by Dagny Roth

Created on: May 08, 2009   Last Updated: August 22, 2011

Did you know anyone can be on television or in commercials?   Acting and modeling are possible if you are dedicated and willing to learn the business.  A career acting takes perserverence but is not as difficult as you may think.  The important thing to remember is a very small percentage of actors are A listers.  The majority of actors make a decent living playing lesser roles.   You don't have to have a supermodel quality figure or have studied acting in New York City.

As a working actor and print model who has worked in both Chicago and New York ; I can share some advice on how to get involved in acting and modeling. Of course, this career move is not for the faint of heart and if you cannot handle disappointment now and then; I do not recommend this field. Agencies are always looking for new talent who are fresh and different than their current database. Think of all the commercials you have seen with regular looking guys and gals doing something very every daydo you ever say to yourself; I could do that? Well, yes, you can! Print modeling is the same thing. Don't let the word modeling throw you off. There are just as many Sears catalogues and home improvement ads looking for everyday individuals to pose for their ads. In fact this is a huge industry and you can make big bucks! My brother was a model for quite some time and posed for a popular pasta brand almost 2-3 years ago; to date he is still making $1200 a month for just that one ad. It's all about the run of the ad and the residual payments.

It may all sound overwhelming but if you like being in front of people and are eager; you can do well at this. I will share some step by step ways of getting into the business from personal experience:

First of all; if you want to get on television or commercials you will need an agent. What you should most likely do prior to getting an agent is sign up for a local acting class. You can also audition for local theater in your areaif there isn't any, than start your own small production. Also, check out craigslist under the talent section; often there are audition postings there all the time. Keep in mind local theater doesn't pay but it is a lot of fun and can build your resume.

Now the goal here is to put together a short resume. It doesn't have to be lengthy or super impressive. It does need to be formatted accurately and show agencies you understand the business. If you can't find any productions

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