Don’t Get Talent Rusty! How to Keep Your Acting Skills Fresh In Your Down Time.

You aren’t going to be acting all the time. In fact, if you get a solid job and spend a good six months or even a year on it, you’re going to need some time off. Take it. It’s necessary to keep you loving your craft and in the game. And then there are the times where you just aren’t getting the call backs you were hoping for. It’s all going to happen and it’s all normal. Don’t stress. But don’t go too relaxed either. It’s vital that in the down time you keep your game strong and skills fresh. Here’s how you do that.

Go to open calls you don’t care about. Really. Even if you aren't called back, just view it as active practice. Brush up weekly on your monologues. You never know when an instant opportunity will come knocking. Who knows?  You may land something you didn't expect! How does it get any better than that? But if you don’t - you’re practicing being detached from the outcome which is good for everyone.

People watch whenever you can. And really, don’t just read expressions and emotions, but allow yourself to be entertained by them and notice why you’re entertained. All of these suggestions aim to broaden your understanding of human beings and this world we live in. A greater understanding of human nature will make you a better actor. If you take your "downtime" and use it to read, both people and script, that subsequent growth of your humanity will compensate for the loss of growth as an actor.

Read everything - and perform it as you read it. The greatest asset an actor can have, aside from talent, is the ability to read and understand the tiny nuances of what you read. Read novels and imagine being the characters. Read reviews on the internet of the plays you are reading. Read poetry. There are many beautifully written poems that are simple to understand. What's great, is these same poems will also change the way you see the world.

Use the time off to better yourself. It’s easy to get caught up the success grind of life and forget to take care of your mind and the person within. Read books on centering. Go to a yoga class. Look at art and flowers. Take time to be thankful and slow down. The more you notice, the more you’ll feel alive. You'll be so glad you did.

For more information on acting coaches and acting classes in New York City, please get in touch with us at the New York Acting School for Film and Television and we will get you moving forward!