It is a sad fact of our industry that there will be, regardless of your standing in the industry, times when work isn’t as plentiful as we’d like – on either side of the camera. And while it’s true that once we (hopefully) get to a certain point in our careers these times may not be as lean as when we first started out, most actors have a second job, sometimes a second career, to ensure that they can pay the bills and survive those gaps between gigs.
So, what are the ten most popular “other” jobs actors take on while they’re “resting”?
No. 1 – Waiting on Tables
Yes, it’s a cliche, but after a quick poll around my actor buddies, nearly all said they had waited tables at some point in their career.
Most worked in small cafes, I started waiting tables at a Music Hall, others worked for one of the large fast food joints. So, why is this form of second job so popular for actors? One word: flexibility.
Usually you can swap shifts when you have an audition or gig come up at reasonably short notice. If you’re doing a fringe theatre gig or taking evening classes, you can usually take a day shift so you can rehearse/study at night.
You also get to practice your acting skills dealing with the general public – anyone who has done this, knows how your skills as an actor can be very helpful when dealing with a difficult customer, or if you’re just having a bad day and can’t let it show – and no opportunity to do that is a wasted opportunity.
It also doesn’t require you to study or have a degree as you can learn on the job and you can also leave the job behind you when you go home (i.e. you sign off from your shift and walk out the door, not having to take work home with you to prepare for the next day).
Note: This also includes bar work and working in a pub for all the reasons outlined above.
No. 2 – Temping
Temping – otherwise known as Casual PA or Secretarial work – is the second most popular “other” job for actors.
Again, it’s flexible – you only work when you want to work, and it usually pays better than waiting tables. However, you will need some kind of Secretarial skills set to do this job (thanks Dad for insisting I do a Secretarial Course when I left high school – as much as I disliked you at the time for making me do it!).
To undertake Temping, you have to join a Temp agency, which usually involves an interview and a few tests – such as testing your typing speed. To be a successful temp, you have to be good at adapting to a different workplace every few days or weeks (depending on the length of your temp contract), be reliable and be able to pay attention to detail.
I recommend temping as a second job, as it’s challenging and gives you a chance to use your brain in a different way to acting. I temped when I first got to London, and it’s how I ended up working full time for the BBC. I began with them as a Temp and, after working for three different executive producers, was invited to stay for a full time contract. (I also worked for the British Airways Authority (BAA) for a few weeks as a Temp, when they offered me a full time position as well, but I took the BBC’s offer for obvious reasons!).
But, it’s really only a good choice for those who don’t mind working in an office environment and who are quick at adapting to different bosses and situations. Also, there’s no guarantee you’ll get to work just for the entertainment biz – you’ll most likely also work for lawyers, accountants, government departments and other large corporations, so you need to know how to dress and behave in a corporate envionment.
No. 3 – Teaching
At #3, there’s Teaching. This covers not just teaching in schools, but also working as a Drama Tutor (ie. running your own classes). Most actors do some kind of tutoring during their career – as many of you know, I have with the “Acting Up” Masterclasses, and I know many others who are teaching in Primary and High Schools to earn their income between gigs.
The problem with working for High or Primary Schools is that you don’t have flexibility – you’re on a curriculmn and you have to be there for classes. However, I do know of teachers who manage to have an acting career AND a teaching career in “normal” schools, by having a relief teacher who takes over from them when they have acting work. But, this does cause a disruption for students, so finding a relief teacher who shares your teaching philosophy and methods is best, if possible.
The other way of teaching – running your own classes – obviously gives a bit more flexibility, but again, if you’re running weekly classes, you still have an obligation to students to be there every week. Again, you can get a second teacher to run the classes for you when you’re on a gig, but, again, make sure they fit your style and philosophy of teaching to ensure students get some continuity.
