Acting With No Experience Part 5: How to Find Acting Jobs in London

“To succeed in business, to reach the top, an individual must know all it is possible to know about that business.” – J. Paul Getty

Auditioning for a role is kind of like applying for a job – if you don’t have the necessary requirements, they won’t even consider you.  This is why you need to make sure you have all the pieces, before you even attempt to do the puzzle – which is just a creative way of saying you need to have all the requirements before you audition. To jump to other sections of the Acting With No Experience series, please use the table of contents below.

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION

I. LIVING AND ACTING IN LONDON

1.1 Actor’s Life in London

  • Public Transportation
  • Free Cultural Activities
  • Outdoor Life
  • Television
  • Food Options
  • Cinema
  • Living Green
  • Coffeehouses
  • Affordability
  • Celebrities

1.2 Tips About London

  • Stand on the Right
  • Go Contactless
  • Don’t Talk to Strangers
  • Don’t Dilly Dally
  • Walk Where Possible
  • Tuesdays in London
  • Be Green
  • SpareRoom.co.uk
  • Going Digital
  • Join Meetup
  • Pubs
  • Emerald Street
  • London Theatres
  • Leicester Square
  • London Culture
  • Museums
  • Central London
  • Markets in London
  • Libraries

1.3 London’s Cost of Living

  • Monthly Cost of Living
  • Housing
  • Transportation
  • Food
  • Utilities

1.4 Budgeting in London

  • Accommodation
  • Personal Experience
  • Bills
  • Food Shopping
  • Going Social

1.5 Survival Jobs in London

  • Script Reader
  • Bartending
  • Temp Agencies
  • Waiting Staff
  • Freelancing
  • Small Online Business
  • Front of House Assistants
  • Servers/Line Cooks
  • Retail/Sales
  • Tutoring
  • Finding Work

II. PREPARING TO MOVE

2.1 Why Move to London?

  • Acting in London

2.2 Paperwork and Legal Stuff

  • Moving FAQs
  • Tier 2 and Tier 5 Visas
  • Passport
  • Getting Visas
  • Residence Card

2.3 Choosing Acting Training

  • Make a Choice

2.4 The Moving Process

  • Moving Company
  • Inventory
  • Pack Up
  • Insure Your Goods
  • Pets
  • Currency Transfer

2.5 Researching, Planning and Packing

  • Planning Arrival
  • Your New Place
  • Packing

2.6 Things to do Before Moving to London

  • Have a Plan
  • Get Experience
  • Make Connections
  • Join the Union
  • Save Up

III. MOVING TO LONDON

3.1 Smart Move

  • The Journey
  • New City

3.2 The First 30 Days in London

  • Homesickness
  • Culture Shock
  • Independence
  • Financial Order
  • Utilities

3.3 Finding Accommodation

  • How to Search

3.4 Best London Neighborhoods for Actors

  • Shepherd’s Bush
  • Colliers Wood
  • Brixton
  • Maida Vale
  • Islington
  • The Borough
  • Fulham
  • Bayswater
  • Soho

3.5 Shopping for Necessities in London

  • Cheap Stores

3.6 Getting Around in London

  • Oyster Card
  • London’s System
  • Learn the City

3.7 Meeting People in London

  • Being Social
  • Making Friends
  • Network

3.8 Getting to London: Step by Step

IV. YOUR ACTING TRAINING IN LONDON

4.1 Acting Class Expectations

  • Upcoming Acting Classes
  • Preparation

4.2 Training Process

  • Avoid Giving Up
  • Moving Forward

4.3 A Change of Mind

  • Something Is Wrong

V. PREPARING FOR ACTING JOBS IN LONDON

5.1 Actor’s Essentials

5.2 Headshots

  • Why Headshots?
  • Cost of Headshots
  • Getting Headshots
  • Best Headshots
  • Using Headshots

