Valley Community Theatre’s: 10 Best tips on how to get into theatre!
Introduction:
We are a community theatre based in Liverpool and wish to help people start their career in theatre. We know starting any career is difficult and our list aims to help you get started.
Today we will be going over 10 of the best tips to help you get into theatre. With how competitive the industry is this list will give you a competitive advantage at securing the job role you want.
Whether you are looking to become an actor or do any other role these 10 tips will help you achieve your goal of getting into theatre and will help you become successful in the theatre industry.
1. Study:
Studying the industry is a great way to help you understand and navigate through the industry. A key area for you to study is what job role you would like to pursue there are plenty of resources out there for you to learn about the different roles and find one that’s best for you.
Once you know what role you would like to pursue doing a course or taking classes on that role is a great way to give you a competitive advantage over others seeking the same role as you.
Studying is a great way to learn the skills you need and is an important step to help you get into theatre. This list will be a great starting point however for you to gain knowledge on what you need to get into the industry and is a great start to your studying of the industry.
2. Set goals:
Setting goals is a great idea in the long term as it will help you navigate the hurdles which you will encounter as you try and establish your career. It won’t be easy but remember to stay focussed on what you want your end goal to be and what you want to gain from your career in theatre.
Setting yourself goals will help you understand where your starting point is and the steps necessary to get you to where you want to be in your career in theatre. Goals are also a great way to keep you motivated throughout your career.
Overall, setting goals is an important part of succeeding in any career but is especially important in the theatre industry. Think about what role you would pursue and write down goals you would like to aim to achieve and start setting your goals today.
3. See a variety of different theatre performances:
seeing a variety of different theatre shows will help you understand what particular area of theatre you would like to pursue such as different backstage roles or what type of performances you would like to act in for example musical theatre.
While you are watching the different performances make sure your paying attention to details to help you get an idea of how these roles are done correctly making it easier for you to visualise what you have studied in a practical application.
Seeing a variety of different performances is a very important part of understanding how the role you want to pursue operates and to see how it should be done at a professional level allowing you to develop your own skills a lot further.
4. Gain experience:
Experience is vital for getting into the industry, it can even help you stand out more than people who have more academic qualifications in your role. It’s the number one thing most employers look for when recruiting for theatre roles, so it is important you gain experience in the role you wish to pursue.
There are multiple great ways you can gain experience in theatre whether through volunteering or through apprenticeships these will give you the experience you need to help you stand out.
You can contact your local theatres or community theatres for any voluntary opportunities they have. If you are in Liverpool in the UK, you can contact us here at the Valley Theatre here to see what roles we have open for you to volunteer for one of our upcoming performances.
5. Network:
Networking can be difficult at first but like most skills it gets easier the more you do it and is important for you in the future. You can network while volunteering or on your apprenticeship, but you also have the option to look for and attend networking events for theatre in your local area.
Networking events are great especially for young people looking to get into theatre since there are loads of networking event put on specifically for young people research for events in your local area.
You need to network to help you progress in the theatre industry and to set up potential future opportunities in the future. Its important to remember that networking is a skill that may take time to get good at so don’t worry if at first it is difficult that is normal.
6. Use social media:
Social media is the perfect way to keep up with the latest industry news and research theatres and performances that are going on in your local area helping you with other tips on this list.
You need to make sure your social media accounts are professional and unoffensive because lots of employer’s search candidates social media pages so don’t want to post anything that may affect you chances of landing a role.
It is a good idea to post examples of your skills on your social media so when employers do look through your social media page, they will be able to see what you are capable of increasing the likelihood of you getting the role/job.
7. Create a demo reel:
Creating a demo real is a great way to show off your talent and acting range to potential employers or theatres. A demo reel is a one- to two-minute video compilation of an actor’s best on-camera work that demonstrates their range.
Demo reels are important for all actors to have due to most employers wanting to see the talent range their potential actor can perform. Demo reels are standard in the theatre industry and so it is important you make one.
When you crate your demo reel it is important to keep the following in mind
Showcase a range of characters, genres, and tones to demonstrate your versatility as an actor.
Focus on 4-5 strong clips, each 20-30 seconds long, rather than including too many mediocre scenes. In total being about 2 mins long.
Focus on and emphasize your best on-screen performances, showcasing your strengths and what sets you apart as an actor.
Here I have linked an example of a demo reel to give you an idea of what one should look like.
8. Be positive:
Being positive is very important when you are starting your career in theatre and even well into your career. This is because being positive will give you the right mindset when it comes to auditions or interviews.
Remaining positive is important due to you need to be confident for any interviews or auditions you do and remaining positive gives you the best chance at being at your best during your interview or audition.
The best way to keep a positive mindset is to focus on your goal and believe in your ability to achieve it. You should also focus on positive thoughts helping you stay confident during an audition or interview.
9. Always look to improve:
Everyone makes mistakes especially when you are new this is normal however it is important for you to learn from your mistakes and move on. There is no point constantly worrying about mistakes you have made because this will only make you less confident and affect your future performance.
Self-improvement can be done in multiple ways such as further studying skills that will help with the role you want to pursue or constantly refining and improving your current skills.
Continuing to improve your current skillset also looks good to potential employers who will see how motivated and passionate you are about the role and will help you stand out compared to others who are competing for the same role.
10. Contact and audition with local theatres:
It is important especially when starting your career to contact and audition with local theatres and community theatres in your area as this will be the best way for you to build your CV and show potential future employers that you are motivated to do well in the theatre industry.
The best ways to find local theatres to audition for are through social media or through finding them using google maps and getting their contact details from their website. If you are in Liverpool, you can always inquire about us here at the valley theatre by contacting us through email I have linked our contact page here
Conclusion:
I hope you found this top 10 list helpful and have gained an idea of the things you need to gain a career in the theatre industry. If you are in Liverpool, you can contact us here to volunteer for an upcoming performance of ours or future ones here at the Valley Community Theatre. If not, we wish you luck in your future career in theatre.