15 Things Every Actor Should Do At Least Once In Their Life
By: Eddie Ramos | March 9, 2022 8:00 AM
Many actors feel that if they aren’t “booking machines” then they haven’t earned time to try something new. This list won’t mention traveling to Italy or living on a houseboat. These are bucket list items made for actors to go after. Here are 15 things every actor should do at least once in their life.
15 Things Every Actor Should Do Once In Their Life
1. Learn How To Hire & Fire An Agent or Manager
As an actor, I am aware of the immense pressure of finding reps and the crippling fear of losing them or having to move on. Of course, I want every actor who reads this to have the chance at being represented and for that relationship to be long and fruitful. This first suggestion is meant to contain some underlying sarcasm and isn’t an invitation for actors to incite hostility and start dropping their team like flies. However, the experience of firing an agent or manager, or worse being dropped by them can be very cathartic. The main thing I remember is that it didn’t kill me or my career. On the other side of this very pivotal moment in one’s life is a lesson in self-reliance, learning to take responsibility for your decision, acceptance, and a fresh start.
Read More: How To Get A Talent Manager
2. Read An Acting Book
This goes without saying. If you’ve gone this far without picking up at least one of the hundreds of incredible acting books in the world then stop what you’re doing immediately. Acting books not only make you a better actor, but they also expand what you thought was possible in your own acting. They stretch the imagination and offer advice and tips that can help relieve stress and anxiety. Not every acting book is dense or an object of antiquity. Some of my favorite contemporary acting books include How To Stop Acting and Book the F#?king Job!
3. Say “No” To A Role
I’ve written about this one before in previous posts. Saying “No” to a role at least once in your life teaches you a ton about cultivating your voice and taste as an artist. Looking at the bigger picture, saying “no” can actually be the difference between going against your own moral code if a role doesn’t feel right to you for whatever reason. You don’t always need to say yes!
4. Maintain A Relationship
Acting is tough. Relationships can be too. You may find that having a romantic relationship is too distracting and will deter you from focusing on your main love which is acting. That is totally fine. However, there are also great and life-changing benefits of having someone by your side in this crazy industry. The life-work balance can be good for an actor, but you should try it for yourself.
5. Try To Understand The Tax Process
One of the things that secretly annoys all actors is tax season. Try to watch your non-actor friends happily pop into a local H&R block, hand in one W-2, and voilà, walk out happy a few days later without getting jealous. Actors must wait for multiple W-2s and are often chasing some even after the deadline. Not to mention, most actors often need to hire a special film/tv CPA. However, at least once in an actor’s life, they should try to understand write-offs and the wonderful world of taxes. I’m still working on this one. 😩
Read More: Financial Wellness: Can I Have A Full-Time Job And Pursue Acting At The Same Time?
6. Consider Not Acting
Let’s cross this one off the list right now. Take a moment to consider doing any other profession other than acting. How does it feel? I’ve entertained the thought a million times, and it doesn’t mean you are “cheating on acting” if you wonder what it’s like to pursue another career. I want to remove the shame around this, it’s completely normal to feel overwhelmed at times and consider other day job possibilities. In fact, this is a great way to test if acting is truly the thing you want to be doing in your life.
7. Take A Break
There is something magical that happens when you hit the “pause” button once in a while. All the problems and overwhelming feelings fade away as you give your brain a refresh.
Read More: What To Do When Your Confidence Just Isn't There
8. Sit In On A Casting Session
This may be one of the most helpful experiences an actor can ever have. It’s like seeing how the sausage is made. Any actor who has the chance to be a reader for a casting director or is producing their own material will automatically come away learning so much about what makes a good audition and a bad one. When I sat in on The ABC Showcase auditions, I saw actors make huge mistakes, like reading sides from their phones to not taking direction at all. I’ve also gotten to see complete masters. The best performances I ever saw were when actors owned the room and made the text their own. This changed me forever and I wish I could do more of this.
