ajit verghese

Advice

Great advice from a friend and fellow Georgetown Alum Alison Becker. While Alison wrote this with acting in mind, I think this is a great piece of writing for every aspiring entrepreneur.

Follow your dreams. Live the life you want. I’m sure as hell trying.

Go Al Becks!

alisonbecker:

I am not uber famous. I am not wealthy. But I have been supporting myself as a comedic actor (and writer) - with no other means of income - for over five years now. I’m proud of this.

I get a surprising amount of emails from people - mostly in college - who would like advice on a career in acting, comedy, or entertainment in general. I try to write back to each of these people, because when I was at that stage in my life, advice on this stuff was so hard to come by. 

So, here’s what I usually tell people who ask me “How do I become a working actor?”

1 - Move. If you want to do this, you’ve got to make a move to New York or Los Angeles. If you’re interested in comedy, Chicago is another option.

2 - Train. You’ve got to take classes. Do your research. Ask around. Go see shows at different theatres and see what matches your style. In the LA comedy scene, for example, there’s IO West, Groundlings, or UCB (which is my comedic home). But everyone’s different. In New York, there’s UCB, of course. In the world of drama, there’s a million different places to train. Stella Alder and Atlantic are two. But many people may not vibe with the way they teach. So pick something that works for you. Also, at the end of many acting or commercial classes, you get to audition for an agent or a casting director. I know tons of people that got their commercial agents this way!

3 - Perform. Yes, you need headshots. But getting an agent is really about the work you do. Grab a copy of Backstage and audition for some small plays. (That’s what I did!) You’ll get experience (and credits for your resume!), and you can invite agents to see shows. Want to be a stand-up? Do open mics. There are a ton! 

4 - Make. When you take classes and perform in shows, you will meet other people who want to create. Find someone you like and write something together. Then, put it up. Better yet, shoot your own videos and get them online. You don’t need great production value. I’ve seen some really funny stuff shot on a Flip camera. Remember, people like Andy Samberg got “discovered” from online shorts. Also, when you become involved in the comedy scene at a theater, you’ll meet aspiring directors, writers, editors, and other actors. Together, you can pool (or even barter) your services and create something amazing. When I was first starting out, I met a famous actor who gave me some good advice. He told me to put a reel together. When I asked how to get work for the reel he said, “Do student films.” So, I offered my services at some film schools in New York, and I did a few student films. Most of them weren’t great. But, I got footage for my first reel, and more importantly, I learned my way around a set.

5 - Work. Not many people know this, but when I was working on my first TV show, Boiling Points, I was also working a full time job in an office. Forty hours a week. I’d shoot the show in the evenings, on weekends, or during vacation days. I also bartended sometimes. And, I was performing in an improv group, as well as writing and performing with a sketch group. I didn’t sleep much, but I knew I couldn’t quit my day job until I had enough money saved. Unless you’re a trust fund kid (eff you), you need to work. But don’t lose sight of your path. Make sure you’re still taking classes and performing whenever you’re free. There’s something to be said for leaving a job to “pursue your dream.”  But there’s something else to be said for paying your rent. Don’t get me wrong, working this much is hard. This whole path is hard. There will be nights when your college friends are going out, but you can’t because you’re rehearsing. There will be nights that your roommate asks to have a drink, and you can’t afford a beer because you’re saving up for headshots. So, ask yourself: Is this what I want to do?

One other final note: this advice comes from the path that I took. Your path may be different. There were times when this was really hard. There were times (YEARS!) when I didn’t sleep and felt like I’d get nowhere. But there were also times when I’d be sharing a beer with my comedy troupe, or performing onstage getting a great laugh, or reaching a new milestone, like my first booking, that felt pretty great. I still get scared sometimes. But I set realistic goals. And even though it wasn’t easy, I find that working hard for so long in New York made me appreciate every small victory so much more. Sure, some people get lucky and don’t put in much time. But I will always know that I paid my dues. And, with every job I take, I will always be thankful for the free lunch.