How to Get Seen and Booked as an Actor in New York

With New York City being a hub for actors, it can be hard to get noticed and stand out in the crowd. But rest assured, there are ways to do this and we at the New York Acting School have mastered the system. I want to leave you with a few rules to keep in mind so you are more easily remembered on a positive note and will be more likely to get that part.  

It’s vital for you to remember that this is the acting business and not a hobby sport, if you’re looking to succeed; so you need to treat it as such. Study this list well and follow the instructions. Professionalism is key and these guidelines will get you there. 

Always be on time. Sure, that may sound obvious, but you'd be surprised to find out how many actors just have no sense of time. It doesn’t matter how late you were out last night or where you had to be beforehand. Your audition time is the time you need to arrive; at the latest. Keep in mind that audition time slots are limited, pass quickly and are scheduled at odd times.  When they call you to be there, be there early.  Being late will will only leave a negative impression.

Know your lines and know them well. Understand, that you are not the writer.  Many actors don’t like the script and feel the lines should be re-written, but that's not your role, and it's offensive to the actual writer. Simply memorize your lines. Don’t be cocky, just do what you’re there to do and do it well. 

Be attentive and listen carefully. If you don’t, you might miss something vital.  Sometimes the casting director, writer or director will give you a bit of direction before or during your audition on a particular line. Listen carefully to what they’re saying and take the time you need to process it. Don't panic, if it’s during an audition, they will usually be happy to give you a few minutes to incorporate the new direction into the lines. So ask for it if you need it. They'll respect your effort more than you ignoring it all together.

Have real, professional headshots. Nobody likes to get a headshot in their hands and find out the person standing in front of them looks nothing like the photo. Don't be that actor. Don’t have your photos airbrushed or polished. Just make sure your head shot accurately portrays who you are right now. If you’ve gained weight, cut or drastically dyed your hair, or aged, then you've got to make sure your head shot shows this. Your head shot isn't the one getting the job and you won’t either if you look totally different than the face people were expecting to see.

Go all in and be fully committed. The most successful actors are the ones that know how to fully dive into the moment and role they are playing. When you are able to fully commit to the scene you're playing, you'll show the casting directors that you should be considered above the rest because you perform with authentic passion and aren't limited by nervously holding back.

Don’t bother with excuses. Got to be honest here, there is no real excuse that will defend you.  It doesn’t matter what’s going on in your life, as insensitive as it may feel, the only thing that matters on set or on an audition is that you’re there. No one will care if there was traffic, you should have left five hours early.  You 'just couldn't learn the script in time'... too bad. Better luck next time! Sorry that this may sound harsh, but the cold truth is that no one cares that these so-called emergencies popped up. Sure, life happens and sometimes things go wrong and in a normal world, this may in some cases be taken into consideration. But DO NOT depend on that. No matter what excuse you think you have to get you out of a particular situation, there are dozens of other people happy to take your place. So do your absolute best, not to need an excuse.


That list is gold for your career. It’s like the rule book for being respected and honored in the field. So follow them well and keep on learning; that’s what will carry you far. Then come to The New York Acting School for Film and Television and let us know how we can help you further succeed in your career.