Dreaming about a rewarding career in acting is great, however making that dream a reality in Madison, Wisconsin seems more possible. Madison, Wisconsin holds a lot of promise and possibilities for an actor or actress that is just starting their career. Go in with the mindset that a successful career does not happen overnight and you will have to work hard and have true dedication to mastering your craft to help make your dreams of success come true; while making opportunities for yourself with learning skills and honing any natural talent you may already have.
There is no one perfect way to becoming an actor or actress other than maybe having a good work ethic and the determination to see things through and put in your best effort and thensome. However, it does help to train to become an actor or actress. There are no formal educational requirements for actors, but training is a good place to start. If you are a student in Madison, Wisconsin, consider getting a BFA or MFA (Bachelors of Fine Arts or Master of Fine Arts) in theatre or attending summer programs; otherwise, local acting classes and schools can be the best choice for most people.
Also as you start out in Madison, Wisconsin it is good to go ahead and prepare your headshot, acting resume and a demo reel. Agents will take these things and put them into their database so casting directors and production managers can see you and determine if they think you are a good fit before they reach out to your agent to schedule and audition and these things can be helpful too if you are working on your own at first and do not have the aid of an agent. Casting directors often require you to submit these materials before they even consider you for roles.
Make sure you are submitting to auditions and casting calls, early in your career you will find these through the agent you are working with, but also through word of mouth as you start working on your network in Madison, Wisconsin. It is important that you find ways to gain experience to improve your resume and reel. As you audition and land more roles, you will acquire better footage for your reel and better parts to list on your resume.
Of course one of the easier methods you could use before even doing anything else we have discussed is to get yourself a good agent or even if you have already landed a couple of roles, the experience that you have built up in Madison, Wisconsin will help you impress an acting agent and get representation. With an agent in your corner, this will help you have access to bigger projects and meatier roles.
It is also important that you are prepared for the reality of this business in Madison, Wisconsin. As an actor, there is no guarantee that success in the traditional sense will come your way. Sure, making it big is about talent–but it is also about having good luck and the right connections. That is why it is vital to make sure you are in show business for the right reasons. Often actors are mainly focused on questions like, “How do I get representation?” or “How do I get work?” but perhaps the first question to ask oneself, if one is just beginning, is “Why do I want to act?” If it is about the work and the process, terrific; if it is about becoming famous, that is a far more elusive goal and one which will lead to disappointment, most likely.
You will need patience and perspective if you are going to make it as an actor. Never, ever look at the prize, that is something that you can not control. What you can control is the work ethic and treating the material with respect. Expect to put in years of hard work before you see the real, tangible results. Rejection is a constant and yes that goes even for more established actors. So make sure you are ready to handle a long string of “nos” before finally landing that amazing gig in Madison, Wisconsin.
