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How do people get into TV commercials?

Some of these people are just regular-looking people--not models. I would like to either get myself or my dog into doing commercials. But I live in San Francisco. . .does that mean I have to move to LA? Do commercial actors just do commercials or are they serious actors who are just trying to pay the bills?

Public Comments

1. Yep! Many actors are regular looking people, which is great, but at the same time, very competitive. If you want to act in commercials for good clients (large companies, let's say Coke, Target, etc) then you must be represented by a commercial and/or theatrical agency. If you show up to a casting and are not represented the client will not see you at all in most cases (well, you wouldnt know of the casting call to begin with without an agency or a manager). A lot of them are in Los Angeles, but there are many in SF as well. Regarding your second question, it depends. I know many people who have a regular, flexible job (full or part time) and they also do acting on the side. There are others who do acting only because they chose to only act, and can afford it (the more commercials you do, obviously, the more money). Thing is, that for most commercials you have to go to a casting, and they are usually held between 10am and 5pm. Also, your agency calls you to go on the audition 2 days before or sometimes the day before, or even the day of. So it's not like you would have time to arrange your schedule the week before. Also, there are callbacks, which you must attend (it's like a second casting usually a few days after the first casting). With many agencies though, you would have to have some experience before signing with them, unless you're very young and/or have amazing potential. Good luck! :)
2. There are a certain number of people who just do commercials, especially those who have been specifically connected to a product. (For example, I doubt that the "can you hear me now" guy is auditioning for other projects much). Commercial auditions are obtained through agents. In SF, there are a number of good commercial agents (Look, Tonry, Stars, etc.). However, most commercials up here are locals, industrials or internet gigs.