First let’s get real about something the industry rarely discusses: networking and actually building a creative community. If you want to make it in this business, you must be talented, a hard worker, and an excellent networker.
Forget desperate handshakes. Real networking for actors starts with authentic relationships, shared passion, and showing up for the work. Here are the Dos and Don’ts of networking for Actors.
DO: Show Up for the Work
The real relationships in this industry are cultivated through collaboration and conversation. Casting directors, agents, and your creative peers notice when you consistently show up to class, rehearsals, workshops, and industry events.
Why:
Because directors remember your dedication. Peers recommend you for roles. Teachers refer you to casting agents. That’s networking, without the awkward pitch.
DO: Support Your Peers
Go to your friend’s short film premiere. Promote their play. Offer to help on set. Collaborating with peers is one of the most overlooked forms of networking. You grow together, and you lift each other up.
Why:
Because some of the biggest industry success stories started with actors helping each other before the fame — just like Al Pacino and Lee Strasberg in The Godfather Part II.
DO: Invest in Your Craft Continuously
Taking acting classes, working with Aeron MacIntyre, and learning new techniques make you better. They also introduce you to people who are just as serious as you are. These are your people. These are the relationships that last.
Why:
Because the most valuable network you’ll ever build is one based on mutual respect for strong work ethic.
DON’T: Treat Every Interaction as a Transaction
If your first thought when meeting someone is, “How can this person help my career?”, it shows. And in this industry, everyone can smell desperation. It’s a huge turn-off, especially for people in positions of power who are constantly being approached.
Instead, do this:
Approach people with curiosity, not an agenda. Build friendships, not contacts. Be the person who genuinely cares about other artists’ journeys.
DON’T: Chase Status
Yes, it’s exciting to be around known directors or established actors. But attaching yourself to someone just because they’re “important” rarely results in a meaningful connection. If you’re only showing up to high-profile events or reaching out when someone lands a big role, it’s obvious and it feels opportunistic.
Instead, do this:
Be the person who’s interested before the success. That’s how real relationships are built.
DON’T: Neglect Your Humanity
At the end of the day, no one wants to work with someone who’s always “on”. Let yourself be a human being first. Show vulnerability, authenticity, and humor. These qualities are what make you compelling as both a person and an actor.
Instead, do this:
Be real. You don’t need to impress everyone.
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