The thought of giving up an acting career crosses every actors mind, especially when work and auditions have dried up. Read any famous actor biography and there will be chapters of their career when even they struggled to survive and didn’t know where their next meal or acting job was coming from. There are quite a few reasons why you may want to give it all up, but before you do here are some things to ponder about:
Why you should NEVER give up on your acting career
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The work has dried upNo one said that an acting career was going to be easy. Around 90% of actors are out of work at any one time. If work and auditions have dried up then you need to discuss this issue with your agent, if you have one, and then you both work together as a team to sort it out. Sometimes a change of headshot may do the trick. Casting directors may get used to seeing your same headshot time and time again, just changing it can sometimes make them think that they haven’t come across you before. And you need to change your headshot every three years or so.
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My agent doesn’t seem to work for meThere are good agents and bad ones. What ever agent you have, make the best of them while you have them. You need to work with your agent and do your fair share of the job hunting. Getting an agent doesn’t mean you then sit back and wait for the phone to ring. Most agents have dozens and dozens of clients to work with, so they can’t give you 100% of their time.
Don’t forget that your agent can drop you anytime, especially if you are not making them money. It’s their business after all. So do your fair share of the work, that way, they know that you are keen and being productive and will be less likely to replace you.
There are instances when an agent and actor relationship just doesn’t work and one needs to change representation. If you are thinking of leaving your agent make sure that you have another one to go to. It may be a lot easier to find one if you are already represented. And be honest with the new agent. Your relationship with your agent has always got to be an honest one. -
I want a more hands on approach with my castingsIf you are getting frustrated about being not represented correctly, perhaps a ‘co-op agency’ is what would work for you. A co-operative agency is made up of a group of actors who manage and run the agency office themselves. The work is split up on a rota basis and you each do your day in the office, contacting the casting directors and getting each other work. This way you will have a more hands on approach to your career and you also get a good insight into how castings and agents work.
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I don’t have an agentYou can still work as an actor if you are not managed or don’t have an agent. It just means that you have to do all the work yourself. Get yourself involved in local drama shows or student films and get your CV and experience built up. You can even get yourself noticed by getting yourself a personal actor website. This ‘in depth’ actor calling card can then be easily forwarded to hundreds of casting directors and agents. Just make sure it looks professional and even if your acting experience is limited they will at least know that you are taking your acting career seriously. Theatre professionals really appreciate hard work and commitment.
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This acting business isn’t very fairMost actors will agree that the acting industry just isn’t fair, but which ever way you look at it, we have to learn to accept this. You don’t get the call back after your most perfect audition. The talentless people seem to get all the work. And nowadays even the small TV parts are going to celebrities or stand up comedians. It’s a part of being an actor, take it on the chin and move on! Keep working hard and you will get your turn in the limelight.
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The acting business is too hardAs an actor you are sometimes your worst enemy. It’s easy to blame your agent, the bad casting director, even the other actors who were auditioning with you. Sometimes we become lazy, we don’t prepare ourselves or our auditions properly. Start to get honest with yourself. Own up to your mistakes and work on them. Sometimes you ‘have to get out of your own way’.
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I can’t deal with rejectionIf there is one thing that an acting career is littered with – it’s rejection. The more you get rejected, the more you get used to it. Just do the audition and try to move forward. Let it go. With so many actors going for the same job, rejection is going to happen to us all. Just don’t take it personally. You just wern’t right for the part on this occasion. A casting director recently said, “If the role is yours, there is nothing you can do that will keep you from getting it. If the role is not yours, there is nothing you can do that will help you get it.”
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My training wasn’t good enoughSome say that 90% of actor training is a waste of time. Some even say that actor training creates ‘fake work’ which is something that you have learnt but won’t actually help you out when you enter professional acting. There is an element of truth in this. Training doesn’t prepare you for an acting career. It just confirms that you can act. You need to concentrate on the 10% of actor training that you did find useful. Experience and hard work from that day forward will get you through the rest of your acting career.
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A lot of actors seem so much better than meIt is true unfortunately. There is always an actor better than you. Even at the height of fame and stardom there will always be a better actor than you. Put yourself in the shoes of some great actors who lose out on an Oscar or Emmy Award. They lost out to a better actor. In this business you will meet actors that are more talented than you, better looking and luckier in their careers. There is nothing you can do about it! You will also meet actors who are more hard working and proactive, even better trained than you. That was a choice that they made alone, and you can make that choice too.
