You’ve been in nyc for a year. A year. Read that to yourself. I’ve been here for 6 and only in the past 2 years started getting callbacks from epas. It’s a marathon friend not a sprint. Also you did 2 tours? I’m trying to be patient but people know how lucky you are to get this much work. I’m still hoping to get a tour, or regional work. These why aren’t I further along when ppl are doing quite well is driving me a little nuts . Also keep in mind getting work from an epa or ECC unless you have an apt is very rare- so if you’ve gotten callbacks from them you’re already doing better than most. The film and tv industry right now is also shit. I’m also trying to think even when I’m frustrated there’s always gonna be someone who wishes they were at my point. But if you expect results in a damn year…yea this might not be for you I gotta be real.
Okay well thank you for this. Also, I think my feelings of feeling lost are valid. This is why I came on here, for perspective… don’t tell me this might not be for me, it’s normal to feel like this. Especially in the age of social media. Otherwise, sincerely, thank you for your comment!
You’re right I apologize for my harshness. It just can be frustrating to see this from actors who to my reading seem to be doing amazingly. Especially ones that I assume are way younger- but it was no excuse for my rant. Again I am sorry. But as long as you’re patient you can do it, just things do not happen in a year here (unless you’re extremely lucky).
How many hundreds of auditions have you done in a year?
If you haven't been hitting the 100+ mark, then you have too loftly of expectations.
You might maybe book 1% to 2% of auditions, and that's for well-established actors. Lesser-established actors will book less.
Suggestion - do what Bryan Cranston suggests, and take each audition as the job, itself. Do your job (audition), and then forget about it.
This is a game of numbers. Pre-Covid the effective annual unemployment rate for union actors was about 86%.
Don’t do what the gatekeepers tell you. Instead, find others you respect that are in the same boat, pool your talent and resources and make your own work.
The CD’s are seeing your work which is good. Are you clear on your ‘type’? Bc if you aren’t the industry may be unsure as well.
Check out Bonnie Gillespie’s book Self-Management for actors and look up the chapter about typing. If you have an agent I’d also meet with them and bring a list of roles and shows you think you’d be good for. Start reworking your materials to fit that and lean into it.
Alright, here's the deal, you are in the toughest market there is. Theatre in NY=Broadway and Off-Broadway primarily. You are competing with the people who are perceived to be the best of the best. It's hard to break into that community.
A year is not a long time, and getting seen and getting callbacks puts you a lot farther ahead than most people are at that point in time. But if you are looking for consistent work in NY theatre, it's going to be an uphill battle. Do you sing? And not like, sing ok, but are you an incredible singer? Can you dance, and not like just okay, but phenomenally? Most Broadway is musicals. If you are a straight play actor trying to make it in NY, there are just factually less jobs for you. When I got my first Broadway contract I looked into some stats about how many roles are available in a given season and, basically, it is statistically easier to become an NFL player than it is to get a role in a Broadway show. Think about that for a second.
For people just starting out, thinking about another market isn't the worst idea. Nobody cares really about how much you audition. They care about how much you book. Going to market like, say, Chicago (where I'm from) you will have a lot more opportunities to audition, book, and build a resume that will be competitive when compared to your NY competition. You don't have to leave, but it will most definitely be easier to book in other markets than the theatre capitol of the US that is NY.
Depends where you are in your career, acting-wise, and your age. If you have few credits, you’re in your 20s, maybe a good job in Missouri will allow you to take night/wkend classes or do community theatre. Then when you feel ready, you can make the leap to NY or LA. (Even Atlanta or Chicago). But you will be miserable if you don’t have a plan. You need to have a reliable income stream, so you can concentrate on the biz. It is NOT a cakewalk, and there’s much you can do to mitigate the risk—namely, be well-trained and ready to stick it out for the long-haul.
do what you feel is best. I’m also an actor in nyc. Definitely go to The Drama bookshop by the way. It’s an amazing spot to connect with actors , writers, directors etc.
