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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask what first steps I take if I want to get into acting

200 replies

Cloudylemon23 · 04/12/2019 22:15

I’ve saved up enough to devote all my time to this at the moment. Doing some work as a tv extra.
What else can I do? Any ideas please?
Any other related jobs that I can do that would help my CV?
Ps I’m not naive and know how competitive things are.
Any ideas and advice really appreciated, thanks

OP posts:
PurpleFlower1983 · 04/12/2019 22:17

Try and get an agent. Go to loads of auditions and take the feedback.

Original poster
Cloudylemon23 · 04/12/2019 22:21

1)How do I find out about auditions please?
2) Would an agent take on someone with no experience apart from tv extras work?

  • do you mean a different agent ie not the extras agency? ...... thanks......
OP posts:
MaudesMum · 04/12/2019 22:24

Going to a good drama school really helps, as it not only teaches you a great deal of technique but gives you credibility, and will really help you get an agent when you graduate. They're all trying to be more inclusive, so the fact that you have (presumably) been working for a while shouldn't go against you when you audition. If you already have a degree, some of them have 1 year post graduate courses. Look at the ones which are part of the federation of drama schools www.federationofdramaschools.co.uk/about-us/partner-schools and see which are of interest to you.

Original poster
Cloudylemon23 · 04/12/2019 22:27

MaudesMum, that is really helpful thank you.
At the moment I attend night classes at a Uni once per week but if I can do a one year post grad that would probably be better...

OP posts:
Aquamarine1029 · 04/12/2019 22:28

Register with Backstage and you can get notifications for any auditions available in your area. Go to as many auditions as possible and go for broke. Acting classes will help hone your talents, and I would try to do some stage work.

Good luck and have FUN. Even if it doesn't work out for the long run, you can still come away with lots of good memories and experience.

Of course, please be watchful for any dodgy characters you might come across in the industry. Never go for a "private" audition in a hotel room, etc. I'm sure you know this but I'm a mum so have to mention it!

21seconds · 04/12/2019 22:30

What maudesmum said.. it’s a job like any other you need training, being an extra is not acting and can actually work against st you. If you want to be an extra not an actor you can make a living through this and there are agencies purely for this work. But im afraid to be an actor you will need training. To get an acting agent they will go to showcases at the major drama schools and choose clients from there. It is a much more skilled job than people think.

Aquamarine1029 · 04/12/2019 22:32

You might also want to look into doing voice acting. If you're talented at it, you can make a fairly decent living.

SinkGirl · 04/12/2019 22:33

Go to drama school if you’re serious about it.

I did a drama degree, a course at a red brick uni which was very focussed on practical elements as well as the academics. There were so many very talented people on my course - only a couple of them have managed to forge a career in acting, although quite a few are successful theatre directors now. Everyone who’s doing well went on to drama school afterwards. For some reason people think it’s something you can just do, like singing I suppose - but you really do need proper training.

Drama school courses are extremely competitive so if you can find a coach to prep you I definitely would.

ShatnersWig · 04/12/2019 22:34

Drama school.

No reputable agent will take you on without it.

I say that as someone who works in the theatre industry.

joyfullittlehippo · 04/12/2019 22:43

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joyfullittlehippo · 04/12/2019 22:46

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HowToStopThis9 · 04/12/2019 22:46

What’s so wrong with extras work?

joyfullittlehippo · 04/12/2019 22:50

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joyfullittlehippo · 04/12/2019 22:54

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HowToStopThis9 · 04/12/2019 22:58

Ah fair enough that makes sense Smile

bridgetreilly · 04/12/2019 23:10

There really aren't any other jobs on your CV that will make a difference. You need to get acting jobs (not extras work, as others have said) and to get acting jobs, you probably do need drama school.

Original poster
Cloudylemon23 · 04/12/2019 23:31

Can anyone give a quick guide on the best drama schools in the uk please? Any location, but specifically for a * one year course*
Thanks!

OP posts:
apacketofcrisps · 05/12/2019 00:27

Could you not google drama schools??

momoney1 · 05/12/2019 00:30

Could anyone recommend good voice over agencies please?

Original poster
Cloudylemon23 · 05/12/2019 01:36

Apacketofcrisps- it’s far better to get recommendations from personal experience

OP posts:
Scott72 · 05/12/2019 05:54

Lol I would think good first step would be dunk head in freezing cold water, repeat until you no longer want to get into acting.

ElluesPichulobu · 05/12/2019 06:29

go to your local theatre and ask if they have any leftover copies of programmes from shows that are finished, that are due to be recycled. or just pay £3/£5 and buy one for a current show. all the big glossy theatre programmes include 4 pages of headshots of the main cast members plus a short bio which will start "firstname lastname trained at xxxxxxxxx and yyyyy and has played (list of roles)"

once you have read a few of these you will notice several recurring names of drama schools that seems generally to produce a good number of successful actors.

ShatnersWig · 05/12/2019 07:42

OP I mean this in the nicest way possible but acting is not for you. It's clear from this thread, it's not for you. You say you're not naive yet it's clear you don't really know much about it because of some of the things you've said.

To be a professional actor you have to have an absolute burning desire to do it. And if you have that, you wouldn't be asking such basic questions on a forum such as Mumsnet. 90% of the time, you won't be acting - you'll be waitressing, stacking shelves, working in a call centre - because the majority of actors are not in regular acting work. And when they do work, the pay ain't great.

There is no point asking for our recommendations for drama schools. It matters not whether someone liked X school because many focus on different areas - some for example, will have musical theatre courses, others will not. And you don't just apply and get in, you have to audition and in many cases pay to audition and the competition is fierce.

If you really truly had a burning desire to act professionally, the last place you'd be is asking stuff on MN.

Original poster
Cloudylemon23 · 05/12/2019 08:04

ShatnersWig- I asked on mumsnet as I value the advice on here. I do have a strong desire to act- it’s just that in real life I don’t know anyone who has eg been through drama school/ who acts

OP posts:
ShatnersWig · 05/12/2019 08:12

So what acting have you done? Not tv extra work, actual acting, with spoken lines, on a stage?