How To Develop Your Acting Skills

Wanting to be an actor, and maybe one day even a director is a great goal to have and can be a very enjoyable career. If you love entertaining others and speaking in front of groups then you’ll likely take pleasure in being on the stage.

There’s a lot of competition out there and the industry can be challenging to break into. For these reasons, it’s beneficial for you to figure out ways and what you can be doing to develop and improve your acting skills. You want to make sure that you shine and stand out for all the right reasons when it’s time for an important audition.

Educate Yourself

One way to develop your acting skills is to read biographies from renowned and well-respected experts in the performing arts field such as Travis Preston at CalArts. Study and read about his career and see what advice and tips he has for you on his blog to help you develop your acting skills. Review his work and see what makes it stand out and so impressive. You’ll not only gather information about his career and achievements but also can read blog posts that offer insights and useful information from one of the greatest minds in theater directing today. Educate yourself on experts in the industry and what makes certain actors and directors stand out from the rest.

Study Performers in Action

You can also develop your acting skills by studying performers in action. Attend live performances and plays or stream them on your computer or phone. Watch, listen and see what these actors are doing to catch and keep your attention. Observe their movements and dialogue and take notes about what you want to imitate and change about your performances and how you want to carry yourself on stage.

Practice Often

Practicing and acting more frequently will also help you develop your skills and talents. It’s a chance to make mistakes and learn from your errors and blunders. Not only take classes and practice in front of the mirror but consider taking on a role where you teach others how to act. It’ll help you boost your confidence and skills and you’ll learn a lot from being the teacher instead of the student. Practice every chance you get by being proactive and finding out about what opportunities there are for you to act in your area.

Understand Your Strengths & Weaknesses

You can become a better actor when you understand your strengths and weaknesses. It’ll help you to find your own voice and what makes you unique and stand apart from the rest. You can continue to build upon your strengths and use your weaknesses to help guide you in knowing what you should be working on the most and areas to focus your time and energy on. It may be wise to network with others and find a mentor who you can bounce ideas off of and who will be honest with you about what you need to improve when it comes to your acting skills.