Things things you can do to continuously remain a strong actor
There’s a lot of things you can do to keep your resume strong, your art strong, and so on. There’s many different things you can do, especially when you’re not in a show. And it’s not just for the sake of improving your resume, think of it as a fun activity. I always enjoy going to the latest workshop, learning or improving a skill, and more. One great thing about theater is that it’s always introducing you to an array of new things and new perspectives. So with that, here are three things you can do to remain a strong actor.
Take a class
I always say, the audition is never over. Well, your training is never over either. I have a BA in Theater Arts, an AA in Theater Arts and I attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts for a year. When I was younger and yes… a little cocky, I thought, what the hell do I need another acting class for? Well, acting is a nuanced skill, and just as a pianist with decades of experience practices every day, an actor needs to stay in practice too. It’s not just staying good at what you already do, it’s getting more experience as theater evolves. There are teachers in my area who’ve had working actors in their classes for years. And there are plenty of talented, and even successful people who follow this principal: Meryl Streep, Tom Hanks, Denzel Washington… maybe you’ve heard of them? The point is, no matter what your experience is, you need to keep training. It keeps you from becoming stale, or a robot, and… it’s fun. With that said, unfortunately, classes can be too expensive for some people. But fortunately, some teachers are realizing this. For example, there’s often free workshops–and yes, you can learn a lot in a workshop, or some people give discounts or even scholarships to low income people. I’ve benefited from this several times. Let’s hope this momentum grows.
Learn a relevant skill, or improv one you already have
There’s about a million things that look good on an actors resume! Take a fight chorography class or workshop. Dust off your old guitar and start practicing it again! Or learn a new instrument. In fact, there are budget friendly ones such as harmonica, kalimba, and more. Most of the time the learning of these smaller instruments are budget friendly too. There’s books at the music store, or Udemy almost always has bargains. You don’t need to be the biggest expert in the world, just create something with it! Juggling is another budget friendly skill to take on. Or take a dance class, learn a new accent–there’s an endless list of stuff you can do. The point is, this will not only give you a marketable still, but it’ll keep your creative juices flowing. If nothing else, it’s strengthens your resume.
Read plays, know playwrights!
As an actor, you need to be knowledgeable about playwrights. A good actor will read a play at least semi regularly. Do you have a favorite play? A favorite playwright? Or several? Good! You don’t have to like the plays that someone else likes, the important thing is you find material that speaks to you. Stuff that caries the message that you care about conveying. My favorite playwrights are Shakespeare and Caryl Churchill. My all time favorite play is Top Girls. (Although it’s a toss up between that and Hamlet.) I like plays that are raw and honest, and are not afraid to say the unsayable. But on top of that, I also like a good slice of life. Art can be about conveying a “message”, that’s fine. But that’s not the only thing art is. I love seeing a feel good representation of life, if it’s honest. I think of it as a way to celebrate life. Otherwise, what’s the point of life? OK, that sounds a little too deep, but you catch my drift! 🙂 But the point is, if you’re knowledgeable about a variety of plays, it shows you’re knowledgeable about theater, and also that you can take initiative.
Mind you, this is only a small list, but I hope I got you thinking.
