First thing to do is READ, READ, READ!!!
Click on the "Find" button above to look up specific topics you are looking for that are not listed here.

You don't have to be in LA or NY to get started with a career in acting. But, if you are planning on making the big move to LA or NY, it's definitely in your best interest to get a head start on building your resume with experience and training in whatever city you live. Any theatre workshops and/or training, student films, classes in various techniques, scene study and improv, anything you can get yourself involved in will help you grow as an actor and help prepare you for moving to any one of the major acting communities in the world.

With a focus on NY, and whether you've had training or not, here are some of the most widely used industry sites to help you get started.

Remember, these are the basics, folks. These resources will help lead you to the rest. You've got to do the research. Enjoy!

#1 - Be prepared! Headshots, resume, PASSPORT!

Casting / Resume / Photo Sites:
Actors Access – www.actorsaccess.com If you have a reel, get it on here. If not, have an actor’s slate made at the Showfax office. http://www.breakdownexpress.com/content/aboutvideo.html

Showfax – www.showfax.com (associated with Actors Access)
Where to find sides for auditions; Excellent weekly columns written by Bonnie Gillespie and Mark Sikes covering everything from headshots, resumes, cover letters, auditioning, actor taffy, etc., that are a must-read.
The Actor’s Voice - http://more.showfax.com/columns/avoice/index.html
The Casting Corner - http://more.showfax.com/columns/corner/index.html

Showfax also has a great discussion board/forum, run by Bob Brody “ShowfaxBob” who is directly connected with Breakdown Services http://more.showfax.com/bbs2

Casting Networks/NYCasting – www.nycasting.com Also includes excellent columns.

NYCastings (with and "s") www.nycastings.com

Now Casting – www.nowcasting.com (this site is geared more for LA)
www.nowcasting.com/actorsink - excellent must-read columns

Backstage.com - http://www.backstage.com/bso/index.jsp

IMDb – Internet Movie Database
This is the #1 site used by the agents and casting directors, even though it is not directly affiliated with any of the unions.
IMDb Resume and Photo options. – Yearly fee. You can now have an IMDb page without having any film or TV credits, by registering for the resume or resume/photo option.
IMDbPro.com – (they have a free 14 day trial offer) Offers contact listings, company directory, entertainment news, in production charts, rankings, message boards. It’s a great way to find current casting information for self submissions.

These 2 sites focus on theatre audition information:
Playbill – www.playbill.com (mostly NY)
AEA - Actors Equity – www.actorsequity.org

Actor's Book Store:
The Drama Book Shop http://www.dramabookshop.com/NASApp/store/IndexJsp

Books:
Making it in New York City by Glenn Alterman http://www.glennalterman.com/books.htm#making

Self-Management for Actors: Getting Down to Show Business (3rd Edition in the works for 2008) by author/casting director Bonnie Gillespie http://cricketfeet.com/publishing.html

Acting is Everything - An Actor’s Guidebook for a Successful Career in Los Angeles
11th Edition by Judy Kerr – considered the LA actor’s Bible. www.actingiseverything.com
Includes lists of acting teachers/coaches, photographers and a whole spectrum of info and resources every actor can use.

Acting Qs by Bonnie Gillespie – http://cricketfeet.com/actingqs One-on-one interviews with actors, sharing their experiences along the road to becoming a working actor.

An Agent Tells All by Tony Martinez

How to Agent your Agent by Nancy Rainford

How to Get the Part Without Falling Apart by Margie Haber

Audition by Michael Shurtleff

There are sooo many more great books. Here’s a link on backstage with excellent suggestions.
http://bbs.backstage.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/752105/m/2691015

(most books are also available on Amazon)

Periodicals:
Back Stage www.backstage.com - includes excellent columns and advice. Read it weekly for all the latest info.

Show Business Weekly www.showbusinessweekly.com

Directories:
Ross Reports http://www.backstage.com/bso/rossreports/directories.jsp

Henderson Publications
http://www.hendersonenterprises.com/books.html

The Hollywood Reporter www.hollywoodreporter.com
Daily Variety www.variety.com

Excellent Podcast: http://www.everythingactingpodcast.com

DVDs for Actors:
Michael Caine: Acting in Film
http://www.netflix.com/MovieDisplay?movieid=70034962&mq...0186664&trkid=129129

Uta Hagen’s Acting Class
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0001Z3IHG/002-0433530-8311214?v=glance&n=130

Film DVDs with Auditions in the Special Features: (these are fun to watch)
House of Sand and Fog
Holes
Wake Up, Ron Burgundy
What a Girl Wants
Shaun of the Dead
Tigerland
Junebug

Be proactive!
Monthly postcards – announce any new progress.
Do drop-offs to CD offices. Send postcards or submissions targeting shows your right for.
2007-08 CD Casting Assignments for TV http://more.showfax.com/dox/cd2007-8.pdf

Remember - DO NOT list your personal home phone or address on the outside of any mailings or on personal websites. Get a P.O.Box or use a business address. Always think safety first!

