You’re a working actor—you pay your rent, your bills, and everything else through your thespian endeavors alone. This achievement is near impossible without landing representation. An agent and/or manager will ideally be your number one cheerleader; they’ll get you into rooms and put exciting projects in front of you. 

Essential Acting Skills Every Performer Should Master

In the entertainment industry, actors are the ones who help bring a production to life. They are responsible for embodying memorable characters and engaging with the audience—whether on screen, on stage, or from behind a microphone. 

But how does an actor truly grip their viewers? Standout performers have all mastered a specific set of acting skills. Talent is, obviously, a given, but there are a few other techniques to finesse to take the industry by storm. From learning how to deal with rejection to marketing your brand, here are 10 essential acting skills every actor should master.

Memorization

Whether the character you’re playing is in one scene or commands the entire production, it’s up to you as an actor to bring the script to life. This makes memorization one of the most important skills that an actor needs. Preparing properly by memorizing your lines helps keep production on schedule, allows the creative team to make changes if they find issues with the dialogue, and ensures other cast members can perform their best in your scenes together. 

There are many techniques for remembering your lines. To get you started, here are some tried-and-tested methods: 

• Write your lines out by hand.
• Go the old-school route and read your lines repetitively, running them out loud with a scene partner. “Read the script over and over and over and over and over and over, until you almost don’t like it, so it’s so settled into you that, actually, it’s the last thing you’re thinking about,” Jamie Dornan told us. 

Flag and remember your cue lines or the lines that come right before you have to speak.

Body and Voice Control

If an actor’s voice and body are their instruments, keeping them fine-tuned is essential for any sort of meaningful performance. Understanding how to manipulate your vocal range and physicality will work wonders for your character work. Think of how Bradley Cooper dropped his voice an octave to play Jackson Maine in “A Star Is Born,” or how Nancy Cartwright controls her voice to play characters as varied as Bart on “The Simpsons” and Chuckie Finster on “Rugrats.”

Being in full control of your body can elevate tasks such as:

• Fight or dance choreography.
• Taking on a physical character trait like a limp or facial tic
• Knowing where you’re moving in a space in relation to the camera.

Vocally, actors must excel at:

• Longevity: certain roles can place a huge demand on your voice, so knowing how to control it will protect you in the long run
• Correctly projecting their voices based on what the space requires (i.e., a theater will require different projection than a living room)
• Altering vocal pitch to fit the part.

You can practice vocal warmups with a coach or through guided exercise videos. There are countless methods to work on your physicality, from attending stage combat workshops to dance classes to yoga sessions.

Script Analysis

 From the first audition to performing on a set or stage, it is imperative that an actor understands how to break down a script. Think of it as gathering clues with the goal of understanding the writer’s overall vision—while also discovering who your character is and how you will portray them.

The process of analyzing a script can become pretty detailed, depending on the size of the role and the nature of the project. You should always remember to ask the five basic storytelling questions: who, what, when, where, and why.

Here are four basic steps to get you started:

• Pay attention to the title, genre, creatives involved, and your character’s description.These details can help you prepare and put you in the correct headspace before you receive your audition materials.
• Read the script first from the audience’s perspective.It’s important to understand the overall story and the writer’s vision. Allow yourself to be moved by the piece and keep track of those moments, as they may help inform your choices once you delve deeper.
• Do your research.You may run across something you don’t understand whether it’s medical jargon or street slang. If there’s confusion, head over to Google and do some research. Being clear on the meaning of the words spoken in your scene will translate into clarity in your performance.
• Keep an eye out for the big events in your scenes. The tension in scenes will often ebb and flow to build drama. Recognize those spots in the script and identify how the comedic and dramatic plot points involve your character.

Stamina

Having physical, mental, and emotional stamina is a big part of the job. Between the long hours on set, the deep emotional work it takes to bring a character to life, and the regular hits of rejection, it’s important to have the fortitude to see things through to another day. 

