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What do I do when I land in LA? Part 1
Answer: You’ve made the decision to move to Los Angeles and pursue acting as a career, with your goal being a life filled with paid acting work, union theatrical acting work for networks and studios, and union commercial acting work. But what do you do first, the moment you get here, to provide a strong, solid base that will support you in your first efforts at success? Here’s the first few steps I recommend… (continued in David’s answer below)
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Answer: You’ve made the decision to move to Los Angeles and pursue acting as a career, with your goal being a life filled with paid acting work, union theatrical acting work for networks and studios, and union commercial acting work. But what do you do first, the moment you get here, to provide a strong, solid base that will support you in your first efforts at success? Here’s the first few steps I recommend, in the order in which you should turn your attention to them.
When I first moved to Los Angeles, I had some very clear ideas of what I wanted to accomplish, and save a few friends that gave me advice with the best of intentions, very little idea about how to do it. This series of articles is here because, for some time now, I’ve wanted to, memorialize the advice I’ve given to hundreds of actors who have asked me how I got from no acting experience to where I am today in a few years. This is only my opinion, so feel free to disagree or offer alternatives in the comments section below. I’d like to do a similar article for New York and London actors, so maybe a reader in each of those cities will get in touch and we can make that happen.
Again, this is only my opinion, but I love recommending the resources that have worked for me. I consider all of my recommendations to be the gold standard of their respective category.
Find an in-between-acting-gigs job: hopefully, one adjacent to your acting career, so you can not only get paid for your work, but also take advantage of opportunities to network and be a part of projects that may come your way because of your position. When I first moved to LA, I was on network radio with three syndicated shows. They kept me in the world of entertainment, but it wasn’t until I started doing voiceover demos, leading VO workshops, teaching VO classes and providing inexpensive VO home recording equipment – and retired from radio – that I really found the time and flexibility to pursue acting full time.
Get a place to live: if you’re independently wealthy, living on a trust fund, or have a really solid great paying job, housing probably isn’t an issue for you. Rents range from $1000 or so per month for basic apartment living to several thousand for nicer digs. Having roommates can help fund your living choice, but can also limit the things you can do in the common areas of the apartment, or even in your bedroom, like using recording equipment to do VO auditions while your roommate jams on his/her drums. I believe that being close to the action is preferable to be close to your recreation choices, and the closer you move to the water or to Beverly Hills, the more expensive your housing is going to be.
Get organized and set a budget: your dreams of creating a paid acting career are in danger if you’re constantly worried about money. You need to live within your means, so much so that you’ll have discretionary funds set aside for that last minute opportunity to workshop with a major casting director, or to purchase a new computer to take advantage of the latest actor-related technology..
Next, we’ll further get you prepared by looking at classes that matter, organizations that can save you a ton of wasted effort, and even get you the best headshots in town. Read the second part of this series here.
What’s your answer to this acting question? Let me know in the comments below.
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LikeDislikeThat’s very kind of you – glad you like it and are getting things out of it.
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LikeDislikeThis site has everything! Thank you so much!
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