5.3 Acting Resume/CV

  • Good Resume
  • Resume Length

5.4 Acting Reel

  • Creating a Reel
  • Your First Acting Reel

5.5 Auditioning in London

  • Acting School Auditions
  • Casting Websites
  • Equity
  • Spotlight
  • Your Website
  • Social Networks
  • Community Theatres
  • Acting Classes

VI. ACTING INDUSTRY IN LONDON

6.1 Industry Connections

  • Casting Directors

6.2 Showbiz Scams in London

  • Online Scams
  • False Project Scams
  • Manager Scams
  • Agent Scams
  • Contract Scams

6.3 Events for Networking in London

6.4 Schmoozing Effectively

  • Who’s Who?
  • Start Networking
  • Using Connections
  • Effective Networking
  • Staying Connected
  • Networking as Introvert
  • Being Positive

6.5 Working as an Actor in London

  • Keep Studying
  • Your Special Skills
  • You’re a Brand
  • Accept Rejection
  • Be patient

6.6 Getting an Agent in London

  • Expectations
  • Improving Chances
  • Connecting with Agents
  • Meeting Agents
  • Successful Meetings
  • Avoid Agent Scams
  • After Getting an Agent
  • Communication with Agents
  • Agent’s Pay

6.7 Top 10 Talent Agencies in London

  • Powerhouse Agencies
  • William Morris Endeavor
  • Conway van Gelder Grant
  • The Artists Partnership
  • United Agents
  • Artists Rights Group
  • Hamilton Hodell
  • Boutique Agencies
  • Hatton McEwan Penford
  • The BWH Agency
  • Bloomfields Welch Management
  • The Narrow Road Company
  • Agents Lone Wolves

6.8 How to Audition

  • Pleasing Casting Directors
  • Cold Readings
  • Confidence in Auditions
  • Self-taped Auditions

6.9 Never Stop Learning

  • Knowing Success

VII. ACTOR’S MARKETING IN LONDON

7.1 Marketing Yourself

  • Brand Image
  • Social Media
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest, LinkedIn, Instagram

7.2 Personal Actor’s Website

  • Why Websites?
  • Online Audience
  • Website for Marketing

7.3 Your Type

  • Typecasting Yourself
  • How to Know Your Type

VIII. FINAL TIPS AND ADVICE

  • Rejection
  • Keep Pushing
  • Stay Grounded and Humble

8.1 Alternatives to London

  • Smaller Markets
  • Manchester
  • Glasgow
  • Edinburgh
  • Birmingham
  • Dublin
  • Chicago
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • South Florida
  • Atlanta
  • Twin Cities

CONCLUSION

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V. PREPARING FOR ACTING JOBS IN LONDON

5.1 Actor’s Essentials

An actor’s kit sounds like a first-aid kit for people who aspire to act, and in a way I guess it is, as it includes everything you’ll need to survive in the acting business.  An actor’s kit is kind of like that emergency bag you pack in case you need to suddenly flee the country, only instead of multiple currencies and fake passports, you have all the necessities you need to be immediately prepared for an audition.

There are a few things you need to include in your actor’s kit, with the obvious choices being your resume, show reel and headshots.

  • Regular marketing stuff – headshots, resume and demo reel (showreel)
  • Pen or pencil – You may want to make corrections, so it’s always useful to have one or two
  • Scripts and sides – if you’ve received a script or sides for an audition, make sure you have a printed copy with you at all times, that way you can easily whip it out.
  • Highlighters – to highlight (obviously) the parts you’ll be reading.
  • Business cards – to hand to anybody you feel could become a connection.
  • Dance/movement clothes – “That’s great. We’d like to see you dance.”  What if you’re wearing a skin tight pencil skirt?  Always have something to change into so you can be ready to move at all times.
  • Extra clothing – You never know what audition may come your way. Have a variety of clothes.
  • Dance shoes – For the same reason as above. You don’t want to be hindered by your trés chic stilettos when auditioners want to see you move.

Let’s get into more details about some of the most important marketing tools actors must have on his or her person at all times, and how you get them.

