Mirren Lee

HOW DO YOU MAKE A LIVING AND STILL BE AN ACTOR?

(This article was first printed in edited form in AT2, the actor’s online casting service.)

One of the biggest challenges for any actor (unless they’re independently wealthy!) is how to make a living while still having enough time and energy to attend auditions, classes and, oh yeah … ACTING JOBS!  These are called “Survival Jobs”, which is a good thing to remember because that’s all you should be expecting from these jobs – to SURVIVE, not get sucked into a SECOND CAREER.  It doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy your Survival Job, in fact you SHOULD, for the sake of your creative spirit.  But you shouldn’t be expending any more energy than is necessary to do it well and make a living at it – being able to walk away at any time when your REAL job calls you is the first rule of a good Survival Job.

An actor also needs time to actually run their business – market themselves, attend to the financial aspects, etc.  To run a business properly takes a lot of time and planning.  Just being reactive (answering a call to an audition) is not enough.  It’s through being pro-active that your business, and career, grow the way you want them to.  That means working on them every day.

So how do you do that while trying to make enough money to pay for not only the basics, but also all the costs involved with running your business (CVs/headshots, classes, online casting membership, etc. etc.)?

First, you need to accept what you CAN’T do, and that’s work a full time job, especially if it’s during normal business hours.  Even if you think you have an understanding boss, see how long that lasts if you land a role that’s going to take you away for a week, or you have several auditions at once.  Some actors try to work full time night jobs, but then you miss out on classes or networking opportunities through events that only take place at night.  The saying, “It’s who you know…” is accurate for any business and you simply must meet everyone in yours.

Second, you need to make a list of what you don’t and do enjoy doing, and figure out how you can make money at the latter.  If you love what you’re doing, it will never seem like work.  The saying, “Find your Bliss and make money at it” defines the perfect Survival Job!

Finally, you have to figure out exactly how much money you need in order to both survive and support your business until it starts supporting you.  That’s your goal.  Attach to that goal how many hours you can manage to devote to it (before getting too tired or unmotivated for your career – every individual has different energy levels), and then find the work that matches that.

THE PERFECT SURVIVAL JOB WILL:
Be Flexible.
Give you enough money to fulfill your pre-determined financial needs.
Not be psychically/mentally/emotionally draining.
Allow you to walk away at a moment’s notice.

SURVIVAL JOB IDEAS:                                                                                                                       Please note that I have personal experience of ALL of the following jobs fitting the Survival Job criteria, either because I did them myself or know other actors who did.  A little creative, lateral thinking will get you thinking of even more – there are entire books written about the variety of Survival Jobs out there.

1.  eBay is an actor’s best friend! Here’s where what you like doing becomes really important.  There is an endless list of things you can sell, depending on what interests you.  I’ll list just a few to get you started:

A.  Make jewelery.                                                                                                                                         B.  ”Cook up” aromatherapy products.                                                                                                           C.  Paint old furniture and resell it. (Great money maker!)                                                                             D.  Scour op shops for clothes, especially designer brands.                                                                           E.  If you sew, either make original items or add to op shop clothes.                                                             F.  Second hand goods from other eras are very popular.                                                                              G.  Sell your own photos or paintings.
The possibilities are endless.  I know of one lady who buys and sells second hand goods on eBay and she makes about $20,000 a month!  Of course, she does it as a full time job, but it’s still an indicator of the possibilities.  Just remember that it takes consistency and discipline to do – something you need for your own business, anyway, which makes it good practice.

2.  Cellarmasters, and other wine telemarketing jobs, are an actor’s paradise!  If you like the phone, then this is the job for you.  It’s not just cold calling and it’s well paid work.  The main thing, though, is that the hours are really flexible and you don’t have to “hide” that you’re an actor because lots of you work there!  Look for one in your area. (BTW, I know so many actors woking specifically at Cellarmasters that I call it the Actors Cellar!)

3.  Are you into alternative therapies?  Then you can do massages/aromatherapy/other treatments for your own clients.  You could set up at home, make house calls, or see if you can be part of an existing salon.

4.  Physical fitness your passion? Become a trainer.  You can have personal clients or work for a gym. (In L.A many actors work as trainers for the Industry to make contacts.)

