Welcome To Hollywood! How Are You Going To Earn A Living?

The actual act of moving to Los Angeles to chase your acting dream is one of the easier parts of the acting process.

Or to put it another way...You're taking a leap of faith and betting that your acting skills will make you stand out from everyone else fighting to achieve the same dream in the entertainment industry.

Once you arrive in town the next question is...What are going to do to earn a living?

Most aspiring actors will respond to the question with "acting".  That's a great idea but not an easy thing to make happen when you first move to Los Angeles.  Lucky for you, there are many job opportunities for struggling actors that leave you plenty of time to take classes, attend auditions, etc.

Here's just a few of the ways you can earn a living while pursuing your dream:

• Bartender/Waiter - It's a Hollywood cliche but it's true for a reason.  Most auditions take place in the late morning and continue until the late afternoon.  Landing a nighttime job in a restaurant or coffee shop leaves your days free for auditions.
• Freelance Writer - Craigslist is a great place to find freelance writing gigs.  While you might not get rich with these jobs, the money does add up to help pay the bills.  You should try to find jobs that pay by the article and not "per word".  You'll do a whole lot of work for next to nothing if you get paid by the word and/or per word count. (Bonus points for you if you have SEO knowledge to offer along with your writing skills.)
• Event Marketing - Being an event marketer can mean many different things.  The job title can cover anything from being an event planner to doing live demonstrations at Costco to dressing up as a character at birthday parties for kids.  It helps to keep your options open when you enter this line of work.
• Telemarketing - Many telemarketing jobs have early morning shifts that allow you the freedom necessary in the afternoon to attend auditions.
• Retail - Flexible hours which allow for time to audition and network around town.
• Video Editing - Have some editing skills on a computer?  Help your friends make their demo reels at half the price charged by professional production houses.  You'll be surprised how quickly it can become a profitable sideline job.

The list above doesn't include the dozens of other money making ideas such as dog walking, tutoring, house sitting and being an Uber driver.

I'm not saying it's easy to find the perfect job that allows you complete freedom to perform, network, audition and have a flexible schedule.  Once you find a paying position, it's up to you to make the position work for your lifestyle.

Just consider your future position the first step on your journey to a successful acting career.

This Thespian Is Paying Some Of His Bills With Acting Jobs