Thinking about moving to Chicago to pursue acting? Hello and welcome! There’s plenty to know, so I’ve put together a list of helpful things actors might consider during their journey.
I’m Chris Agos, actor and the author of Acting In Chicago, 4th edition. It’s a complete guide to working professionally in the Chicago market, and plenty of actors use it to help navigate the industry here.
But if you’re not ready to dive into a 300-page book, you can start with these practical tips and links. Have a question not answered here? Feel free to hit me up on Insta, Threads, YouTube, or on the Acting In Chicago Facebook page.
How Do I Start Acting In Chicago?
It depends. Do you want to work on stage or are you coming to take advantage of Chicago’s TV shows and movies? Or maybe you’re interested in Chicago’s improv scene? While you’re here, would you like to do some voice over work?
Chicago is home to hundreds of non-equity theatre companies, and getting an audition with them can be straightforward if you know where to look. TheatreInChicago.com and The League of Chicago Theatres have searchable audition notices.
Most auditions for paying TV and film work are available only to actors represented by talent agencies, and Chicago has about a dozen of them. This page has a current list of agents. To submit your materials to an agency for possible representation, visit their website and follow the instructions. You can also follow the process outlined in my book, which has been helping Chicago actors land agents for over a decade. Be aware that only agencies franchised by SAG-AFTRA will be able to submit you for most paying TV and film work.
If you’re here for the improv, you may already have an idea of where to train and find a team to work with. Options are always good, though, so check out The Second City , IOchicago, The Annoyance or Player’s Workshop.
Voice over work can be done without an agent, but most of the big money jobs will come through them. Chicago is home to lots of large advertising agencies who work closely with talent agents to find voices for their commercials. Actors can have a shot at this work if they know the finer points of reading commercial copy.
Do I Need A Car?
No, but a set of wheels can make your time in Chicago a lot easier, if a bit more expensive. Many actors think the convenience of having their own car is worth the cost. Chicago’s a great town to live in, but winters can be harsh and summers can be so humid that you feel like you’re living inside a dog’s mouth. Cars get you where you need to be, on your own schedule, while keeping you warm (or cool) and dry.
As a Chicagoan with a vehicle, you’ll need to know some things. First, get one of these. You’ll also need a Chicago vehicle sticker, pronto. Every vehicle owned by a city resident is required to have one. You don’t want to be caught without one, unless you like getting $200 parking tickets. By law the city can give you up to one per DAY. If enough of them go unpaid, your ride will be booted. Don’t let this be you.
Spot a little white sign on your street that says “Residential permit parking only?” It means only you and your neighbors are allowed to park there, but you’ll need one of those permits to avoid being ticketed. If you have guests, you can buy guest passes so they can park on your street during their stay.
Pro tip: If some orange paper signs show up on your block, pay attention to them. They are temporary and announce the days and times of street cleaning. The city will ticket or even tow any car parked there when the sweeper is scheduled to come. After the street cleaner goes by, you’re free to park again and the signs will be removed.
If you don’t have a car, the busses and trains of the Chicago Transit Authority generally run on time and will get you near where you need to be: casting offices, training centers, theaters, etc. However, public transit becomes less convenient further out into the suburbs. So if you frequently need to be outside of the city proper, your best bet will likely be to drive.
Our rapid transit light rail system is called the “L”, as in elevated. This name has stuck through the years despite the fact that some tracks are underground, technically making it a subway. However, everyone just calls it the “L”. If you call it the subway, people will look at you funny.
This handy transit map is great for seeing if the CTA will get you where you want to go.
Tickets and passes are purchased with the Ventra app, which you can download to your phone.
There are plenty of actors who use other ways to get around town. Ride sharing is expensive but always available. The city has been expanding its bike lanes in recent years, and the bicycling community here is large.
Some people use a hybrid transit/car/bike approach. Short-term car rental companies like Zipcar and Getaround offer cars when you need them. This option is probably more convenient if you need to get out to the ‘burbs often.
Where Should I Live?
The city is filled with exciting and diverse neighborhoods. Each has its own culture, feel and amenities. But they’re not all convenient from an actor’s standpoint. You’ll be spending most of your time on the North side, simply because most of the places we go (the training centers, theaters, talent agencies and casting offices) are located on that side of town. That’s not to say that you won’t be venturing to other areas, but you might find yourself north of the Loop and east of I-90/94 (the Kennedy expressway) a lot. Consider that as you look for a place to live.
Trying to decide between the city and suburbs? Though there are opportunities to act in the suburbs, living in the city means being closer to the places you’ll need to be for acting work. But city life can be more expensive than the suburbs. Basics like gas and food are usually cheaper in the ‘burbs, as is rent. But commute times and access to work and/or school is a major consideration. The farther you are from the places you need to be, the more time you’ll spend getting to and from them. If you’re driving, traffic only gets worse with each passing year.
The good news is that Chicago’s housing is pretty affordable when compared to other large acting markets like New York and Los Angeles.
Do I Need An Acting Agent?
Again, it depends. You can do all the theatre, sketch, and improv you can handle without ever needing a talent agent. Those types of work traditionally don’t pay well (if at all), so agents don’t participate in them. On the flip side, you will need an agent to work in commercials, voice over, print, and TV/film.
In Chicago there are two ways to work with talent agencies: you can be multi-listed or exclusive. Being multi-listed means you can be with as many agents as you can get to sign you, and you’ll receive auditions from all of them. There are pros and cons to this, and I cover all of them in the book. You can also commit to just one agency by signing with them exclusively. In that case, your auditions will come through that agency only, and you won’t have access to clients who work with other talent agencies. Most agents prefer working with actors on an exclusive basis. Again, check the book for the implications of working either way.
Do I Need A Reel (Showreel)?
Probably. Reels are very important in the on-camera world, and are becoming more important in the theatre and improv world as well. Actors who are able to showcase their work via reels have a distinct advantage over those that can’t. I wrote extensively on this subject here and here.
Want to Learn More About Chicago?
There are some fantastic books on Chicago. This one was a Pulitzer finalist, this one is focused on Chicago’s legendary architecture (and features amazing photography), and here’s a book on the history of Chicago’s storied theater scene.
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