5.  Accountant? I had one client who was a full time accountant, but at my suggestion she opened her own service, specializing in taxes for actors.

6.  Are you a Hairdresser? Quit the salon and get your own clients, or pay to have a chair in a salon, working your own hours.

7.  Graphic artist? There’s a huge market doing CVs, business cards, etc. for actors (as well as others, of course!).

8.  Love photography? Learn to take a good headshot.  We always need good new photographers, but please understand that headshots DO require specific skills.  Model shots are a different thing, as are glamor shots.

9.  Are you a computer whiz? Website design is a huge growth area, as is trouble shooting for the “techno challenged”.  Target actors – many still don’t have websites.

10.  Like the kitchen? I know an actress who loves cooking so much that she opened her own catering business, working part time for offices and parties.

11.  Like the thought of teaching? You can work in a TAFE if you have a B.A.  Find the subject area that suits you (Business, Catering, etc.), or in one of the many International Colleges that cater to overseas students.  Or you can teach English if you get a TESOL (or similar) certificate.  The money and the flexibility are both excellent. You can also get a Cert VI in Training and Assessment and work as a Trainer, either for companies, or set up your own freelance business.  Adult Education centres require that you only submit an idea for a class, how long you want to run it, etc. and they might make a spot for you.

12.  What about Restaurant work? I waitressed for 10 years and highly recommend it for actors.  It’s flexible and well paid if you work in tourist places where the tips are good.  The BUT is, it’s better to work 2 part time jobs (a general rule) than 1 full time one so that you have more flexibility and don’t get sucked into the job as your “identity”.  Same applies to bartending or hostessing in restaurants.

13.  Have you thought of Spruiking? This is a great Survival Job and helps you develop your improv. skills while having to talk “off the cuff” for hours.  The range is huge, as are the paychecks.  I know of some spruikers at specialty places, like casinos, making over a hundred dollars an hour.

14.  Ever done Promotions? Again, a good job for actors because you need to polish your people skills.  Also, some promotions are big business affairs that fly you around the country for conferences and so on.

15.  Heard about Role Playing? Whether for lawyers, doctors or bus drivers (really!), these jobs are fantastic for your acting skills.  You are required to improv. within given situations and convince everyone that you are a “real” person.

In my book, I will be adding contacts, websites, etc. for these jobs, as well as an expanded list of Survival Jobs.  In the meantime, put your Creative Thinking Cap on and figure out what you’d like to do, then start Googling to find out where you can do it!

There is an endless world of opportunity out there once you start opening your mind up to the possibilities. As Dolly Parton says, “If you don’t like the road you’re on, pave another one.”

(This is an extended version of the article that appeared in the AT2 newsletter on Oct. 27th, 2008.  If not yet a member of AT2, the major online casting service for actors, what are you thinking?!  Go to www.AT2.com.au and sign up now!)

HOW TO GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR PHOTO SHOOT

1. We’re now in the digital age, so you need a photographer who shoots this way, not with film.Then you can look at the photos as you go, and have many more taken than you actually use so that you get the shots you want. Most importantly, they can be put on a disc for downloading as laser prints.  For 18-24 shots, you should have at least 2-3 “looks”; for 36, at least 3-4; more if you can do fast changes and the photographer agrees.  The first “look” should be the YOU that you are “selling” (your type), the you that will actually walk through the door of the audition.  For instance, if you normally wear T shirts, don’t wear collared shirts in your main photo.  And don’t do your hair differently than you would normally wear it, or wear more than your usual makeup (this applies to men as well as women!).

2. The second “look” should be for corporate training films.  For this, you will have to figure out if you are selling a “blue collar” look (plumbers, factory floor etc) or “white collar” (secretaries, managers etc) in order to wear the appropriate clothing (eg., overalls vs. collared shirt and jacket).  Hair should be appropriate for this look (particularly with white collar conservative), be careful of excessive jewellery (men: no earrings, and both sexes: no nose rings or other facial piercings!), and some people choose to wear glasses.

3. The third “look” should be what we call the “soft wool ad” – suitable for commercials involving beaches or coffee.  A roll neck jumper, or some other piece of “fluffy” clothing to soften the look, with appropriate softer hair.

