Acting Is a Job

Tough love for the uninitiated actor meets from-the-trenches guide for working and aspiring actors in this young, hip look at the demanding acting profession. A working actor shares his “day player” insight to the hilarity and heartbreak of a thespian trying to find work. Readers will get an unvarnished overview of the state of the business of live theater and film and television; pitfalls (and values) of type casting; what to expect before, during, and after an actor training program; the grunt work of starting a career; actors’ experiences with agents, managers, and casting directors; a day in the life of an actor looking for work; tips for how to keep going in the face of constant rejection; and much more. Actors will learn what they need to know the first day on the set and how to cope with the economic realities of life as an actor. Success stories and myth-shattering anecdotes from the front lines bring a personal, intriguing tone to this guide. Whether one is just starting out, trying to build career momentum, or trying to explain to mom what it means to be an “under-five,” this is the backstage guide to the acting trade that everyone must read.