Dear Cindy (& other aspiring actors),

The question of how to make a living and still pursue your dreams is a tricky one no matter what your dream is, but it gets trickier when your dream is acting. And this is something I dealt with time and again when hiring for entry-level entertainment positions, usually trying to find administrative assistants for busy executives.

When I’d find out in an interview that a candidate was an actor, I’d ask, “Are your repped?” (Industry speak for “Do you have an agent or manager?” meaning, ”Are you going to get called in for auditions?”) And if the answer was yes, I’d congratulate them (getting repped is a challenge for aspiring creatives) and tell them the job I was trying to fill wasn’t right for them. “Your boss will never let you leave for a few hours in the middle of the day, especially with the kind of short notice you’ll get for auditions,” I’d explain.

Yes, I was taking money out of their pockets by not hiring them, but if you really want to be an actor and you have someone (usually an agent or manager) willing and able to send you out to be seen by casting people, the last thing you want is someone who will prevent you from going. You might as well move back where you came from, a place where the cost of living is invariably lower than in Los Angeles.

So what do you do for a living? There are administrative jobs that have flexibility. You just have to be clear up front on what you are looking for. Also, temping is a way to be able to work only when you want, though it doesn’t generally pay that well. And though the actor/waiter might be a cliche, there is a reason so many actors pay thier bills waiting table or bartending- your days are completely free and if you get a gig at the right restaurant or bar, you can be very well compensated. Who knows– you could also end up meeting a studio casting agent. They gotta eat, right?

So in summary, Cindy, finding an appropriate survival job to support yourself while pursuing your acting dreams is not always easy or straightforward, but if you are clear about your priorities and recognize that those struggles you endure now will only make your success all the sweeter, you will persevere.

Yours truly,

Your Industry Insider

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Photo by Unhindered by Talent.