 

5.2 Headshots

The word headshot is often something assassins say in action movies, which makes it a word people usually tend to avoid.  However this kind of headshot is very different and vital if you plan on getting anywhere in the industry.  If you don’t already know what it is, a headshot is a photo that is taken from the shoulders upwards – basically, it’s a shot of your head, hence the term headshot.

Why Headshots?

The reason is simple – casting agents always have a set idea of what the character needs to look like.  Therefore before they even audition you, they need to know if you fit the requirements.  This is why a headshot is very important, and highly recommended, as without it, you don’t stand a chance of even auditioning.  Secondly, once you audition, they need to remember you.

Basically, you don’t want this happening to you: “Ahh…that one girl was perfect, you know, the one with the ginger hair.  Which one was she again?”  With headshots, you won’t be lost in the memories of your auditioners.

Unfortunately, it’s not very professional to use a selfie as a headshot – no matter how hot you think you look in it – so you’ll have to fork out some money for a professional photo.  Now, before you rush onto the internet and type in “looking for someone to do my headshots” on Google, there are a few things you should consider first.

Cost of Headshots.

How much it costs all depends on where you get them done – as different places have different prices.  But that said, you get what you pay for.  Do your research.  You can get a somewhat okay headshot from a photographer just starting out for around £125 / $100.  You can also opt for the hard-to-get famous photographer who has thousands of successful clients for as much as £1000 / $1000.  Check your budget and plan accordingly.

My personal advice would be to shoot for the range around £250-400 / $300-500 and not go below or higher.  This is of course once you can afford that price tag; no need to rush.

Getting Headshots.

The best way to find a good photographer for you is to ask around.  See a fellow actor who has a killer headshot?  Ask who their photographer is.  The search for the perfect photographer can be as complicated or as simple as you make it.

  1. Set a budget. How much are you willing to spend?
  2. Ask around. Can someone recommend a good photographer?
  3. Research online. So many professional headshot photographers have their own websites with portfolios listed.  Even if you end up not choosing that particular photographer, you may get an idea of some “looks” you want for your own shots.
  4. Set up a meeting with the photographer. If you don’t feel comfortable during your shoot, your photos will reflect that.  Make sure the two of you have a certain chemistry and see eye to eye on what you want done.

Try to stay proactive in your search for a photographer, and don’t settle for the first cheap headshots services you find on Google.  In the same manner, do prepare for your headshot session – research what you need, ask your new photographer what to bring. Get ready to be professional all the time as you’re trying to become a working actor!

Best Headshots.

Your headshot should be an 8×10 high definition picture of yourself, preferably in portrait orientation (not landscape).  While at one time, black and white photos were the way to go, today, color is the only choice.

The aim of a headshot is to show casting agents how you look naturally, therefore it is imperative that in the headshot, you look exactly the same way as you do in real life.  This means that you shouldn’t have anything on you that isn’t always there – e.g. makeup, jewellery, coloured contacts, hair extensions, etc.  It’s understandable that you’d want to look your best for a photograph, especially since a lot of people will be seeing it, but you need to let them see the canvas and not the finished painting.

As for how to dress, there aren’t many restrictions, but it would be a good idea to wear something that makes the focus of the photo, your face – meaning try not to wear anything that distracts whoever’s looking at your headshot, by pulling their attention elsewhere.

Using Headshots.

If you hold your headshot up next to your actual head, look in the mirror, and see the exact same person in every way, then yes.  What this means, is that if you look exactly like you do in the photo, at that very moment, then you can use it.  If there is anything that differs – from a new haircut, to a tattoo you got done across your forehead – you cannot use that headshot.  It would be a good idea to not change your look too often, as keeping your headshots up to date can be really expensive.

Most actors have at least two different shots that they can choose from.  You may not want your musical theatre headshot to be the same as your film and commercial headshot.  If your budget allows for it, have two different headshots.  The simplest choice?  One serious and one smiling.

