One of the biggest traps actors fall into is settling. Don’t do it. You’ve got something special don’t aim to be good when you have the potential to be great. Push yourself. Keep learning, sharpening your talent, and stay in classes and workshops.
Don’t get lost in the weeds. Headshots, agents, managers, auditions, they matter. But zoom out and look at the big picture. Keep your eyes on your larger vision. That’s what shapes your path.
This business is all about relationships. Learn to connect, really connect. Listen. Make a genuine impression one that isn’t just handing over a resume. Volunteer at events, go to festivals, attend mixers for industry professionals.
Stay grounded. I love ambition, but be real about where you’re at. If you’re just starting out, maybe don’t expect your agent to book you the lead in a huge network series tomorrow. Aim high but keep your feet on the ground while you reach up.
Sometimes, just listen. You don’t always have to fill the space. You can learn so much just by observing especially from those with more experience.
Be skeptical. This industry is full of noise. Just because someone says they booked a pilot doesn’t mean it’s true. Sometimes “pilot” means a YouTube sketch their roommate filmed on an iPhone. Take it all with a grain of salt.
Not every opportunity is a good one. If something feels off, it’s okay to say no, whether it’s a sketchy photographer or a role that crosses your boundaries. Trust your instincts.
Keep taking creative risks. You made a bold move pursuing acting don’t stop now. Stay open, stay curious, and keep challenging yourself.
Take care of your head and heart. Rejection is part of the job, but it doesn’t define you. Learn to move through it without letting it break you.
Most importantly live your life. Don’t pause it for your career. Acting is about channeling real human experience, and you can’t do that if you’re not living. Make time for the people, places, and passions that feed your spirit. It’ll serve you well as an actor, and as a human being.
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Great tips, Tammy Hunt! What type of events should actors volunteer at?
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Thanks for these grounded and useful tips Tammy Hunt I particularly liked what you said about keeping on learning and about staying grounded . What really resonated was not pausing your life for your acting career. I agree that people, places and passion feed your spirit. I would go so far as to say all of our life experiences shape us as actors so the more rich and varied our life experience is, the more depth and richness we can bring to our acting