Where Did Everybody Go????

December is just around the corner which means less and less people are in Hollywood. While California might seem like an ideal place to be during the holidays, it is actually a time of year when it is easier to get around the Los Angeles area.

The answer to where everybody has gone?

Home.

The entertainment industry starts to slow down as Christmas and New Year's Day get closer on the calendar. The week between Christmas and New Year's Day is the one time of the year actors can leave town without feeling like they are going to miss an audition or booking. When Zach and I were living here by ourselves, we would try and go visit Dana as much as possible. I can't name the amount of times I was either visiting Dana or on an airplane going to visit her when I would get a call from a casting director:

Casting Director: "Can Zach work a Super Soaker commercial tomorrow?"

Me: "Not unless it's shooting in Missouri,"

The above conversation has happened to almost every actor at least one time in their career. However, the entire industry shuts down at the end of the year. With no productions, casting or workshops going on in that time period, actors can leave town without the fear of missing a gig.

It's also the time of year that reminds me just how many people still consider somewhere else to be their home. Many of Zach's friends are out here with one parent while the other parent and siblings are back in their home state continuing their jobs and lives far removed from Hollywood. He also has many older friends that moved here all alone to chase their dream of making it as an actor.

It's not an easy situation for a number of reasons. The people living in Hollywood miss their family and friends as well as the comforts of home. The people back home miss their family members but they also miss being part of the daily lives and experiences of the ones who left to chase their dream. It's not an ideal situation for any of the people involved.

We were in the "split living" situation for 9 months until Dana got a job in Los Angeles. Since then, we've left town to see family but we are united and living in Los Angeles.

As the holidays continue, the traffic on the 405 becomes more tolerable. In the spirit of the holiday season, there was about 50% less road rage and fewer sightings of the middle finger this weekend. The fact that traffic is more manageable during the holidays might be the greatest gift of all.

I Need To Do Some Holiday Shopping For This Actor.

Making Money While Not Working

Zach loves being on set as much as the art of acting. Learning from others around him is one of his favorite parts of being a professional actor. He recently discovered another aspect of the acting world that was very enjoyable for him. He discovered the joy of making money while not having to be on set.

In other words, Zach discovered the joy of residuals.

A residual is when an actor gets paid (again) for the work they did on shows that have already aired once on television. This does not apply to all actors as extras do not receive any money when a program is shown in reruns. There are others who receive residuals from television shows and they include members of the Writers Guild of America and the Directors Guild of America.

You don't have to be one of the main members of the cast to qualify for residuals. Many day players and stunt performers qualify to receive money thanks to residuals. The amount of money received from residuals depends on the amount of money a person was paid in the first place for the show. The higher the pay per episode, the more money a person makes from the reruns.

In fact, some of the highest paid actors from television shows aren't even working regularly on TV shows anymore. Steve Carell, Ray Romano, Jon Cryer and the cast of "Friends" all earn millions of dollars each year in residuals thanks to syndicated reruns, foreign rights, DVD sales and digital media sales.

In a business known for work being hit and miss and rarely steady for the majority of actors in the industry, landing a gig that pays steady residuals is one way to enjoy a steady income in Hollywood.

This Actor Celebrated His First Residual Check With A Fast Food Run,

Did You Get The Notice?

Filming notices don't come in the mail in Hollywood. They are posted all over neighborhoods and surrounding businesses so residents will be aware that film crews are arriving soon.

The notices I'm talking about are filming notice signs.  Here's an example of what a typical notice looks like:

An extra long photo for your viewing pleasure.

These notices went up in our neighborhood last week for a shoot that happened this past Monday and Tuesday. I often take Doc for a walk on the street listed on the notice. The two of us walked past the home where the filming took place earlier this week. The street was filled with production trucks, security, parking restrictions, actors, crew members and PA's who took a break from being ordered around to bond with Doc for a few minutes.

Los Angeles residents see these signs on a daily basis and rarely give them a second glance. It's not uncommon to see them posted on restaurant doors, apartment buildings, light poles and school fences (just like the above photo).

The notices are issued by FilmLA and the signs are known as "neighborhood notifications". The signs give the neighborhood a "heads up" that film trucks will be rolling into their neighborhood. The notices usually appear two or three days before a production crew arrives in a neighborhood.

The notices also contain the contact information for the production company as well as the number for FilmLA in case there are any questions or concerns from the neighbors. Many neighborhoods don't mind filming happening in their area (it is Hollywood after all) but the residents do need to be aware of any special effects or stunts that might be part of the filming schedule.

The notices also give people enough time to decide if they want to sit back and watch the magic happen or if they want to make plans elsewhere in LA until filming is over for the day.

The ratio for filming in the neighborhood is 60/40. About 60% of the time, it all just blends in with the regular neighborhood activity. The other 40% of the time, it is a pain to navigate around the road barriers and random crew members standing in the middle of the road smoking.

On the plus side, it's like the circus has come to town each time a film crew arrives for a location shoot.  There is a ton of activity, cool lights, too many people crowded in work vehicles so they look like clown cars and the occasional wild animal is part of the fun.

This actor has worked on a few projects that required neighborhood notifications.

Holiday Survival Tips For Actors

The holidays can be tough on actors trying to make it in Hollywood. The good majority of them are far away from their families and have to spend a majority of the holiday season away from home. While it's not fun to be far away from family and friends, the holiday season offers opportunities for action as well as reflection.

1. Watch and Learn - Even though you might not be home for all of the holidays, you still need to get out and do some shopping before you make it home to your family. Use the time to watch people and study their expressions and body language while you're taking care of holiday shopping. Consider it a free acting class.
2. Get Ready to Face The Questions - Every actor in Hollywood experiences the same questions from family members. "What have you worked on lately?" "Have you met (insert name of famous person)?" "Why haven't I seen you on TV?" "Can you get me tickets to see a taping of Ellen?" Unfortunately, almost everyone outside of the acting world defines success as being on a hit TV show or landing a part in a successful movie. Be ready to answer these questions in a way that highlights what you've done lately and acknowledges the victories you've achieved in the past year.
3. Reconnect With Contacts - Use the holidays as an excuse to send notes to casting directors, agents and other industry folks you've met but haven't talked to lately,  It's always good to get on their radars since pilot season starts not long after the holidays.
4. Update Your Branding - The holidays are when the industry shuts down at the end of the year and everyone takes a well deserved break. Take advantage of the time off to update your social media and make sure that the image you present is consistent across all social media platforms.
5. Get In Touch With Your Feelings - The holidays can bring up a flood of emotions (good and bad). Don't be afraid to look inside yourself and assess where your career is at the end of 2015. If you're happy with your career path then stay on the course you are following. If you're unhappy with the way your career is unfolding, take the necessary steps to get back on track. It's up to you to enter 2016 feeling that you're making the right choices for your acting career.

One important item that I didn't mention in the list above? 

Take some time to enjoy yourself!!! 

You might not have any actual family in town but that doesn't mean you don't have family to spend time with during the holidays. The friends you've made in the acting community are more than just "friends". The acting community is a family that supports each other and wants to see each other succeed. Take advantage of the free time you have during the holidays and connect with your acting family.

This Actor Loves The Holidays As Well As Holiday Fun With His Friends.