Financial Wellness: Can I Have A Full-Time Job And Pursue Acting At The Same Time?
By: Eddie Ramos | January 31, 2022 6:30 AM
In today’s world actors need to practice financial wellness. Over are the days, where actors need to be “starving artists.” The Modern Actor answers the question, “Can I have a full-time job and pursue acting at the same time?” Here’s a secret, you don’t have to be a waiter.
Q: I am an actor working as an assistant at a production company as my survival job. My boss wants to promote me from part-time to full-time, should I take her offer?
A client recently asked TMA this question and its one that comes up often. Here’s our advice.
There’s a lot to consider when deciding to become an actor. One of those things is how to make money to survive.
“The cost of living climbed again in November and drove the rate of U.S. inflation to a nearly 40-year of 6.8%, putting more pressure on households as they confront rising prices of gas, food, cars, rent, and so forth.”
These rises in inflation are and should be especially important to actors.
Actors averaged a mean $39.84 per hour in 2016, according to the BLS. The lowest-paid 10 percent made $9.39 hourly, and the highest-paid 10 percent earned over $100 hourly. Most people who work in the motion picture and video industries make an average hourly rate of $50.88. Independent actors made a lower average wage at $44.46 per hour. Other typical employers and average salaries were performing arts companies, which offered $27.13 per hour, amusement parks with $31.25 hourly, and performing arts promoters with $22.14 per hour.
In the beginning, most actors are gathering momentum booking jobs here and there, but not making much money yet. I wish I could say that it gets better after your first year. The truth is most actors struggle financially in the first ten years of their pursuit as an actor.
“…It also found that 90 percent of actors in the notoriously turbulent profession are unemployed at any one time. - Oliver Williams, Study: Quantifying And Predicting Success In Show Business
That’s why I usually tell actors to think of acting as more of a side hustle and your survival job as your career…for now.
Financial Wellness
Being an actor is a privilege and one I would never want to give up, but we all need to eat and pay the rent. Pursuing acting is harder than the average person believes and way more expensive. Between headshots, demo reels, classes, equipment, travel… things add up. The worst thing I think that happens to actors is they have to quit their dreams because they didn’t have enough money to play the game. So the truth of the matter is you need to have a side hustle, or day job and pursue acting at the same time.
What Makes A Good Side Hustle For Actors?
Actors’ schedules can be sporadic yet unexpected. They can go late into the evenings if you’re on a night shoot or a play. They can take you very far distances and also (in the case of the pandemic) require great wifi connection and possibly spectacular lighting. So when a job like acting requires so much, finding a side hustle that works can be tricky. Luckily, our friends at Sidehustles.com came up with a list of plenty of side hustles to choose from. However, not all jobs are right for an actor’s unusual life.
So if you’re looking for a side hustle as an actor what should you look for?
The key is to find jobs that have flexibility.
A job where you’re not overly stressed out.
A job where your boss or manager is understanding of your needs as an actor.
A job where you can take an extended lunch or change your schedule last minute.
So what does that leave you with?
The obvious answer is food service. But it’s not your only option.
Waiting or bartending always comes up as a fan favorite, yet I almost feel like that job is a little antiquated and to be honest, can take a toll on anyone who’s not 20 years old. Catering is a better alternative to waiting tables night after night. The lifestyle of working at a restaurant or bar can hinder us as actors. Late nights can lead to possibly partying too much.
Catering is great because you can work for multiple companies and only have to show up for the shifts that work for you. Two great benefits of both these jobs are the tips and the potential connections in the business you end up making.
Another decent side hustle is driving for Uber or any of the food delivery companies. It’s a great job because you can set your own schedule and turn it on or off at any time. So if a last-minute audition comes in or you need to go home to run lines, you’re able to do that at a moment’s notice. A little warning this job doesn’t actually pay that well at all… so supplementing this with another form of income is a must.
Babysitting is another great job for actors. One with flexibility and depending on your schedule multiple days off. Also we’re starting to get into the realm of setting your own rate.
Setting Your Own Rate
A pivotal mindset shift for actors is realizing you have more skills than you think. Leverage your other skills to do jobs where you can freelance and set your own rate, and even better—work remote.
Read More: 15 Bad Habits Actors Should Avoid Immediately
Coaching, Teaching, Entrepreneurship, Skill sharing are all better alternatives for actors’ side jobs.
However what if you find yourself in a more traditional job, like our reader in the question above?
Is It Possible To Have A Full-Time Job And Pursue Acting At The Same Time?
Here are the 3 myths I want to debunk:
Myth #1- If I pursue a full-time job won’ that take away from my acting business?
Not necessarily. Again I’m all for pursuing your dreams but you can’t if you don’t have a steady income. If your boss sees your value and offers you a full-time position, that usually comes with a pay raise. More money to use for classes and new equipment. It also raises your confidence. These soft skills are often overlooked. We need confidence, especially as an actor. And if things are going particularly slow in your acting, a boost of confidence or validation from an employer may be the thing you need to remain calm and keep pushing.
Myth #2- Won’t having a full-time job take me away from auditioning as much?
Having a full-time job usually means working anywhere from 40-60 hours a week. This can create potential problems with scheduling auditions. But there is a way around this! Ask your agents to check in with casting about choosing a time frame for your audition that works for you. Maybe it’s at the end of the day.
Also, sending in self-tapes can be the solution in this kind of situation. The compromise: make yourself available to go in for a callback. Give yourself time to film your self-tapes at the end of the day or over the weekends. This also brings up a good point which is being more disciplined with the types of auditions you take.
Decide whether you need to take every audition opportunity. Having a full-time job puts you in an abundance mindset rather than a scarcity one.
Myth #3- If I have to leave for an acting job, isn’t my boss is going to be mad at me?
This is my favorite myth. The answer is no!
I will say this, your boss knows what they are getting themselves into when they hire an actor. You can’t just get our wonderful personalities and not expect us to have to take an extra-long lunch or leave a little early to make an audition from time to time. That being said, be upfront with your potential employer from the beginning of the hiring process.
Let them know that your work is sporadic and unpredictable and could possibly take you away for a few weeks if you book a major recurring role or a role that films in a different city, state, or country. Most managers are accustomed to encountering actors if you're living in one of the major cities like New York, Los Angeles, London, or Sydney, therefore they know what to expect.
Chances are your boss is a fan and rooting for you to go out and be a famous actor. So don’t be surprised when your boss isn’t asking you more often, “When’s your next audition?” or “I saw you on T.V. that was so cool?!” Both have happened to me.
Work Begets Work
Lastly, I’ll leave you with this. Work has this profound effect and the more you do the more you get. So decide if a full-time job is something that will benefit you financially, emotionally, and spiritually while you pursue acting at the same time. Take a chance and go for it. If you land the next major Marvel movie… then I doubt your boss is going to be too upset… or that you will care either way!
Let me know in the comments below what your experience has been with balancing a full-time job and acting!