Needing advice on getting in the acting business

[vanitynpride]

I've been back and forth recently about what I wanted to do with my life and I finally decided that I wanted to get into acting. The only issue is I can't go to college due to personal reasons and I want to audition for something around here.
I don't have any experience and when I was in VA I couldn't get into the theaters there due to that.
Anyone have any theaters in IN around the Elkhart area that would let a "newbie" actress try out for something?

- Laurie

[devon larie]

Take a look at the side bar on the home page. There are theatres in Northern Indiana listed. That would be a place to start looking.

[Eric_Bryant]

Also - ask yourself WHY you want to go into acting. Are you interested in it as a profession, or as a hobby? If it's a hobby, then audition for local theaters, take local classes, volunteer to work backstage (particularly if you don't have much experience - this is a good way for people to get to know you!).

If you are interested in acting professionally, and you have little to no experience, then spend a few years acting at the local level, try to find a way to go to college or some sort of conservative. While there are a few - VERY few - people who actually get "discovered," most working actors have spent years and years looking for their first break. The old joke, which is pretty true, is that an "overnight success" takes years to happen.

Good luck!

[thestuntman]

Eric is right. And if you want to make a decent living at anything related to the acting profession, learn additional disciplines. Learn sound, lighting, get on local indie film sets and learn everything you can. All of it helps your acting, especially for camera (which is where more earning potential is).

Acting is the highest unemployment profession in the world, and you have to have a thick skin and be cool with a ton of rejection.

[moontime]

If you want to act in theatre, then Indy and the surrounding area can offer many venues.

If you want to get into film acting, then leave the state. Indiana is a bog for film acting and doesn't openly solicit professional productions to the state...that takes dandy tax encentives and other political motivations. Plus, low
budget film offers no pay for your involvement. Know why you want to act. Becoming a pro is probably harder than
winning the lottery and even then, only one half of one percent of the actors in SAG make over $100,000 annual.
Better to become a musician...at least they get gigs and make money.

If you just want to see your face on screen, then low budget locals can get you that and the technology keeps getting better as far as the imaging. Just be prepared to spend more money than you make.

[vanitynpride]

I'm interested in film as well, but right now I really want to get into theater.
I don't mind working backstage either, I'm a natural artist (went to an art school that kinda messed me up ) so I have no issues with that. It seems really exciting to work with behind the scenes of theater plays. I'll check out the list on the site, thank you.