What is the likelyhood of me obtaining a successful acting career?

[TStoneMBD]

While maybe nieve, I always felt that I would make a good actor. However, most people who have become successful actors paved their way through hard work along with significant luck. Acting is one of the few careers that I feel would excite me if I could become successful. Is it worth it for me to pursue an acting career?

I'm 20 years old. I have no college diploma. I have no acting experience. I have no acting prospects. Fortunately, as arrogant as this sounds, I was born with a very handsome face. I am currently overweight, not by alot, but enough that it would seriously damper a career in acting for me. However, if I were to pursue an acting career, I would be willing to spend the necessary time to maintain a sixpack.

I am able to cry at will. Not just watery eyes either. I am able to shed a tear long enough to drop to my chin on demand. I am also able to turn red. I feel that I am able to reenact emotions as if they were actually taking place in reality very well. I am able to imagine a situation actually happening, and can forsee how I would react.

If I decided to take a potential career in acting, I would be willing to budget 20 hours a week or $2000/mo, whichever comes first, improving my acting abilities through personal classes, public classes, reading and other methods. I would also be willing to move to LA, or any other necessary location next year. If I landed a job that paid easy money and did not take away from my poker hours, like a commercial, I would be willing to reinvest nearly every dime into acting lessons. If I became a professional actor, and realized that I had a future in the industry, I would be willing to quit poker and dedicate 60 hours a week to acting through either learning or working. I am disciplined and motivated. The hours I spend on acting would not be fluffed. I would spend those hours working diligently.

I would also be willing to budget some of the dedicated 20 hours a week to writing screenplays, if I felt that it could improve my chances of success. I feel that I have some great ideas that would make good movies, but my writing skills are relatively average and I'm not confident that my ideas would really be successful.

If I am going to spend 2 years of my life learning how to act, I would not be satisfied if I was a small time actor making 100k a year. I would like to be earning at least 500k a year within the next 6 years. However, it's silly for me to demand such steep returns as so few people actually make it in this industry. However, the goal of acting for me is to make it big.

Fortunately, I am earning enough money that if a career in acting fails, my financial situation would not be in any trouble whatsoever. I will still go on to lead a wealthy life, but it may not be a life of abundant wealth with my dreams in the forefront.


So, what do you think, is it worth it for me to pursue this dream? What would you predict is the likelyhood of me earning 100k a year 2 years from now? What is the likelyhood of me earning 500k+ a year 6 years from now? Estimations such as a 2% success rate would be appreciated.

[mmbt0ne]

</font><blockquote><font class="small">En réponse à:</font><hr />
What would you predict is the likelyhood of me earning 100k a year 2 years from now? What is the likelyhood of me earning 500k+ a year 6 years from now?

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</font><blockquote><font class="small">En réponse à:</font><hr />
I have no acting experience. I have no acting prospects.

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Not very good. You're gonna have to do some sort of smalltime theater or something just to have any experience. It's rare that they just find some nonbody to fill a part, or that someone with no experience is able to blow a casting director away in an audition. You say you're willing to pay for it though, and that you have the money for it, so sure, why not. Do something you want to do.

[sublime]

a picture would be needed, and even if you are somehow better looking than me, you would still be a huge longshot.

that being said, always pursue your dreams, and never let anybody tell you otherwise.

[sublime]

also, if your good looking and dedicate your life to staying fit, you could make some real good money modeling. wouldnt take as much time/money investment as an acting career would either.

[pshreck]

Without a college degree, making over 500k/year... I would have to assume your chances are around 1 in 500 or so, and not just in the next few years, but at any point in your life (adjusted for inflation of course), even for a career that in your mind doesn't need a college degree (even though one would probably help you more than you know).

[Beerfund]

Hmmmmm, you would only be competing against 40 million other people born with a "handsome face", no formal education, no experience.......I'd say your odds are pretty damn good! /images/graemlins/blush.gif

[PokerFink]

I think you have a FAR better chance of making 500k/year by dedicating yourself to poker and making it big time in that field than in acting. I don't think it is close.

