

“Whatever works.”

www.robertkim.com
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0453647/

You didn't say what city you're in.

In New York and LA, Naked Angels (which only has an actual theater in NY) runs Tuesday night readings where writers select actors to read their material (the moderators schedule the writers). This just ended in LA for the summer, and I'd guess the same is true in NY, but there are other groups like that, and groups that do play readings. First Stage in LA for instance organizes staged readings of plays.

There are also places you might know from stand-up where people do spoken word. One in LA was at the Unurban Coffeehouse. It might be taking a break right now, but you could check there or at similar venues in NYC.

With the Internet these days, you have the wonderful opportunity of putting stuff on video and uploading it to Youtube. Develop some characters and let them talk on YouTube, or get some friends together and write short routines you can film.

Read Backstage, Actor's Access and other sources for casting calls. The very first time I got booked as an actor (paid!) I showed up without even a headshot, answering a Backstage ad in NYC. There's always something where your type is more important than your experience.

Classes of course are a good place to start, as is volunteering for theater companies (to take tickets, work concessions, etc.) Lots of other possibilities have been discussed on threads for beginning actors.

Thanks for the help.