Even when you reach Broadway, you continue learning. Open yourself up to observation and watch others perform. Go to different shows, both on Broadway and off. Continue taking acting classes or register for acting classes if you’ve never had any. Broadway is not about just one thing. It takes more than acting to be successful. Work on your singing, dancing and acting. Keep an open mind about learning new ways to improve your craft. Do not simply settle and think that what you already know is everything you need to become successful on Broadway.
Becoming a professional performer on Broadway requires more than performance skills. You need to become a professional. Invest in proper head shots. Proper head shots are 8 by 10 inches in size and showcase your natural looks. Wear minimal makeup and show your real self. If you have a head shot that looks nothing like you, it wastes the director’s time when he realizes you are not what he was looking for. A head shot also includes your detailed resume on back. Both your head shot and your resume need updating regularly. Wear professional clothing to all auditions. Think of your Broadway auditions as a job interview. You must wear appropriate clothing that is not obscene or distracting.
Learn your lines early. The sooner you learn your lines, the more time you have to work on your emotions and really get into the part. You must find a memorization strategy that works for you. What makes a play successful is a convincing performance from the actors. Put yourself into the part and give it your own individual take. Make the character your own. If everyone played the same part in the same way, the audience would never look at the story differently. Play off your cast mates. Observe them and learn their acting techniques. The more you understand about their acting methods, the more you can play off of them and make the show a success.
You must learn to accept parts that are big and small. While a smaller part may not be exactly what you want, every part is needed to make the performance a success. Just because a part is small does not mean you go unnoticed. Do your best with a smaller part because you never know who is in the audience. That small part could lead to a bigger part in another play or musical. Do not let your emotions get the best of you when you do not end up with the part you want. Being a performer on Broadway requires you to accept rejection and move on. While you may believe that you deserved a certain part, you must take a step back and realize that someone else might have deserved it more. Audition for multiple plays and do not think to much about the rejections. If you are a good performer, a director will see that.