[bennyk]

[ QUOTE ]
If I am going to spend 2 years of my life learning how to act, I would not be satisfied if I was a small time actor making 100k a year. I would like to be earning at least 500k a year within the next 6 years.

[/ QUOTE ]

you already seem to know that this is very unlikely. less than 2% imo, and i work in the "industry"

bk

[TStoneMBD]

what do you think that people are born actors? there are people who pursue an acting career, most of them starting out with few or no prospects, and there are a handful of people from that group who actually make it.

[pshreck]

For motivations sake... talk to a few of the 10s of millions of U.S. adults these days that are kicking themselves for not getting an undergraduate degree when they were younger. It is bad for them now, and it will be much worse in 15 years from now when an even higher percentage of American adults have degrees.

Plus... assuming at the age of 20 that you can easily fall back on poker for your whole life time is probably a really, really bad idea. I'm sure other people have told you this so I wont go further on that point.

[Beerfund]

[ QUOTE ]
what do you think that people are born actors? there are people who pursue an acting career, most of them starting out with few or no prospects, and there are a handful of people from that group who actually make it.

[/ QUOTE ]

LMAO, your post was stupid. "Uhhhh someone tell me what the odds are I can make $xxxx in 2 years, if it's atleast 4.7% then I'm gonna go for it!"

WTF do you want people to tell you that you shouldn't already know? I'm pretty sure there aren't alot of actors that frequent this forum. /images/graemlins/confused.gif

[Alobar]

If its really a dream, then move out to LA take some acting classes, lose some weight, get an agent and give it a shot. Worse case scenerio you fail, but youll be able to know you gave it a shot. Just remember, youll be dead someday, do you wanna look back and always wonder what you could have done?

All that being said, Its doubtful you make it....but thats not really the point whewn it comes to going after a dream

[tdarko]

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what do you think that people are born actors?

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i know a few people that have dedicated their lives to perfecting their craft (acting) and have never made it. i am talking about acting lessons all their lives, theater in high school and college and living in cali trying to fit through those tight cracks in the acting industry.

i am all for pursuing a dream but to think b/c you have a pretty face that you can be an actor is a little different tune. i still support the idea of trying and giving it a shot though b/c you never know unless you try. but i hope you know your chances aren't even 2%.

[shemp]

Do you think people who succeed in highly competitive careers would look for encouragement from strangers here? You're good looking. People like you. Follow your bliss. Good luck.

[fimbulwinter]

if you're in it for fame, don't be. here in LA you realize what a disgusting lurid industry it really is.

if you're in it for money, become a screenwriter or specialized stage hand (like costume design, set design, lighting, pyrotechnics etc.). those guys might as well print their own money and they have a great time doing it.

seriously though, hollywood is hell. Think about what you're going to actually be doing: lying for a living. now think about a place built around people wanting to be professional liars and failing at it.

fim

[Piz0wn0reD!!!!!!]

about 6 billion:1

[Popinjay]

[ QUOTE ]
Think about what you're going to actually be doing: lying for a living. now think about a place built around people wanting to be professional liars and failing at it.

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Isn't this the game we all know and love?

[billyjex]

sounds a little silly, honestly.

but like sublime said, if it drives you, do it.

[rwesty]

less than .1%

[thatpfunk]

[ QUOTE ]
Think about what you're going to actually be doing: lying for a living. now think about a place built around people wanting to be professional liars and failing at it.

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Irony at its finest.

[Jazza]

I reckon that there are some people out there who can have over a 10% chance of becoming a superstar if they gave it there all because they are so talented. But I don't know you, so who knows, but like everyone else has said, what have you got to lose?

[ShawnHoo]

Making $500K in a few years? I'd say your odds are 50,000 to 1 against.

Making a good living ($50-100K) as a character actor or someone who acts in commercials? Probably closer to 5,000 to 1.

Both estimates assume that you will devote the time and money necessary to make your dream possible.

