How to Start Acting in L.A: Your Top Questions Answered

Co-authored by Lesly Kahn, MFA and Hunter Rising

Last Updated: August 25, 2021 References

Has it ever been your dream to star in the next big show or movie out of Hollywood? While a lot of people come out to LA for acting and it can be a difficult business, there are still a lot of ways you can prepare to boost your chances of getting auditions and landing roles. We’ll cover some of your most common questions so you get off to a good start. Break a leg!

Question 1 of 8:

How do I get into acting with no experience?

1
Read up on acting technique and show business. If you’ve never acted before, you can easily start developing your craft at home. Look for books that talk about the acting business, marketing, and talent agents so you have a better understanding of how the industry works. To expand your mind and focus on technique, read through books about imagination, creativity, and acting theory.^{[1]
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- You can also start reading plays and scripts and try acting out monologues or scenes on your own.
2
Take some acting classes to hone your skills. Acting classes help you explore techniques you wouldn’t have tried before and develop skills you can incorporate into your performances. You can find short intensive courses or go to a class that meets every week. Ask other people you know if they have recommendations or search for classes near you online.^{[2]
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- Be cautious paying for expensive masterclasses when you’re starting off since you still need to work on your fundamentals.
- You can also find intensives that specialize in certain skills, such as auditioning or acting in commercials.
- If you haven't moved to LA yet, try auditioning for regional theater roles so you can get experience as an actor.^{[3]
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  Expert Source
  
  Lesly Kahn, MFA
  Acting Teacher & Coach
  Expert Interview. 12 May 2020.}

Question 2 of 8:

What do actors do for money when not acting?

Find flexible hours at restaurants or temp gigs to cover your expenses. Acting can be a tough business to break into, but you shouldn’t let that discourage you from your dreams. In between acting gigs, look for jobs as a server, bartender, driver for a rideshare service, or virtual assistant so you can cover the cost of living. You can also try looking at temp agencies to see if there are any openings.^{[4]
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- You can also try working as a tour guide at a theme park, a character at parties, or as a babysitter or nanny.
- Make sure you have a job where you can adjust your hours if you need to make it to an audition.

Question 3 of 8:

How do actors get noticed?

1
Make social media pages so you can promote yourself and network. If you want people to find you easily, start building up your online presence early. Create accounts on sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram so you can share your work and build a following. Connect with other actors, directors, writers, and people in the industry so you can start networking with them as well.^{[5]
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- You can also make a professional website for yourself that has videos of your work and your resume.
- Create new content regularly to boost your chances of catching someone's eye!^{[6]
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  Expert Source
  
  Lesly Kahn, MFA
  Acting Teacher & Coach
  Expert Interview. 12 May 2020.}
- Try to post frequently and interact with other people so you can connect with more opportunities.
2
Build up your acting credits in plays and short films. While they may not be big Hollywood productions, you can still get experience on set and improve your acting skills. Try checking independent theaters or film departments at universities to see if there are any roles that you can audition for and add to your resume.^{[7]
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- Treat smaller acting gigs as seriously as you would with bigger ones. You can still use the footage in a showreel to help you land larger opportunities.

Question 4 of 8:

Where can I find auditions in LA?

Look through casting call websites to find roles you’d be a good fit for. Check on websites like Actors Access, Backstage, LA Casting, or Mandy for recent casting calls to see what types of roles are auditioning. Each role has a description for what they want the actor to portray, so look for auditions that match your physical description. Look for the contact information or casting call location on the post so you can audition.^{[8]
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- You might be able to find casting call groups on social media.

Question 5 of 8:

What happens at an acting audition?

During your audition, you’ll have to perform and read for the part. If you’re given the part beforehand, try to rehearse as many of your lines as you can and practice. If it’s a general audition, prepare an acting monologue that showcases your skills. Greet everyone in the room and perform your lines. Make clear choices with how you want to portray the character, but be flexible if the casting director asks you to try something new on the fly.^{[9]
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- Auditions can be really nerve-wracking at first, but you’ll keep building confidence as you do more.
- Always bring a headshot and resume to your audition to help the casting director remember who you are.
- If you’re doing an audition at home due to COVID, you may film a self-tape or audition over a video call.^{[10]
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Question 6 of 8:

What makes a good acting headshot?

