First off, EXTRA GIGS DON'T PAY $300/DAY! That's a LIE!
Also, Agents cost NOTHING upfront. They ONLY make money when you do. They get 10% of what you make from film/tv/commercials and 20% from commercial print.
I'm an LA Actor giving you the REAL DEAL!
Here's the cliffsnotes version of what you can do to do to get into acting and eventually get an agent:
1.EDUCATE YOURSELF FIRST!
READ (check Samuel French, libraries, and bookstores):
*=Highly recommend
Acting business:
*How to Be a Working Actor-Mari Lyn Henry and Lynne Rogers
*Self Management for Actors-Bonnie Gillespie
-Acting is Everything: Gold Edition-Judy Kerr
-How to Get Arrested-J. Wallach Michael and Paul Thurwachter
*An Agent Tells All-Tony Martinez
-How To Book Acting Jobs in TV and Film-Cathy Reinking
-One Less Bitter Actor: The Actor's Survival Guide-Markus Flanagan
-So You Want to Be in Showbusiness?- Steve R. Stevens
-Acting Truths and Lies (purchased at www.info4actors.com)
Acting:
*Book the Job-Doug Warhit
*Intent to Live-Larry Moss
-Acting for the Camera-Tony Barr
-Acting in Film-Michael Caine
-Acting Class: Take a Seat-Milton Katselas
Method Acting:
*Art of Acting-Stella Adler
-Sanford Meisner on Acting-Sanford Meisner
-A Dream of Passion-Lee Strasberg
-On the Technique of Acting-Michael Chekhov
*Actor's Art and Craft-William Esper
-The Power of the Actor-Ivanna Chubbuck
-No Acting Please-Eric Morris
-Respect for Acting-Uta Hagen
-Challenge to the Actor-Uta Hagen
-You Can Act!-D.W. Brown
-Strasberg’s Method-Lorrie Hull
Comedy
*8 Characters of Comedy-Scott Sedita
-The Sitcom Career Book-Mary Lou Belli
Improv
-Anything by Viola Spolin
-Steve Book on Acting: Improv
-Improvise: Scene from the Inside Out-Mick Napier
Auditioning/Cold Reading:
*How to Get the Part Without Falling Apart-Margie Haber
*Audition-Michael Shurtleff
*The 15 Guideline Map to Booking-Amy Lyndon
-The Best of You-Craig Wallace
-Secrets to Successful Cold Readings-Glenn Alterman
2.GET TRAINING!
Regardless of how "naturally talented" you might be, you NEED training, PERIOD!
Definitely take classes in:
-Cold Reading/Auditioning
-Improv
-Scene study
-Commercials
3. Get GREAT headshots
Here's is a good place to start:
http://bbs.backstage.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/8011031/m/246101692
4. Build Your Resume and Reel Doing Student films and Indie Films. Also do plays to build your acting experience.
Sample Resume:
http://i707.photobucket.com/albums/ww80/ELDORADO59/Sampleresume.jpg
How to make an ACTING resume:
https://answersrip.com/question/index?qid=20091011203729AAkQetj
The ONLY LEGIT Online sites that you can find jobs on your own through:
ALL SITES NOT LISTED BELOW ARE QUESTIONABLE!
-ActorsAccess.com
-LACasting.com
-Nowcasting.com
-NYCasting.com
-NYCastings.com
-Backstage.com
Free but proceed with caution:
-Castingcallsearch.com
-Mandy.com
-Craigslist
5. Get an Agent
Look up LEGIT agencies here:
http://www.agentassociation.com/
http://www.sag.org/content/find-agent
To get an agent, you need to get GREAT headshots, a good resume, and training from the best. These are enough to get you a commercial agent at least. Getting a GOOD theatrical agent (Film/tv) takes longer. Most good theatrical agents won’t see you unless you’re SAG, have a polished resume, and a demo reel. Commercial agents are more lenient about that. What the best Commercial agents want to see on your resume are good commercial classes, improv, and cold reading.
You can get an agent multiple ways. Here are a few common ways:
-Mail in an unsealed manilla envelope with a CONCISE coverletter and headshot with the resume stapled on the back. If you have a demoreel include that too.
-Attend a showcase and impress them. By showcase I do not mean scammy conventions like IMTA, IPOP, Proscout, or Best New Talent. I mean legit ones like at Actor Connection, Reel pros, Network Studios, etc.
-Get a referral from a friend who is with the agency that you’re interested in
DON’T
-Email them unless they tell you to. IT’S UNPROFESSIONAL!
-Call unless they tell you to. ALSO UNPROFESSIONAL!
-Walk in and ask for a meeting. UNPROFESSIONAL THREE!
-Sign with them if they ask for upfront money, make you take new photos with THEIR photographer, or take THEIR classes. Agent’s ONLY make money when you do. Agents usually make 10% on film/tv and commercials and 20% on commercial print