Ahhhh, that is the 10-million-dollar question! I assure you, you will find the secret to being discovered right next to the answer to "How John Essay lost 100lbs in two weeks to become the most gorgeous male in the world!" If you can find THAT, your dream will come true, because that is all it is: a "dream", a "fantasy". Show me any successful career and I will show you a lot of blood, sweat and tears that helped get them there. Nothing in life comes easy, it just doesn't. OK, sometimes (but rarely) there are exceptions to this rule (or ANY rule, for that matter), but an exception should never be confused for the general rule, or even considered a realistic possibility.
Having said that, there are many things you can do to HELP yourself be seen along the way. So many people have claimed to have "discovered" Barbra Steisand, and indeed, they "discovered her" - meaning they saw her for the first time - but Barbra was out there plugging away, making herself available to be seen, in cabarets, clubs auditions, etc. The word "discovered" implies that you need to be available for discovery. A buried treasure is VERY hard to discover unless you know to look in the general vicinity it is located. The same applies to you. Making yourself available aids in helping you get discovered. Going to plays, movies, industry parties, taking classes and perhaps some "pay to display"/"Meet and Greet" sessions, or anything else that will enhance your "life experience" is a step closer to being "discovered" or seen by someone on your way to a successful career. Of course, if you clicked on this link in hopes of actually finding the answer to immediate stardom, you may want to take a good look at yourself and why you are still trying to reach for this unattainable fantasy.
In my 25 years as a manager, I have only represented two clients who experienced what most people would call "overnight success". The first was an incredible actress (of course!) who was catapulted into the stardom arena without being a star herself - that is, she was not a star but was competing with stars for roles. We were lucky enough to have her up for every major feature of the time - SILENCE OF THE LAMBS, REVERSAL OF FORTUNE, SOAPDISH, and WHAT ABOUT BOB?, to name a few. However, it was always between her and a real bona fide star - in her case, usually Elisabeth Shue. Of course, the outcome was always the same for my client - she lost out to the bigger name. After several years of getting so close to being cast (sometimes up to eight auditions), it took a toll on my client, and after much soul-searching and a heart-to-heart with me, she decided to leave the business and pursue another career. So, be careful what you wish for! My second client who has achieved this level has proven more resilient - though always competing against household names, she is still managing - by being available and connected - to find a niche for herself as her star slowly rises.
A slow building career is so much better than an overnight sensation.
