A Word on Professionalism

Actors are a fairly forgiving bunch, in my experience, and you could certainly choose a much tougher career to start out in.

Sure, getting into a theater production is a little hit or miss, but there are often plenty of beginners in a given show.

You don't always need to know much about theater to do well in it.

That said, there are things you can do- some I've mentioned before, some I'll mention in later posts, and some I may well forget- which will make you look professional and experienced and will help you not only get roles, but keep getting them.

One, which I've mentioned before but can't really stress enough, is being on time.

Anyone who has ever watched a movie about theater has seen the diva who walks in late for every rehearsal.  In the real world, plenty of otherwise pleasant and normal actors are also chronically late.  It will start to seem so normal (even the director will often show up five to fifteen minutes late) that even the most timely person will feel tempted to slack off.

After all, everyone else is doing it.

I really can't recommend continuing to be on time enough- well- times.  There will always be some people who come on time too, so you won't be alone, and they will love you for it.

Also, someone who will almost never be late is the stage manager, and this is a good way to get into his or her good books.  That is somewhere you really, really want to be.

I've never had a stage manager call me to find out where I was, and I never intend to, but I expect that it's a little embarrassing.  

Next, there's being quiet and respectful while others are rehearsing, and there's learning your lines.

I've mentioned these before, too, but they're really important.  When someone has to be asked to be quiet, or forgets to come on stage when it's their time to enter, or continues to need their book or call for line, people remember.  It may seem like you get a lot less attention for having your stuff together than you get for not.  This is absolutely true.  Whatever people say about theater, there are some situations in which you don't want to be the center of attention.  This is one of them. 

Be kind to the people who work with you, both actors and techs.  Be careful with your costumes and with your props.  Try not to lose or break anything, but on occasion it's unavoidable and people will understand.

I had an earring fall apart seconds before I was supposed to go on stage once.  I'm convinced it was through no fault of my own, but there's really no way to tell.  It happens to everyone, but once it happens to you you'll probably decide that you're going to do everything you can to make sure it doesn't happen again.

I definitely almost had a small breakdown during the earring incident.

Once you've started performing, don't go out into the audience after the show in costume, for several reasons.  One, it might damage the costume, and two, it ruins things in part for the audience.  One minute, they saw you as your character, and the next they saw you as yourself, greeting your friends.  It breaks the spell.   

Finally, if there's something you aren't sure about, ask.