What's my next step?

The greatest advice i ever got was that its 99%confidence and 1% talent. When you say you want to be paid for what you love doing does that encopmpass ANY acting work in the realm of acting? Generally 80% of a professional actors income comes from screen acting. So whether or not thats what your after it needs to be a focus. Along with what NA said you need to become a triple threat. Performers who can sing dance and act stand a better chance of survivng in this game, becuse you have many pools to draw on. So start singing lessons, and dancing too because if youa re serious about it then being a multi-skilled performer will keep you afloat. First thing though, you cant generally get any paid professional work without an agent (unless your freelance, but for someone just starting out you havent got such a great contact base). So go to the MEAA (http://www.alliance.org.au/docman/Itemid,28/ its at the bottom of the page) website and check out their list of agents for the state your in. However as was evidenced from the Black Box post even dodgy ones can make it on. Its good to make calls arrange interviews send letters. Persistency is the key. Just like it is the key with being a long termer. Ever hear of all those people who took years to make it overnight?? Acting is 1 learning 2 doing 3 seeeing. You can learn as much from watching believable truthful acting. Get out there and HAve fun, that usually gets someone where they want to go. Paul.