4. The fourth (and fifth) looks are optional, and should be of something that is a bit more of a  “character” look – a leather jacket, a special hair style, a beard, glasses, a bit more skin (tank top or similar) if you have a good body to sell, or even a full length shot.  If you don’t feel you have anything specific you want to show, then spend more time on the above first and second looks.

5. As stated, the idea of your photo is to show the casting people the YOU that will walk through their door.  If it doesn’t match what they were expecting (DON’T CUT – OR GROW – YOUR HAIR DRASTICALLY DIFFERENT FROM YOUR PHOTO!), then you will have WASTED THEIR TIME – the ultimate cardinal sin. Learn to think like a casting person – and get your photos to look like you ARE, not how you’d LIKE TO BE.

6. Makeup should be street makeup, with usually just a tinted moisturiser enough to even out your skin tone.  Be careful when applying foundation that it doesn’t look too thick, and men you DO need to use something for your skin tone as well.  WOMEN: DON’T GET AN OVER THE TOP, MODELLY MAKEUP FACE DONE – YOU SHOULD LOOK LIKE YOUR NATURAL SELF, JUST SMOOTHED OUT AND GLOWING.  Slight lip gloss is good (yes, some men need it, too), and darkening of pale eyebrows or lashes.  Remember, the lights will wash out your features.

7. Watch what the photographer uses for a background. Use common sense: a pale blonde wearing stark white against a white background is going to disappear once the photos are laser printed.  And then there’s the brunette wearing black against a dark background who is going to appear as nothing more than a floating face!  As a rule of thumb, avoid stark white or black completely.  Think carefully about necklines – we are only going to see your head and shoulders (any more is NOT a headshot!), so there should be no distractions – eg., jewellery, brand names etc.  NO HANDS or other things of any kind in the photo with your head and shoulders!

8. Make sure your photographer knows to not over expose your shots so that when you get them laser printed they won’t look washed out.

9. LASER PRINTS ARE ALL YOU NEED – NOT PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTS FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHER. You should be paying no more than 50 or 60 cents for black and white prints, and the clarity should be excellent.  Card is not necessary, and paper (it’s special thick laser paper) is actually preferred by many casting people.  Kinko’s is recommended, Snap has to be carefully watched for quality, and Officeworks never seems to get it right!  Shop around, and make sure you get the best quality laser print.

10. At least one photo SHOULD BE ON YOUR CV!  Photos and CVs get separated in casting offices (they should always be SEPARATE, NOT PUT ON THE BACK OF EACH OTHER) and so BOTH should have your NAME AND CONTACT DETAILS.  This may seem obvious, but you would not believe how many people do not even have their name on their photos – astounding!  Can you imagine the conversation: “Oh, this person looks great – I wonder who they are?!” Nothing should be handwritten, everything should be typed and beautifully presented.  THESE ARE YOUR WORK TOOLS, YOUR CALLING CARDS, YOUR STATEMENT TO PEOPLE ABOUT HOW MUCH YOU CARE ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE SELLING, AND OFTEN THE FIRST CONTACT THEY HAVE WITH YOU!  ALWAYS put your own mobile phone number (essential, not optional) on your contact details in case someone wants to contact you out of hours, or you leave your agent or whatever. YOU MUST BE CONTACTABLE AT ALL TIMES!

11. The Australian Industry has not traditionally used “comp” (for composite) cards for actors – they have been reserved for models.  However if you would like to have some different shots dressed in character, such as a nurse, a cop, a scientist or some other type/profession, which allows casting people to see you in a role without having to use their imagination, try putting them on your CV.  If you do this, however, just be aware that sometimes they will be greeted positively, and at other times negatively, and told they’re not necessary.  Also be aware that the Australian Industry considers color photos to be for models, and black and white 8×10s (still referred to by the old measurement) are preferred, although some actors are rebelling and going for color anyway!

12. Finally, it’s your photo shoot, you’re paying for it.  If you’re not happy with the result, discuss it with the photographer.  If your claims are justified, a good photographer will reshoot at no charge.  Ask me for recommendations.