Participate in acting workshops, courses, and seminars to get advice and experience and to make contacts with others in the field.
Join unions, (e.g., Actors Equity Union, or actors’ guilds to stay abreast of opportunities and developments in the field).
Get as much acting experience as possible. Perform in school productions, community theater, summer stock, etc. to hone acting skills.
Pursue training through acting conservatories or mentoring from a drama coach.
Develop a wide range of skills, such as singing, dancing, or acrobatics to be more versatile.
Gain related experience by working in a college radio or television station.
Consider getting modeling experience.
Learn a foreign language and train with a dialect coach.
Prepare a professional resume that lists your acting experience. Have your resume attached to or printed on the reverse side of an 8″ x 10″ photograph of yourself.
Be prepared to make the rounds. Distribute your resume to numerous agencies and offices. Follow up with several personal visits.
Secure an agent or manager to help find jobs.
Be aware that more opportunities exist in large cities such as New York and Los Angeles.
Learn about the entertainment industry as a whole.
Take courses on entertainment law, business, management, etc.
An extensive network of contacts is essential. Get to know people working in your field and related areas.
Consider whether you want to pursue acting as a full-time job or as an avocational interest.
Directing
Direction
Technical direction
Casting
Set design
Stage management
Production
Dialect coaching
Dramaturgy
Support staff
Employers
Theaters of varying types
Television and motion picture studios
Video production companies
Other performance venues
Strategies
Seek formal training and experience in acting first.
Develop leadership skills through participation in campus and community organizations.
Gain both directing and technical experience by participating in college productions. Seek technical experiences in local theaters.
Participate in the Director’s Guild Training Program.
Volunteer with directors in local theaters to become familiar with the environment. Serving as an assistant is a great way to get started in this area.
Experience with fund-raising is important. Volunteer to do this with local theaters and arts councils.
Learn what types of permits and insurance are needed to film or perform in certain areas.
Behind the Scenes
Stage management
Stage direction
Set design/construction
Costume design
Hair/Make-up
Special effects
Wardrobe
Prop management
Broadcast technology
Rigging
Electrical work
Carpentry/Scenic artistry
Employers
Community theaters
Regional theaters
Commercial theaters
Summer stock theaters
Dinner theaters
Children’s theaters
Repertory companies
University theater groups
Touring companies
Industrial shows
Show groups
Amusement and theme parks
Television/film studios
Radio stations
Nightclubs
Cabarets
Cruise lines
Acting conservatories
Public or community programs
Strategies
Learn to work well on a team.
Develop a sense of artistry and creativity.
Become involved in the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE). This organization can give you information about becoming an apprentice as well as help you make valuable contacts.
Get experience. Offer your services to school and local theaters.
Read industry magazines and books to learn about your area.
For sound design: Become familiar with computer technology as digital sound effects and electronic music replace traditional means of sound design.
Take courses in computers, math, and physics.
For costume design: Supplement your program with courses in art history and fashion design.
For set design: Take courses in architecture and design.
Learn about different eras in history in order to recreate on stage. A basic knowledge of history and architecture is helpful.
Writing
Scriptwriting
Playwriting
Screenwriting
Journalism
Publicity (press agents)
Research
Employers
Theaters
Television/film studios
Television stations
Radio stations
Video production companies
Magazines
Newspapers
Freelance
Strategies
Take courses in English and journalism to hone writing skills.
Review plays, movies, and TV shows for school or local newspaper.
Get as much writing experience as possible. Write for the college newspaper, enter playwriting contests, etc.
See many different productions and shows. Read a variety of scripts to see how they are developed.
Gain experience as a freelance writer or editor in other employment settings.
Learn how to shoot film because screenwriters will typically “shoot script” in which a synopsis of a story is prepared so directors can make recommendations.
Theatrical press agents publicize and promote theatrical productions. They write press releases and arrange press conferences and other media events. Take courses in related areas such as public relations, advertising, and business to prepare for this field.
Reporters spend time on the set absorbing everything. They interview actors as well as craftspeople.
Researchers gather information for movie writers.
They may also track down photographs or historical documents to make the film more authentic.
Business
Producing
Management
Agents
Marketing and advertising
Fundraising and development
Coordination of volunteers
Administration of arts programs
Box office sales
Promotions
Patron services
Employers
Theaters
Arts councils
Television/film studios
Broadway
Road company productions
Regional theaters
Stock productions
Dinner theaters
Cabarets
Talent agencies
Advertising agencies
Art museums
Strategies
Secretarial/clerical positions in theaters and studios are often stepping-stones to other positions and a good way to make contacts.
Gain undergraduate training in business, public relations, communications, advertising, and theater.
Complete an internship in area of interest.
Develop skills in leadership, negotiation, budgeting, and fundraising.
Get as much experience on the college and local level as possible to develop a strong resume.
Education
Private instruction
Teaching
Research
Self-enrichment teaching
Employers
Public and private schools, K-12
Colleges and universities
Performing arts centers
Various types of theater
Freelance
Self-employed
Strategies
For K-12, obtain certification for the state in which you wish to teach. Obtain dual certification for more teaching opportunities.
Get experience in various areas of theater and working with young people.
Obtain a graduate degree to teach on the college level.
Develop one or two areas of expertise within theater arts.
Join the National Association of Dramatic and Speech Arts or the Association for Theater in Higher Education.
General Information
Complete an internship or an apprenticeship with a local theater. Participate in summer stock. Gain as much experience as possible.
Network: Talk with people working in the field to find out about jobs and opportunities. Join professional groups to make contacts.
Read newspapers and periodicals related to theater to keep up with new developments. Read the “trades”–magazines and newspapers that report events in the entertainment industry. Read the “Theater” section of daily newspapers to find out about upcoming productions.
Join a relevant union or guild to be eligible for work assignments.
Get involved with productions any way you can to get your foot in the door. Be prepared to do various tasks assigned by stage managers or producers.
Volunteer with fundraising efforts for the arts.
Be aware of scams. Check out the legitimacy of agencies and companies before paying any fees.
Relocate to a metropolitan area where more opportunities exist.
A career in the arts takes patience, dedication, and luck! Take advantage of unexpected opportunities!
Have a back-up plan. Understand that actors and directors may face frequent and long periods of unemployment. Develop skills that qualify you for other jobs while you wait for opportunities. Consider pairing theater with another career interest or major to open up more career possibilities. Many actors work in theater management or production.
Theater helps students develop verbal and written communication, public speaking, and teamwork skills. These transferable skills are valued by many types of employers. In particular, positions in sales, marketing, management, and public relations may be open to students with theater degrees. Learn how to discuss and demonstrate these skills in interviews.
There are many ways to be involved in theater arts while working in another career field if you choose not to pursue theater as your way to make a living.