the actor’s guide to breaking into a new market
So, you’ve decided on a new city to move to in the hopes of taking your acting career to the next level. This is exciting! Hopefully you’ve done plenty of research, consulted with trusted mentors, and made the right decision for your career. Now that the plans are in motion to move, what comes next? How can a total newcomer to a city break in, get connected, and set up for success? We’re going to break down the top tips you need to know to break into a new market with ease (and hopefully some fun, too).
I like to believe that luck happens when preparation meets opportunity, and that is the foundation of everything I’m going to suggest in this blog post. You have to be proactive. No one is going to do it for you. The day you move to your new market, you won’t have a party thrown in your honor and a line of casting directors excited to meet you at your front door. It just doesn’t work like that, but that’s okay.
The fact of the matter is, there are TONS of actors flooding to the major entertainment industry cities (LA, NYC, and Atlanta) to put their hat in the ring, to the point where many agents aren’t accepting anyone new at all. And if you do get an agent, the number of people being submitted for each audition often is in the thousands, then only 40 or 50 are requested to audition, and then maybe 3-6 are called back, and then one person books the role. It really puts things into perspective when you think about the numbers and the reality of just how difficult it is to get an agent, get an audition, and so on and so forth.
With that in mind, heck! Anyone would be a little nervous to move to a new acting market and begin to build their career there. Beyond being new to the city, you’re also trying to break into the market. The learning curve is typically pretty steep. Here are a few things I personally have found success with (or wish I did when I first moved to Atlanta). As always, take what works for you and leave the rest, but remember - it’s up to YOU to take initiative, get creative, and figure out the best plan of action for your career. Let’s dive in!
network
This is my number one suggestion for any actor moving to a new city. The term “networking” might seem obvious to you or like a massive category that you don’t know what to do with. For actors, there are a few different avenues to take, and I suggest exploring all of them. You have to remember that there are a TON of different groups within your city. Certain pockets of professionals tend to stick together- be it by acting studio, production team, friend group, or whatever. So you want to do your best to learn about and meet all of these groups, not just the first one to be friendly towards you.
Networking for actors is vital. It not only can introduce you to new friends, but you can get on the radar of agents and managers, casting directors, production members, and learn about what’s going on in your new market. In my opinion, it’s a win-win-win situation. While the art of networking well is a whole other conversation, I’m going to share a few ideas of the types of networking and events you should look out for when trying to break into a new market.
take class
I don’t care if you’ve been taking class for 20 years and already feel like a total pro. While hopefully you’ll leave a class having learned something or finessed your acting skills, acting classes are useful for so much more than that! The acting teacher and every single one of your classmates are members of your new market’s acting community. You all will be meeting with one another the same time every week for several weeks. It’s the perfect opportunity to broaden your network AND let your community get a taste of what you do. So many of my classmates and I have partnered up to create our own content or support one another by forwarding opportunity information down the road.
attend parties and events
You might be thinking, “But Alison! I only just moved here! How will I know about parties and events!?”. Great question. Use the power of social media to figure out what’s happening. Start by searching for local acting studios and organizations in your city on Facebook and Instagram. Check out their Events page to see what they might be hosting. Then do a general search for industry-related events in your city. Another idea is to check out the events that an acting friend might have checked “Going” to and following the rabbit hole from there.
support local productions
Support your local community by taking the time to show up to their productions. Many actors and studios are part of theatre, improv, stand-up, readings, and other live performances throughout the year. This is a great opportunity to expand your network, support your local arts, and let other actors know that you’re a team player. In many cases, there are also after-parties or opportunities to connect with the cast post-show.
create opportunities to connect
You can also take networking into your own hands! Invite a friend-of-a-friend out to coffee to pick their brain on the market. Book a career consultation with a local coach you’re interested in. Plan an outing with some new classmates. Offer to be a reader for auditions. Get creative and be giving of your time and energy to others in order to get to know the folks in your community!
do your research
New market means a new cast of key players to get to know. You need to know the names and faces of folks you might be networking with, taking class from, working with on a set, and so on. This will help dictate the choices you make in-person and online to show up as your best self. Do you research to get the lay of the land of who the power players are in your market. That means:
Casting directors
Agents
Shows shooting in your market
Directors on the shows in your market
Production companies
Acting coaches
Other actors
Utilize Google, IMDb Pro, Actors Access, and friends to get your information. Follow any of these folks who have social media presence. Many of them offer advice, networking opportunities, and casting tips on social media! This can be so helpful when understanding the lay of the land and making strategic decisions for your acting career.
feel all the feelings
The life of an actor is not glamorous or fun all the time. It’s not easy. You will feel a lot of feelings as you work to establish yourself in a new market. There will be highs and a lot of lows. Sometimes those doubts and fears and feelings of hopelessness will creep in. Some days we doubt our abilities, our looks, our ‘why’. Sometimes we feel the full weight of the mental, physical and emotional exhaustion and it is crushing. I get it. I’ve been there, too!
