The Top 7 Mistakes Actors Make When Moving To Hollywood

So You’ve just moved to LA and now you’re ready to make it big. We at MRP have important news for you: It’s about the marathon not the sprint!

You need to be strategic, stick to a game plan, and have incredible patience.

MRP has done the research and come out with The Top Seven Mistakes Actors Make When Moving to Hollywood.

Joining the Union

As much as this might look like a good idea, it is just not advisable to immediately join the union. Most casting directors, movie producers and agents like to work with an individual who has some experience and has over time sharpened his or her experience before cameras. Not someone who has joined the union and lacks on-camera experience. Therefore instead of wasting your time joining the union, focus on doing auditions, trying TV commercials and building your experience.

Lack of a Financial Plan

This is the most common mistake made by a lot of actors coming to LA. It takes time for one to actually become a professional actor and make it big in Hollywood. Some actors have remained in the periphery for years before they made their first dollars out of their acting roles. Therefore, it is important for you to save adequate cash that will see you through the difficult days of looking for roles and becoming a professional actor.

Focusing on Acting Alone

Most new actors who come to LA tend to only focus on acting and forget looking for something that will sustain them. This makes them despair and even give up their aspirations to become professional actors. If you have other skills for example you are computer wizard, you know a thing or two about plumbing, you can work as a bartender or waiter, do these jobs as they will provide you with the most needed cash to see you through difficult times. Avoid putting all your efforts on acting alone.

Failure to Become Part of The Community

As much as moving to a new city like LA may seem to be, it is important that you look for a community you can become part of. Becoming part of a community will help you deal with a number of stresses that are associated with acting and being new in a different city. A good spiritual community will help you develop spiritually and stay focused.

Lavish Living

In LA, most things are expensive and a lot of actors come here and get lost by simply living beyond their means. They tend to join other people who love spending not knowing how they are making their money. You need to try and avoid this trend and live within your means. Do not do what you see other people doing. Plan your finances properly to last you a long time.

Thinking That LA is Full of Opportunities
They say USA is a land of opportunities. Yes to some it has been but to others it is not. Coming from a small city, you might be disillusioned to think that there are plenty of opportunities in LA, which in the real sense there are but there are a lot of people competing for these same opportunities. Therefore be prepared to work hard and look for more than one opportunity.

Lack of Focus

In LA, you might be tempted to do a lot of things that are not part of your plan. You came with the plan of becoming a professional actor; stick to it. Let this be your ultimate goal and do not lose focus along the way.