One of the reasons why I went from teaching weekly classes to weekend masterclasses is because of my increasing workload as an actor, writer and producer – only teaching weekend workshops meant my week was freed up to concentrate on my career in the ‘biz. I have stopped teaching entirely now – not necessarily forever, but for the moment – due to my not having enough hours in the day to prepare classes and teach and manage the two television projects I have on the go and undertake my acting work.
Please Note: If you’re going to teach kids, you’ll need to get a “Working With Children” certificate – it’s now a legal requirement – whether you’re running your own classes or working for someone else.
No. 4 – Working in Retail
Retail is at #4 – which surprised me, as I assumed this would have got higher in the ranks and appeared before teaching, but no, according to my poll, it comes in at #4.
I had a brief encounter with this “other” kind of work when I first started out, but it just didn’t suit me – didn’t keep my interest, really!! However, it can be great for actors as you can work part time or casually, therefore you should have some days of the week that you know are always free and you should have the option to swap shifts if you have to.
I know actors working in all sorts of retail – clothing, electrical goods, DVD rental, computers, outdoor furniture, office supplies, party supplies, etc, etc. The other bonus to working in retail is that you should get staff discounts, and if you’re working in clothing, then that can be very helpful for your audition wardrobe!
No. 5 – Telemarketing
Again, I expected this to be higher on the list, but I suspect part of the reason why it’s not is due to the amount of large corporations relocating their telemarketing divisions to India – such as Dodo, amongst others (oh, don’t get me started!!).
This job is great again for flexibility, as it’s usually done on a rotating shift basis, which means you should fit in auditions and gigs as they come up without effecting your “other” job. However, there’s been a lot in the press lately about the pressure Telemarketers face in the job, so really, this job is only good for those who enjoy selling things to complete strangers over the phone and hitting their quota of sales every week.
Related to this work is Customer Service. This job carries less pressure (you’re not selling things), but can be a little difficult as you’re likely to get some angry people calling you as well as nice ones. Really, it’s only good for those who know how to handle people and have a fairly thick skin.
No. 6 – Children’s Parties/Clowning
Children’s Parties is on this list because, while it’s related to acting (you usually play a character and get to dress up), it also involves the skill of knowing how to entertain kids – not as easy as it sounds – and possibly doing balloon art and face painting amongst other, non-actor things.
I used to be a clown. Yes, I admit it. She was 13 and called “Bubbles”. She came to life through a sketch I did for a kids concert when I was a teenager myself at the Victorian Arts Centre for the Royal Childrens’ Hospital Appeal. She stayed with me for nearly five years and appeared in the Moomba Parade in Melbourne, several festivals, many concerts and, yes, the occasional children’s party.
It’s fun work, there’s no denying it. But kids are a tough and honest audience and it is a true test of your skills as an actor. There are a few Agencies dealing with children’s party performers – and they run the whole gamut, character-wise: Pirates, faries, clowns, witches, princesses, jesters, you name it. Have a look in your local Yellow Pages or Google “Children’s Performers” or “Children’s Parties”.
Please Note: You’ll need to have a “Working With Children” certificate to do this work as well.
No. 7 – Promotional Work
Different to “Children’s Parties”, as this kind of work is done to promote a business to the general public. It can be anything from being a Grid Girl at the Grand Prix to dressing up as the Easter Bunny in the Bourke Street Mall for an Antique Jewelry store Easter Sale (yes, I did that too – the Easter Bunny, not the Grid Girl!!).
Hey, if Brad Pitt can work as a Chicken for Nandos wearing a silly costume and carrying a sandwich board, then any of us can (and have)!!
Usually hired directly by the business concerned, or sometimes through an Advertising Agency, again, it’s good for actors due to the flexibility of the hours and, if you’re in a full character suit, you’re covered up so nobody knows it’s you anyway! (Unless you’re playing the Easter Bunny in the Bourke Street Mall in a tight fitting bunny outfit with your face showing – which means you’re going to get pinched on the backside more times than you can count and propositioned on a half-hourly basis).
