So you’re thinking about moving to a larger market? A lot of actors do.
First of all, it’s important to know that you don’t have to be in those markets to be a working actor.
There are many more opportunities available in places like New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta, or Chicago, but you also have to be ready to take advantage of them. From an actor’s perspective, here are some tips about when to plan the big move:
YOU'RE A BIG FISH IN A SMALL POND.
Sometimes, you’ve outgrown your market. Maybe the work you’re getting doesn’t seem challenging enough. Or the market won’t bear the rate you feel you deserve for your level of experience. Maybe you have an outstanding booking rate of 20% or more, or when those rare big opportunities come down the Michigan casting pike, you almost book. All of these can be signs that you’re ready to audition in a larger casting pool.
YOU HAVE A MAJOR CONNECTION.
Let’s say you met Steven Spielberg at a party, or your cousin’s best friend is Shonda Rhimes, and she said, “Look me up when you’re in town. I’ll show you around.” Capitalizing on a connection can be a major consideration for where and when to move.
IT ALIGNS WITH YOUR CAREER GOALS.
If your dream is to appear in a Tyler Perry production, moving to Atlanta, where his studio is located, would be a smart move. If you want to be a Broadway actor, moving to Los Angeles isn’t going to further that goal much.
This one is the most important one:
YOU WANT TO LIVE THERE.
You should never, ever move to a place that you don’t like for the sake of your future career. It’s one thing to relocate temporarily because of a specific gig. For example, if you live in NYC and love it, but book a sitcom in Los Angeles, that could be a good reason to temporarily relocate. But just up and moving to a city without first determining it suits you is a recipe for heartache. When you move to a big market, no matter how much experience you have, you’re starting over. It might take years before you begin to book at your pre-move rate. You definitely need to be in a place that you like, and preferably one that you love. How well-adjusted you are in real life directly influences your ability to make connections and audition well, both essential to a successful acting career.
Next month we’ll be talking about how to get an agent in a major market.
LOOKING TO ADVANCE YOUR SKILLS IN ACTING OR VOICE OVER?
Keep visiting our website for the latest updates on new classes and workshops. If you are local to the Metro Detroit area, come see us soon in our new space in downtown Royal Oak! We are expecting to start hosting in-person workshops in November/December. We would love to see you there.