How Much Does
Starting An Acting Career Cost?

How much does starting an acting career cost? Well, that depends on how you intend to start it. But I think we all agree, that it does cost something. To be able to come up with ways to make money that will keep actors focused on their acting careers, has always been a hot topic and it probably will continue to be.

We’ve all heard the term, “struggling actor” before right? Well, unfortunately it is a harsh reality. Why? Because most actors, new actors especially, don’t realize how much work goes into creating and building an acting career. Many, still think that if they can just get an agent, even though they might not have one ounce of training, that they will “make it”. Nothing could be further from the truth. It takes time, perseverance and hard work to build an acting career and to do that, you need to be able to have a flexible time schedule.

Let’s look at some facts.

· A couple of years ago, it has been reported that the average salary of an actor in the U.S. is $6.000 per year!

· Most actors have a so-called ‘day or night job’ to make ends meet and pay the rent.

· Most actors have not the money to be able to take acting classes when they want. So they have to save up to be able to do that.

· Most actors don’t have the money to be able to get their headshots taken when they want, so they have to often wait for months to get the money together.

· Many actors spend their money frivolously and don’t know where their money really goes.

Now here is an approximation of your possible acting career cost at the start.

· Take at least one on-going acting technique class if you are interested creating a solid base and if you are serious about acting. The cost: approximately $250 - $375 per month

· Take an improvisation class if you can afford to add to your skill. This type of class is especially important for on-camera commercial work. The cost: approximately $200 per month

· Props for an acting technique class, for scenes, acting books, notebooks, clothes, etc. The cost: average of $10 - $15 per month

· Headshots: $250 and up

And then, to add to your acting career cost, there are specialty classes you could take, depending on where your interests lie:

· On-camera commercial
· On-camera film class
· On-camera day-time/prime-time television class
· Acting for film
· Audition technique
· Shakespeare and the classics
· Commercial print
· Acting for soap operas
· Theatre acting
· Acting business classes
· Career mentoring
· Voice reproduction
· Voice-over
· Monologue preparation
· Scene study
· Forums with casting directors and agents

And There Is More To Add To Your Acting Career Cost: · Industry trade shows
· There is rehearsal space at places like Ripley Greer Studios in NY for example, that provide places for you to practice with your scene partners.
· There’s the travel to an audition. For example when in NY, sometimes I take the train and go to New Jersey to audition.
· You will want to get a reel done at some point to showcase the work that you have done
· You want to have a place to have your headshots, résumé, bio, reel, audio file, etc. A website will come in handy. It doesn't have to cost a lot, but then again, it depends on what kind of image you want to project. There are free websites if you have no money at all to invest.
· You’ll want to stay fit, so a gym membership could be a good thing to have.
· If you live out of town, you might even incur excessive costs just to be able to get to class!
· And let’s not forget about the cost of your mailings to casting directors and agents. Oh yes my friend! That costs money too!
· And lastly, when you are out all day, a stop by Starbucks, Jamba Juice or a local 7-Eleven is inevitable and sometimes irresistible.

Well, I think you get the idea. If you are just starting out and you keep things on the low end of the spending realm, then you are looking at spending an additional $250 - $350 on your acting career each month, which of course depends on your personal situation. That’s a lot of money for someone who is just barely able to make ends meet and pay the rent!

So what does all this mean about your acting career cost at the beginning? It means that we actors need to understand what we are getting ourselves into, so that we don’t end up “struggling!” That’s why I always say, do your homework first, because it does not have to be that way.

I repeat, It Does Not Have To Be That Way!

Here are some additional links you might find helpful with regard to your acting career cost, money and budgeting:

This will make you think about your money situation!

This should also be of help. More specifically, if you are planning on going somewhere else to study for a while, you can see here a breakdown of what my costs were the first couple of times I went to NY.

So what can you do?

If you are really serious about acting, then you might want to consider some different and great ways to make money so that you will have greater flexibility of time and be able to focus more on your acting career. So how much will the start to your acting career cost? Here are some ideas you could implement, so that you don’t have to worry about it!

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What you’re doing is great Anthony. Whenever I read the things on your site, the interviews and even your book, I feel like if only everybody got to read this before they got started, they would be so much better off and everybody else (casting directors, agents, directors, etc.) would be so much better off too.
Personal Manager, Ingrid French

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Tony,
I want to say you changed my life. I want to be an actress so bad, but i began losing motivation when I couldn't figure out what to do. And then I found you! Thanks to you, I'm taking my first acting classes next month! Yippee!
Sara, Pasadena, CA

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Hi Tony
I would like to thank you for helping me with the monologue question I asked you. 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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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