Some film actors have “composite cards” which showcase 5-6 different looks/characters they can play.  Put this goal on your 5-year plan.  It’s best to start simply and with photos that don’t pigeon-hole you right away.  Down the road your agent or manager can discuss this with you.  But for actors starting out, 1-2 shots should suffice.

 

5.3 Acting Resume/CV

If you didn’t already know, an acting resume is a detailed list of all the work you’ve done previously – kind of like a regular CV, only instead of focusing on the summer job you had at a fancy retail shop, it focusses on the work you’ve done involving acting.  It indicates how much experience you have in the business, which is what makes the resume a crucial asset when applying for any audition.

In show business, the better your resume is, the better your chances are of getting the role which, makes creating an acting resume, when you’re an up-and-coming actor, rather hard.  It’s the endless cycle of “need experience for work, need work for experience” all over again.  It’s not hard to create a resume, and unlike a headshot, the only thing it will cost you is some time.

Good Resume.

Creating an acting resume is rather simple, as all you really need to do is talk about yourself – and by that I don’t mean hand in a detailed essay extensively describing your facial features (that’s what a headshot is for).

The main aim of a resume is to inform a casting agent – or whoever you’ve given the resume to – of your previous achievements; what training you’ve received; where said training took place; and if you have any special talents that could benefit the role you’re auditioning for.

You should include the following information in your resume:

  • Contact details (i.e. email and website)
  • The name you prefer to go by on stage.
  • The agency or union you’re connected to.
  • Personal information (i.e. height, weight, eye colour, hair colour etc.).
  • Previous work experience.
  • If you’ve done acting trained and where.
  • Any skills you have that could contribute (i.e. accents, languages, sports.)

Note that it doesn’t say you should put your birthday on your resume.  This is because you don’t want the little details to affect how you look to somebody else. If you look twenty to a casting agent, and you tell them you’re actually thirty, that will totally corrupt the way you’re seen by them, which may completely ruin your chances of getting the role.

It’s really simple to put together a resume, and while part of you may want to get someone else to do it, you need to remember that nobody else can make you look as good as yourself.  If you can learn how to structurally put together a resume, then there’s nothing holding you back.

Resume Length.

A resume should be short, sweet and straight to the point.  No casting agent will accept anything over a page long, so you’re going to have to really constrict it to fit on one page – unless of course you’re only an aspiring actor with like three credits to your name, which in that case it probably won’t be any trouble at all.  If you have tons of previous experience with acting, and have a lot to put on your resume, you’re going to have to really compromise by choosing which are the most important.

How do you present your actor’s resume? The best idea would be to hand it to the person of your choice and have your headshot stapled back to back with it.  Make sure they’re neat, well printed and easy to read before you hand them over to anybody.

 

5.4 Acting Reel

A show reel (or showreel, or demo reel) is basically a montage of clips all put together into one, that you hand in at the same time you do your resume and headshot – it’s kind of like a visual resume, as it shows all the previous work you have done.  While not as important as a resume or CV, it may be the push you need to land you that audition, especially for film and TV jobs or out-of-town jobs.

As an up-and-coming actor, a show reel can be highly tricky to put together, as you don’t have much to put on there, due to your lack of experience.  Every actor starts off like that, though, so don’t worry as there are plenty of ways to get your hands on some footage of you doing what you do best.

Creating a Reel.

As mentioned before, finding material for a show reel can be hard as often aspiring actors don’t have a lot to show for their time as an actor.  Therefore you’ll need to find ways to produce material that is worth putting onto your show reel.

Here are a few examples on how you can get the footage you need:

  • Participating in plays at school.
  • Being involved in student film productions.
  • Taking a class that specializes in creating show reels.

Even if you don’t get paid to work for student productions, or school plays, you gain material that can be used to get you paid for real productions later on.  So whenever and wherever you can, try and get yourself involved.

Remember that the aim is to capture yourself on film, so if there’s not going to be someone filming the play, then there’s no point.  As mentioned above, some schools do have courses that specialize in creating show reels as well, so it would be a good idea to check those out and see if they would benefit you at all.