I vividly remember moving to a new market. I had a few days where I just totally melted down and cried about it. It was mostly frustrated tears. But they were tears. Gross and angry. I knew that I had a talent worth sharing with the world, I knew that I had been training and that I was ready and that feeling of shouting into the void was just overwhelming. Anyone relate?
My best advice; let yourself have those moments. Talk it out with your friends. As an artist community we should be there to support one another in the hard times and help each other stay motivated and hopeful. There might be some days and weeks where you need to check out and take a step back to regroup and gather your strength before jumping back in to continue the fight. That’s okay! As long as you hold on to your ‘why’ and the gut feeling that there is a place for you in this industry. Allow yourself to feel those feelings. They need to be released before you can move forward and choose love over fear. (Pro tip: enlist the help of a licensed therapist if you need to! No shame in that game and they often will save you so much time and extended hardship).
learn how to market yourself
A new market is often a chance for a new first impression. A chance to reevaluate your personal brand and your acting materials. First, you should absolutely make sure that your headshots are market-appropriate and competitive and that your casting websites are up-to-date and appropriately formatted. From there, you should leverage the power of marketing to help your efforts of making a name for yourself in your new market! Additionally, marketing can help with your search for representation, getting on the radar of casting directors, and growing a following online.
This can include strategies like social media, websites, targeted content creation, networking savvy, and landing publicity opportunities. You’ll want to develop a plan of attack for each of these areas to move your brand forward and help you break through the competition.
Sounds overwhelming? I get it. For many actors it is, simply because marketing is an entirely different industry than acting. However, it’s still a vital skill to develop. If you want to save time and stress in this department, I’d love to work with you! As a marketing consultant I offer online courses and coaching for actors who want to expand their careers through marketing techniques. You can check out the Courses tab to get started.
create your own content
When moving to a new market, you might get an agent quickly or you might not. That means that you may have a ton of auditions, or barely any at all. Regardless of your representation or audition status, you should always be creating. In an industry where so much is out of our control, you should be excited to hear that creating your own content is something that is entirely within your control! Shift your focus from all the things you CAN’T do or DON’T have to all the opportunities you DO have and can pursue more deeply BECAUSE of your free time.
The way the industry works now in the digital age means that actors have no excuse to not create their own content. Write and perform in a sketch or short film. Perform your own stand-up set. Work on writing a screenplay. Create a social media mini-series. Show off videos of you performing some of your special skills. Create a podcast. Develop a Youtube vlog. Learn how to play an instrument or a new dialect. Whatever interests you creatively, go for it!
Having those passion projects as your focus is incredibly helpful because it not only keeps you busy and distracted from worrying about the uncontrollables of the industry, but they’re also beneficial to your career overall. You can start building awareness of your talent, continue to network, and reignite your sense of purpose and confidence in your talent.
manage your expectations
This sh*t takes time, folks. The overnight success stories are not the norm, no matter how talented or well-connected you are. I encourage you to throw out any time-frames you established for yourself to “get an agent”, “book a TV show”, or “make it big”. Why? Those are not things within your control and you cannot (and should not) make goals that are not within your control. Those sound like wonderful things to set intentions and manifestations around, but do not make them the measure of your success in your new acting market.
You will set yourself up for success by managing your expectations and creating smart goals. Focus on growing your skills, deepening your personal connections, nailing your auditions, creating content and a brand you’re proud of. Those things are goals that can lead to your manifested dreams. I find many actors have emotional breakdowns that stem from mismanaged expectations. Utilize a career coach if you need assistance crafting actionable goals to get you closer to your big dreams.
7 things to keep in mind
At the end of the day, everyone’s journey is different, and certain strategies work better for others. However, I fully believe that these 7 keys are important for every single actor to remember as they embark on the winding road of becoming a working actor.
You truly are the CEO of your career.
Don’t let desperation cause you to sign with the first agent who offers you. Wait for the right agent for you if you need to.
There is always something you can do to better your career.
Going through trials is a great way to reaffirm why you’re an actor. Do you still love it even after the hard days?
Surrounding yourself with good people should always be a priority.
Patience and peace are invaluable to an acting career. Be proactive in your personal growth and mental and physical wellness. It’s a marathon, not a sprint.
Laugh more. At yourself, at the ridiculousness of the industry, at how much fun you’re having getting to do what you love. Infuse more ‘play’ into your life and career.