Reel – get one made (1 to 3 minutes of film/commercial clips highlighting “your” best work) and include it on your website, also making sure you link your website to IMDb and vice versa. If you don’t have a website or a reel, do the actor’s slate on Showfax.com. When you do have a reel, include it on your website (linking it to IMDb and back) and if you can afford it, also include it on Showfax, LACasting and/or Nowcasting. Myspace is also another good option for those Myspacers.

If you don’t have a website, register for the free resume and photo options on nowcasting.com
and/or actorsaccess.com. Include your personal link from either of those sites on all your submissions, when allowed. (LACasting and now IMDb no longer allows linking from other casting sites - darn!) If you can afford the reasonable yearly fee, put your resume and photo on IMDb.

Fun reading: http://backstage.blogs.com/unscripted Thanks, PB!

An actor's site that helps inspire:
Stephon Fuller http://www.stephonfuller.com Stephon if the King of drop-offs and be sure to check out his long-ass bio. Thanks, Stephon!

Resumes: http://bbs.backstage.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/8011031/m/24410001

Cover Letters: http://bbs.backstage.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/8011031/m/9...?r=92710675#92710675

Looking for Agents and Managers: http://bbs.backstage.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/6031061/m/77910356

For more info pertaining to specifics on children getting started, check out For Parents of Children Getting Started http://bbs.backstage.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/9611031/m/9461061

For TEENS, go to Teens Getting Started http://bbs.backstage.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/9611031/m/6061061
These sites will lead you to more info for young actors including the most helpful BizParentz.org - (Thank you Anne and Paula! )

Phew, that's it for now! Any NYers, please add any good stuff you've got like where to network and such, to help others get started on the colder coast!

Enjoy!

WE'RE NEW SO THANKS A BUNCH HAPPY NEW YEARS!!

And this is why we love MIB!!!!

** Bump **

An important must-read thread for all beginning actors.

http://bbs.backstage.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/9611031/m/902106201

Cereer advice columns from BackStage.

http://www.backstage.com/bso/career_advice/index.jsp

I think this should be bumped every month!
<BUMP>

Most current, Agent, Manager and Casting Director listings with descriptions:

Breakdown Services Directories - Online
http://www.breakdownservices.com/store/directories.html

Ross Reports - Online or in drama book stores.
http://www.backstage.com/bso/rossreports/index.jsp

Henderson Publications - Online or in drama book stores.
http://www.hendersonenterprises.com/pages/publications.html

The Agencies by Acting World Books - (I would get this at the drama book store. Not sure about online service status)

bump

For those interested in background work in NY.
http://bbs.backstage.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/932105/m/19...?r=22710279#22710279

thank you for this mominbiz

Hi mominbiz. You sound like someone i need to talk to, honey!
I live in Philly and my goal is to come out to NYC (maybe this summer, God willing) and I wondered. When I submit to agents out there, will using my PA address hurt my chances for representation/make me less disirable, even if I have a great resume??
thanx.

PS- Anyone can answer back, not just mominbiz!!

yes, having a PA address will hurt you

just being honest -

many time auditions come up at the very last minute - and agentst want someone they can call and say - be there in an hour

and that is harder to do when you are not in NYC

NOW - that doesn't mean agents don't have non NYC clients. it just means it's harder for newbies who are not in town to get representation

oh - and what do you think is a great resume? is it the same as what an agent will think is a great resume?

I'm going to keep posting this blog entry (it's not my blog, by the way) because he hits the nail right on the head - read what he has to say and honestly ask yourself if you are on the same page.

http://theshowbizblog.com/?p=24

just read the blog your provided, and WOW. A lot of good advice here.
I have very strong credits, but alas, most of them Philly. Reading this blog has given me even more impetus to finally make the move to NYC and simply GO FOR IT!!!
THANX.