NYU grad Bryan Greenberg, 31, has worked his way up from bit parts on TV shows to star in the Wall Street movie “The Good Guy.” But his sexiest role is playing an up-and-coming fashion designer in HBO’s hot new show “How to Make It in America” – so he’s our go-to guy for pointers on making it in New York City.

1. Make sure the deli guy knows you.

Once the guy at the deli below your apartment starts knowing your sandwich before you’ve even ordered it, then you’re no longer a stranger in New York City. That’s a major accomplishment.

2. Know what you want to do.

I’ve been kind of fortunate to know that I always wanted to be an actor and a musician. So I never really strayed from that because I was like, “All right, that’s what I came here to do.”

3. Put yourself out there.

When it comes to making money, you can’t stick with one thing. Sure, I was an actor, but I was also working as a mortgage broker, a waiter, a caterer, a bartender. You’ve got to move around and be shifty and hustle. I was hustling on all ends and going to school at the same time — and auditioning. I didn’t do a whole lot of sleeping.

4. But don’t have a plan B.

If you give yourself an out, you’ll take it. The acting world is so competitive that I knew if I gave myself some sort of backup plan I would never follow through. I would take it because there’s so much rejection and hardship. You’ve just got to convince yourself to go for it if you want to succeed.

5. Find a roommate.

After NYU, I had loans to pay off and rent to pay. It was all about raising funds, getting a roommate, and then getting your girlfriend to move in. It was three people in a small, converted two-bedroom in the East Village, but that’s what we could afford.

6. Work hard, get lucky.

Success doesn’t just happen. I worked really hard to get where I am today. At the same time, I’ve been fortunate to be presented with opportunities. But I wouldn’t say that’s complete luck, because that would discredit all the years of studying and working and going for it.

7. Fall down, get back up.

I remember auditioning during the final round of a Broadway show. I actually got to go on the stage and the bright lights were hitting me on the face. I was ready and all of a sudden I had an out-of-body experience and I was just watching myself audition and screwing it all up. I just tucked my tail between my legs and walked out of there. It was pouring outside and I walked like all the way down to the East Village from Times Square. The whole time, I was thinking, “What am I doing?” That was my lowest point, but I just picked myself back up the next day and started looking for more auditions.

8. Take advantage of New York City.

I feel like there’s a rhythm to the city that doesn’t exist anywhere else in the world. Fall into that rhythm and things just happen. I love running into people on the street and just seeing crazy interactions between strangers. As an artist, you’ve got to be a sponge and there’s no better place to be a sponge than in New York. There are so many crazy stories that unfold every day that you’ll see just by walking the streets.

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