How exactly does SAG work?

How many auditions per month are needed to land a sag part in a syndicated TV or commercial with no prior experience except background work?

• Answer:

  It's not the number of auditions you go on per se, it's how good you are and if you have an agent. Most (not all, but only a small fraction don't) of speaking parts are only "offered" to an actor who have a SAG signatory agent, who then sends that actor to the audition. Hardly, yes it happens, but highly unlikely, inexperienced actors land those roles. Best advice: 1) take all the acting classes you can; 2) audition for small independent films / college projects; 3) take more classes; 4) STOP acting in background / extra roles. I say stop taking extra / background roles because the 2nd or 3rd director's job on every project is for continuity.  If they see you in a background role, they won't use you for a speaking role! Break-A-Leg, Cliff