An Actor's Guide: Making It in New York City

by Glenn Alterman

For any actor in or on the way to New York City, this is the definitive source for advice, winning strategies, marketing techniques, and invaluable insights to being a successful New York actor. This new edition has been completely revised and updated to cover the significant changes in the New York theater landscape over the last nine years. This indispensable guide has also been expanded to include dozens of new interviews with top New York City actors and a completely improved Internet chapter equipped with the most up-to-date tools to thrive in the industry. Aspiring and established professionals will find this thorough and up-to-the-minute volume chock full of resources and advice about auditioning, making professional connections, promoting one's self, seeking opportunities in nontraditional venues, finding an apartment, securing "survival jobs," understanding actor unions, getting headshots, and furthering one's actor training in New York. This guide also details working as a film extra, careers in print modeling, scams and rip-offs to avoid, opportunities for actors with disabilities, and using the Internet to the fullest advantage. Included are in-depth interviews with legendary show business figures such as actor Henry Winkler, casting director Juliet Taylor, and theater director Joseph Chaikin as well as top talents from the fields of film, television, stage, commercials, and talent agencies. Written by a professional New York actor with over thirty years of experience, this meticulously researched guide will give actors the tools they need to survive and thrive in New York show business.

288 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2002

Reviews

[Teodora · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good reference book. I like this guy's style- he is down-to-earth. It is not something you read through, but something you can constantly open for new inspiration and tips.
If anyone ever tested his recommendations, would you let me know? In fact, I am currently looking for a head shot photographer following his prescription and we will see how far I will get.

[Jeremy Bethea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this is a great resource not only for actors, but for any performing artist in New York. There is a lot of useful information that transfers between disciplines. I particularly like that the auther includes actual interviews with respected, working professionals in New York. The book is well-organized and provides a thorough overview of the acting profession in New York City.

[Rhiannon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not as great as I was hoping it would be. Pretty sloppy update on what was probably a more useful book when it was originally published (early 2000's). Alterman barely touched on the electronic submission process and, at one point, recommends black and white headshots as the industry standard.

[Meg2 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was very informative without being kitschy. I really found it helpful and easy to read.

[Garry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This guy offers you everything you need to know when going to New York to start an acting career. It's my BIBLE! Every actor must own!

[Dylan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read the 2020 version of this book and, while there are useful bits of information in it, I wasn't that impressed with it over all.

I was annoyed at how many interviews were packed into this. They got extremely boring to read one after the other over the course of 500-something pages. Also, the introductions for the people whose interviews you were about the read were often ridiculously long and felt like every single one of their credits were listed.

I enjoyed it when the author spoke as themselves to the reader as it was much more engaging and didn't make me want to fall asleep. They were conversational and not overly wordy which is an issue I had with another acting book I read recently (we get it, you're VerY SmArT).

Some of the advice I found to be questionable. Putting "sample work stills" (small photos of you performing in a range of different roles) DIRECTLY on your resume? Your credits and reel show you're a working actor. Save the stills for your website or social media.