An Actor's Guide: Making It in New York City

by Glenn Alterman

Book Overview

For any actor in or on the way to New York City, this is the definitive source for advice, winning strategies, marketing techniques, and invaluable insights to being a successful New York actor.... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1581152132
• ISBN13: 9781581152135
• Release Date: January 2002
• Publisher: Allworth Press
• Length: 273 Pages
• Weight: 0.89 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.0" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

Good book for Actors anywhere

A good book with great advice for any actor- whether you're from a sprawling Metropolis or from Dahlgren, Illinois! It definitely caters more to the aspiring New York Actor (like myself), but there are some good lessons in here for anyone looking to make a career in this exciting yet intimidating field. i recommend, as this was one of the very first books that I read when i was thinking of making acting a full time career.

This book is extremely helpful.

I stumbled on this book by accident and boy am i glad i did! This book tells you step by step how to make it out there as an actor. If you're a actor and is not quite sure on how or where to start this book is your key.

Very informative book

I like this book alot. I can't say this is better than "How to be a Working Actor", but you actually need both books because some information that is found in one book is not found in the other. Like regular acting guides, you get tips on resumes, auditions, and unions. One useful tip for actors is to not over-rehearse a scene or monologue. This will make it stale. You should actually "forget" it and let it "happen". This is what you called acting. If you are familiar with Mr. Alterman's books, he always include interviews with industry people. I find them very helpful especially the interviews with several New York actors. This book is just as good as "Working Actor" and thinner too for faster reading.

Oy, someone's done all the work for you...

While I didn't move to New York specifically to become an actor, I've sort of found myself happily "in the business" now. I randomly stumbled onto this book while looking for new wisdom to add onto must-reads by Uta Hagen, Michael Shurtleff, Stanislavski, etc. After having done a lot of research on how to be a successful actor in NY the "hard way", I think I agree with most of Alterman's suggestions - just wish I'd had this book in the beginning =) An actor should always be reading, attending a lecture or workshop - you know, doing *something* to learn. New York has its particular nuances, and this book simplifies some of the hassles that a newcomer might find overwhelming. It gives some useful advice on dealing with the three most important things you'll have do when you get here: *finding a place to live *finding a job you like ('cos you have to eat) *finding acting work, any and all kinds of work Having a thicker-than-average skin here is an absolute must, for rejections run a-plenty, and they have your name on them. But this place is also (in my view) the most exciting, rewarding endeavour you'll make in your performance career. This book has got lots of juicy info on auditioning, headshots, unions, different sorts of acting jobs (such as voiceover work), casting directors, agents, useful internet urls, etc. There are several interviews with casting agents & directors on dos-and-donts for actors - nothing beats knowledge from the professionals. Good luck, and welcome to the greatest theatre city in the world...