How does an actor in Springfield, MO find work? Is there enough work to create a career? Is anyone doing it? How do I start?

The answers come easier than you might think. It’s very easy to get caught up in the idea of working on big movies and television shows—the things we normally associate with the work of an actor. But when you live in a small market—and Springfield is a very small market—it’s easy to assume that since those types of projects happen infrequently, an actor must not be able to work. In reality, acting work is available—just not in the mediums you might think.

Acting, like any profession, involves a range of “levels”. If you were trying to become an architect, you wouldn’t assume the ability to jump in and design the next Guggenheim without first developing your skills on smaller projects—the same is true of an acting career. And as an architect, you wouldn’t assume the majority of jobs to be big-name projects: in fact, the majority of jobs are those you might take for granted (supermarkets, gas stations, small businesses). Again, acting is no different.

First of all, the following paragraphs assume that you, as an actor, possess talent (not always a given—be honest with yourself) and have pursued some level of training. Even the lowest paying fast-food jobs require some degree of training—actors often leave out this important factor. If you are considering a career as an actor, do not short-change yourself by skipping the skills-training that will allow you to succeed. There are quite a few training opportunities in Springfield, including acting classes, community theatre, and college credit. A wise performer will explore those avenues before considering paid work.

So what are these local acting jobs? How do they lead to larger projects? And how do they relate to Springfield?

The most basic and abundant acting work is the commercial. Commercials are produced at every level you can imagine—local (city), regional (state), national (U.S.) and international (worldwide). While not the most glamorous acting work, commercials provide jobs for thousands of actors every day—and local small businesses need commercials just as much as big businesses. How many times have you seen a local commercial featuring friends or family members of the business owner? How many times have you heard an advertisement on the radio voiced by a radio DJ? The majority of these commercials are produced right here in Springfield, and you could be in them!

Local commercials allow you to create a resume, build experience, and appear on camera (or the radio). Eventually, these projects will give you the credentials you’ll need to get better-paying (or any paid) work. A quick scan of the phone book reveals an abundance of radio stations, marketing firms, and television studios. Each of these places has the ability to cast you in commercials—while they may not individually produce a great number of commercials, their combined commercial production might surprise you. Additionally, the people working on these local shoots are also the people who are shooting indie films during their spare time, and are hired as locals for out of town productions. If you become the local go-to person for commercials, you can find yourself in a position as the go-to person for “legit” work when it becomes available.

After you’ve done local work, you can begin to contact production companies in St. Louis, Kansas City, and other regional markets. With credentials under your belt, you are a hotter commodity than actors coming in with no resume. And you are also more adept on set because you have experience. These are the jobs that will pay better and can lead to obtaining an agent, joining the actor’s unions, and an “official” career as an actor.

It’s tempting to dream of moving to a large market, getting discovered, and becoming a star. And while that does occasionally occur, the majority of acting careers do not happen in that manner. The Screen Actor’s Guild and the American Federation of Radio and Television Artists deliver some pretty humbling statistics on incomes for the average actor—most actors (even in LA and NY) have “survival jobs” that pay the bills and afford their career in front of the camera. But with a steady plan and a lot of persistence, you can build a decent career right here in Missouri—a career that is comparable to performers in other markets.

There is no right way to go about pursuing an acting career, but the most basic first step is finding someone to hire you. It’s easy to complain about the lack of an actor’s newspaper or a casting breakdown that lists audition dates and times: but even in large markets, those types of services can’t deliver enough work to create a career.

So take your career in your own hands, pick up the phonebook, and call the people in your area that hire actors. Be professional, to the point, and specific. “Hi, I’m [actor]. Do you use actors for commercials or voiceovers? Who does the casting? Can I speak with him/her?” Once you have the person on the phone, ask to have a meeting. The worst that will happen is they will say no.

Break a leg!

Points to remember:

1. Discard your mental image of what it means to be an actor (movies/TV)
2. Seek training (acting classes/community theatre)
3. Pursue jobs on your level (beginners should pursue beginning jobs)
4. Ask, ask, ask (once cast, ask the crew what they are working on next)

Who to contact:

1. Marketing firms
2. Radio stations
3. Television stations
4. Audio/Video production companies

Recommended reading:

• Acting Professionally: Raw Facts About Careers in Acting
  by Robert Cohen
  ISBN: 0072562595
• How to Sell Yourself As an Actor: From New York to Los Angeles and Everywhere in Between
  by K. Callan
  ISBN: 1878355155
• How To Be A Working Actor: The Insider’s Guide to Finding Jobs in Theater, Film, and Television
  by Mari Lyn Henry, Lynne Rogers
  ISBN: 0823088944
• The Job Book: 100 Acting Jobs for Actors
  by Glenn Alterman
  ISBN: 1880399814