"Yes," she said, "my father insisted on it."
"Are you glad?" I asked.
"I sure am. But I hated it at the time. I said, 'Dad, you don't understand. I'm going to be an actor.' He said, 'I understand, but take the word processing course first.' It's a good thing he made me do it, or I don't know how I'd eat. I spend nine-tenths of my time working as a secretary and one-tenth acting."
This young lady's experience is typical--typical of the lucky ones, that is. For, too often, actors and actresses have been so anxious to grab the theatre by the throat that they have not taken the time to prepare themselves for survival when the going gets rough.
Survival is an actor's greatest problem, unless he or she has inherited wealth or has wealthy parents so indulgent as to provide stakes indefinitely. Even the noted actor, the late Ralph Bellamy, recalling his early days as an actor, remembered how his savings soon vanished, and "I was faced, quite literally, with starvation. One morning, after having had nothing to eat for 24 hours, I was reduced to stealing milk from doorsteps...."
At a parents' meeting at New York's High School of Performing Arts, a veteran actor once expressed the view that a college education was essential to a theatrical career, "because when you decide to give up the theatre, you'll be qualified for another job." He was speaking on the subject of "A Career in Theatre." The title was a misnomer, he said. "Rather, the subject should be, 'The Lack of a Career in the Theatre and Why You Need a College Education.'"
None of this is very encouraging. It isn't intended to be. But it is enlightening, and we may profit from it. For the foregoing statements reiterate several things: survival in the theatre is difficult-success, more difficult still; you must plan for a long period of no acting jobs while you try to establish yourself; you must have other skills that will enable you to earn a living when you aren't working as an actor; if possible, get a college or business education-don't be in such a rush to act that you gamble with your entire future.
As a beginning actor in New York or Hollywood, you should start with at least enough money to keep you going for six months without additional income. Not only will you have to support yourself, but you will need extra money to make such necessary business investments as telephone, answering service, lessons, trade publications, pictures, resumes, and probably one of the published performers' directories.
A Brief Word about these Directories
There are two main directories of performers, one published in New York, one in Los Angeles. (In addition, many locals of AFTRA publish 'Talent and Rate" guides, but you must be an AFTRA member to be included.) The regular directories or "guides" list the names of players who purchase space in them, their addresses, phone numbers, answering service, union affiliations, if any, some credits, agent (if they want to be contacted through a particular agent) and their photo. The books are circulated to producers, directors, casting directors, agents, networks, advertising agencies- and others with a legitimate business interest in hiring performers (and also are on CD-ROM and the Internet). In New York, Players' Guide is the principal directory.
In Los Angeles, the Academy Players Directory is the essential casting reference. It concentrates on performers who reside in Hollywood. It includes photos, agents, and other information. The Players Directory, published in conjunction with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, has its offices in Beverly Hills, CA 90211.
Other important resources and trade papers for actors are:
- Act One Reports of Chicago is a booklet published twice a year with lists of Chicago agents, casting directors, theatres, and more.
- The Agencies (Acting World Books, Hollywood, CA 90078) is a bimonthly listing of Los Angeles area agencies.
- American Theatre Magazine, published by Theatre Communications Group (TCG) of New York, NY 10017, contains monthly schedules of productions for member theatres throughout the country.
- Art SEARCH, also published by TCG (see previous entry) is the national employment service bulletin for the arts. Published 23 times a year, it lists openings for administrative, artistic, production, education and other theatre jobs, but no casting information.
- Audition News (Bloomingdale, IL 60108) is a magazine published monthly that covers employment opportunities for music, theatre, dance, variety, and modeling primarily in the Chicago and mid-west.
- Back Stage and Back Stage West/Drama-Logue are the weekly New York and Los Angeles trade papers containing detailed audition notices.
- Black Talent News (Love Child Publishing, Hollywood, CA 90028) is a bimonthly newsletter specifically for African-American performers. It contains articles and casting notices.
- Call Board (San Francisco, CA 94103) is the monthly publication of Theatre Bay Area, It includes theatre news and audition notices.
- Florida Blue Sheet (Orlando, FL). Published twice monthly and carries news of film, video, TV, radio, print, and theatre.
- Hispanic Organization of Latin Actors (HOLA) (New York) is a service organization for Latino actors offering casting referrals, a directory, and more.
- Hollywood Reporter. A trade paper with news of the industry. No casting information.
- New England Entertainment Digest (NEED) (Burlington, MA) is a monthly newspaper covering theatre, film, dance, music and the arts, including audition notices, in the Boston and New England area.
- Non-Traditional Casting Project (New York) publishes a newsletter and maintains a talent bank of actors of color and actors with disabilities.
- Performink is Chicago's bimonthly theatre and film newspaper. Contains audition notices, classified ads, and articles
- Ross Reports lists New York and Los Angeles casting directors, agents, literary contacts, advertising agencies, production companies, and production personnel. Very useful for looking for work in commercials or TV.
- Stage Door (Deerfield Beach, FL 33441). South Florida's performing arts trade paper is published monthly and includes casting and other information for performers in this area.
- Theatrical Index (New York, NY 10029) is updated weekly and includes information on current and future Broadway and Off-Broadway shows, regional companies, and tours.
- Variety and Daily Variety --the show business "Bible." Financial and other information about the industry is given. No casting information.
