Westport Actors – How to Succeed in the Business of Show Business

Westport - Staples High School is abundantly rich with talent. Over the years I have seen the highest quality productions directed by David Roth and performed by Broadway-quality actor/singers. My perspective was always from the point of view of a talent agent shopping for new clients. I have watched as many of the Staples performers go on to become theatre majors at many of the best schools in the country – Carnegie Mellon, Baldwin Wallace, SMU, NYU, Emerson. I have also noticed that many of their names, so well-known to Staples audiences, have slipped from our memories.

David Roth invited me one year to speak to his senior class at Staples. He had read my book, “How to Succeed in the Business of Show Business…or everything they don’t tell you in acting school but I will” and on the basis of that book he thought it a good idea to have me speak to them. If you ask the question, “Where are they now?” the answer is, “I don’t really know.” But for the level of talent coming out of Staples, that answer is not good enough.

It has been my experience as an actor’s agent for over 20 years that most young actors coming out of professional training schools are basically clueless as to what to do first – they even struggle with the decision about where to live to begin a career in show business, how much will it cost to live where they choose, how do they get an agent, where to get a professional headshot, and what is the business all about anyway. The fact that so many actors coming out of universities are clueless about the business is exactly why I wrote my book. Talent has never stopped a career but fear of the business and not understanding how the acting business works has halted many careers. I have seen it happen. I don’t like that actors graduating from universities still go uneducated about the business.

Westport is so close to New York City and on Saturday November 2 Westport actors will have the chance to attend a 4-hour business of acting workshop, The Actor’s Intensive. This will be in New York City at Shetler Studios and, along with Jeff Dreisbach of McCorkle Casting, every aspect of the business of acting will be taught. Westport’s Suzanne Sheridan will be there to do headshots for the attendees should they choose that option. More information is available at the website, https://www.theactorsintensive.com. If there are questions, they can be directed to Rozanne Gates at rozannegates@optonline.net or by calling 203-984-7562.