Your First Acting Reel.

A short video montage made on Windows Movie Maker is probably not the greatest idea, as no casting agent will continue watching after thirty seconds of bad, heart-shaped, transitions.  Much like a headshot, it would be a good idea to get somebody else to do it for you.

You need to find someone who will professionally put together all the clips that you need to include in your show reel.  If you want to do it yourself, because you would like to save money and you think you’re skilled enough to do so, remember it would be better to at least do a lesson in how to do so before you go ahead and make one.

Ask to see your fellow actors’ reels.  Let’s face it, actors love to show off.  If you like what you see, find out how they did it.  Your fellow actors are usually your best resource, plus, it will keep you up-to-date on the current trends and styles.

How to give industry professionals your showreel? Handing a bunch of people USB devices, that you might end up never getting back, is a bad, very expensive, idea that definitely shouldn’t be the way you hand in your show reel. Actors usually hand in their show reels at the same time as their resumes and headshots, so it would be a good idea for you to do the same.

The best way to give someone a copy, would be for you to burn it on a disc and hand it in a little plastic case when you hand in your resume and headshot.  It may also be a good idea to attach it to your resume, like you did the headshot.  And of course, have it on your website.  Sometimes you don’t have all of your materials with you – but you’ll always remember your website address.

 

5.5 Acting Auditions in London

If you’re an aspiring, up-and-coming actor, then chances are that you don’t have an agent to help you look for auditions.  Having an agent makes finding auditions a heck of a lot easier, but it’s not the only way to do it.  Thankfully, we live in a time where there’s this thing called the internet.  It’s a wonderful invention that allows us to get information in seconds.  Of course you probably know all about it already and have completely ignored that last sentence.

Although it’s not the only way to look for auditions, it is because of the internet however, that we actors have been given even more ways of doing so.  If you’re having trouble finding auditions, then this is the section for you.

Acting School Auditions.

Often the acting classes, or workshops, you attend will inform their students on roles they can audition for so you will need to keep a good look out for any flyers posted or announcements made in the school you’re training at.

Even if you’re only there for a week or so, it would be a good idea to ask whoever’s teaching you to keep an eye out as well, just in case you do miss something – and if they can inform you about other auditions in the industry as well, then that’s great too.

Casting Websites.

There are many websites on the internet that are there to help aspiring actors and actresses find auditions.  Something one should always take into consideration however, is that we live in a time where bad people are always trying to scam unsuspecting, young people online.  Therefore it is your responsibility to be smart when it comes to looking for auditions on the internet.

Thankfully, there are multiple, actor-friendly websites, that have a special page with legitimate auditions.  You need to frequently look at these websites for anything that catches your eye. Below are the most known and trusted casting call websites for actors in the UK and US.

The best casting websites for London based actors:

Even though casting websites is the best way to find auditions in London, there are a few alternative ways of which not many are aware of.

Equity.

The first thing you should do is join the Equity union. While not as powerful as SAG-AFTRA, its US counterpart, nor as essential in getting work for actors, Equity – the British actors’ union – is open to all actors, including students still in drama schools, and the membership is a recognized mark of professionalism.

Apart from reserving your professional stage name for acting in the UK, Equity union can be an important source of support, advice, and information on job-hunting, the law, accommodation, tax, and much more for actors.

In the most basic sense, Equity is a trade union in the UK. It represents not only British actors, but all types of professional performers and creatives in the entertainment industry all across the United Kingdom. It was formed back in 1929 to protect lesser known actors and other artists in the vastly growing show business. The organization has worked steadily ever since, making sure that every artist trying to make a living would be treated equally.

What Equity does is campaign on behalf of British actors and bring all sorts of issues to the UK’s government, parliament, and other places of influence. The union also protects your rights as a professional performer when you’re looking for, applying for and working with other industry professionals.

