| Actors
and actresses perform in plays, TV, on the radio, and in big
films. As entertainers, they use their talents to tell a story
to an audience. Very few actors actually become big stars.
Their work is usually very temporary, from one day to a few
months. And although actors may get good cash for what they
do, they are often in-between gigs and need another "day job"
in order to support themselves and their families.
Still,
if acting is your passion and you have the ability to make
people laugh, cry, or simply sit up and take note, this could
be the field for you. Who knows, you might be the next Amanda
Bynes!
Actors/Actresses
can work in many different areas:
Stand
Up Comedy„If you have a great sense of humor, love to
make people laugh, and like to ham it up in front of a crowd,
this may be your thing.
Sitcom
„Maybe you have always thought about being a star on
a weekly sitcom, like Hannah Montana. If you like acting,
working with others, and are great at learning lines, consider
making casting calls.
Live
Theater or Movie Star„More into plays and movies with
lengthy story lines? This might be your line of work if you
like the idea of hanging with the same crew for months at
a time. Travel is also involved, which means staying in hotel
rooms until the production is finished.
 Interview
with Comedienne, Kelly Smith:
Growing
up in a big suburb of Detroit, Michigan, Kelly loved playing
make believe with her pets. She had a lot of animals (poodles,
ducks, turtles, cats, birds, fish, and a St. Bernard!) that
she taught funny tricks.
"I also
had a ton of friends and we were always being silly and acting
out an episode from our favorite TV show," she recalls.
Kelly
had a knack for comedy and could always make the kids in her
neighborhood laugh.
"Any
time I heard a funny joke; I would run home and write it down."
She was
always thinking up story lines. Because she was bigger than
most girls, she often got serious parts in school plays. Although
she liked to joke around, she didn't care which role she had
as long as she was on stage. She also took a speech class,
and usually won debate competitions.
"One time
in 7th grade we had to give an oral presentation. The presentations
before mine were boring. I wanted to be different, so I added
a comedy routine through it and the whole class erupted into
laughter."
Her first
job was babysitting for the neighbor kids. She would entertain
the kids by either telling scary stories or singing super
silly songs. In high school she got her first job at the Friendly
Ice Cream Parlor dipping cones. Customers loved her fun attitude!
From there, Kelly went onto to college to major in speech.
As a sophomore
in college, she auditioned and got the part to perform as
a stand-up comic for the Disney Channel. Kelly earned a whopping
$300„not bad money at the time. Throughout college, she performed
locally„usually at comedy clubs„on the weekends.
During
her days as an undergrad, Kelly also won lots of awards for
her humorous speaking on the National College Speech and Debate
Circuit. Since then sheÍs rubbed shoulders with some of the
finest comedians in the business, like Rosie OÍ Donnell, Jerry
Seinfeld, and Jay Leno.
Today,
Kelly works by day as a job recruiter, traveling from state
to state to help people land the right position. But by night
she does stand-up comedy routines at clubs around the country,
and is always adding something new and nutty to her performances.
What
You Can Do to Get Ready:
As in KellyÍs case, you may want to get a college degree. For right now, you should practice your routine in front of family and friends. Also, you can join a speech and debate team, get into drama club, and really working on honing your acting skills. Another thing that might be a good idea is to get an acting coach.
What
it Pays:
Kelly knows how undependable acting jobs can be, as well as the income being unsteady. Yet some actresses/actors strike it big and make huge bucks. On average, most actresses/actors will make anywhere from around $7 per hour to $53 per hour, depending on the gig or part.
Other
Resources:
Greenville
Little Theatre:
Check out your options at “theatre school”.
South
Carolina’s Children’s Theatre : Learn more
about theater production at this helpful Website.
Kelly’s
Website: Learn more from this funny lady! |