A few reminders to help keep your resilience up:

• Don’t take rejection personally.There are many factors at play that have little or nothing to do with your talent. You might not be the right height to play against the lead they’ve already cast, for example, or maybe you don’t have a driver’s license. Your audition is just one small part of the decision-making process. 
• Remind yourself that “no” does not mean “never.”Just because it was a “no” today doesn’t mean there isn’t a “yes” around the corner. 
• You can only control your response.Realize that your ability to handle rejection is the one thing you do have control over. Set yourself up for success by incorporating opportunities to continue to learn and build your craft outside of the audition process.
• Your main job is to audition and “book the room.”Even if you didn’t get the part, if you gave a good audition, that casting team or director might call on you later down the line for another project.

“It’s an easier life to live to not dwell on what one didn’t get and should have got,” Gillian Anderson said. “If you go in doing the best you can, then you’ve got something to feel good about, and sometimes feeling good about that can be enough.”  

Take a walk. Read a book. Watch a movie. Go on vacation. Take a nap. Do what makes you happy and feeds your soul. This is an industry where it’s common to connect your self-worth with the work you may or may not be booking. It’s important to recognize when you require a break and need to recharge.

Taking Direction

Taking direction is a vital part of the process. After you’ve created your character and made your unique choices to book the role, it’s inevitable that a director will give you a note to change something about your performance. Remember: They’re the ones steering the proverbial ship. Here are some tips for taking direction as an actor:

• Be flexible.Nothing is set in stone until the director yells cut and decides to move on to the next scene. They may want to see how different body language looks or how a change to your dialogue can impact things. You’re there to help bring the story to life, so always be ready to receive new ideas. 
• Listen to the criticism.Acting is based largely on deeply emotional work that is personal to you. When a note alters your performance, take your ego out of the equation and listen carefully. Be sure to repeat it back to the director to acknowledge you understand.
• Don’t take things personally. Remember that the director is the one calling the shots. It’s their vision you are helping bring to life. If a note alters your understanding of the character and scene, view it as a chance to try something different and have fun.
• Ask questions.If something isn’t clicking with you, it’s best to ask the director about it. Remember, if you’re not clear on a scene change, that confusion will reflect in your performance.

On-Camera Know-How

Theater actors regularly play scenes to an audience in an environment that may require vocal projection and big physical actions. When acting on-camera, though, it is important to be aware of the distance between you and the camera, the framing of the shot, and how you may need to mediate your performance. The camera can pick up the tiniest facial tic or raised eyebrow. Unless otherwise specified by the director, less is usually more.

Productions commonly shoot a script’s scenes out of order. Be aware of the continuity of the story and keep track of where your character is throughout the shoot schedule. 

An actor should be familiar with all basic camera shots. Here’s your starting point:

• The wide shot: Often referred to as the establishing shot, a wide shot sets up the characters and context for the scene. It lets the audience know where the action takes place, introduces a relationship between characters and their environment, sets the emotional tone, and establishes the story’s locale.
• The medium shot: Also known as a two shot, this is a technique that frames the view of a scene’s subjects. The shot is used to showcase the emotion between two characters.
• The close-up shot: This is a shot of an actor or object taken at close range intended to reveal important details of the scene to the viewer. These are the shots that feature the most emotion, allowing the viewer to connect with a character’s struggle in a story. 

Hitting your marks, blocking a scene, and being aware of your surroundings are all key to on-camera acting.

Business Savvy

While it’s an agent’s job to submit actors for work, you are responsible for knowing your brand and maintaining your marketing materials. It’s up to the actor to take inventory of the items in your toolbox to ensure your management team succeeds in submitting you for quality roles.

Long gone are the days of hard copy headshots, which minimize the physical clutter that can come with this part of the job. Your brand should feel streamlined and accessible. At all times, make sure these components are updated: 

• Headshot
• Résumé
• Social media presence
• Personal website

All actors have those they look up to in the field. While taking acting classes to improve your craft is always helpful, it’s important to know what trends are currently in style—especially when it comes to voiceover work and television commercials. Writers regularly read other writers’ work to find inspiration, and the same can be said for actors. 

Attend plays. Watch television. Go to the movies. Once you’re done, use resources like IMDB or Backstage to figure out who is casting the kinds of projects you want to be a part of.

