Acting As A Career:
Interview With Musical Theatre Performer
Anastasia Bain

Some Good Advice On Acting As A Career

How I met Anastasia Bain, musical theatre performer. Back in the summer of 2004 I began to frequent Actors Connection in NY to take some specialty classes and to see if through their evening seminar program, I could meet the casting directors and agents I wanted to meet. It was during that period that I met Anastasia Bainey, a musical theatre performer who actually lived in Germany. I discovered that just like I did, she also would come back to NY to touch base for a few months at a time to gain additional experience and training in the craft.

Acting As A Career

After talking to her, I knew that her experience could be interesting for you, the visitors of ActingCareerStartUp.com, so I asked her for an interview on the subject of acting as a career! And here it is!

Tony: You are a full-time, working musical theatre performer are you not?

Anastasia: Yes I am. On April 5, 2008 I will celbrate my 20th anniversary as a working musical theatre performer in Germany. I am proud of the fact that during that time, I have obtained various contracts as an actress, singer, dancere and or choreographer, etc. ata hightly reputable theatres throughtout Europe. I've also appeared on television in featured speaking roles.

Tony: You chose performing and acting as a career. What advice can you give the newbie just starting out?

Anastasia: It is imprative that you approach this like a business, as opposed to a "flash in the pan" kind of thing. Whatever you set out to do, you mut see it through to the end. Even if it means getting up early in the morning to submit your résumé, or taking classes, networking seminars, or anything else. Whatever your plan of acting happens to be, you must see it through. When you plan a seed, it must be nurtured with the proper elelments in order for it to grow, but you must be consistent about it. You can't take care of your acting career intensely for a month or so and then let it go. That is not the nature of this business. You could find yourself in a situation where you are in the right place at the right time and just happen to land your ideal dream job! If you had given up the day before, you would never have been graced with such an opportunity!

Tony: What seeds did you plant for yourself?

Anastasia: When I was still in New York, I trained intensely and took a variety of classes. My initial focus was dance, and then it shifted to musical theatre. I realized that the world of concert dance alone did not fulfill my creative spirit. This resulted in my pursuit to learn other elemnts of the business.

Tony: What brought about the change?

Anastasia: My uncle Antonio Callender, who was a professional jazz drummer, gave me some valuable advice on my 18th birthday. He said that if you wish to achieve longevity in this business, it will not suffice to simply focus on one discipline. You must expand your focus in order to embrace and integrate the three disciplines of acting, singing and dancing if My acting teacher always said that if you wish to be a true musical theatre performer. It's also a plus if you can play an instrument.

A few years later, I followed his advice and enrolled at the Nat Horne Muscial Theatre School. During the Spring of 1986 I auditioned for the musical "Carmen Jones", which was scheduled to tour throughout Europe for an entire year. When I received the phone call that I was accepted, it opened up a whole new world for me.

Tony: For those who are reading this and who are contemplating acting as a career, what are the most important things you learned on that year-long tour or in your career in general as a musical theatre performer?

Anastasia: Commitment!!! It is so important! My commitment has always been there. When I was on that Carmen Jones tour, I learned that it was important to find a healthy balance between work and play. I saw a lot and received loads of advice from the veterans in the business. As one of 'babies' on the tour, I had to really be careful not to wander of the straight and narrow path. Some of the things they told me were:

“Save your money.”
“Don’t squander it all away.”
“Take care of yourself out there.”
“Eat healthy food.”
“Come to rehearsal on time.”
“Warm up and do all the things you’re supposed to do to keep your instrument fit.”

It’s good to have a mentor to learn from. So, learn as much as you can, be committed and like I said before, whatever it is you start, follow it through to the end.

Acting As A Career

Read what Anastasia says are the 6 Things You Need If You've Chosen Acting As A Career or if you have chosen to become a triple threat musical theatre performer.

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Video Special Report!:


The Top 10 Reasons Why
Most Aspiring Actors Never Make It!

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Hi Tony
I would like to thank you for helping me with the monologue question I asked in October 2007. I went to the auditions for a Drama course and I am happy to say that I have been accepted as a first-year student at the Tshwane University of Technology. Please keep on sending me those newsletters and let me know where I can find books that will help me in my acting career. Thank you once more. Have a blessed day.
Sincerely
Edward Thaba -South Africa

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Hi,
I was wondering if there is anything established like actingstartup.com in the U.K. because you are amazing and I have learned loads...
Thank You.
Nadine., Newcastle, UK

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Dear Anthony,
Just wanted to thank you for bringing me in to [audition for the video], meet you and chat this Saturday. I was really excited to hear about your working on actingcareerstartup.com and even took a look at it today - it's awesome! You are very well-spoken, knowledgeable and enthusiastic, and it shows through the work that you do! I hope our paths in the industry will cross again and really enjoyed meeting you. Thanks, again and best wishes with your very important work!
Warmly,
Gretchen, NY, NY

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Hey Tony, thanks for the info, yours by far is the most useful, I am 30 years old, and I myself always (secretly) wanted to be an actress, but I never knew where to begin, so thank you. You have given me hope!
Ana C., Tampa, FL

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Hi, I’m John.
You answered a question for me about two weeks ago about how to write my cover letters…I want you to know your advice was helpful. I got called in for a part as an extra in my first movie! It’s not big, but it’s my first one! Thanks for your help!
John, San Diego, CA