New York City has long been the entertainment capital of the world. Los Angeles has definitely staked its claim to being the place to be for movies but when it comes to performing arts as a whole, meaning theatre, singing, television and commercials, Manhattan is still king of the hill. With every major TV network located in New York as well as reps for many film production and record companies and Broadway shows, being in the Big Apple is essential for finding and attending casting calls.

Finding casting calls in NYC aren’t hard. The city is teeming with productions for films, television shows, commercials, theatre and concerts and talent scouts are always on the look out for fresh faces with skills. Granted, thousands of people come to New York each year with the same goal of making it in show business but that shouldn’t deter you from taking your shot. As the saying goes, it’s better to regret something you did than something you didn’t do. Be prepared for a lot of rejection, plenty of side jobs and hours of practice before getting your break.

When you arrive in New York to pursue a career in show business the first thing to do is find a job that can’t pay the rent. The overnight success stories are few and far between and if you want to stand any chance of making it in this cut-throat city make sure you can pull your own weight. Find a job that is flexible and will allow you to change shifts to attend open casting calls. Waiting tables, bartending and retail may sound cliché for an actor but these are the best ways to make decent money and have time to rehearse and search for casting calls.

Once settled then you can focus on finding where open casting calls are. Closed casting calls are tough to get when you’re starting out and usually involve having an agent so your goal at first will be to attend as many open casting calls as possible. The more visible you are to talent scouts, directors and agents the better your chance of being spotted and there is always something to be said for persistence. Don’t expect New York to roll out the red carpet for you, it’s expensive, hard and has little sympathy for a broke actor down on his luck. But, the opportunities are endless and the stronger you are the better your chances of getting your break with a casting call in NYC.

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