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If you are like most people planning to move to New York, you're thinking Broadway theater or dance, but New York has more to offer the talented performer. As a center for film and television production, New York produces a substantial percentage of the nation's on-camera commercials and voice-overs, in addition to the numerous soap operas, films, and television series that use New York as their home base.With all this opportunity, you may think it's pretty easy to land a job and be discovered. You would be wrong. Tens of thousands of actors, dancers, models, and singers call New York home. The competition is tough and the stakes are high. Your competitors may have years of training and experience. How can you turn the odds in your favor? How can you avoid the most common mistakes newcomers to New York make every day? By being knowledgeable. Read on to learn how you can make the move at the time that is right for you.
Timing is important. Too many people move to New York too soon. Their skills have not been developed to a competitive level. Energy, excitement, bravado, and an eagerness to fly by the seat of your pants can lead to disappointment. A positive attitude can help, but a positive attitude is no substitute for knowing what you are doing.Taking part in community theater and school productions in your locale can help build a foundation in acting and performance. It is a start. By the very nature of the audition process at the local level, you learn about competition and gain insights into technique. Confidence will come from familiarity with this process.Study, then study some more. Another way to get the skill, confidence, and training you need is to study in New York City. Several colleges and conservatory schools in the New York metropolitan area are renowned for their specialized programs in theater, film, and television. Training in New York City has distinct advantages that allow you to get the lay of the land and gain knowledge of the city, the industry, and the competition while you are studying. In essence, you leave such programs and join the work force in familiar territory, ahead of the pack coming in from out of state.A good program should have acting technique at its core. It should build upon technique, layering in performance skills in a variety of settings. There should be an emphasis on three main areas: your physical life, addressed in movement for actors (not dance); your vocal life, addressed in voice classes; and your emotional life, addressed in acting technique and improvisation. The objective of any good program is to enhance the performer's ability to behave believably under imaginary circumstances.
The waiting game. What can you reasonably expect once you've finished your training? Assuming you are like most young performers, you will need three years to get established in New York — by established, I mean that agents, managers, and casting directors know who you are and what you can do. Getting into their offices requires tools like pictures, resumes, and cover letters (subjects for a separate article). In the meantime, you will spend your spare time honing your craft in Master Classes and advanced training while you work at a survival job in order to live in or close to the city.Paying your dues. Which leads us to the next mistake people make: poor financial planning. You will need to be making money. Otherwise, the savings you planned to live on will run out. Your job needs to have flexibility to allow for auditions. But be careful. If you are going to serve as a waiter or bartender in one of the thousands of restaurants or bars in the city, make sure you can work the shifts that will allow you time to sleep and to take care of yourself. There are hundreds of stories of actors who have gotten sidetracked by the glitz and glamour of New York City nightlife.Several temporary agencies can help you find work in word processing, tech support, and secretarial positions. Many of these temp jobs will let you work the weekend and evening shifts that will allow time for you to study and audition. You need a job that will support you; the rent for a Manhattan apartment can be very high. How much money you will need depends on the lifestyle you wish to keep. Deals can be found, and there are roommate services that can be of help, but financial stability often means living beneath your means.Nobody said it would be easy. Remember that it is show business. There is work that you will need to do — honing your craft, building your finances to a point that you can devote your time and energy to creative efforts, pounding the pavement in pursuit of jobs. It will be difficult. There will be people who make promises that they would like to keep, but cannot. There will be people who will seek to take advantage of you. Not everyone has your best interests at heart. But there will also be people available to counsel and guide you — those who support you and your dream.Be careful and be wise. Once you make the big step to move to New York, it can be challenging, frustrating, and annoying. Patience may run out. But, hopefully, your trust in yourself and in your training will see you through to the rewarding side of the equation.