When it comes to private sector, Equity is the place you go to about unfair treatment of actors or unreasonable payment structure. They oversee that British actors get paid a reasonable rate and that other rules of fair treatment are followed.

If you want to join, the annual membership for working actors starts at £123 ($187) if you’re earning under £20,000 ($30,500) a year. There’s also a one-off joining fee of £29 ($44).

For students, annual membership is just £18 ($27.40) plus a one-off joining fee of the same amount. The annual fee rises in steps to 1% of income when you earn over £50,000 ($76,000) annually. Non-British actors must be members of an FIA-affiliated union (SAG-AFTRA is one) in order to apply. For more information, visit their website.

Is UK’s Equity the same as the famous SAG-AFTRA in the US?

Yes, and no. Equity is the same in a sense that it’s a trade union that includes actors. However, while the description of their job may be similar to that of SAG-AFTRA, what UK Equity has the power to do differs from American actors union(s).

Even though Equity’s function touches upon a much broader audience of working performers than America’s SAG-AFTRA (Screen Actors Guild joint venture with American Federation of Television and Radio Artists as of 2013) who’s primary objective is to look out for actors working with cameras, Equity seems slightly less powerful in the showbiz of the United Kingdom.

Equity’s principal function is to negotiate minimum pay and conditions for its member actors, and make sure that everybody gets paid or receives the material that was promised to them.

How to join Equity?

Becoming a member of Equity and receiving your Equity card is easy for most aspiring British actors. Compared to SAG-AFTRA in the US, where you need to work harder, longer and pay more to get in, with Equity almost any actor can become a member, which naturally reduces the value of the membership.

As soon as you get into any drama school or even any kind of performance-related course in the university, you can become a Student Member of the UK Equity union. That’s your first step towards becoming a full member should you choose to go with formal acting training.

Once you apply to Equity online and pay the dues (£18.25 for Student Membership), you will receive your membership card, and stay a student member until you graduate drama school. Upon graduation from a drama school, you can (and should) transfer to a Full Membership status.

If you haven’t got into any performance-related course in a drama school or university in the UK, then you only need a few performance credits on your resume and you can join too as a Full Member.

Should drama students join UK Equity?

When you’re a student on any acting related course getting your degree, I would say it’s worth getting your Equity membership as soon as you can. You want to do this for three reasons:

    • You can reserve a professional stage name so that nobody else can take it;
    • You will start saving up towards your Full Membership cost, which is deductible;
    • You can apply for acting jobs while studying and work as a semi-professional actor.

Many students consider it unnecessary joining UK Equity while they’re studying because they’re aren’t working during their training. As a result, they miss the opportunity to become an older member of the union and reserve their screen/stage name for their future careers.

At £18.25 annual fee for Student Membership, this is less than you spend when going out on a Friday evening, unless you live on a very tight budget. Just keep in mind that Equity’s Student Membership does not provide you with all the advantages of Full Membership. However, you don’t necessarily need them while you’re training.

Spotlight.

Spotlight.com is not your ordinary UK casting calls website. On the most basic level, it operates in the same way by providing casting call breakdowns for actors to submit to, but its importance is much greater.

First, let’s begin by establish what a casting call (or casting breakdowns) is, and how are those related to Spotlight.

What are casting calls?

In the entertainment industry, a casting call is the process of choosing actors (as well as other performers) for the performing arts project. The project can be anything that requires an actor and his skills: stage plays, films, TV shows, voice over jobs and so forth.

Casting itself is normally done by a casting director (CD), a person who was hired by the production to find the best actors to fit their roles. Casting calls or casting breakdowns today will normally refer to “job ads,” for the lack of a better alternative term, for actors on casting call websites. On a casting call website, actors will create their profiles with resume/acting CV, headshot and a show reel/demo reel.

Occasionally, a casting director may browse a listing of actors on the site and pick someone for their project. However, if an actor is not a household name in the industry, 99% of the times an actor will have to browse those casting calls (“acting job ads”) and apply to those that fit the description best using their profile.

