Show Business - Features of the Weekhttp://showbusinessweekly.com/articles.sec-3-1-features-of-the-week.html<![CDATA[Actors Are Tools]]>In the highly collaborative worlds of theater and film, the actor’s role is just one of countless ingredients that make up the finished product.]]><![CDATA[Emergency Cash]]>Being an actor in New York City isn’t cheap. It’s often a struggle trying to pay for new headshots, new clothes, a weekly grocery bill — not to mention those obscene New York rents — all while trying to stay faithful to your artistic needs. ]]><![CDATA[Commercial Acting]]>You’re an actor waiting for the break that will jump-start your career. Try commercial acting and you may find that 15 seconds in a commercial spot is the little investment with the large return you’ve been waiting for.]]><![CDATA[Improve with Improv]]>Improvisation requires all the skills of acting with the notable exception of remembering what comes next.]]><![CDATA[Anatomy of an Acting Scam]]>If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Nowhere is this universal adage more applicable than in the world of show business, where scams devised to appeal to the hopes and dreams of aspiring actors exist around every corner. ]]><![CDATA[Promote Your Indie Film]]>From the ubiquitous presence of online video to experimental distribution models, like simultaneous theatrical-DVD releases, the way we make and watch movies is shifting at an unprecedented rate.]]><![CDATA[Dinner Theater]]>Some actors believe that if they accept a role at a dinner theater, they’ll have to work for low wages and perform in an amateurish production. ]]><![CDATA[Showcase Yourself]]>A showcase is a format that is specifically designed to do nothing other than please the agent and other industry professionals. ]]><![CDATA[Membership Benefits]]>Finding a steady outlet for your acting skills is no easy task. A typical actor’s routine consists of scouring casting notices and going on endless auditions, hoping for that paying job. ]]><![CDATA[The Dance Issue]]>Dance is one of the most difficult disciplines for a performer to master. But for those who strive for versatility and success, learning the right steps is an essential component in becoming a triple threat.]]><![CDATA[Screen Masters]]>These are performances you can watch any time you want to remember the reason that you are going to all those auditions.]]><![CDATA[Directing Theater]]>What it is like to be the one calling the shots? While skilled directors may make it look easy, the reality is that directing is probably the single most difficult job in theater.]]><![CDATA[Representation]]>Take charge of your career by first knowing what you want. One-size-fits-all representation doesn’t exist. You may think that signing with a large, bicoastal agent such as William Morris will put you on the road to superstardom. ]]><![CDATA[Theater for Young Audiences]]>Whether you’re on the stage or behind the scenes, working in children’s theater isn’t just for kids. The audience may consist of young people, but the creative teams that put the shows together are made up of hard-working, talented adults.]]><![CDATA[Rules of the Runway]]>A pretty face can make a model, but hard work and smart decisions make a career. Modeling is a competitive field where finding the right agent and building a proper portfolio are just as important as smiling for the camera. ]]><![CDATA[Little-Known Plays]]>Having an extensive knowledge of lesser-known plays, specifically the ones being written today by young and international writers, will broaden your scope of what it means to be an actor. ]]><![CDATA[L.A. vs. New York]]>There’s no doubt that New York City is the actor’s Mecca. For decades, actors have come to Gotham and its Great White Way to make it in show business, hoping to see their names on Broadway marquees. ]]><![CDATA[Acting in the Boroughs]]>Believe it or not, there is life outside the island—and a vibrant theater scene flourishing in New York City’s four other boroughs. ]]><![CDATA[Regional Theater]]>If you’re having hard time finding acting gigs in New York City, you may discover that the grass is greener, and offers more room to grow, in regional theater.]]><![CDATA[Understudies]]>Talk about a thankless job. While understudying may not be your ultimate goal, it’s not a bad stop on your way to the top. ]]>