Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise: it is indeed possible to be a professional actor and turn acting into a career, even in today’s world.  Sure, well-meaning friends and family and the media may scoff at the idea - but they don’t have insider knowledge! When somebody says “I want to be a professional actor”, they don’t always have dreams of becoming a Hollywood or Broadway superstar. The truth is, you are a professional actor no matter where you are being paid to act!  Here ar

If you're interested in learning to dance, don't let other beginners dictate your pace and progress. Instead of joining a class, schedule a private lesson with a professional dance instructor. You might not find your perfect match instantly, but you'll be in a unique position to consider the instructor's background, personality, and teaching style before signing up. But what should you be looking for, exactly? Previous Stage Experience After professional dancers retire, they often stick arou

It sure seems that show business favors the young, doesn’t it? When you hear of starry-eyed talents venturing off to Hollywood or New York City, they never seem to be a day over twenty one!  Yet, if you watch any movie, television show, or play, not everyone is a fresh-faced young adult. Although the laments of some older actors would lead you to believe that’s the case. There are many, many reasons why it is certainly NOT too late for you to learn acting if you feel you’ve caught “t

Good monologues are hard to find. They are even harder to find when we are talking about film. Film is a very fast moving medium. We, as an audience, have been trained to expect to see something new every few seconds. Live theatre, however, has enjoyed a long and enriching relationship with the sustained attention of the monologue. Here, we are just going to focus on movie monologues for men, and how they help the actor hone their skills. First, we need to define the thing we are looking

Wondering how to be an actor on TV shows and film? Professional actor and acting coach David Tom shares his best acting tips for those looking to get into the industry... I’ve been asked many times over the years, "How can I break into the entertainment industry?" Oftentimes, that question is answered with one word: Don't! And yet, I’m writing now to say that if you’re passionate about acting - go for it! If this is truly the craft you wish to pursue as a life-long career, ke

Have you ever wondered what it's like to travel the world touring with a symphony orchestra? Jet-setting from New York to LA, hopping from London to Paris and then on to Rome and Madrid. Maybe a few days in Tokyo before flying to Shanghai and finishing in Sydney. Ah yes, it’s a glamorous life…...or is it?   What is it Actually Like to Tour With a Symphony Orchestra? I was very fortunate to have spent 23 years as a member of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in London. During those yea

If you’re interested in the wonderful world of acting, you’ll want to eventually familiarize yourself with the concept of method acting. But what is method acting exactly? It is an acting technique that allows the actor to associate with the character on an emotional level. This often involves the actor fully identifying with the character, feeling, expressing, and evoking thoughts and emotions that resonate with the character’s role. Essentially, the actor “becomes” the character.

Watching people dance can be both inspiring and intimidating. Their graceful movements and the fluid transitions between steps can make you want to dance while making you feel extremely self-conscious. Something you should know is that there are very, very few people who look this good when they first learn how to dance! Taking dance classes and private lessons are the perfect way to learn dance basics without the public exposure. Regardless of the type of dance you are interested in, the

The job of an actor is to tell a story. Generally, that story is about the journey of a specific character with the confines of a larger story. So, how do we do that? How do actors feel the moment? How do we take a moment that was conceived in a writer’s head and make an audience feel that it is alive? Let's Look at an Example from "A Chorus Line" There is a song in the musical, A Chorus Line about this. The character, Diana Morales, is in an acting class and the teacher asks her what she is

If you've ever watched an actor disappear into their role, shedding genuine tears or adopting mannerisms that aren't their own, then you've seen method acting techniques in action. Most people think of this approach as "becoming a character," and some actors do take that literally, pretending to actually be the person they're playing.  Method acting is taught everywhere from Hollywood to Broadway. But a few notable actors are well-known for taking it to award-winning extremes, making enormous