How steady can background/extra work be?

Question

I'm am interested in signing up with a place like Central Casting in LA to become an extra, but would like to know how often I might actually be able to work. Also, how easy or hard is to get those SAG vouchers (the ones you need three of to qualify to join SAG)? Thanks.

Answer 1

Hi! Im 14 and live in Austin, Tx. I started out as an extra on the NBC tv series Friday Night Lights. I can work pretty much every day if I want to. Now that school is back in I have to limit it to the weekends, but during the summer I worked about 4 days a week. The pay was pretty good and I met lots of neat people. I got to play a cheerleader for two different teams, a football trainer for a team, a high school student in a classroom and a fan in the stands. I started out as a fan and they called me to come in as a high school student. The rest just kept getting better and better. I dont know much about the SAG thing and my mom says it costs too much money to join SAG right now anyway. Good luck!
PS~I signed up at www.onlocationcasting.net

Answer 2

You can work pretty steadily if you hustle it. There are some other good places in addition to central. Once you've done it a few times you'll learn who they are from the other extras. Getting the vouchers can be tough. It's one way into sag but being in sag is pretty useless unless you are working sag regularly. I should also warn you. People who do extra work for a living are a pretty sorry lot. After a few times you'll see what I mean. Extra work can be fun. It's also a good way to learn your way around a set. It's NOT a good way to launch an acting career. You'll get everything you're going to get out of it in a couple of months. Don't count on anything bigger coming out of it. Luck.

Answer 3

It probably won't be too frequent. I dont know who issues those vouchers or why. Better to just get a speaking role in a film.

Need help with your career. Read my profile and contact me at my aol address.