Check out your local comedy clubs and find out when they hold open mic nights. Check out other comedians' sets, then sign up to try performing yourself.

Career

Go to an open mic night.

Improv classes are offered at theaters, community colleges, rec centers, and more. Search online for classes offered close to you and sign up for a beginner class! Even better, sign up with a friend!

Find an improv class near you!

Make a list of 5 things that are important to you in a career. Do you want to be active and outdoors? Make a lot of money? Work alone? Knowing what you want will help you as you go forward!

Make a list of what's important to you in a career.

Actors

Play parts in stage, television, radio, video, motion picture productions, or other settings for entertainment, information, or instruction. Interpret serious or comic role by speech, gesture, and body movement to entertain or inform audience. May dance and sing.

Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.

Artistic

Second Interest High-Point

Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

Enterprising

Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.

Social

First Interest High-Point

Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Realistic

Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Conventional

Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

Investigative

Third Interest High-Point

Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed

Actors, Producers, and Directors

Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations

Entertainers and Performers, Sports and Related Workers

Study and rehearse roles from scripts to interpret, learn and memorize lines, stunts, and cues as directed.

Work closely with directors, other actors, and playwrights to find the interpretation most suited to the role.

Learn about characters in scripts and their relationships to each other to develop role interpretations.

Collaborate with other actors as part of an ensemble.

Perform humorous and serious interpretations of emotions, actions, and situations, using body movements, facial expressions, and gestures.

Attend auditions and casting calls to audition for roles.

Portray and interpret roles, using speech, gestures, and body movements, to entertain, inform, or instruct radio, film, television, or live audiences.

Work with other crew members responsible for lighting, costumes, make-up, and props.

Sing or dance during dramatic or comedic performances.

Read from scripts or books to narrate action or to inform or entertain audiences, utilizing few or no stage props.

Promote productions using means such as interviews about plays or movies.

Write original or adapted material for dramas, comedies, puppet shows, narration, or other performances.

Prepare and perform action stunts for motion picture, television, or stage productions.

Tell jokes, perform comic dances, songs and skits, impersonate mannerisms and voices of others, contort face, and use other devices to amuse audiences.

Introduce performances and performers to stimulate excitement and coordinate smooth transition of acts during events.

Manipulate strings, wires, rods, or fingers to animate puppets or dummies in synchronization with talking, singing, or recorded programs.

Dress in comical clown costumes and makeup, and perform comedy routines to entertain audiences.

Perform original and stock tricks of illusion to entertain and mystify audiences, occasionally including audience members as participants.

Construct puppets and ventriloquist dummies, and sew accessory clothing, using hand tools and machines.

Digital still cameras

Digital video recorders

Laptop computers

MP3 digital voice recorders

Personal computers

Photography tripods

Tablet computers

Wireless microphones

Apple Final Cut Pro

Email software

Facebook

Instagram

LinkedIn

Microsoft Office

Motion capture software

Twitter

Web browser software

Website development software

YouTube

Actor/Entertainer

<p>In Los Angeles, Calif., the Roadtrippers make their way to Amoeba Music, one of the largest indie record stores in the U.S., to meet co-owner Karen Pearson. Next, the team speaks with Joe Rogan, a stand-up comedian, who tells them to do what you do because you love it, not for money. Just as the Roadtrippers are leaving their interview, they snag an impromptu and unexpectedly musical interview with actor Craig Robinson. Playing the piano and in a sing-songy voice, the actor of the <i>The Office</i> empowers Nika to not be afraid to pursue her dream as a performing artist. </p>

Craig Robinson

Actor/Entertainer

Videos

Craig Robinson

Milestones

Education

Career

Career Roadmap

My work combines:

My work combines:

Acting & Theatre

Television

Being Creative

Interviewed By

Life in Motion