Starting An Acting Career (part 1):
Interview with Actors Connection Owner,
Lisa Gold

About three years ago, when I first contemplated starting an acting career, one of the resources I became aware of in New York was Actors Connection.

During my visits to AC to attend seminars, take classes and meet the casting directors and agents of my choice, I felt the positive energy around the place, which I later learned had to do with the owners Lisa Gold and Tony Nation. Lisa was one of the people I asked to critique my book Acting Career Start Up: Factors For Success, because of her many years of experience in this industry as a singer, dancer and actress and for the fact that she has been able to take the resource for actors that she bought in the year 2000 to the next level. Just a little side note; Lisa Gold is one of the most high-powered people you will ever meet. I sat down with her to talk about what she feels is important to know for anyone starting an acting career. Here is the exclusive interview with Lisa (pictured to the left) for ActingCareerStartUp.com.

Tony: With all your years of experience Lisa, what advice would you give someone with regard to starting an acting career?

Lisa: Well, the first thing I would tell people is that starting an acting career is just like starting any other kind of career. Whether you want to be a plumber, a doctor or whatever, an acting career is just like any of those things and it starts with educating yourself as to what it will mean to pursue an acting career.

Anyone who wants to start an acting career now should be prepared to spend at least the next 2 – 3 years laying the groundwork. The problem with most people who say they are starting an acting career is that, they don’t really want to have an acting career. They just want to be a star. They see people on television and in movies and they think, “I want that. I want to put on beautiful gowns and go to the awards shows. I want to go to all the parties and have my picture taken with pretty people.” People who think like that are not really looking at what having an acting career really means. They’re looking at the tangible goodies that the actors who have made it enjoy. Those results you’re seeing in People Magazine or on Entertainment Tonight are for the top 1% of the top 1% of the top 1% of all actors. Most actors never have that kind of experience in their lifetimes.

Tony: So what do you tell people like that?

Lisa: You must realize that starting an acting career is going to take work; and that it will take at least 2 – 3 years for you to really even get your foot in the door and be at the level where you can compete in a very over-saturated marketplace with the people who are already getting work. And by the way, that is about the time it takes to learn anything well whether it’s playing the piano, learning a foreign language or anything. But 2 – 3 years is faster than going to college if you really apply yourself.

Tony: Playing the devil’s advocate here I could say, “Yeah Lisa, but there are a lot of people who believe I have talent and that I should be an actor. I’m beautiful and lots of people tell me that I have what it takes to be an actor. Lot’s of people get discovered. Maybe I will too!”

Lisa: I want to deflate the misnomer that if you’re cute or if you can sing on key or you think you have a lot of talent, and that just because you might have the talent and the desire that you can just go out and get an acting job the next day. Does it happen? Yes, especially with the advent of reality television, but will it happen to you? Most probably no, because the truth is that the people who are over-night successes are really not that at all. That is what the media hype has led us to believe. The real truth is that those successful actors, who yesterday we knew nothing about and that today are all over the tabloids, have been working at it for longer than 2 – 3 years. There’s no such thing as an over-night success.

See the rest of this must-read interview about Starting An Acting Career with Lisa Gold, owner of Actors Connection, an acting school in NYC.

Visit www.actorsconnection.com to check out the many ways in which they can help actors further their careers.

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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