Every actor, represented or freelance, has the responsibility of finding themselves work. Work can be found in the most obvious places and through people if you just look. I find that actors just want everything given to them instead of working for it - remember, this is still a business so you have to hustle.
REPRESENTED ACTORS
Actors with representation have to hustle just as hard as those who are freelancing because they have to earn their 90% cut. Remember, your rep only earns 10%, thus all they really have to do essentially is submit, look over contracts and that's it. That's their 10%. However because most of us love our jobs and our talent, we fight for our clients, we help our clients with marketing material, we set up meetings and coaches, classes and headshots and everything else under the sun because we know the struggle is real. So don't take your rep's generosity for granted, make sure you're contributing to your career because going to class and going to your auditions isn't enough.
WEBSITES
There are a number of dedicated websites which advertise work for performers all the time such as StarNow, Backstage.com & The Biz Book. Your local market will most likely have some as well - make sure you do a thorough search online to make sure you don't miss out on any opportunities.
NETWORK
* CLASS - If you're going to class regularly, the people in class whether it be a fellow actor, the teacher or even the receptionist may have contacts that you need. They may have read a brief that morning that you'd be perfect for. Make sure you talk to everyone in your classes - they may just let you know of an audition that you'd fit. And be nice to everyone - you never know where they'll end up or may already be. One day they may be a producer, a director, a choreographer, an agent or casting assistant. I personally have seen each one of these people in my acting classes throughout the years.
* COMMUNITY THEATRE - A lot of professionals started in community theatre and a few still do it between work. Again - get to know everyone in your local productions as they may be able to get you a brief, or if you're lucky enough - the job direct! It's all about using the relationships you already have to your advantage whilst still being genuine about them.
* BEHIND THE SCENES - You may have family, friends or strangers that you come across who are studying or working behind the scenes as part of the crew in a production company, behind the scenes in a theatre - be open to connecting to these people because their world is smaller than ours and chances are they know what productions are coming up in your local market so get in the know with them so you can keep your reps updated. Example: Last night I went to Officeworks (kind of like Staples in the US) to print off my webseries I just wrote in preparation for my first production meeting, and it turns out the guy who served me was studying writing and was about to graduate as a comedic writer. You can bet I took advantage of that situation and created a relationship with him talking about his studies, what he wanted to do and what my web series was about. Get out there and make connections.
Remember, this industry is more business than show and business is founded on relationships. Get out there and talk to people, be interested in them and be interested in their interests and in turn they will be interested in you. Foster those relationships and one day, they will pay off.
CHECKLIST:
- Have you got a profile on Starnow?
- Have you got a profile on Backstage (US)?
- Have you got a profile on The Biz Book (Australia)?
- Have you asked people in class?
- Have you asked people in your community theatre?
- Do you have anyone that works behind the scenes as part of the crew or in production?