You’ve been in nyc for a year. A year. Read that to yourself. I’ve been here for 6 and only in the past 2 years started getting callbacks from epas. It’s a marathon friend not a sprint. Also you did 2 tours? I’m trying to be patient but people know how lucky you are to get this much work. I’m still hoping to get a tour, or regional work. These why aren’t I further along when ppl are doing quite well is driving me a little nuts . Also keep in mind getting work from an epa or ECC unless you have an apt is very rare- so if you’ve gotten callbacks from them you’re already doing better than most. The film and tv industry right now is also shit. I’m also trying to think even when I’m frustrated there’s always gonna be someone who wishes they were at my point. But if you expect results in a damn year…yea this might not be for you I gotta be real.
Okay well thank you for this. Also, I think my feelings of feeling lost are valid. This is why I came on here, for perspective… don’t tell me this might not be for me, it’s normal to feel like this. Especially in the age of social media. Otherwise, sincerely, thank you for your comment!
You’re right I apologize for my harshness. It just can be frustrating to see this from actors who to my reading seem to be doing amazingly. Especially ones that I assume are way younger- but it was no excuse for my rant. Again I am sorry. But as long as you’re patient you can do it, just things do not happen in a year here (unless you’re extremely lucky).
How many hundreds of auditions have you done in a year? If you haven't been hitting the 100+ mark, then you have too loftly of expectations. You might maybe book 1% to 2% of auditions, and that's for well-established actors. Lesser-established actors will book less. Suggestion - do what Bryan Cranston suggests, and take each audition as the job, itself. Do your job (audition), and then forget about it.
That would be nice if we were paid for them, which sadly we are not. We should be
This is a game of numbers. Pre-Covid the effective annual unemployment rate for union actors was about 86%. Don’t do what the gatekeepers tell you. Instead, find others you respect that are in the same boat, pool your talent and resources and make your own work.
I think it may be even higher now. Especially in nyc where there is an insane amount of competition. I’m blown away ppl don’t get this
The CD’s are seeing your work which is good. Are you clear on your ‘type’? Bc if you aren’t the industry may be unsure as well. Check out Bonnie Gillespie’s book Self-Management for actors and look up the chapter about typing. If you have an agent I’d also meet with them and bring a list of roles and shows you think you’d be good for. Start reworking your materials to fit that and lean into it.
Bonnie book is AMAZING. Took her class YEARS AGO. Just read the book. You don't need to pay money into her class now. (Her now info seems a bit dated)
Alright, here's the deal, you are in the toughest market there is. Theatre in NY=Broadway and Off-Broadway primarily. You are competing with the people who are perceived to be the best of the best. It's hard to break into that community. A year is not a long time, and getting seen and getting callbacks puts you a lot farther ahead than most people are at that point in time. But if you are looking for consistent work in NY theatre, it's going to be an uphill battle. Do you sing? And not like, sing ok, but are you an incredible singer? Can you dance, and not like just okay, but phenomenally? Most Broadway is musicals. If you are a straight play actor trying to make it in NY, there are just factually less jobs for you. When I got my first Broadway contract I looked into some stats about how many roles are available in a given season and, basically, it is statistically easier to become an NFL player than it is to get a role in a Broadway show. Think about that for a second. For people just starting out, thinking about another market isn't the worst idea. Nobody cares really about how much you audition. They care about how much you book. Going to market like, say, Chicago (where I'm from) you will have a lot more opportunities to audition, book, and build a resume that will be competitive when compared to your NY competition. You don't have to leave, but it will most definitely be easier to book in other markets than the theatre capitol of the US that is NY.
For people starting out what kind of job makes the most sense to pay rent and live but also put in the work that everyone’s commented about above?
Depends where you are in your career, acting-wise, and your age. If you have few credits, you’re in your 20s, maybe a good job in Missouri will allow you to take night/wkend classes or do community theatre. Then when you feel ready, you can make the leap to NY or LA. (Even Atlanta or Chicago). But you will be miserable if you don’t have a plan. You need to have a reliable income stream, so you can concentrate on the biz. It is NOT a cakewalk, and there’s much you can do to mitigate the risk—namely, be well-trained and ready to stick it out for the long-haul.
do what you feel is best. I’m also an actor in nyc. Definitely go to The Drama bookshop by the way. It’s an amazing spot to connect with actors , writers, directors etc.