by Georgiana Avram

Created on: February 02, 2007   Last Updated: April 02, 2007

So you made your mind about becoming a professional actor. Many people have told you that you are just chasing a dream or maybe you already have a small group of fans who are cheering you on. It doesn't matter how old you are, your background, your talent, these are 5 steps that if taken in this order, will make it possible for you to become a paid actor.

1) Take thee to a class!

Acting is a craft and although you need talent, you also need to work on it, just like anything else. Having a lot of talent but not putting in the time to fine tune your craft will get you nowhere. A class will give you more confidence in your acting ability, will teach you techniques you can use to prepare for a role and audition, you will get constructive feedback from a teacher, not your mom, dad or siblings who don't know a whole lot about acting. And the most important thing, a class will give you the opportunity to practice your craft in front of others. You will be able to make mistakes, take risks and enjoy expanding yourself as an artist in a safe environment.

2) Get ready and smile! Time for your headshot.
After you get some confidence under your belt from taking acting classes, it is time to go out there and test it. But you can't go to an audition without a headshot and resume. A headshot and resume are the quintessential tools that an actor must always have. Getting a good headshot is a mystery that hasn't yet been solved. But there are some good tips on how NOT to get a bad headshot. You have to invest in working with a good photographer. Don't choose a photographer that is extremely expensive, because they will turn your headshot into a commercial shot and your goal is to have a headshot that looks exactly like you every day of the week. Choose photographers in the range of $300-$500. Ask other actors for recommendations. Meet with the photographer and make sure you feel comfortable with him or her. You want to be relaxed when you get your headshot so you show all of who you are. Remember, the eyes are most important. Get a couple of headshots a serious headshot is called a legit headshot and used for theatre/film and a smiling headshot is called a commercial headshot and it is used for commercials.

3) Prepare your resume.
If you are just starting out, you probably don't have a lot of experience so your resume will look a little empty. List any plays or films you've done in school and any community theater. Then make sure you list your training. At this point in your career,

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