Train at a renowned studio or university. Learn to develop your craft so you can impress agents later. Some reputable acting schools around the country include NYU, Cal Arts, the Yale School of Drama, Juilliard and the North Carolina School for the Arts. These programs are very competitive, so prepare yourself. You will be required to present various modern and classical monologues, as well as prepare 16 bars of a song. If you cannot go to any of these schools, research acting coaches in your area and read about different acting techniques. This will help you immensely when you are looking for an agent.
Perform in a showcase and invite industry professionals. If you succeed in getting into one of the aforementioned schools, you will typically perform in a showcase that your school presents. Research agents in your area, and write an invitation letter. Agents and managers go to see showcases all of the time, and often sign actors after seeing them. Prepare pieces you are confident performing for the showcases and look your best.
Purchase the Backstage Call Sheet, which lists all talent agencies all over the country, information about agencies, casting directors, and managers. Agents primarily submit clients for auditions. Casting directors work for production companies to find actors. Managers work more closely with actors, managing not only their auditions but also their career goals. Take notes about which agencies and managers seem to fit your talents. Familiarize yourself with casting directors so you know with whom you will be auditioning once you start auditioning for film, television and theatrical projects.
Write to agencies and provide your headshot and a resume of your professional and school credits. Attach a brief cover letter, outlining why you are contacting the agency, and what your professional aspirations are. Include if you know any of their current clients and how you know them. Include also any casting directors you have met, as this could help sway the agency to sign you. Mention that you are open to freelancing with the agency, which means they will send you on auditions without signing you. If you freelance and book the jobs for which they submit you, you will have a great chance signing with the agency.
Attend networking events. Companies, such as One on One, run bicoastal programs that allow actors and actresses to meet and train with industry professionals. Typically, an audition is required to join these networking companies. Once you join, you will be able to attend brief classes and private sessions with agents, managers and casting directors. In sessions, actors perform a dramatic monologue or commercial copy for the industry professional. Classes typically last for a longer time, allowing the industry professional to work with you in developing practical skills you will use in your career. These sessions and classes allow you to make connections that would be infinitely more difficult to make outside of the networking companies.
Submit yourself for projects. Go to Web sites, such as Actor's Access and Playbill, to find jobs for which you can submit your headshot and resume. If you land a role by using these sites, write to agents and managers to come see you in the play. They will be impressed by your initiative and know that you are actively working on your career. Agents sign people who work hard to succeed. If you sign with an agency, you will be making money for both of you.