Some good jobs for people trying to get into acting?

Question

What are some good jobs to have that will still pay well, but allow flexibility to go on auditions and classes for someone trying to get into acting? Of course you always hear of being a waiter/waitress or bartender, but curious about any other options.

Answer 1

....a home or self-owned business is a great way to pay the "rent" while pursuing an acting career. Our family of 2/working actors has successfully kept ourselves going w/ our own graphic /web design business....however, other ideas include, accounting, administrative work or trouble shooting/setting up electronics (like computers, vcrs, etc.). Other ideas might include landscaping, tutoring, teaching (tons of homeschool add to the teaching possibilities from traditional studies to "elective" type stuff like music, acting, voice, art, languages, etc.). Another very good way is to make money is through working/organizing children's birthday parties....that's all just for starters....working for yourself gives you independence in terms of taking on work both to make money and making time for auditioning/preparing photos & resume mailings. Some people also consider doing night work...but if you book a show or get cast in a project that films into the wee small hours of the a.m., that could prove challenging....but maybe not impossible. Hope that helps :)

Answer 2

To tell you the truth - waiting tables is the best way to make money and have a flexible schedule. There are others - but a lot of them won't get you the kind of money that tips do.

I've had actor friends in NYC forever - and here's some of the stuff they've done.

Solicitations - both on the phone and on the street
Dog walking
Plant care
proof reader
pizza delivery
medical transcriptionist (but this was tricky)
self employed seamstress

Break a leg - whatever you do!

Answer 3

You are so on track about one thing- most successful actors have spend more time honing their skills and less time piddling about in peripheral training.

Sales, airline ticket agent, work in law firms, banking, healthcare- any of these can be your stage, the common demoninator is contact with people. So I wouldn't sell bartending short! Looking back, I should have tended bar for a while in order to work on my people skills.

My best advice would be to find any way to start acting. Community theatre, acting classes, or making films for youtube or whatever. Dive into it before you invest too much in "education". You'll find out where your niche is.

If you are in college, you could explore several complimentary routes. routes, or combine from these:

1) communications, speech, broadcasting, media, etc.
(Closely related skills, but focuses on the basics)
2) Debate, politics, student government, moot court, law
(Managing impressions and image, competing)
3) Psych, conflict resolution, counseling, interpersonal/organizational psych
(Dealing with other people's nuanced motivations)
4) Business: Advertising, Marketing, Management (managing impressions and putting them into real play)
5) Theatre Arts or Film/Theatre/Art Studies
(Familiarity with Aesthetics and the technical & presentation side of things)
6) English and Writing, Journalism (command and control of words)

The key is to model your success on proven success. Jim Carrey was acting out his goofy faces in the mirror for hours, he obsessively acted out his silly routines with meticulous attention. Some people take jobs and adopt a different role each day as practice. Your competition is doing this, and if you aren't, then they are that much further ahead.

Good luck- it seems like you know what the odds of success are and you want some options to fall back on in case it doesn't work out - good thinking.

Answer 4

Well, theater, like a comedy job (you dont have to be a comedian) but working at a place like that can help....also you can work at a place where...you...can do some acting for plays or musicals. There are many programs for ppl who wanna act. Look up things on the internet too, and read about it. There are many many many opportunities for acting careers!

Answer 5

you can work with doctors at a local hospital as an actress. they will give you a disease to "act out". it helps the docs with their people skills, helps u work on acting, and it pays.

Answer 6

You could always try real estate it takes a lot of your time but it lets you make your own schedule.

Answer 7

try directing so you can see how actors work and go on from that