One thing about pursuing acting, is to ensure regular employment as much as possible. Don’t quite your day job! But make sure it’s a job with free time available to take auditions.
Risk is relative…
If you’ve got a GREAT head shot and a hungry agent, then you’re ahead of the game.
Demo Reel, Demo Reel, Demo Reel! Did I say Demo Reel?
Update your head shot as often as possible. Give your agent a reason to call the clients again.
Supplement a budding acting career by pursuing commercial stills for advertising too. Many actors do this, and the stills photographers are shooting more and more video these days with the new cameras. Clients are asking us for both.
Forget studying acting in school unless you need experience with plays. Otherwise best to get hooked up with a couple of good coaches instead of classes. NO MODELING SCHOOL!!! Just look on Craigslist for Acting Coaches and take private lessons. They are also a great resource to find out what’s going on in your local market and many of them are good agents too.
Do your best to stay in school. But instead of taking acting, take personal business classes. The most successful model/actors are the ones who treat themselves like a product for sale and handle their affairs in a professional business manner.
Good Luck… suckah!