At that point, a casting director will go through all the applications, choose a handful of actors that the CD thinks may fit the role, and bring those into casting room for an audition. This is where the other part of casting starts, so we’ll leave it at that.

In the UK, aspiring actors who are serious about pursuing this career must be members of two websites/organizations: Equity (which we covered above) and Spotlight. Even though this is not required per se, if you’re not a member of these, then you’ll be viewed as an amateur.

Founded as far back as 1927, Spotlight remains the de facto leading provider of UK casting calls and a resource for all performers in the country. The site currently has a huge database of performers and showbiz professionals. When a production is trying to produce a film, commercial, stage play or other projects, the first place they would normally go to seek for professionals is Spotlight. This includes both domestic and international productions.

You’ve seen plenty of American TV shows being cast out and even filmed in the UK. House of Cards, Episodes, and many more. All of these were cast through Spotlight.

How much does it cost to join Spotlight?

A membership on Spotlight for actors will run £149 annually (paid by debit card). For other payment methods, it’s £154 (for card, cheque or other payments).

What do you get from being a member of Spotlight?

The primary reason to be a member is to get UK casting call breakdowns. That’s where you find jobs and become employed.

Other benefits that come with this are: you’ll always be viewed as a more professional actor, you’ll get job updates, you get discounts on some services, you can connect with others, and if you don’t yet have an acting agent then you’ll have a slightly easier time booking work.

All of this sounds exciting to actors: becoming a part of a website that will eventually lead to you being cast for huge productions. Not so fast. It does look good on paper, but the reality is different.

There are two things you must consider:

  1. Can you join Spotlight?
  2. What will it actually get you?

Becoming a member of Spotlight is not that simple. Spotlight has a set of requirements for an actor to be accepted into their database. In order to become accepted and be a member of Spotlight, you must have/be one of two things:

  1. Have at least 1-year of full-time training at an accredited UK drama school;
  2. Have four professional acting credits as a featured actor in a professional production.

This is not that easy for someone who hasn’t trained in an accredited drama school or just starting out in the industry. It’s not impossible, but it would require some experience and work beforehand. So keep that in mind.

Can you book acting jobs on Spotlight?

Yes and no. The problem with green actors (even with four professional credits and a degree from a London-based drama school), and particularly those who are not represented by well-known talent agencies, is that they are unlikely to get the best UK casting call breakdowns.

When casting TV shows like House of Cards that I mentioned above, casting directors (CDs) will usually send out notices to (a) household names, (b) actors represented by top talent agencies, and (c) actors represented by mid-level agencies with a huge amount of credits.

In a sense, if you’re an actor on Spotlight with a few good credits and a small-time agency representing you, by the time they get to you, the whole thing has already been cast (unless you want to do extra work on the TV show).

That’s not to say you cannot book work from Spotlight. There are some smaller productions that will look for “cheaper” actors, productions that cannot get those actors I mentioned above. That’s your best chance. But then again, you can usually find these UK casting call breakdowns on regular casting websites.

So should you join Spotlight if you’re eligible? Of course, if money is not an obstacle, then definitely join – you have nothing to lose. But if the budget is tight, and then you may be better off trying some smaller UK casting websites first and see if you get lucky there. Once you have a solid resume and bigger agency representing you, give Spotlight another chance.

Your Personal Acting Website.

Why not put together your own website? Again, if you’re not up to the technicalities – although they’re not difficult to master – have someone else do it for you. However, another actor has given a great explanation as to why it’s not necessary to pay for any website building services and how easy it is to do it yourself.

Having your own acting website allows you even greater design leeway than a social media page. It doesn’t have to be complicated; a single page will do, so long as it looks attractive, has your details and headshot(s), and includes links to your social media profiles and other relevant sites.

Using your personal website as a resource, you can always post many different demo reels on the site to demonstrate your skills and potentially get someone interested in you and your skills.

