I’ve gotten so much helpful advice through the years but the most useful piece of wisdom for building a successful acting career is simply “Do at least one thing for your art and one thing for your business every day.”  In Part one of my answer we focused on the “business” part (CLICK to read PART1). Now in part 2, I’ll address the “Art.”  Here are some things you can do to turn this sage advice into action.

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Do one thing a day for your Art…

1. Hone your audition material: Every audition is a career opportunity.  Spend time carefully choosing great monologues and songs.  Tinker with them like a craftsman until they’re beautiful.  Work on your cold reading skills to become skilled at scene analysis and making strong, positive choices.   The only thing standing between you and the job is the audition.  Learn how to nail that and you’ve got a career. 

2. Work with a coach: Having the benefit of experienced, professional eyes and ears to help you make choices that will get you noticed is the difference between booking the job and “thank you very much.”  If you impress them in the room, even if you don’t book the job, they’ll remember you for another job down the line. 

3. Take a class: Acting class is a safe space where you stretch, explore and grow as an artist.  The exercises and text you work in class are like emotional cross-training preparing you for the moment opportunity arrives.  Class is the place to learn your craft.  It is also an opportunity to meet and work with other people in your industry and, as such, is also a professional setting.  Be ready to work when you get there.

4. Get in shape: If you’re not healthy you won’t be at your peak.     

5. Stay in shape: Taking care of your self is extremely important.  You are the product you’re selling.  This is a visual business.  If you were selling your old clunker of a car you’d make it look as good as possible but you might still be worried about its flaws being exposed during a test drive.  If you had maintained it properly it would not just look great but would be smooth and responsive on the road because it really was “in great shape.”

6. Do something different: Our range of experience can be limited, especially when we are young.  Branch out and try something new.  Do something you would not ordinarily do.  Explore new sensory experiences.  Listen to new music with an open mind.  Learn about new things.  Go to a museum.  How do you respond in each new circumstance?  What do you learn about yourself? 

7. Read: Read great plays and novels, books about acting, film, psychology, biographies of extraordinary people, and anything else that interests you.  The wonderful thing about acting is that everything is related and informs what you do. 

8. Watch great films: You don’t become a great writer without having read the work of the great writers that came before you.  The same is true for actors.  Watching great films is inspiring and educational.  Create your own film school.  Choose a film and watch it many times.  What is compelling, interesting or unusual about a performance?  What can you learn about intent, physicality or technique?  Read about the making of the film.  How did an actor prepare for their role?  What challenges did they face?  What was it like working with the director? Learn from the best. 

9. Study behavior: Become a people watcher. How do they move, walk, talk, where do you imagine they’re coming from or going to? What can you tell about them from their body language and how they’re dressed? What do you imagine they are thinking and feeling?

10. Write: Keeping a journal of your thoughts and feelings, without editing, will get you in touch with your internal world, help you better understand yourself, others and the world around you, and allow you to see patterns, improvement and growth over time. Commit to 15-20 minutes daily.  Write quickly, and don’t worry about spelling or punctuation.  Pick a daily or weekly theme if it helps you get started (for example, peace of mind, confusion, change or anger).  The most important rule is that there are no rules.

To read PART 1 of this blog CLICK HERE

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All my best,

Philip

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Philip Hernandez is a respected acting teacher and singing coach in NYC. He is also the only actor in Broadway history to play both Jean Valjean and Inspector Javert in Les Miserables. He created principal roles in Broadway’s Kiss of the Spiderwoman and Paul Simon’s The Capeman. You may also know him from his many television appearances: The Blacklist, Gotham, Blue Bloods, The Path, Bull, Nurse Jackie, Elementary, Person of Interest, Law and Order, Hostages and Damages to name a few. For information about acting lessons CLICK HERE or singing lessons CLICK HERE. 

Follow him on twitter @philip24601, on Instagram @philip24601 and on Facebook at @philip24601.