When I designed the original website for Nick Conti's Professional Actor's Studio I put together a pretty complete list of resources for actors. Well... not exactly complete. Because it's his site, I couldn't put anything about other acting classes on that web site, now could I? 

The site I did for Nick was something I'd always wanted to do. Actually it's what I wish I'd had access to back in 1995 when I first moved to Atlanta to begin my professional career as an actress. But because the purpose of Nick's site was to promote him, I was limited in what I could do. Therefore, on my own site, I want to expand the concepts for the resource page I designed for him. 

So, book mark this page now because I plan on changing it often. I would suggest taking notes or printing each page. If you're anything like me, you're ether gonna be too lazy (yes, I admit I am) to take notes or you'll loose them anyway, AND all that paper is really a waste of trees. Besides if you print a page, you'll have the names of the sites I reference, but not the URLs (website addresses). So, since this site will change periodically, and I'd really rather you not kill the trees, book mark this site and you'll always have access to the information (and never loose your notes).

Now that my life has taken me out of the acting industry (I do plan on getting back in - it's my joy!), you may find some out dated info on these pages. If or when you do, please shoot me an email and I'll investigate and make the needed changes. My purpose is to provide a guide for you, and that guide is useless if the information is wrong.

Thanks!

Danni

Research

Classes

Photographers

Video Editors

Sound Studios

Auditions Announcements

Agents

Casting Directors

Theatres

A lot of people will answer that question with "take a class." But which one? Ah ha! Upon being given an answer, there's another question, right? And can you right NOW, at THIS moment just walk into an acting class? Of course not! But right now at this moment you CAN find out what's going on in the Atlanta industry, find out where acting classes are taught, who the teacher/coach is, what actors and industry people say about the various teachers in the area, how much it costs, etc. Then you contact the organizations that offer classes (and hopefully the actual teachers) to get a feel for what they're all about, what would be expected of you, how easy a particular teacher is to talk to and understand, etc. 

Do your research and it will keep you from wasting your time and theirs. You won't end up taking classes or volunteering (yes I'm gonna suggest this!) or WORKING for an organization that doesn't meet your needs, nor you theirs. Are you learning about voice and diction when you really want to learn about improvisation or the creation of characters, or vice versa? Are you putting all your valuable time into an organization that is all about supporting "traditional Christian family" values when you're all about supporting the gay and lesbian community, or vice versa?

To that end, then, check out the Research Page - it's all about chat rooms, bulletin boards, places to volunteer, and other places for you to meet and talk to others in the industry. 

Then go to the Classes Page - this page is about every class that I know of in the Atlanta area for acting, voice over, modeling, dance... Just about any class you feel like you need. By all means, if you find out about a class that I don't have listed, email me and tell me about it and/or how I can find out more about it myself.

And, BEFORE LOGGING OFF THE INTERNET, go get the one book that you can have for your very own that will answer many questions for you as well as serve as a pretty comprehensive resource that you can use when the net isn't available. The name of it is The Actor's Guide: Southeast. 
 

Tools of the Trade
The FIRST thing you're gonna need is headshots! I've tried to put together a comprehensive list of photographers including what they charge, what you get, and what others have said about their experiences with them.

A little farther down the road you're gonna want to have a reel put together. This is a VHS tape or DVD of some of your work that you submit along with your headshot and resume for consideration for a part in a film or TV project. I've seen some audition announcements that actually request a reel, which seems to imply that if you don't have one, don't submit - they only want the most experienced actors. Often casting directors will not consider you without having seen your reel, either. To this end, I'm putting together a resource page of editing studios that can do this for you professionally. I know what you're thinking: "If I have 2 VCRs, then can't I do this myself?" I've been advised against this in the past - it's a matter of splicing. Believe me, I'm a pro with the remote and can record, pause, and record like the best. But there's still a little "wiggle" in between scenes. And of course, DVDs are better quality and more economical. So, do you know how to put together your own DVD? Didn't think so. That's why the professionals have special equipment for this technical stuff.

If you're planning on doing voice-overs (the voice you hear on radio and TV commercials) then you'll definitely need demo tapes or CDs. Traditionally tapes, just like those you use in your car stereo, have been used as your tool in this field. Well, welcome to the computer age: we're moving to CDs now - yes just like the ones you're playing in your car stereo. Not only is the CD much more economical for this, but it produces a much better representation of your voice - for the same reason car stereos are moving to CD instead of tape decks. Again I'm attempting to pull together a good resource page of sound studios that create the original tape, and where you can get copies of your master made. If you're going this route, though, don't even THINK about getting a voice over tape before taking some classes! Take it from someone who got took - just because you're told, "You have a great voice and we're looking for new talent," don't pay them to do your tape and give you a couple of copies. You'll always look back and say, "I shoulda done this or that instead," because you simply, really don't know what you're doing.
 

Where to get work?
This is my favorite subject! Maybe because it involves a little research and I'm really good at that, and maybe because I've actually learned to like auditioning, and maybe because I get excited when I see all the new projects coming up, and maybe it's a little of all of the above! 

I've got a couple of pages for this topic alone. You'll find resources for finding audition announcements. When you're ready to find an agent, I've got a resource page with their contact information, too. Some casting directors accept submitted headshot/resumes from actors, so I have that list, too, indicating which ones do and which ones don't accept submissions. 

Most theatres also have general auditions. Head to the Atlanta Performs website to get a comprehensive listing off all the Metro Atlanta theatres and their contact information. CALL EACH ONE to find out what their organization is all about, and when they audition - do they have generals once a year or can you get included in their next round? The Atlanta Coalition of Theatres has Unified General Auditions once a year. You can find out about that at the Atlanta Performs website, also.