1. Be a Smart Actor

Whether you realize it or not, acting is a business. And in this business that you’re trying to set up, YOU are the product that you are trying sell. The fact is that you are entering into a very competitive field where there is already a lot of similar — but not the same — kind of product. This means that you CAN succeed, but you need to plan well.

Just like with any other start-up business, in order to be successful you need to lay out your future steps in front of you. That is what smart actors of today do. Sillier ones follow the oversold publicity-stunt stories of famous actors moving to major cities with $100 in their pockets and becoming overnight successes.

What they don’t tell you is how many thousands of actors FAILED on the very same journey. Don’t get sucked into that!

When you get in a car, you know two things: where you are going, and how you are going to get there. You’re not driving blindly around town hoping to finally bump into the store you need. This concept should be applied to your acting career. You can’t get to where you want to be if you don’t know how you’re getting there.

Business plan for your acting career is a number of small goals you want to accomplish, possible deadlines (only if that helps), and plenty of research and knowledge.

2. Things to Consider

 

Before you even start thinking numbers, days, money and options, there are a few questions that you need to answer. You must be brutally honest with yourself in order to clarify your future long-term goals.

  • How will acting fit in your current way of life?
  • Are you going to do it as a hobby or a profession?
  • What part of acting are you interested in (film, TV, stage, etc.)?
  • Where do you see yourself in 4 years from now?
  • What do you currently need to achieve your goal (training, money, etc.)?
  • Will your friends and family support your journey?
  • Do you have the means to pursue your dream?
  • Can you afford not having a steady income for years to come?
  • What kind of a survival job are you thinking of getting?
  • Will you be able to afford rent, classes, gas, etc.?
  • Do you have connections within the industry?
  • Are you good at networking with business people?
  • Is there anything else that you would rather do than acting?

These are just SOME of the questions that you should ask yourself while writing out your plan. Every answer might stir you in another direction. However, right now you might not have the necessary knowledge to answer part of them intelligently. Write down all of the questions you come up with, but don’t answer — you’ll get back to them later.

Your first priority is to research and educate yourself on the subject at hand here. How much it’s going to cost? How much time it’s going to take? What are the chances of success? Do you have to move to another city? How much is the rent, classes, workshops, transport in that city? They are all answered right here.

Here’s the deal: once you’ve done your due diligence, you will either get encouraged by the challenge or scared of it. But remember this — if acting is your one and true passion, are you going to be able to live with REGRET for the rest of your life that you did not pursue your dream? Think about it every time you feel discouraged.

3. What To Do

Enough with the questions — it’s time for some answers.

An actor’s “business plan”, while a real thing, resembles a standard “to-do list”. However, it still remains a serious document, as your life depends on in (literally). You are going to have to come up with your own list, but I’ll start you off with some very broad tasks (break them down into smaller ones).

First, You Need to Read

Read about acting craft, business, people, methods, jobs, experiences, etc. Having all the necessary knowledge before jumping into the pool of clueless but experienced competition will give you some advantage.

There are a lot of relevant books out there. Some of them are great, others are a complete waist of time and money. Since the website you’re currently reading this article on is FREE, I suggest you read everything here first. Not only will it answer most of your questions — you’ll also learn about what acting books are worth buying.

By the way, we’ve got an eBook of our own for you to check out right here (it’s FREE, of course!)

Second, Do Your Research

Internet is the greatest invention since Gutenberg, so use it. Using the search engine like Google, you can find answers to almost any question you have. Just don’t forget that not every website out there tells the truth.

Research people and places in your town, find out who’s casting that production being filmed a block away from you. Learn about local acting classes, workshops, theatres, clubs, agencies and casting offices.

Also, in case you’ve missed it, social media has really taken off in the last 5 years. Almost everybody is using one social network or the other, or maybe all of them (obnoxious!) You can even find me there, in case you have some specific questions (you’ll need to become a friend first, and go through some grueling testing). But most importantly, get in touch with industry folks!

Third, Act On It

After you’ve read some books and done plenty of research, it’s time to take action. What is your next step going to be? Where are you going to start? Are you getting some community theatre experience, auditioning for an acting teacher or applying to a drama school? Maybe you’ve decided to write your own script, direct and produce it?

Based on your new found knowledge, education and experience, I trust you’re going to make a reasonable decision.

4. Business Plan

So why not to actually write it? I believe this will help you to stay on track, so definitely give it a shot. Have you noticed how our Actor’s Guide is structured? You can try to use it on a business plan for your acting career.

Here’s an example of your possible “Table of Contents”:

Chapter 1: Research

  • Internet Research
    – Acting in London
    – The Stage
    – Google
  • Books
    – Acting in London eBook
    – Acting for Dummies
  • People
    – Friends who are actors
    – Smalltime agents on Facebook

Chapter 2: Training

…and so on. Then go deeper into every section and write down websites, names, addresses and things like such. Approach it seriously, like a real business, because it really is one. You might not believe me now, but you’ll understand it better once you’ve pursued your dream for at least a couple of years.

I don’t need to tell you NOT to write a business plan for your acting career for the upcoming 20 years, do I? If you do, then you might as well sell it as a novel. Stick to just one year first, and update it later. But always keep the ultimate goal — the prize for the struggle — in your mind.

This industry is very unpredictable and you never know what might stir you into a different direction. A lot of the things might change during the course of just one year: your perspective on this career, on life, on your goals. Your financial situation might also be different in one year.

Don’t forget to include small tasks that you want and need to accomplish. It could be for a day, week or a month, but they are an essential part of the bigger picture.

Keep your business plan close to you: on your computer desktop or maybe even print it out. Occasionally revise it, make sure your career is progressing and you’re accomplishing things. YOU are the product, and you need to make sure that your product is always in good shape, well maintained and is getting ready to be sold to the public.