Larry Garrison - Breaking into Acting For Dummies

9 Part 5: Managing Your Money as an Actor Chapter 18: Don’t Get Ripped Off! Avoiding Con Games, Scams, and Self-Destruction Identifying the Elements of a Con Game Exposing Common Show Business Con Games Dealing with Dishonesty Protect Yourself: Beating the Con at His Own Game Being Your Own Worst Enemy Chapter 19: Working to Pay Your Bills until You Hit It Big Considering What Kind of Employment You Want Working for Yourself Getting a Job That Pays You to Be Entertaining Chapter 20: Managing Your Finances Handling Your Money Living Well Without Going Broke Deciding When to Quit Your Day Job

10 Part 6: The Part of Tens Chapter 21: Ten Myths Debunked about Show Business Myth #1: Show Business Is Closed to Outsiders Myth #2: It’s Who You Know, Not What You Know Myth #3: Only the Young and the Beautiful Get Work Myth #4: You Have to Move to L.A., Vancouver, or New York to Succeed Myth #5: Plastic Surgery and Body Implants Get You Work Myth #6: You Have to Sacrifice Your Principles Myth #7: You Can Break into Show Business by Taking Off Your Clothes Myth #8: You Can Be Discovered and Made into a Star Myth #9: The Right Agent, Manager, Coach Can Get You Work Myth #10: Show Business Will Destroy You Chapter 22: Ten Traits of Successful Actors Respecting Other People’s Time Planning Ahead Being Flexible and Adaptable Being Professional Being Yourself Being Well-Groomed Being Persistent Avoiding Mind-Altering Substances Being Willing to Improve Yourself Believing in Yourself Chapter 23: Ten Tips for Improving As an Actor Mastering the Art of Auditioning Knowing How to Audition and Act for the Camera Expecting the Unexpected: Improvising Developing a Sense of Humor Overcoming Stage Fright Understanding Human Psychology Developing Your Voice and Improving Your Body Maintaining a Reliable Source of Income Avoiding Guaranteed Failure Staying Sharp Chapter 24: Ten Ways to Act Just for the Fun of It Join a Community Theater Group Become a Storyteller Join an Improvisational Group Volunteer at Your Local School Drama Department Put on a Play for a Charity Appear in a Student Film Work as an Extra Volunteer at Your Local Museum Appear on Public Access TV Produce Your Own YouTube Show

11 Index

12 About the Authors

13 Connect with Dummies

14 End User License Agreement

1 Chapter 17TABLE 17-1 Typical Time Restrictions on Child Actors

1 Chapter 4FIGURE 4-1: A standard head shot. FIGURE 4-2: Another standard head shot.

2 Chapter 5FIGURE 5-1: A beginner’s resume must often emphasize training and special skill...FIGURE 5-2: An intermediate actor’s resume is often a balance between acting ex...FIGURE 5-3: A veteran actor’s resume emphasizes actual working experience.

3 Chapter 8FIGURE 8-1: A typical cover letter lists your latest accomplishments to attract...FIGURE 8-2: The professional way to write a letter, stating that you want to le...

4 Chapter 14FIGURE 14-1: A proscenium stage where the audience peers through the fourth wal...FIGURE 14-2: A thrust stage sticks out into the audience. FIGURE 14-3: An arena stage is completely surrounded by the audience.

1 Cover

2 Title Page

3 Copyright

4 Table of Contents

5 Begin Reading

6 Index

7 About the Authors

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Acting can be one of the most glamorous, exciting, lucrative, and totally unpredictable careers in the world. While other people trudge off to routine jobs pushing paperwork, sitting in office cubicles, or fighting each other just for an office with a window in it, actors may be performing on stage one day, appearing in a film or television show the next, and flying around the country (and the world) the following day all the while getting paid to pretend to be somebody else. If acting sounds like the type of work you’d like to do, then this book can help you pursue your dreams.