I got tagged in the following Facebook
Post by a friend today:
RATS!!!
I just got called for BCG work on “SHOW NAME” tomorrow, but I'm already booked
with an interview and training for a new job. I know BCG work isn't a huge
deal, but it IS a step closer to doing what I want to do. Industry peeps, how
and when is it appropriate to bow out of other work last minute to pursue the
dream? I don't want to burn any bridges. Help!
 |
| www.reddit.com via giphy.com |
So of course, I asked if I could use
this question in a new blog post, (she agreed – obviously!) since this is
a quandary many artists face.
It doesn’t matter which side of the
camera/curtain you work on, which city you live in or which of the arts your
pursuing. This is a serious question
that deserves more than just a comment on her Facebook page – so let’s talk DAY
JOBS…
1)
It’s pretty impossible to pursue a
career in the arts if you are completely homeless. You are expected to show up clean to STUNNING
at jobs, interviews and auditions – especially in the performing arts. But you have to at least smell good and your
clothes should never look like you slept in them – at least not until you
wrap! This means that you need a home…
2)
Homes require MONEY. The recent economic crash led lots of people
to ‘down scale’ their lives. My friends
have eliminated financial redundancies like landlines, cable TV and in some
cases even Internet because so many wireless plans offer portable hotspots
through smart phones. But you can only
scale back so far before it limits your ability to be hired!
 | |
| policymic.tumblr.com via giphy.com |
3)
Work in the arts – even CREW jobs like
Sound Design, Production Assistants and Lighting gigs ebb and flow. Many of these jobs are short term at best and
frequently hire educated professionals on a day-to-day basis. If you live in a good market and you hustle
hard, you could average 3 – 4
working days per week – maybe…
4)
Jobs in the arts – especially if they
are entry level – tend to pay right around minimum wage – just for longer hours
than you’d work at your typical Micky D’s…
The work times also vary widely and shift from day to day making it
pretty impossible to try to work multiple jobs in the same 24-hour span.
So what does all this mean?
 | |
| comedycentral.tumblr.com via giphy.com |
One of my writing teachers told us the
best thing we could do would be to marry someone rich who would be okay with
supporting us. Chris Hardwick – I’m
still waiting for you to call me! (Our
children would the cutest little blue-eyed geeks you could imagine…sigh)
In the interim, however, many of us
find it necessary to take “day jobs,” which run the gambit from waiting tables,
to nanny-ing to cleaning houses to becoming a professional fluffer… (and if you
don’t know what that is PLEASE don’t look it up!)
Three of my friends recently made that
leap of faith by leaving shift jobs in favor of freelancing in order to make their
schedules more flexible for their art.
I’m not telling the girl who asked me
this question to walk away from a brand new paying job that she’s obviously
gone to some trouble to apply for. But
if you don’t show up for those first few days/weeks of training, you might end
up terminated before you’re able to cash that first paycheck.
So you have to make a choice. Here’s what I advise:
1)
NEVER
Lie – It’s a terrible habit to develop. It
reflects poorly on your work ethic and you never
know when one boss might know
another. The world is much smaller than
you think. “But-but… I’m an ACTOR!” you say. “I make
people believe fantasy for a living.
It’s what I do!” For a paying
audience? Yes. For people depending on you be somewhere and do something? NO. In the words of Eric Cartman, “Not cool…”
 | |
| southpark-gifs.tumblr.com via giphy.com |
2)
Let
Your Shift Boss Know Your Story – Everyone knows
somebody with a dream. And most of us have dreams of our own at one point or
another. You might be surprised by how
supportive a supervisor can be. Work
hard at your shift job. Show them how lucky they are to have you. Build relationships with your coworkers, and
discuss with your boss the best possible ways you can “play hooky” without
leaving the company in the lurch. Maybe
you’ll find out Tuesdays are really slow, so it’s no biggie if you call in on a
Monday night to ditch out.
3)
If
Your Boss is NOT Supportive, FIND ANOTHER JOB – I’m serious. Life is too short to spend it pleasing anyone other than YOU. You’ll find something else that’s more
flexible with people who are more supportive.
Just keep looking.
 |
| FirstAndMonday via giphy.com |
5)
Don’t
Get Too Comfortable – Your day job pays $800/week? Awesome. Live on $500. Or $400.
Don’t go on cruises. Don’t go to
fancy shows and pricey bars. Don’t get hooked on upscale clothes, shoes or
cosmetics. Because when you start
spending every dollar you make every week – and it’s super easy to do – you get
trapped in the lifestyle of that paycheck.
So now you “CAN’T” leave your day job unless, you know, you get offered
a leading role on Law and Order SVU –
which will never happen, because you can’t miss a day of work to audition,
workshop or get set experience because if you do, you won’t be able to afford
that set of custom gels every other week at that cute salon that brings you
‘complimentary’ mimosas…
6)
Save
Money and Make an Exit Strategy – Remind yourself
DAILY that your day job is only temporary.
Continue to set goals daily and weekly as an artist. Remind yourself
that you ‘don’t belong’ in the office, or with your coworkers. If you become ‘one of them,’ you truly run
the risk of losing yourself in the process. Stash some cash in savings or at
least pay off any debts/loans you have. That way, when you take your leap,
you’ll be able to live off of less money from day one.
 | |
| www.reddit.com via giphy.com |
7)
Do
the Math – All opportunities are not created
equal. If you’ve already played a
Brooklyn Hipster Pedestrian three times in a month, maybe it’s okay to tell Casting
that you’re already booked for the day they want to use you. (NOT a lie if
you’re booked to work at your actual
JOB!) That way, next week when you’re offered a featured spot at SAG scale
because you can ride a unicycle, you don’t feel guilty taking THAT day off, and
your boss will be happy to give it to you. (PS – Whenever refusing a casting,
ALWAYS SAY you’re already BOOKED on
another job. And then, of course say, thank you!)
8)
Set
Specific Goals and Stick to Them (Within Reason)
– Nothing pushes you harder than putting goals in writing and reviewing them
daily. I put sticky notes on my
mirror. That way, when I’m checking out
that fine ass in my ‘first change,’ I’m also reminding myself that I’m working
toward a SAG speaking role by the end of February. If I don’t land it until March 3rd,
I’m not going to flog myself or give up on my dreams. But make a plan. How long before you want to be following your
career goals full time? Six months?
Eighteen? Get out a calendar, a pen and
some PAPER. (I’m serious about the pen
and PAPER. It really makes a
difference.) Do a little math. Need to
pay off a student loan? Can you at least
pay off enough to refi at a lower payment in ten months? Well, write down the steps and dates to
accomplish them by. And most
importantly, decide when this job’s expiration date is. Don’t say – “when something better comes
along.” You’ll spend your life waiting
instead of LIVING.
 |
| www.google.com via giphy.com |
No comments:
Post a Comment