There’s a phrase when it comes to Hollywood: “If you can do anything else, do it. ” The ones that make it in Hollywood never see themselves doing anything else. This has to be your future. Nothing else is possible.
Take a look at the courses offered at your local community college or university. You can also consider classes at adult schools, community centers, or online. And if money is a big issue,you may have to be your own teacher.
Need proof that the Internet can be all you need? Talk to Kate Upton, Justin Bieber, Bo Burnham, Kim Kardashian, or Carly Rae Jepsen. They were all discovered on the Internet, and that’s just the names of people you can count on one hand. [2] X Research source
There’s only one thing to consider: don’t let it keep you from going. There’s a fine line between building up your resume somewhere else and settling down. Give yourself a deadline. You’ll work for the next year or so, and then you’ll hightail it out West. This is just a pit stop, not where you end up.
Stay as busy as possible. This looks good on paper and gets you meeting as many people as possible. If and when those people make it, they’ll already have your number. You can sleep when you’re making the millions.
Alright, so “Hollywood” doesn’t necessarily mean Hollywood. It means Culver City, Glendale, Los Angeles, Lennox, Inglewood, Hawthorne, and others. California is one of the most expensive places to live in the entire world and living in a smaller suburb will likely be cheaper than living in actual Hollywood.
Harrison Ford was a carpenter on the set of Star Wars when George Lucas nabbed him for the role of Han Solo. [3] X Research source It might not be as easy as that in your case, but it is a step in the right direction.
A good agent is free. Never pay an agent before you get a gig – they should only get a cut of the gigs they nab you. There is sort of a catch-22 with getting an agent – they have to see you in something. So take whatever small gigs you can get and get them on tape. You can start creating a demo reel to submit to the agents you want. Apart from this, all you can really do is rely on word of mouth and networking.
For performers, this will help you get an agent, too. After a few beers, B-rated sitcom star Bobby Whatshisname throws you his agent’s business card and says he’ll give you a heads up. Every little bit counts, and if you have to do some schmoozing to get ahead, so be it.
The life leading up to the life of a star is rarely glamorous. You’ll likely be poor, hate your day job, and consider the littlest of victories huge. And they are! This is a tough gig, but you have to believe that eventually it’ll pay off.
Keep in mind the people that helped you if and when you hit it big. They supported your dreams, so you support theirs, too, even if you’ve already made it. Hollywood is a surprisingly tight-knit circle, and getting in good with its residents is a wise plan for the future.
Those that make it in Hollywood might be viewed as a little crazy by those that have never tried. Day in and day out is going to be rough until you start realizing that things are happening. You get an agent, you land an audition, you get a bit part in a commercial, and it keeps you going. It may not be much, but it’s a sign. Let these little things keep you afloat.
Stick with it. You’re going to have times when you think about how great you were at accounting or how easy it would be to move home and live with mom. Those are just fugacious temptations that will go away. Be patient and stick with your resolve. Otherwise you’ll just be left wondering “what if” for the rest of your life.
True, there will be glamorous red carpet moments, but it’s work, too, after all – especially when you’re just beginning out. You have to take the good with the bad. Putting in the work will make it easier to realize just how much you’ve earned this.
There will never be a time when everyone is a fan of your work. We all have different tastes, and that’s a good thing. It makes the world diverse. So even when you’re at the top, ignore the naysayers. They don’t really matter anyway. You have your success and happiness – who needs them?
