Acting is one of the most rewarding and exciting things a person can do. A good actor can become whatever he wants to be. Have you ever thought about what it would be like to be President of the United States of America or a homeless person asking for money? You can have the experience of being both and still return home to your normal life. What other type of career can that offer?
There is nothing that compares to the feeling of being on stage or the butterflies in your stomach just before you leave. It is an incredible feeling knowing that you are going to entertain a large group of people. No matter how long you are on stage, you will take them into a world that you helped create. A world full of wonder, emotion, pain, or despair. You can make them laugh, cry, or stand up and cheer.
You can also change people’s lives. If you are acting in a play with a strong moral message, the impact can be staggering. As you take someone into a different world that you are creating on stage, a person’s defenses are lowered. Their minds and hearts are open to the message being conveyed.
You will also learn a lot about yourself by acting. While studying a character, you also study yourself. In the process of becoming her character, she finds a way to relate to her real life experiences. A part of you becomes the character and a part of the character becomes you. The deeper you go into a character, the more believable the experience becomes for both you and the audience.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s not the easiest profession to get. It takes a lot of work, study and determination. Even after all that, there is no guarantee that you can pursue a full-time career. Some actors study for years and years, they go to the best schools, but they don’t get any breaks. Other people are discovered while having lunch at a fast food restaurant. There is no formula for success. If someone tries to offer you one, just hide your wallet and walk the other way.
Go out and get a book on acting at your local bookstore or better yet at the library (hey, it’s free). Study everything you can. Search the net, there is a ton of free information out there. There are also many videos that you can buy. During the summer, take some time and go to acting camp. There are also workshops throughout the country throughout the year.
The good news is that there are always places to go to perform. Almost all communities have some type of theater troop. If not, go ahead and start one for yourself. There are a lot of people who would love to go on stage. You just have to look. So stop sitting wishing you could be like the people you see on TV or in the movies. Get up, get out and start acting !!!