More than just a Day Job: Careers for Actors

Sometimes people will ask you what you do for a living, and sometimes… it might send you into a downward spiral.

At least, that’s what used to happen to me. I immediately assumed what other people must obviously be thinking:

“An actress, okay. So… how do you make money?”

Okay, let’s be honest. Maybe this is just what I was thinking.

The Infamous “Actor Day Jobs”

It’s not that I think an actor’s career is illegitimate. I don’t. But I do understand the realities of this career and after having pursued it for so long, I can attest to its deeply unstable characteristics and oftentimes (whether I like to admit it or not), its toxic qualities too.  

This is no secret and I like to think that most working actors can attest to it too. It’s the reason why so many of us need to fend for ourselves by securing work, typically elsewhere and outside of our preferred niches. For many actors, this might look like a collection of random gigs, odd jobs and unfulfilling work scenarios that only serve to pay the bills (and your precious acting classes, of course).

Cue the infamous “actor day jobs.”

This. This is exactly what I meant when I said I would be sent into a downward spiral when people asked me what I did for a living.

When I first started out, I was still getting my foot in the door and understanding how to make a living on the side. Explaining what I did for a living didn’t make sense to me yet and I feared it wouldn’t make sense to others when I tried to explain it. I also knew that I didn’t want to be the stereotypical actress who worked random and unfulfilling “day jobs,” only to support my lifestyle as a working actor. I wanted the work to feel meaningful. I wanted to have a career, even if that career was curated by a collection of artistic passions and jobs. In the most blatant terms, I didn’t want to work in some random coffee shop just to call myself an actress by day.

Now, before I continue, let me clarify one thing: if working at a coffee shop is what YOU enjoy, then that’s GREAT! You should always honor what does and what doesn’t work for you. Always. From a personal standpoint however, I knew that’s not what I wanted for myself… and that’s also okay.

More than just an Actor

I’m an actor, but I’m so many other things as well: a writer, an arts administrator, a teaching artist, and much more.  

My philosophy is this: your craft extends well beyond acting classes or a long day on set. You are an artist: all day, every day, so why not choose a job that honors this idea? If you think being an artist by night limits you to working retail by day, think again. Next time you’re out looking for another day job, ask yourself this: can I stabilize my income doing something I actually… enjoy? Don’t get me wrong: if working at Hollister is something you actually like, then go for it, but if it’s not your vibe, then I encourage you to keep reading!

Making a Living as an Artist

As actors and artists, we’re intensely aware of our craft and excelling in that craft, but we’re also aware of something else too: money… and bills and the means by which to pay it all.

Before I continue, let me just make one thing clear: it is possible and by possible, I mean being an artist and making a living as one. It’s important however, to expand your mindset and welcome opportunities that serve you, not only financially but creatively as well. Let’s take a look at some options.

1. Freelance & Monetizing your Skills  

Freelance (or contractual) work allows you to operate on a self-employed basis, offering the flexibility to set your own hours (in other words: you’ll still have time to make it to that 7 PM improv class, if you so wish!) Freelancers specialize in a variety of fields (many of which complement the performing arts and artistic lifestyles). From video editors and website designers, to content creators, casting professionals and resume writers, the opportunity for freelancers to monetize their skill sets is endless.

Sites like Fiverr, Freelancer.com, and Upwork offer freelancers access to creating a site profile and pitch their services and skill sets to actively hiring clients. These sites are popular among photographers, web designers, content creators, writers, but include a plethora of other working niches. You can set your rates, market yourself and wait for your next gig to roll around!

Long-term freelance for companies seeking to hire project-by-project help is also great option as well. This will offer you the opportunity to be a part of a team and build long-term connections with fellow staff members and freelancers alike!

2. Turn your passions into passive income

Is there something pending in the back of your mind? A novel you really want to write? An independent film you’d really love to produce? Maybe you happen to excel at graphic design, or photography or vlogging. Take note of all of your passions. You’re doing no service to yourself by just ignoring them and letting them loiter away in your crowded vault of pending thoughts (like renewing that gym membership, or drinking more water).

Turn your passions into passive income. You might find more stability than you ever could have thought.

3. Teaching opportunities

I’ve been teaching on the side for the past ten years. While I’m not a traditional classroom teacher or employed under a specific district, I’ve found that working for local and regional theaters as a Teaching Artist has been helpful in maintaining a source of income while staying creative. This is a great option for many reasons.

If you’re not looking to teach long term (like me), it’s a great way to get a healthy dose of teaching, while not over-saturating yourself in a job that you don’t particularly see yourself doing full time. These theaters typically hire part-time teaching staff to facilitate workshops and after-school programs at local venues. So basically, you show up at a school as an employee of the theater and get to teach what matters most to you! It’s also a great way to get your foot in the door at the theater or performing arts companies that hire you. Like any company, job positing will come out from time to time and if the position happens to fall in line with your career objectives, it’s a great way to stay informed about a (potential) new work opportunity!

4. Embrace a complimentary career

If you’re like me, you’ll never be satisfied with being an actor and only being an actor. For me, sustaining a complimentary career has allowed me to honor all of my passions and maintain a healthier relationship with an industry that can oftentimes feel brutal and unforgiving. Having a well-rounded career will always make you a more well-rounded person, and that’s a great thing to be!

Complimentary careers can co-exist in the performing arts (or can exist elsewhere, altogether). Maybe you enjoy working Backstage. Local and regional theaters are always looking for over-hire work (contract basis) or even looking to fill long term positions as Production Assistants, Technical Managers, Education Directors, Artistic Associates and more.

Another great option is Casting and Talent Management work, as many actors turn to these working niches and take on jobs as Agents, Casting Directors and Talent Scouts. At the end of the day, who better to manage your career, than a fellow creative who has managed their own!

Actors are highly introspective individuals, always reflecting on human behavior in order to replicate it on stage or on screen. We know first-hand what it means to market ourselves, and what it takes to market something else. Careers in Journalism, Marketing and Public Relations can oftentimes be great secondary and linear options to pursue, offering actors creative outlets like content creation, social media and digital production.

I’ve found that sites like EntertainmentCareers.net and Playbill.com are easy to navigate and offer a plethora of job postings in multiple creative fields.

Make your own Career

In my opinion, a day job is just another silly phrase. So, take charge of those day jobs and make them a career! What you do with your time (past the rehearsals and auditions) can segue into something truly meaningful. Go out and find out what that is for you!

For every cliché comment there’s a whole lot of truth, so keep dreaming because you can do it and it is possible.

Honor your Success

Success is not solely measured by your debuts on Broadway, your featured roles on network television or your collaborations on a Hollywood film.

An actor’s success culminates itself in a collection of ways: in a meaningful stack of hand-written thank you cards from your students at the end of a semester, in a theater teacher inspiring the next generation of artists at an acting competition, in the simple act of encouraging your students to take part in “silly” theatre games: and seeing them smile when they do it.

Those are some of mine.

What will yours be?