9. Do Background Work
Most new actors are hesitant to do background work. For whatever reason, they often feel that this kind of work isn’t “really” acting. This sentiment is reaffirmed by the industry because they advise against putting it on your acting resume. However, I think it’s the perfect training ground for someone new to acting. Why? There is obviously skill to being a good background actor. You need to act naturally, whether it be having a conversation or scanning a bookshelf, the key is to not draw the audience away from the main characters in the scene. That takes skill. Another great reason is that filming a tv show or movie takes hours. I would often get on set at 8 am and not leave until 6 pm. This is a great test of an actor’s stamina and love for the craft. Finally, background acting takes all the pressure away from new actors because they're not the main lead, but they get to soak in the entire movie-making process. It’s an even better way to learn about acting than taking a class in my opinion, because you’re actually on a real set—the very place you’re working towards getting one day.
Read More: What Do You Do To Stay Creatively Fulfilled In Between Jobs?
10. Bomb An Audition
The reason this is so crucial is that 9/10 actors will tell you this is their worst nightmare. This was scary back when actors auditioned in person and is still frightening over zoom. I can clearly remember the Disney audition I had where I thought I could “wing” it. I didn’t do any of the work on the script and barely had my lines memorized. Needless to say, I didn’t get very far into the audition, when the casting director stopped me and flat out said, “You’re unprepared. We’re done.” I was devastated but she wasn’t wrong. I learned two valuable lessons that day. I would never come unprepared to an audition again and that life goes on. It stung for a while but my determination to remain disciplined overpowered that voice in my head that kept saying I would bomb again. Nine years later and I am proud to say I hardly walk out of auditions where I’m not happy with my work.
Read More: 4 Best Acting Tips For Beginners: How-To Guide From A Working Actor
11. Do Theatre
For many actors, this is their first love. You can read about the benefits of doing theatre online. The reason I go back to the theatre every couple of years is that it fulfills me to be in front of a live audience and challenges me creatively night after night. There is no better feeling than experiencing raw emotions with a scene partner under the lights in a dark theater. You can find theatre productions near you by going over to Backstage.com and searching your local casting calls.
12. Teach Acting
"Any fool can know. The point is to understand.” -Albert Einstein
The best way to know you understand acting is to eventually teach it to others. What teaching has done for me is help me to grasp acting theory and technical pieces more deeply and apply it to my skills. This is important for actors to do at least once in their lives because acting is about giving and receiving. Exchanging ideas back and forth helps an actor connect to their own voice and craft. The entire Modern Actor blog was a way to teach new actors about acting and the industry while I was going through it as well. Most beginners want to take a look behind the scenes and see how the sausage is made.
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13. Hire A Publicist
I’ll admit hiring a publicist can be expensive and most of the time you don’t need to have one. However, if you are lucky enough as an actor to get a major role on a show or film then hiring a PR team is a worthy investment. Firstly, the world of PR Marketing and Branding is fascinating. Secondly, it teaches an actor to not only think about their craft but the external life a show and character can have off-screen. It makes actors more aware of their position in the process. Also if you do have dreams of becoming a household name then learning how to go on interviews and “sell” yourself is a very important skill to have.
14. Record A Monologue And Post It On Social Media
Let’s call it what it is, a lot of Hollywood and the industry is about how you look or come off on screen. So where an actor can really test their chops would be to memorize and work on a monologue. As a bonus, record that monologue and post it on their social media. Many actors won’t do this because of the bravery it takes, but the confidence gained is immense. The feedback you will get from your friends and family on social media may shed light on skills you might want to improve on but most likely enlighten you to the positive impact you have on you them!
15. Say Yes To Every Auditon For A Full Year
Finally, contradictory to the advice from Tips #3, #6, and #7, try saying “Yes” to every audition you get for a full year. I am currently on this mission in 2022 and have confirmed over 30 auditions so far. Last week, I taped 5 auditions in one hour, memorizing a total of 37 pages. Why is this important for an actor to do? Because of the magic “what if” question in all of our heads. What if I went out for that audition, would I have booked it? Would my life be different? By setting this goal, you will no longer live with wondering what could have been. You eliminate feelings of regret and guilt and instead get to practice your craft as much as possible. It won’t be easy, but it will be worth it.
Read More: This Mindset Shift Will Help You Avoid Actor Burnout
Wrap Up
The problem isn’t that life is short…the problem is most people get stuck in a rut and before they know it they’ve spent their entire lives doing the same things over and over again. The average actor is so focused on building their career, they forget that a person can change their future by merely changing their attitude.