Have professional 8” x 10” head shots ready to give to casting directors at all times, even when you aren’t at an audition. Your head shot should look like you – no retouching should be applied. If you change the color of your hair or get a different haircut, you need to update your head shots. Your head shots should have your name and contact information clearly printed below the photograph.
Keep up-to-date copies of your resume along with your head shots on hand at all times. Highlight relevant work experience, separating work into categories like theatre, television and commercials. Don’t include non-professional work like school plays. College work and education is acceptable, especially if you attended a notable school with a well-known program. Useful skills like juggling or dancing should also be included. If you don’t have anything to put on your resume, take some classes at a local community college or university and audition for community theatre productions to build your resume. Limit your resume to one page and make sure the font is 10-point or larger.
Audition for and join a casting service that books extras and actresses for minor roles in commercials, television and films. Most major cities have a variety of different casting services that book actors for these types of projects. You’ll need to take your head shots and resume when you audition for a casting service.
Check local “breakdown” sheets in your area for open auditions and casting events. Breakdowns are usually printed and published in the morning and can be purchased at most newsstands if you live in a city with a large entertainment business like Los Angeles, New York, Chicago or Miami. Some websites also publish this information by location.