The term “starving artist,” is no coincidence. Although an
aspiring actor’s dream would be to fully pursue acting with no cares or
worries, the reality is money is an issue, and a second job is often necessary.
When pursuing acting, unless you are rich enough to support that lifestyle, it
is important to have a steady source of income on the side. Actors who act out
of desire, rather than desperation to pay bills find themselves
more relaxed, and able to perform to the best of their ability! Juggling a day
job and pursuing an acting career may seem like a handful, but the sooner you
hit it big, the sooner you can lose the day job!
Many actors are willing to move straight to New York or LA
to pursue their career, but not too many think about the financial blow they
will experience, if not prepared. LA and New York may be the film and theater
capitals of the world, but they are also painfully
expensive. Actors forget that people also find huge success in smaller cities like Georgia, Miami,
Memphis, etc. and even there, competition is fierce. However, before you
consider moving anywhere to pursue your acting career, make sure you have a
financial plan, job and place to live.
When figuring out a side job to pay the bills, many actors
work as a temporary employee, aka, a “temp.” The advantage of this position is it
allows for plenty of time to act in between. However, the disadvantage of a
temp agency is that you do not always know when, if you’ll ever, get more work.
The jobs can last days, weeks, or even months. Another plus is that some temp
jobs offer special benefits, including health care. To get involved, there are
many temp agencies to choose from, which you essentially become an employee of.
Normally, they will give you a test to track your skills, such as a typing
test. Then, if anyone is need of a position that requires those skills, they
will contact the temp agency and the temp agency will contact you! However, another
downfall is you are not paid directly; the job pays the temp agency, who then
takes their fee from your check. In some instances, a temp
agency may even offer to lend you free extra assistance in developing a skill, which
you should accept. If you let your agency know you are pursuing acting, they may
even get you jobs in the entertainment industry, which is right up your alley and
will add to your experience while you await your next audition!
If you perform to the best of your ability, they might
even offer you a full time position! If your potential employer agrees to work around your acting schedule, the full time job would be ideal.
However, if he or she is not willing to work with it, find yourself a more
flexible job. While you are employed, don’t hesitate to tell people that you
are an aspiring actor this way you will begin to network in your new work environment,
and possibly open up acting opportunities. If you choose to ditch the temp
agency idea and steer more towards a part-time or full time job, you can always
consider the following schedule; get a job during the night and audition during
the day.
Consider working for yourself while pursuing acting so you
can set your own hours and control your own income by how much work you pursue
and how hard you work! First, you need to determine what skills you have before
you can pursue your business. Ask yourself the following, “What can I do; can I
do web design, carpentry, fitness training, photography, plumbing, etc.?”
Working for yourself looks glamorous, but it takes a lot of hard work, time,
determination, and discipline to keep yourself consistent and on track. You can
also consider marketing yourself to other companies. Companies may desire to choose free
lancers because it will cost less to pay them rather than pay a full time
employee.
People often find themselves in desperate situations when
they do not plan out their financial situation while pursuing acting. You may
have a strong appetite for acting, but if you plan carefully, you don’t have to
be a “starving artist.” Remove the financial stress, pick up a side job, and
focus on your acting career! –Actors Nook Team
No comments:
Post a Comment