Kindness

This may sound silly, but kindness is an acting skill that will take you far. When you’re on set, maintaining a kind demeanor with everyone from the background actors to the director will show that you’re an asset worth working with again. It doesn’t have to be a massive effort; small acts go a long way. When you’re working, always be sure to:

• Arrive on time, follow the rules, and leave any attitude at the door. 
• If you’re at an audition, remember the casting assistant’s name. 
• When you’re on set, listen attentively to the production assistants and assistant directors. 

If you’re kind to everyone you work with, chances are the creatives will call you in for other projects they’re working on. After all, kindness is the foundation of connection and relationship-building.

Looking to venture into fashion modeling? These tips from experienced models offer do’s and don’ts on how to become a successful fashion model.

Want to know how to become a model? Do you dream of being the next Gigi Hadid, gracing the cover of Vogue? Modeling as a career has become a much-vaunted choice now with thousands of aspirants chasing the dream of becoming the next supermodel.

How to become a model?

We have spoken to several successful models and agencies and put together a list of tips below that you must follow to break into the modeling industry and kickstart your modeling career. So, here’s how to get started in modeling.

Develop your modeling skills.

Study and understand posing. Practice runway walking. What separates a pretty model from another model is going to be their posing ability and their walk. Modeling is an art. Whether it’s binge-watching season upon season of America’s Next Top Model, scanning the pages of Vogue, watching YouTube tutorials, reading modeling eBooks like glamour shots photography or finding a favorite model. Posing and walking on a runway is very awkward at first. Practice. Here is a modeling tip for you: Have a friend shoot photo of you to get comfortable with posing, both in front of a camera and another person. Or start smaller and put a camera on a tripod and practice by yourself until your confidence grows before you start your journey to become a fashion model.

Practice model poses in front of the camera.

The next step to know how to start modeling is to practice in front of the camera. The supermodels you see in gorgeous magazine photos did not just sit in front of a camera and get lucky when a highly skilled fashion photographer took a picture of them. They worked WITH the photographer to create a masterpiece. Both equally skilled in their respective trade, a model will use her posing, facial expressions, and artistic intuition to help create the photographer’s vision. Having the right posing skills is an essential requirement for becoming a model.

Get a killer modeling portfolio AND a Video Demo

One of the most critical steps to become a model and to make a stable career is to have a well-rounded modeling portfolio that showcases your strong points through high-quality, stunning images. One of the first requirements from a model that agencies and clients will look at to make a great first impression is the modeling portfolio. It helps to have both an online version (your modeling portfolio website) that you can send to anyone via an email and a printed version that you can show when you meet someone face to face. You need all the exposure you can get to move up the ladder in the modeling industry.

Find the right modeling agency.

Every fashion model needs a modeling agency. The first step to getting signed by a modeling agency is getting seen by a top modeling agency in your area. Getting seen requires a very simple submission: snapshots of yourself. These snapshots are commonly referred to as ‘digitals’ in the industry (or occasionally ‘polaroids.’)

Modeling agencies are looking for the most simple and natural photos possible so that they can see you for YOU. Submit snapshots of you wearing little to no makeup: a light sweep of foundation and mascara at the most. Do not style your hair (but do make sure it is clean), and include photos of your hair down, and also of your hair up, pulled away from your face. The background needs to be plain and not distracting (standing against a plain wall works best). Take the photos using natural light; a friend can easily play photographer for you. If you have any friends currently learning fashion design than make sure to take his or her advice on your wardrobe selection. Your digitals should include the following images: smiling (with teeth, without), non-smiling, up-close headshot(s), left and right-side profiles, and a full-length shot (both facing the camera and turned away from the camera). Your outfit should consist of a t-shirt (solid color) and jeans.

Learn to embrace rejection.

Mentally prepare yourself for rejection- a lot of it. You MUST be able to handle having doors shut in your face without a second thought. Even the most stunning supermodels to ever walk the planet were told “NO.” They were told “NO” multiple times, many ways, by countless people. Rejection is part of the territory. The sooner you not only understand but accept that, the better off you will be. Don’t base your self-worth on appearance or anybody else’s approval of you. Start practicing now: challenge yourself to shrug off any criticism you receive this week. See if it was easy or difficult. The harder it was, the more you need to grow a tougher skin. Are you offended that you were just told to grow tougher skin? If so, that’s precisely the point! Start practicing the ability to let all criticism roll off your back! But don’t worry, everybody is capable of learning this skill with enough practice. A good mental mantra to keep in mind when it comes to rejection is: “Every ‘NO’ is just one ‘NO’ closer to a ‘YES.'”