Next, you can also start a blog on your site and include links to it on your social media pages. What should the blog be about? Anything, really. You can write about your acting journey, giving advice to other aspiring actors just like we do here; you can write about movies, plays, TV shows, TV commercials, or anything related to the industry.

Make your website and your acting blog snappy, idiosyncratic, and invite comments. You can get a dialogue going with participants, and follow up with anyone you think might lead to a valuable connection within the industry. Everything is possible – you just have to play the game right.

Social Networks.

If you’re unable to find acting jobs in London, or you don’t have or you cannot get a job permit to work as an actor, social networks are a good way to get started in acting. Or the very least it’s another legitimate way to put your name and abilities out there for someone to pick up on them. Social networks aren’t the only or even the best way to acting jobs, but they can save you some money while providing a few opportunities to get auditions.

First, submitting through social networks is free.

Second, you can customise your entry to some degree, rather than follow the templates that many casting sites force on you.

Third, you can – and you must – broadcast your entry to everyone you know within the social media page, or even just an e-mail address. That includes adding the links on any application you make to an agency, casting director, or producer.

Fourth and finally, compose a neat signature for your e-mails and submissions, with clickable icons to take readers directly to your personal website for extra exposure and to your social media pages. Basically, use social media to promote yourself as if you are a product.

Which sites are most effective? Everyone has a preference, so post your entry to all of them. Having a demo reel completed and a thorough resume will raise your chances of getting some attention.

Take a lot of time over your entries, ensuring correct grammar, spelling, and a simple, uncluttered, layout. Use short sentences, bullet points, and include links to relevant sites, such as those for any production you’ve been in, no matter how small your part was.

If you’re not good at writing, pay someone to do it for you. A cost-effective way to find a good writer is to post an offer a platform like UpWork. It will get you, literally, dozens of eager bids from all around the world, nearly all willing to do the job quickly.

Community Theatres.

Don’t knock am-dram; it’s a thriving medium for anyone wanting to get into acting. Community theatres can be a good way not to only work on your acting jobs but also find some acting jobs in London.

Some renowned professional companies are among those involved, seeing it as a means of spotting new talent in-house. You don’t get paid when working at a community theatre, so there are no issues with work permits. It’s a great way to meet theatre people – a specific, live, social network.

Need some examples? Here are a few:

  • The Old Vic Community Company – A hallowed London company since 1818, with its venue near Waterloo Station, the Old Vic has an active community theatre, open to anyone based in London. You can sign up or simply drop in for a look at their website.
  • Questors – Based in Ealing, West London, and described by a leading London newspaper as the city’s “most successful amateur theatre”, Questors has 1,400 members and two theatres, the 350-seat Playhouse and the 100-seat Studio. It holds an open evening in the theatre bar (free drink included) on most Wednesdays and actors are always welcome.
  • Network Theatre Company – Voted one of London’s top ten fringe theatres, Network is buried under Waterloo Station, not far from the Old Vic. It may be hard to find, but anyone can become a member for a joining fee of £10 ($15.20) and a £25 ($38) annual subscription, entitling you to join a production as an actor.

There are many more like these three, from the wonderful to the wacky, and on to the just plain weird. Google “London community theatres” and follow your nose, and in the meantime, here are a few details on these three.

Acting Classes.

All types of acting classes and film acting courses are another effective networking opportunity for actors, especially as some drama schools, universities with acting and film programs, and colleges have their own production departments who regularly have something to offer actors.

Here on Acting in London website, many other writers have covered this topic before and provided a lot of helpful pieces on London acting courses and classes, but it’s just a selection of the better-known ones.

On top of what has already been mentioned, there are many smaller classes, some affiliated with fringe theatres or drama clubs that can be used for finding more acting jobs in London.

Our drama clubs list of 75 locations, no less, has quite a few suggestions. All the links are included and are up-to-date.

Having started this piece with an awful warning about the fact that actors need to pay for play, I hope that by now your despair has lifted. The acting world is known for its resourcefulness, so apply that attribute to this short overview and you’ll be on your way, paid or not.

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