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I don’t feel very productive anymoreWe can get pretty fed up of working towards something that doesn’t seem to reap any rewards. Life is like that. One tip would be to try and create some kind of acting connection every day, whether it may be contacting a casting director or getting in touch with a past director you worked with. Get the latest copy of The Stage or contact Spotlight and apply for an audition or acting job. By just doing one or two productive things per day they can certainly add up over time. Imagine that after a year you have done at least seven hundred attempts to further your career. Surely something must happen from doing all that.
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The frustration of not working is getting me downIt can be so frustrating when your actor friends are all working and you aren’t. What you need to do is turn all your negative and frustrated energy into doing something positive. Try and do something relaxing like yoga or meditation so you can begin to revive all your acting aspirations. Attend a drama workshop or pursue a new sport or hobby. Try an additional show business related sideline like writing plays, articles, reviews or even have a stab at stand up comedy. Join or even start your own support group with other actors, you will soon see you are not alone.
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I want to earn more moneyBeing an actor can be a pretty rough ride when it comes to earning money. Being skint all the time can certainly make you think about tossing it all in. First of all, if you expected to be rich and famous by being an actor, you are barking up the wrong tree. Fame and fortune only comes to the lucky few, but even they were probably poor for a long time before they made it big.
Believe it or not, but you can earn good money by using your acting skills. You can work part time in addition to your acting and still cover the cost of your living. Role play work pays pretty well as does teaching drama to private students. Write and perform murder mystery evenings or create experiences for corporate events. There are so many part time jobs you can do to help pay the bills while still working as an actor. Our acting training has equipped us with so many good communication skills, it’s a shame to let them go to waste.
It’s a good idea to get yourself a part time trade which will help you through the hard times. Choose something that you are good at and like doing, because chances are, you’ll be doing it a lot more than acting. -
I want to start a familyActing sometimes has to be put on hold when an actor settles down to start a family. Some actors then return to the limelight once the children are older. The good thing about acting is that you can never lose your acting skills, it’s just like riding a bike, the talent will always stay with you. Also actors come in all ages so coming back to acting is no problem when you’ve had some time out. Being a parent is also a new set of life skills which can help you secure certain parts.
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How can I inspire myself again?If you are ever feeling a bit down about your acting career, go and see a good professional play. The buzz of the theatre, the play itself and the audiences laughter, reactions and applause will certainly help you to get proactive again. And if money is short read some plays from the local library or get a group of actor buddies around for a play reading night, it’ll be fun.
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How can I refesh my acting skills?When you’ve not acted for a while you can feel a bit removed and alienated from the industry. Go and take some acting classes or workshops. Not only will it get you refocused again, you will also meet like minded performers who are more than likely ‘resting’ and in the same situation as you. You will be reminded that you are not the only actor who is out of work or struggling.
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Why did I train in the first place?Have a think about what made you want to be an actor in the first place. What was that spark that led you to become an actor? What goals did you have back then? Chances are you will still have that dream inside of you, it’s just that you’ve hit a bump in the road and need to get back on track. Have a think about what is holding you back. Is it your agent? Is it your CV? Is it your loved ones? Is it you?
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What would YOU tell another actor who is in your shoes?Would you tell your actor friend to throw in the towel because they are thinking about giving it all up? Or would you give them your best motivational speech and help them see their own acting potential?
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Those that Give Up Never Make ItMany give up acting as a career because they found it too hard. These are the people that ‘never make it’. They may talk and boast of having more money and stability and even all the stuff they later come to loathe, because they wanted to act in the first place. It’s simple. DON’T give up, and you’ll become the actor that you WANT to be – give up, and you never will.
Lucille Ball once said, “I’d rather regret the things I’ve done than regret the things I haven’t done.”
And finally…. whatever you do, don’t give yourself a reason to one day utter the words, “I quit because I was scared.”
I’ve always believed that if you put in the work, the results will come. I don’t do things half-heartedly. Because I know if I do, then I can expect half-hearted results.