Look professional and have the photo’s main focus be on your face. Your headshot is the first thing casting directors look at, so think of it almost like a job interview. When you take the photos, avoid wearing busy patterns, bright colors, or accessories other than glasses since you want the most attention drawn to your face and eyes.^{[11]
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Research source} Wearing something like a t-shirt, a collared button-down shirt, or a plain blouse with a jacket works great.^{[12]
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- Get 8 in × 10 in (20 cm × 25 cm) copies of your pictures since that’s the standard size you’ll need.
- Remember to take some new headshots every time you update your look so you don’t surprise casting directors.
- If you want to act in TV or commercials, take commercial headshots where you smile and have brighter backdrops. For a theater or dramatic headshot, use a darker backdrop and have a more serious and professional tone.

Question 7 of 8:

How do I find my first agent for acting?

Send submission packets to agents representing the roles you want. Agents are really important for making connections and finding you potential roles. Look for agencies that are affiliated with SAG-AFTRA to ensure that they’re reputable and represent other successful clients. Include your showreel of work, current headshots, and your acting resume in your packet. Attach your packet along with a cover letter to an email and send it to the agent.^{[13]
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- Some of the biggest agencies you can submit to in Los Angeles include Creative Artists Agency (CAA), International Creative Management, United Talent Agency (UTA), and William Morris Endeavor (WME).
- Try to focus on creating social media content and auditioning for roles on your own before you worry about getting an agent or manager. That way, you'll be more likely to attract quality representation.^{[14]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Lesly Kahn, MFA
  Acting Teacher & Coach
  Expert Interview. 12 May 2020.}

Question 8 of 8:

Do I have to move to LA to become an actor?

You can act and train locally, but you’ll find bigger roles in LA. Los Angeles can be an expensive city to live in and it’s really competitive, so you can always save money by acting in local productions.^{[15]
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Research source} However, LA lets you meet the other people in the industry and opens the door to a lot more opportunities you might not have otherwise.^{[16]
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- Make sure you actually enjoy acting and want to pursue it long-term before making the commitment to come out to a big city.

Community Q&A
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Question

How do you market yourself as an actor on social media?

Lesly Kahn, MFA
Acting Teacher & Coach
Lesly Kahn is an acting teacher and coach based in Los Angeles, California. She is the founder and owner of Lesly Kahn & Company, Actor Training, which focuses on preparing actors for employment in film, television and theatre. With well over 30 years of experience, Ms. Kahn has coached hundreds of actors who have become household names. She also ran the BFA Program in Acting at Marymount Manhattan College, and worked in television as well as New York and regional theatre. Lesly holds a BFA from New York University and an MFA from The Yale School of Drama.

Lesly Kahn, MFA

Acting Teacher & Coach

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

Create accounts for your acting brand on all of the social media platforms. Then, post new content regularly to help your feeds get noticed.
Question

Should I get an agent right away?

Lesly Kahn, MFA
Acting Teacher & Coach
Lesly Kahn is an acting teacher and coach based in Los Angeles, California. She is the founder and owner of Lesly Kahn & Company, Actor Training, which focuses on preparing actors for employment in film, television and theatre. With well over 30 years of experience, Ms. Kahn has coached hundreds of actors who have become household names. She also ran the BFA Program in Acting at Marymount Manhattan College, and worked in television as well as New York and regional theatre. Lesly holds a BFA from New York University and an MFA from The Yale School of Drama.

Lesly Kahn, MFA

Acting Teacher & Coach

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

No—focus on becoming a really great actor first, because it's better if a really great agent or manager notices you. If your craft is already great and you're not getting anyone's attention, try creating content until you get noticed.

Warnings

It can be really discouraging if you’re turned down for a role, but that’s a normal thing that all actors go through. Work toward embracing rejection and you’ll find the right role for you.

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