What Skills Does An Actor Need In Order To Succeed?

Acting is certainly an art but it's also a business you need to learn how to navigate. It takes a combination of luck, business skills, talent and common sense to make your way through the business of being an actor. When it comes to finding success in Hollywood, what skills does an actor need on a daily basis?

• Read the sides - Zach and I were reminded of this simple skill just a few days ago. He auditioned for a sitcom and the role was for a kid who thinks he is a punk rocker. The sides specifically said not to dress as a punk rocker but to have the attitude associated with that type of person. Zach got to the audition and the first thing he saw was a room full of kids dressed like punk rockers. Zach instantly stood out from the crowd because he read the sides and followed the instructions.
• Read the room - This simple piece of advice means paying attention while waiting for your turn to audition. Are the auditions going fast or slow? Can you hear the people in the room? If so, are they happy or cranky or asking lots of questions? Reading the room before you enter for your audition means you will have a better idea of what to expect when it is your turn to read for the casting director.
• Don't be late - You wouldn't want to be late for work or a business meeting. Since that is the case, why would you be late for your audition?  The times for audition appointments are scheduled to get the number of actors they want to see through the room on time. Don't be "that guy" and be late for your audition. You will definitely make an impression on the casting director but it might not be the type of impression you want to make that day.
• Don't make excuses - Stayed out too late and didn't get up in time to learn your lines? While you might get a little bit of sympathy, the majority of the cast and crew don't care. There are plenty of actors ready and willing to take your place so don't make excuses for not knowing your lines. Be professional and ready to perform!
• Don't improvise your lines - Want to find the easiest way to offend a writer as well as the director? Make up your own lines in a scene. The script you get each morning on set is the final product and it's not your job to improve or change the dialogue.
• Get out there and work it - "Working it" can be anything from attending a play to working on your own script to taking an acting class to networking at a casting workshop. There are many avenues available for you to be seen and meet others in the industry. You have to make the effort to get out there and give your career the boost it needs to rise above every other person in Hollywood who wants to be a working actor.

This actor can work a room as well as a crowd at a comedy show.