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Here is what I hope will be a helpful list of valuable resources for you as a performer in New York City and beyond. These are services I either use personally on a regular basis or have come highly recommended to me by actor and casting director friends and colleagues. If you do make your way over to any of these places, let them know I sent you and drop me a quick note about your experiences with them if you have the time. I am always on the lookout for the best of the best in the industry so also please feel free to send along links to the people and places that you’ve found have been most helpful to you in your career—be it a yoga studio or a quality acting seminar—and I’ll add it to the ever-growing list of competent people in the City providing quality services for working actors.
Joe Barna (great guy, terrific retoucher) at Colorworks
Backstage
Variety
Playbill.com
Craigslist (be careful here- sometimes it feels like a shot in the dark but the occasional good opportunity pops up now and again. If nothing else, you can always search the infamous "missed connections" section of the site to find the man or woman of your dreams that you saw on the subway this morning...)
Actors Equity
The Screen Actors Guild (SAG)
The Actors Fund: Founded in 1882 (no that’s not a typo), this non-for profit organization acts as a giant support system for the working actor. Their mission is “to advance, foster and benefit the welfare of all professionals in the entertainment community who are in need of help, ensuring that these efforts are accomplished with compassion, confidentiality and preservation of dignity for the individuals concerned.” Insurance, Counseling, Housing, Workshops and a plethora of other valuable information.
Fractured Atlas: They offer valuable information about healthcare and medical plans as well as seminars for managing yourself as a business (as a performer, you are your own business, after all), establishing your “identity/brand” and fundraising. A great overall resource.
Freelancers Union: If you’re an artist that can demonstrate that you have a) Worked at least 20 paid hours in each of the last 8 weeks or b) Earned at least $10,000 for work done within the last 6 months, you’ll have access to health-insurance plans that won’t leave you hungry and the opportunity to join an ever-growing community of other freelancers in the NYC area who chosen to buck Corporate America and instead make a life for themselves through more creative and independent endeavors.
The New York Foundation for the Arts: Another great resource for artists (performing or otherwise.) The best part about this site is that they have a comprehensive weekly updated listing of “legit” jobs in the arts. I’ve seen some pretty impressive postings on this site: one job would have required daily telephone conversations with Edward Albee...probably scary (if he’s as biting as his characters) but what an opportunity for someone with guts!
Scott Calcagno and his NYC Actor's Workshop: I've been fortunate enough to have had the opportunity to sit in on one of Scott's acting classes at the NYC Actors Workshop. He not only knows his stuff, but also has tremendous respect and genuine care for his students. Performances transform thanks to his sensitive, yet spot-on coaching. I've seen it first hand!
TVI Actors Studio: Everything and the kitchen sink. Workshops, seminars, audition notices and discussion boards.
The Network: The network offers seminars and career building workshops but best of all, opportunities to meet one on one with and audition for agents and casting directors.
One on One Productions: Give a good audition and you’ll have the chance to meet film directors, agents, managers and casting directors (as well as other actors like yourself). Never mind banging on doors: become a member and the industry people come to you. Several actor friends of mine have landed Law and Order gigs from these guys...
more resources on the way...!