In addition to working as an actor, I teach enthusiastic young Drama students from all over the world and am often asked what advice I can give to help them make it as an actor. This practical guide should help you to point your students in the right direction, towards a future that's suited to them.
There's no money in theatre
Careers in theatre, film and television have always been challenging. 50% of actors quit the industry within five years, and 75% quit within ten years of starting. As such, if your students can see themselves doing anything else, they should choose that. But if they can only see theatre as their path, this advice should guide them in the early years.
Getting started
Training is essential but, given the high career mortality rate, the conventional drama school or university route isn't right for everyone and isn't required to get work. Even so, it is important to continue training through workshops, short courses and classes, reading plays and researching techniques.
To promote themselves to agents and employers, students will need headshots, performance shots and a showreel, and should subscribe to casting services to access opportunities and have an online profile.
Representation and getting work
If you can secure an agent, it is their role to promote you to employers and represent your interests in terms of pay and conditions, and so on. They open the door for you to get work and then make sure you get the best deal, taking a commission as their payment. NEVER pay to join an agency!
For actors, Spotlight is the essential casting service to join, but not every post can be seen by all members. While agents see a lot more than self-representing actors, only a select few agents see the top roles. Securing a good agent is essential, but you must work with them in order to promote yourself effectively and gain access to better casting opportunities. Building a network of contacts including casting directors, theatre companies and directors will help you manage your career in the long term.
Creating work
Whether students want to be cast, crew or creatives I strongly believe that creating work is the best way of controlling your career.
The technology in smartphones outperforms many basic cameras so make the most of them! Record and publish material: shoot a short film, choreograph a dance, devise a scratch performance, stage a play to showcase talent. Once you know what sort of work you want to make – make it. Nobody else is going to do it for you!
In the early years of your students’ careers they will be offered unpaid work. Cast, in particular, are exploited by companies who offer ‘exposure’ in place of payment. While this rarely achieves the desired exposure, unpaid work does have its place.
If students choose to create their own work, it is unlikely that it will pay. In profit-share productions everyone involved is a co-producer with shared responsibility for selling the show and getting seen by the wider industry. However, choose projects wisely – if it's in a remote venue or an unknown show, it's unlikely anyone will see it, let alone anyone who will help your career!
Don't spend everything you earn
As a freelance professional you don't pay tax when you get paid. If you get paid in April 2020 you won't pay tax on profits from your income until January 2022 – so if you spend it all you won't have anything to pay your tax bill with!
Keep your receipts, log your income and get your tax return done as soon as possible after 5th April to give yourself 9 months to pay the tax owed.
Play the long game
Many actors take low-paid work which they can drop at any time when their big break comes. Sadly, for most it never does and they sacrifice many aspects of their lives in the meantime, being unable to afford a social life in London, let alone go on holiday, buy a car, get married, and so on.
There are always roles for actors, so live life and do what makes you happy, even if that means taking a break every now and again. It's never too late to start or restart a career.