Acting Jobs in my Area
It is not a secret that actors can have more challenges to finding work than people who work at other professions. Actors often need to rely on agents, producers, directors and writers to be hired for acting roles. There are different types of opportunities available to work as a performer if you actively search for them. It is also a good idea not to impose too many restrictions on yourself about the type of performance roles you would be willing to accept.
If you enjoy making people laugh and you have a fondness for children, you should consider working as a party clown. Clowns are usually in huge demand to perform at parties for children and at events for charities. The amount of money that clowns can make is nothing to laugh at! Some clowns can make up to and above $100,000 per year if they market themselves well and are in constant demand. Being a clown can also be a fun job because the purpose of the job is to make people laugh and enjoy themselves. If you decide to work as a clown you can freelance and secure your own clients. You can also choose to work for entertainment companies that will train you on how to become a clown and help you to secure gigs.
Medical students need to prepare for the roles of one day working as doctors, but until they are officially licensed as doctors, medical students cannot work on real live patients. It is common for medical schools to hire actors to act as patients for the purpose of the medical students gaining practical experience. The actors are assigned their roles by an overseer from the medical school and the medical students must assist the “patient” under the watchful eye of their instructors. This program is called the Standardized Patient Program and several hospitals and universities in North America participate in it. Acting experience is not always required to work in the Standardized Patient Program, however, having acting experience can help increase your chances of getting hired.
If you feel that you have great comedic timing and you want to try your hand at making people laugh, stand-up comedy might be a route that you would benefit from taking. Many comedians have turned their talents for telling jokes in to lucrative television show opportunities and movie deals. Roseanne Barr and Jerry Seinfeld both started out as comedians in their local areas before gaining their own television shows. Many other comedians have experienced similar luck. Find a few comedy clubs in your local areas and ask the managers to let you perform on stage one night. Comedians are also hired to work on cruise ships, at conventions and at private parties.
Dinner theaters are musicals and or plays that are put on in front of an audience who is eating while enjoying the show. Dinner theater companies sometimes showcase performances with well-known professional performers and at other times, amateur performers are showcased. Working on stage at dinner theaters can be very fun and could provide a somewhat steady source of income. Dinner theaters have resurged in popularity since the year 2000, and many large communities have them. If you have musical talent and can sing and play an instrument, performing at local nightclubs, church plays and venues can lead to paying jobs. These job experiences look good on resumes too.
Hiring an agent can help you to gain more jobs in the acting and performance industries in your area. Whether you act in television and radio commercials advertising local restaurants and businesses, or you perform at local clubs, every minute of performance experience you can gain will help you to perfect your skills. Most communities support the arts and are eager to attend musical and theater events featuring local talent. Your local city hall should have information about theater groups in your area. The Internet can also be a handy tool to help you find performing jobs and groups in your local area to apply to. Many groups and organizations have their own websites and they also post information about auditions on other websites like Craigslist.com. New York City, London and Los Angeles are not the only cities where people can work as performers. You can find fulfilling and well-paying performing and acting jobs right where you live.