When becoming an actor, one needs to be willing to play any role. Anything from an 18th century lord to an Oklahoma private investigator could be a potential character. You would need to be ready to be able to step into a different wardrobe and accent for a lord than a private investigator Oklahoma. It is impossible to be able to play both of those roles if you do not understand how to truly embrace your role. Creating a believable character is one of the most important aspects of being a thespian.

It can be quite stressful to work as an actor. Like most artists, the flow of work is not always reliable. Unfortunately, most actors cannot afford to be picky about their roles or the type of work they do. It is important to have some sort of standards so you do not spend your time doing jobs that do not boost your resume, but it is always better to do some sort of acting than to not be working in the field.

A lot of actors find themselves working odd jobs to make ends meet while acting in smaller production in local theater groups or black box theaters. Though black box theater is not consider as legitimate to some in comparison to working on main stages in big name productions, these productions can be very interesting and a lot of fun. A lot of these black box theaters have very minimal props, so the quality of the productions relies a lot more on the work of the actor. There is nothing worse than going to a minimalist theater and seeing an actor who has not grasped his or her role, which therefore does not allow the audience to fully grasp the character. These sorts of low budget, simplistic productions creates a lot of stress on the cast and crew without much monetary reward; however, it nonetheless is work and can help boost a resume.

Another idea for building a resume is to take part in other elements of the world of theater. As an actor, you couldteach or partake in some sort of acting class. This could be a way to keep growing as an actor and meet other individuals in the field. You also could consider writing and directing plays in some of the smaller black box type theaters. This would keep your name in people’s minds in the theater community, would be a method of networking with other directors and actors, and there is a possibility to make a profit.

Acting is one of those professions that seem to carry the image of a starving, struggling individual along with it, or that people do not consider a legitimate career choice. If acting is truly your dream, be prepared to struggle, but do not lose the desire to perform. Being able to step into a different person and deliver a believable performance is truly and art; and though it is not always easy to become monetarily successful in the field, it is a career that is truly unique and interesting.