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Photos of actual classes demonstrate the individual attention and group performance experience that students gain from the Film & TV Basics class in the SFT Summer in the City, Six-Week Program. |
Additional Showbiz ArticlesRead More Breaking into ShowbizSummer 2016 While the performance is what the audience will remember, it’s the homework done before the performance that actors cannot afford to forget. By Adam Hill
Spring 2016 Before you book your trip and pack your bags for your move to Los Angeles, make sure you’re covered in case your stardom takes time to achieve. By Adam Hill
Winter 2015 From the Mouths of Those Who Know... Sometimes the most important acting lessons can come straight from the legends and today’s stars themselves. By Adam Hill
Fall 2015 In order to overcome obstacles, you must be willing to ask yourselves the right questions that will help you get past them and master your craft. By Adam Hill
Summer 2015 The secret to becoming a movie star is never being afraid to leave Hollywood for the spotlight of the theatre. By Adam Hill
Spring 2015 Following your passion means finding a balance between the priorities of your daily life and taking the steps to achieve your goals. By Adam Hill
Winter 2014 If what you’re doing feels like work, you should learn new ways with which to enjoy it, so you can fully master your craft. By Adam Hill
Fall 2014 Just like actors, casting directors are talented individuals who should be respected and revered as such. By Adam Hill
Summer 2014 By first understanding what it is that your character’s dialogue means, you’ll better learn how to deliver your lines in a far more effective manner. By Adam Hill
Spring 2014 Knowing what it takes to succeed as an actor—in any medium—all comes down to having the confidence in yourself to pursue and achieve your goals. By Adam Hill
Winter 2013 By studying the backgrounds of the roles that we’re playing and looking at the actual person, actors and actresses can gain an edge in developing their own uniqueness. By Adam Hill
Fall 2013 When a child dreams of becoming a big star in the entertainment industry, focusing on that goal can actually open more options than expected. By Adam Hill
Summer 2013 Taking the right headshot is an important decision for any aspiring actor or model. By Adam Hill
Spring 2013 As children we learn to develop our creative skills, and to become a great actor it might just help to channel your youth. By Adam Hill
Winter 2012 Many people are familiar with the art of acting, but they’re lost when it comes to actually preparing and learning. By Adam Hill
Fall 2012 It’s fine to emulate the celebrities that you admire, but the most important thing you can do is embrace your own unique qualities. By Adam Hill
Summer 2012 Doing whatever it takes to be happy shouldn’t have to be an unreasonable goal for anyone in the entertainment industry. By Adam Hill
Spring 2012 The only thing we have to fear is fear itself... unless you can learn to conquer it and move on to success. By Adam Hill
Winter 2011 By simply working to achieve your dreams, you’re taking away your critics’ ability to call you a loser. By Adam Hill
Fall 2011 Off to Work you Go You could learn a lot about work ethic and a positive outlook by taking a page from Snow White’s Seven Dwarfs. By Adam Hill
Summer 2011 When we play characters we set goals for them, and that should be no different when it comes to our real lives. By Adam Hill
Spring 2011 A positive self esteem can go a long way in the entertainment industry, as long as you don’t let negativity get in your way. By Adam Hill
Winter 2010 When it comes to selecting an acting coach or teacher, there’s no true way to protect yourself from the phonies. By Adam Hill
Fall 2010 By acting like a professional, you’ll be able to win over entertainment professionals and achieve your career goals. By Adam Hill
Summer 2010 In order to achieve your dreams, you have to be willing to do whatever is necessary. By Adam Hill
Spring 2010 In the entertainment industry, success is only as strong as the bond between the talent and the supporting cast. By Jim Purdy
Winter 2009 If you're an actor, model or music artist, your success ultimately relies on your dedication and passion for being prepared. By Jim Purdy
Fall 2009 Jasmine Murray’s experience as Miss Mississippi’s Outstanding Teen helped prepare her for American Idol fame. By Ashley Burns
Spring 2009 It doesn’t matter which industry you’re looking to break into—if you don’t do your homework, you’ll find most doors are shut. By Tisha Savage
Summer 2008 Total success through self-confidence, personality and a rock solid delivery. By Lisa Maile
Winter 2007 Pageants can bring out the best in someone looking for an entertainment/showbiz-industry career, but they also can create a few initial pitfalls to success. Here’s how to deal with it. By Bob Luke
Fall 2007 Miss Teen USA 2003 Tami Farrell teaches lessons that all star-struck hopefuls should know by heart. By Tami Farrell, Miss Teen USA 2003
Summer 2007 By learning the art of competition through pageantry, Kristine W went from small-town Miss Washington to breaking Madonna’s record for consecutive hits atop the Billboard Club Play chart. By Scott Kearnan
Winter 2006 Breaking into Showbiz - Authoring Your Success As this pageant-savvy agent tells it, your Hollywood destiny rests in your own hands as well as with other key industry players. Knowing your part in the process can make all the difference. By Dawn Reese
Fall 2006 Breaking into Showbiz - The Nine School of success: Nine young breakthrough actors shine a reality spotlight on what it takes to fulfill dreams of becoming Hollywood stars. Their experience teaches lessons any up-and-coming performer can use.
Summer 2006 Every promising performing artist asks themself that single question. Our veteran SAG/AFTRA actor/instructor guides you toward the answer in this virtual classroom based on his own decades-long stage and screen career. By Perren Page
Spring 2006 Seeking success as a performer or model isn’t easy, right? This international runway model and actress knows just how you feel — and she’s grateful to teach you her success secrets. By Suzanne Von Schaack
Winter 2005 These women will tell you what the job is really all about... and how you can get started, too! By Cathrine Goldstein
Fall 2005 The ‘Instant Success’ of Tyler Patrick Jones A 7-year-old boy discovered at a birthday party becomes a major acting prodigy in a matter of months. By Martin Weiss
Summer 2005 The Career Can Wait Until You Educate We think we know actors and understand the mechanics of their profession. It looks glamorous and appealing. It looks effortless! It ain’t. By Konnie Kittrell
Spring 2005 Pop Music’s Woes Good News for New Acts Music-industry groove master Gary Haase explains why the record industry's song-downloading daze may provide the greatest chance in decades to spin the rock ’n’ roll roulette wheel — and win big! By Gary Haase
Winter 2004 Here We Come, Commercials, TV & Film! But How? A talent manager and specialist in child performers explains the teamwork needed to maximize a young star’s Hollywood success. By T.J. Stein
Fall 2004 How To Be a Beauty School Drop-in A Southern California-based beauty, education, and staffing expert offers her advice to those considering a career in makeup artistry. By Christina M. Kane
Summer 2004 Breaking Into Showbiz: A Master’s Class in Acting Throughout the 20th century, the actors’ art has had a number of innovative, if prickly, practitioners. Adam Hill advises you to learn from all of them. By Adam Hill |
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