I’ve also done full suit work – only once, as “Pepe the Pelican” for the National Water Sports Center, which involved standing on the front of a speedboat as it moved at a fairly fast rate of knots down the watercourse – so make sure you know what’s expected of you before agreeing to taking on a contract!
No. 8 – Web Design/Graphic Design
This job is really for those who have an artistic bent (other than acting, of course!) and some technical skills. That said, there are a few actors now who are now doing this job as their “other” job, including yours truly. It gives you a chance to explore your creativity in another way, and also helps with your analytical and logical skillset as well.
Do you need to study to do this? Well … no, but that said, it doesn’t hurt to do some classes in it if you intend to make it a business in the near future. I am self-taught, but I’ve had nine years to work on my skills in this area and only began designing for others about six years ago.
I work for myself, as do many others, and so the job is great for flexibility – as you work on your own time. However, once you have a stable of clients, you do need to be organised and meet deadlines. And, as much as it sounds great to be able to work in your pyjamas, you do have an obligation to put your clients first, without impacting on your acting career, so it’s a little bit of a juggling act.
I specialise in entertainment industry clients and have a core group of clients that I design for on a regular basis. They are all fantastic people and all in the biz, so they understand when I have to duck off to a gig (or have my wisdom teeth out, as I did last month). As a result, I am as loyal to them as they are to me and enjoy my work for them – which is always important.
No. 9 – Photography
This is becoming a little more popular, but, again, not for everyone. Most actors who go into photography specialise in actors’ headshots – ensuring that they’re still in the ‘biz. It’s also a great way to network. BUT – you should only set yourself up in this aspect of the industry if you have a talent for photography. I don’t, so I don’t even bother attempting this area of work. But, others do and have run a successful sideline photography business, sometimes for years, that supplements their acting income.
One of the better known actors, who was also a headshot photographer, is Alan Fletcher (currently playing “Dr Karl Kennedy” on Neighbours). Alan ran his photography business for years, becoming THE photographer for actors to hire for their headshots in Melbourne, until he gave the business up a couple of years ago, due to his ever-increasing acting and music workload.
Please Note: You’ll need to purchase the right equipment to do this work, so there will be some expense and outlay to set this up before you can even start.
No. 10 – Writing
And the last on our list is Writing. This covers screenwriting, playwrighting and short story, article and novel writing.
Think it’s unlikely? I know of five actors who are currently earning their living as writers AND working as actors at the same time. Two of them are writing for Australian television, one is a short story author who is being paid for her work in magazines and anthologies all over the world, one is making money writing articles for Internet magazines (or e-zines) and from her blog, and the last is making a tidy income from writing Harlequin and Mills & Boon novels (under a pen name, so no-one knows it’s her).
Obviously, for this you need the ability to write. That really goes without saying. You also need the ability to meet deadlines and be reliable – but that should be in your work ethic as an actor anyway, so that shouldn’t be too much of a stretch.
Again, you get to go to work in your pyjamas (apart from when you’re writing for TV and have to go to writer’s meetings – although, the way some writer’s dress, you might suspect that they didn’t get dressed to go out!). You also need to be able to take criticism of your work – again, something you should be used to as an actor.
To write for TV, you’ll need to write a spec (i.e. speculative) script for the series you’re angling to write for and send it into the Writer’s Dept. for their consideration. Information on how to do that is available usually on the show’s website, and if not, Google for “writing for [name of show]” or “writer [name of show]“.
If you want to write for Internet e-zines, just type “internet magazines” or “ezines” into Google and follow the links. Guidelines for submissions are usually displayed on their websites.
And, if you want to try your hand at romance novel writing, just go to the Mills & Boon website – all the info you need is here. And here’s an interview with an Australian Mills & Boon writer to give you an idea of what’s involved from an author’s point of view.
CONCLUSION
This list is in no way a comprehensive one. But, it should help actors out there who are trying to find a second income. If you have any additional suggestions that I haven’t covered – please feel free to comment below – the more suggestions the merrier!
Article Copyright © S. McLean 2007