(I've taken acting classes in LA for 3 years and know hundreds of struggling thespians out here.)

[Jazza]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Think about what you're going to actually be doing: lying for a living. now think about a place built around people wanting to be professional liars and failing at it.

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Irony at its finest.

[/ QUOTE ]

acting's a hard way to make an easy living

[shant]

No offense to you or your handsomness or acting ability but we have enough bartenders and waiters here already.

[jakethebake]

What is the liklihood anyone will read your entire post?

[Niwa]

Are you still here?
If you want to become an actor so bad go do it!

[The Yugoslavian]

[ QUOTE ]

(I've taken acting classes in LA for 3 years and know hundreds of struggling thespians out here.)

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This explains a lot!

You were just *acting* like you knew how to play poker, /images/graemlins/shocked.gif.

Sup bro?

Yugoslav

[Dominic]

okay,I assume you want brutal honesty,right? Here it goes:

I've been in the film industry for over 20 years - as a producer, writer, director and editor....and to all you smart azzes out there, YES, in the legitimate side of the business aswell as the adult. I live in L.A. I have plenty of friends who are actors. My girfriend is an actress (no - NOT a porno actress, dammit1!)

If you want to be an actor, it's simple: you have to want it more than anything else in the world. If you do, you just might beat the odds and become:

a woefully underemployed but sometimes working actor. Becoming a successful actor is like hitting the lottery - it really doesn't matter how good you are (although having talent helps), it comes down to a lot of luck and who you know.

First off, you HAVE to move to L.A. Or, if you want to be a stage actor - New York.

Second, you MUST study and do nothing but figure out ways to advance your career. So many people come to L.A. wanting to be an actor or a writer or a director and they get side-tracked by the parties, the clubs, the girls, etc.

Before they know it - 10 years have gone by and they're still looking for their first break.

My advice to you is to give up this dream - there is 99.99% chance that it will end in heartbreak for you. If all you'redreaming of is fame and fortune, you do not have what it takes. A real actor will keep acting - local theater, etc. - even though he no longer has any dreams of making it big. Simply because he MUST act.

However, if it really IS your dream - if you MUST act - you will ignore this advice and go after it anyway.

THAT'S the kind of dedication you need to become a working actor. And believe me - that's all you can realistically hope for - to be a nameless, working actor. Anything on top of that is pure luck.

And it is my experience that anyone who comes out to L.A. to act, direct, write, whatever....if they have something to fall back on? They invariable will.

To succeed in this town you MUST take the leap and jump into the abyss. It's the only way. If you have a career as an accountant waiting for you back in Podunk, you won't have the drive and ambition necessary to succeed here. And you WILL end up back in Podunk, doing tax returns.

[JaBlue]

thsi is a joke

right?

[ceyoung]

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I was born with a very handsome face. I am currently overweight,

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just like the fat girl with the "pretty face", right?

[jakethebake]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I was born with a very handsome face. I am currently overweight,

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just like the fat girl with the "pretty face", right?

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Maybe, but I'm guessing his mommy told him he was handsome so he must be.

[JPotMaster]

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Hmmmmm, you would only be competing against 40 million other people born with a "handsome face", no formal education, no experience.......I'd say your odds are pretty damn good! /images/graemlins/blush.gif

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Yes but can they

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cry at will. Not just watery eyes either. Can they shed a tear long enough to drop to their chin on demand. Can they also be able to turn red.

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[2planka]

Depends on how good your kneepads are.

For a fun and insightful read, check out Bruce Campbell's book, "If Chins Could Kill - Confessions of a B Movie Actor."

I thought you had plans to move to AC, then Hawaii, then some other place. Dude, you're only 20. Live life instead of worrying about this stuff. Get drunk. Find some chicks and hit it. Act your age, dammit!

[turnipmonster]

this is an excellent post, same thing goes for musicians, or at least for me. I'm just as happy playing in a restaurant as I am in front of thousands of people.

