WATCH FILMS AND TV - Watch everything you can. Look for your "type" - what roles could you play? Watch commercials carefully. What types are they using? When watching a film, find out who the director is. Who is the casting director? If you are watching a television series filmed in New York, pay attention to what types they use . If you are a comic actor, chances are that getting cast on "Law & Order: SVU" is not a likely possibility. Make a point of knowing what is out there and who made it; it can only help you in this business.

The Paley Center for Media - At the Paley Center for Media, you can search the museum's database of nearly 150,000 tv & radio shows and advertisements; they are available for viewing upon request at the Paley Center.BUSINESS ENHANCERS/Research

SEE SHOWS - See as many shows as you can. Look for parts you could play, who the director is, who did the casting; all of this information is vital research for marketing yourself.

Discount tickets - Seeing shows in NYC can be expensive but there are many ways to find discounted tickets. If all else fails, buy standing room tickets. This means that you will stand in the back of the theatre without a seat. Check out some of these discount sites. Here are some ways to see theatre on a budget: DISCOUNTS

Previews - When a show is in previews, very often the tickets are available at a discount from the normal price, but you have to go to one of the discount ticket sites (see above) to get them. Previews are performances prior to the official opening of a show. They are vital to the production team to fix and repair anything that needs to be done before the show opens to reviews. Reviewers are never invited to previews. The show may even stop in the middle of a preview for a technical adjustment.

Paper the house - No, we are not going to T.P. the house of the producer! That wouldn't be wise, would it?Papering the house means that free tickets are given away for a show because the production team wants a full house in order to hear reactions to their work. Some discount ticket sites (usually those that require a modest membership fee) advertise when they are papering the house, but in general, finding out about these deals is by word of mouth. This is where all those contacts you make in acting class come in handy!

Lincoln Center Library - See below.

READ, READ READ

Lincoln Center Library - This is a great place to read plays. What plays are you going to read? Start by finding out what the ten plays are that were the most produced in the past year. Then concentrate on the ones that have roles for you/your type.

You can also see plays and musicals on video at Lincoln Center Library. Every Broadway show has been archived since the early 70's and are available to be viewed by you with an advanced reservation. Though the rules aren't strict for viewing, you do have to have a legitimate reason when you sign in, i.e., an upcoming audition or for research. BUSINESS ENHANCERS/Research

Drama Book Shop - An excellent source for finding plays, resource books, how-to books, and just about any entertainment-related publication. Go and explore! You'll be glad you did! The people there are incredibly knowledgeable and eager to help. BUSINESS ENHANCERS/Career Support

Publications - There are hundreds of publications, all covering many different areas of the entertainment industry. BACKSTAGE is probably the most useful NYC resource publication for actors. Backstage comes out every Thursday, and can be found at your local newsstand or on-line. This is the Bible for young actors. It has informative articles, listings of classes and above all it has comprehensive lists for entertainment opportunities ie, film, theatre, TV, that are available to you in both union and non-union arenas. BUSINESS ENHANCERS/Publications

Online resources - A great place to find free information about specific facts for TV, Film and Theatre. When you prepare for an audition, you should run the names of the people on the creative team through these resources to gain more information about them. BUSINESS ENHANCERS/Databases