{"id":1011,"date":"2016-08-23T15:30:35","date_gmt":"2016-08-23T15:30:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mgs.performerstuff.com\/?p=1011"},"modified":"2017-09-23T06:12:07","modified_gmt":"2017-09-23T06:12:07","slug":"10-rules-every-successful-actor-lives-by","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/performerstuff.com\/mgs\/10-rules-every-successful-actor-lives-by\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Rules Every Successful Actor Lives By"},"content":{"rendered":"

10 Rules Every Successful Actor Lives By<\/h3>\n \"\"<\/a><\/span>

Written by Ashleigh Gardner<\/p>\n

August 18, 2016<\/p>\n<\/font>

<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div>

Want to be a successful actor? Performers who know success follow a set of guidelines that help them maintain their integrity but also keep the peace in the theatre community. Below are the top 10 rules every actor lives by.<\/p>\n

Be on time.<\/h4>\n

You’re choreographing a production of A Chorus Line<\/em>, but three of your actors are late. You can’t continue without them, and they didn’t even call to let you know they were going to be late. Frustrating right? A scene may rest on you being there. Be respectful of everyone’s time and\u00a0arrive\u00a0<\/em>on time.<\/p>\n

Don’t be like Don Draper from\u00a0Mad Men.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/span><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div>

No phones!<\/h4>\n

Picture this: you’re directing the nation’s first high school production of Hamilton<\/em>, but one of your actors keeps taking selfies while you’re\u00a0giving blocking notes<\/em>. NOT COOL.\u00a0Most of the time, if there’s an emergency, director’s will allow actors to answer calls. In any other case, when you’re in rehearsals, put your phone away.<\/p>\n

Don’t be\u00a0like this kid.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/span><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div>

Be nice during your costume fitting.<\/h4>\n

I know you\u00a0hate\u00a0<\/em>wearing those pants. You’re like, “My butt does not look that flat in real life.” It’s okay to think that, but when you’re in the presence\u00a0of your costume designer, remember that they have a creative vision\u00a0for their costumes just like you do for your character. Cut the\u00a0designer\u00a0some slack\u00a0and be nice.<\/p>\n

Don’t be\u00a0like Marcus Anthony Copeland II from\u00a0White Chicks.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/span><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div>

Write down your\u00a0blocking and\u00a0<\/em>your\u00a0notes.<\/h4>\n

Ever fall off a stage? Yeah. It’s awful. When you take blocking and notes from your director, make sure to write them down so\u00a0that, when you’re playing Hellen Keller, you remember that there’s only 1 inch between you and a stage dive.<\/p>\n

Don’t be\u00a0like this girl.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/span><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div>

Don’t\u00a0gossip!<\/h4>\n

You know what feels worse than falling off a stage? Having your reputation soiled by gossip. You know it hurts, so don’t hurt others by doing the same. Be nice to everyone, and try your best to work through issues or problems you have with a director, an actor, or a technician instead of spreading gossip.<\/p>\n

Don’t be\u00a0like Regina George from\u00a0Mean Girls<\/em>.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/span><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div>

Be quiet during rehearsals.<\/h4>\n

You’re playing Ophelia and you’re rehearsing your big pre-drowning scene in front of everyone. All of a sudden, another cast member starts talking about the most recent season of\u00a0Pretty Little Liars.\u00a0<\/em>You lose focus and you forget your line. Sucks, right? Be respectful of everyone’s needs during the rehearsal period.<\/p>\n

Don’t be\u00a0like Lucille Ball.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/span><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div>

Listen to your technicians during cue to cue.<\/h4>\n

If you were trying to act and somebody kept interrupting you, you’d be pretty mad, right? That’s how technicians feel when they try to work on something, but they’re constantly interrupted: an actor walks out of their light, a singer won’t stop riffing long enough for the audio technician to restart the song, a dancer won’t stop pulling on their costume’s feathers. Pay attention to your technicians during tech week. Or a light may accidentally fall on you.<\/p>\n

Don’t be like this kid.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/span><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div>

Don’t\u00a0ad lib or change lines in the script.<\/h4>\n

If you were a playwright, you’d want the performers acting your material to adhere to the words you wrote, right? Make sure you stick to the script, and unless your director tells you to ad lib, say the lines on the page.<\/p>\n

Don’t be Barbara Maitland\u00a0from\u00a0Beetlejuice.\u00a0<\/em>(Your mouth will hurt.)<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/span><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div>

Don’t\u00a0touch other people\u2019s props.<\/h4>\n

You put your handkerchief\u00a0right there<\/em> and now it’s gone. GONE. You’ve only got thirty seconds before your entrance, and the handkerchief is THE WHOLE SCENE. You know it sucks to lose your props, so don’t touch anybody else’s.<\/p>\n

Don’t end up like Luke Skywalker.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/span><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div>

Don’t\u00a0phone-in a performance.<\/h4>\n

You’ve never seen\u00a0Wicked\u00a0<\/em>on Broadway before, and tonight’s your first night…but the girl playing Elphaba thought it was okay to be stay at\u00a04 instead of rising to a 10.\u00a0Sustain your energy and effort for\u00a0all\u00a0<\/em>performances. Because if you do<\/em> phone-in a performance, there are always understudies that would gladly take your place.<\/p>\n

Don’t be like Ed from Parks and Rec<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/span><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div>

But for real — all professional actors live by a code. A few of them are listed below. On <\/span>this site<\/span><\/a><\/span> you can find a comprehensive list of guidelines Actors Equity Association expects their performers to live by when working in theatre. Do yourself (and your cast and crew) a favor: <\/span><\/p>\n