[schwza]

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Estimations such as a 2% success rate

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i'll take the under. .02% is getting closer but probably still too high.

edit to add: doesn't mean you shouldn't try though. you could do some acting in a community theater or something to see how you like it.

[Ulysses]

I hung out w/ an actor friend this weekend in Vegas and got to talk with him a lot about the business. He is in the top 1% of Screen Actor's Guild earners - and makes far less than 500k per year. I believe he said the threshold for being in the top 2% of working SAG actors is $35k/yr from acting. The SAG has about 100k members and 80% of them make less than 10k/yr from acting. I might be wrong on some of these numbers, but I'm pretty sure they are at least ballpark - and can help you figure out your odds of achieving your goals. You can find more info on the SAG website (http://www.sag.org/).

My friend said that the biggest problem w/ most actors is that they don't take enough of an active role in making their success happen. They just float along, hoping for that one lucky break. Very few are talented or special enough to get "discovered" in that fashion. What he did was move to LA and spend 3 or 4 years working as a PA (production assistant) and other assorted crap jobs in the industry. He spent all his time learning how the casting process works, learning who good agents are, meeting people who could help him with his career, etc. Just learning the business.

Then, after a few years of that, he started to really focus on going on auditions, focusing on commercials. He landed a few commercial gigs as well as small movie and TV roles. He got financially secure a few years ago when he did a Red Lobster commercial that aired for an extended period of time (beyond a certain time period, they have to renegotiate the contract and pay the actor a lot higher residuals rate when the commercial airs). He has worked steadily, mainly in commercials, for about ten years now. He is now getting a start in directing commercials, having made many friends over the past few years who have graduated from directing commercials to directing major features.

I've known a number of struggling actors/performers in NYC and LA. The thing that struck me about this guy was the focus and hard work that he put into it. He was passionate about becoming an actor and did everything he could to maximize his chances of being successful in the field. If you're willing to devote everything you have and work harder than you've worked on anything else ever, there's a chance. Without doing that, the chances of making a living from acting are very, very slim.

[TStoneMBD]

id like to say that i really, really appreciated all the serious responses in this thread. i thought that by posting this, i was going to get flamed alot, but instead was only flamed a little bit.

i dont have the ambition that i must act, because that is what i was born to do or anything like that. instead, living a life as as a star actor is what i would consider to be one of the best lives to live possible. i really dont know too much about the real life hardships that come with a career in acting, other than the unreliable cliches that you see on tv. i thought the best method in coming to a conclusion about the life of a striving actor would be to ask those who have more life experience than i do.

for those who think it is ridiculous for me to post something like this, at least i am doing some mild research about things before i decide to jump into the deep end. i feel that im going about things the right way, with patience and rationality.

i realized that leading a career in acting is a difficult thing to do. maybe i didnt realize just how difficult it truly is. i had assumed that most starving actors are not in fact truly dedicated, and that is the main reason for their lack of success. just like everything in life, i think that in order to succeed you need to attack your goals with all your effort, and i am willing to do that whenever i decide what it is that i want to do with the rest of my life.

[Jazza]

hey dude an idea just popped into my head:

make much money playing poker, and then make your own films

[James Boston]

[ QUOTE ]
I believe he said the threshold for being in the top 2% of working SAG actors is $35k/yr from acting.

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Do you know if this figure includes voice-over talent. I know in many cases they have to join SAG, and I think are considered actors. Most any successful one will make more than $35K.

[peachy]

if its something u really wanna do go for it...just work out real hard...get a rep...take the necessary head shots...take anything u can get - commercials etc. A few acting classes wouldnt hurt to put on a resume - although these dont do a ton of good...but u might as well do something in ur spare time. wont hurt to give it a shot since u arent going to college right now

[Kurwood Derby]

http://www.burschenschaft-mardorf.de/donkey.jpg

[sfer]

This post just reminds me that I have a lot of friends in various parts of the restaurant industry and, with very few exceptions, nearly all of them were/are actors first and restaurant people second and after some period of time, those priorities inverted.