It’s not breaking news…most actors have day jobs. Or night jobs. Or both.
I’ve been thinking a lot about this lately, because I’ve been a server for a REALLY long time. And for as long as I’ve been a server, I’ve been saying “This is the last year. I’m going to quit doing this and just act full time.”
Part of this is driven by the shame that surrounds not being able to support myself fully from just acting, but honestly, who can?*
Let me throw out some statistics:
Only 2% of actors make a living and at any time, 90% of actors are unemployed (source)
Only 70% of SAG-AFTRA actors qualify for healthcare, which means they have to have made at least $16,000 to qualify. (2014 Statistics - source).
Our society at large seems to believe that the only way to be a success as an actor is to become famous. And even amongst actors who aren’t driven by the fame monster, the pervasive thought is: “If I could only make a living doing this, I’ll be a success.”
But with so many actors unable to afford to live off their acting, these ideas are just insidious. It means we’re all out here feeling like impostors because we’re not ONLY acting.
Most of us present only the positives on social media, because it’s a form of advertising for clients, and everyone wants to work with people who are positive. We view it as shameful to admit to doubts, failures, and missteps. We believe that sharing these vulnerabilities will be seen as a weakness. But then everyone thinks everyone else is doing better than they are, and so everyone feels alone.
I do try really hard to keep my social media positive and focused on my work as an actor—because posting about the terrible day I had at work, or the guest who stiffed me on the tip is not going to help me get to where I want to be. But I have had friends and aquaintances comment to the effect of “but you’re doing so much better than me, you couldn’t possibly understand.” But I do, because:
I have never lived solely off my acting.
I have wanted to act since I was three. I have been a server since I was 17. I have done admin, marketing, database creation and management, and sales. I have been a receptionist. I have been a princess at a mall store and at children’s birthday parties. I have been mistaken for a stripper on my way to do a sexy nurse singing telegram. I have been a fake patient for medical simulations, and also helped teach those same medical students communications skills that will help make them better doctors. I have juggled four or five jobs at a time, just so I could be flexible for auditions and rehearsals.
I do what I HAVE to do…so I can do what I WANT to do.
So, please, if you’re a performer…
Stop thinking everyone else is doing better than you, just because of what you see on Instagram and Facebook. People aren’t showing you the whole story.
See if you can change your attitude about your day job (or jobs). These jobs might not be what you want to be doing in the long run, but they supply the fuel (money) that allows you to take classes, get coaching, buy equipment, and do the unpaid/low paid projects that give you experience for your resume or footage for your reel.
And if your survival job isn’t serving your career, find a different one!
Next up, I’ll be writing about how to know when it’s time to quit your survival job or find a new one. Until then, I hope you have a wonderful week!
* Here, I know, some people from the voiceover industry will raise their hands and say “I’ve been full time in VO for X number of years and it’s totally possible!” Yes, I know it is. But not all actors do voiceover, and some of them only do it for a little extra money while they pursue their true passion of stage/film/tv acting. Everyone’s path is different.