Make yourself constantly look better.

Take care of your skin, hair, body, and health. Like it or not, modeling is an aesthetically driven industry, and beauty/appearance is undeniably essential. (That being said, you can still make it as a commercial model regardless of physical beauty or body type.) However, for fashion models, the height/weight standards are more rigid and inflexible than with any other genre in modeling. There’s not much you can do about genetics, but it IS up to you to make the most of the genetics you were given.

If you do not fit the current fashion model requirements (height/weight), there are many other genres in the modeling industry that you can pursue instead. Please read this article on the types of modeling to learn which genres you may be a good fit for.

Be Professional

Getting into modeling is not an easy task. You have to be a professional through and through. Answer phone calls. Return voicemails and emails promptly. There is no excuse to be 30 minutes late for a meeting, casting call, photo shoot. If anything, you should always be 15 minutes EARLY. This takes planning and time management skills. Aspiring models make a big mistake when they adopt the mentality of: “Well, I’m pretty enough to be a model, so I will just skate by with my looks alone and minimal effort.” Many up-and-coming models of the past never worked another day in their life in the modeling industry after their unprofessionalism, lousy attitude, and reputation began to overshadow their beauty. Nobody wants to work with a diva. There are plenty of other beautiful girls in the world who WON’T be snotty or rude.

When you book a job, you are representing both yourself and your agency. When you are on set, treat EVERYONE with respect. If your makeup artist was given a specific directive, which she followed, but you hate the way she did your makeup… well, that’s too bad. She did her job, so now do yours. Produce some killer photos, regardless of your makeup preference, and without saying mean things about the makeup artist to others. Respect and courtesy will take you a LONG way in your modeling career!

Commit to work.

Modeling may seem easy and glamorous, but that is by no means the reality. It will take a lot of commitment on your part to become a model. Are you prepared to maintain a diet, fitness, and beauty regimen, even when you are having a dry spell and not booking any work? Are you willing to do a 12-hr photo shoot in freezing and windy conditions, while wearing a wardrobe that offers no warmth, while still getting the shot and not complaining? Have you accepted that it may take years once signed to a modeling agency to garner success (if ever) while your agency develops you as a model?

Build your social media following

 If you are an aspiring fashion model, it is likely that you are seeking modeling agency representation. As mentioned before, submit your digitals, practice posing and walking, develop a beauty regimen, etc. while you wait for responses from modeling agencies. In the meantime, build up your social media following and learn how to manage multiple social media accounts like an expert. It may help get you signed to an agency, believe it or not! Building a following on social media is a very new phenomenon. These days, modeling agencies will take a model’s online audience into consideration when weighing whether to sign them or not.

Advertisers use models all the time, but more and more so they want to use models who already have a built-in audience to promote to. A large social media following is not a requirement to be a fashion model, but it is an important attribute. This trend does not show any signs of slowing at current. So, jump on board as soon as you can. Be wise in your social media strategy and message. Know what you stand for, show your followers your authentic self, engage with them regularly, and post great photos! You can even take it a step further and start a blog, a YouTube channel, etc. Many non-intending influencers have turned into professionals’ models on account of their large following.

Never let your pride down

Till now, you have seen most of the steps on how to become a model, but not letting your pride down is not less important. No matter what, you are still a valuable person with feelings, thoughts, and opinions. You are so much more than just a pretty face. Most fashion models accept the jobs they are booked by their agency, which is fine and quite standard. But if anything, ever crosses the line or makes you feel uncomfortable, you need to learn to speak up and voice your opinion before it’s too late. While we just mentioned commitment being a vital attribute, there is a fine line. You should never become SO dedicated to your career that it becomes more important than yourself and your own needs. What do you stand for? Make it known from the start and stick to it unwaveringly.