Essential Tips for Beginning Actors in SF

Booking Yourself
1. Sign up for SF Casting! There is a $25 registration fee and then you can pay for premium services such as unlimited submissions ($5/month) and unlimited photos ($5/month). Otherwise, you pay per submission and per extra photo uploaded.

2. For theater, consider being a member of Theatre Bay Area for $70/year (discounts for multiple years). Here you can have access to audition notices for theater.

3. Try searching Craigslist for acting gigs. Use with caution, but you can find some cool independent film projects this way.

4. Sign up for Model Mayhem. You'll need a full body shot to be approved as a member. You might find a rare casting for an acting gig or find some photographers who will do your headshots for free.

5. This really shouldn't be #5 and is probably the biggest piece of advice anyone can give - but self-produce and shoot yourself in your own piece or film. Make your webseries. This will increase the amount of material you have to show and get you seen. You can always wait to audition for one perfect role once in a blue moon, but why wait?

**updated**

6. Apparently you can also register at Nancy Hayes Casting for free on Wednesdays from 11 AM to 1 PM.

Headshots
I'm assuming you already know something about acting, but in case you don't, you'll need a headshot and resume for most auditions. Headshots should be printed as an 8X10. A good headshot is one that accurately represents what you look like - meaning you should not look too much better than you usually look. Casting directors also appreciate shots where your eyes will have some sort of deeper expression.


In San Francisco, you might be able to get away with an unprofessional headshot - but it had better still look good! For the professional, it seems that the unanimous word around the block is to go to Lisa Keating in Berkeley. Headshot sessions are $400 for men and $450 for women, including make-up. It seems pricy (headshots can be done for less or more in some cases), and it is, but it seems she is the trusted person to go to in the Bay Area. I personally haven't been to Lisa's studio nor do I get any benefit for plugging her or any of the other schools or sites on this blog, but that's really what fellow actors in the Bay have told me when I asked where I should get my headshots done.

Building Your Resume
Credits credits credits! Having a resume allows the person casting you to get a sense of your previous acting experience. If you're just starting out, it's fine to just highlight your training (see below) and your vital stats. Don't list your home address on your acting resume as you would on a normal job resume. Be sure to staple or otherwise affix/print the resume on the back of your headshot.

You can do everything to build your resume in the beginning - from the student films to short films for festivals. Just make sure you actually get a copy of your footage so you can eventually build a reel.

Auditioning
If you're auditioning for theater, you'll probably need to prepare a monologue or two. Consider having both a dramatic and comedic monologue. It's a good idea to have a number of these in your repertoire as you'll have to tailor yourself to the role. Beyond that, there are classes you can take on auditioning.

Actor Training in SF

The following is an incomplete and needs-to-be-updated list of acting schools in San Francisco and the Bay Area. There is one studio I have omitted and would not recommend. Please note that I have not attended all of the following.

American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.)
Programs Available: MFA program, Studio classes
Price Range: (Studio: $340-420 for a ten week term)
Location: Downtown San Francisco

Beverly Hills Playhouse
Location: The Tenderloin, San Francisco
Price: $200/month class once a week, $320/month class twice a week

The Meisner Technique Studio
Program: Meisner technique training, 2-year program
Monthly Price: $325
Location: The Presidio/Fort Mason, San Francisco

Shelton Studios
Program: Method acting for either film or stage
Price: $300-425 per 5-8 week session
Location:  Downtown San Francisco

Film Acting Bay Area
Program: On-camera acting classes
Price: $340-360 for eight classes
Location: Ex'pression College, Emeryville

First Take Acting
Program: Scene study, allows a free audit
Price: $400-500 for eight classes
Location: Fort Mason, San Francisco and Los Gatos and Walnut Creek

Community colleges such as City College of San Francisco also offer acting courses.

For my actual opinions and recommendations, feel free to contact me.

So You Want to Be on Stage!

Disclaimer: This will be one of my few posts which are completely editorial - meaning only based on my unprofessional opinion. The remainder of the blog will be dedicated to outlining valuable information and resources that you may want in your quest to being an actor in San Francisco and the rest of the Bay Area.


If you want to see yourself on national TV or on the big screen, San Francisco probably isn't the best place for you to be an actor. However, theater in the Bay Area has a nice establishment and seems to be better than the scene you'd find in Los Angeles for stage actors.

In nearly one year of acting in San Francisco ( late 2010- early 2011), only two major theatrical productions seemed to grace the area. By theatrical, I mean big budget high profile productions with A-list stars. Your best bet with getting on film and television over here are independent projects.

That being said, acting isn't about the fame or glory for me personally. San Francisco is a good place to act for the live community who will come to watch you.