Options to Help Make Ends Meet for Out-of-Work Entertainers
This musing is written by a guest muse, Emma Grace Brown (https://emmagracebrown.com). Emma reached out to me on the Veduta Consulting website and offered to write this musing. I really liked her website and thought the musing had good advice. At Veduta, I often work with creatives on their career goals and transitions. This also gave me a great opportunity to showcase the podcast Ditch Your Backup Plan (https://ditchyourbackupplan.com) with Jen Vellenga. Jen is the daughter of my very good friend Dr. Mary Guindon (https://www.linkedin.com/in/maryguindon). Dr. Vellenga is a university professor of theatre and an associate director in the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance at Kansas State University.
Image via Pexels
Options to Help Make Ends Meet for Out-of-Work Entertainers
Contrary to popular belief, most folks in the entertainment industry aren’t pulling in large salaries. And considering that most jobs in entertainment are freelance/contract, you may not be working regularly. Many of us have been left sitting at home hoping that unemployment will keep us afloat until the studios reopened. If you’ve found yourself in this position but, like many of us, are not content to sit on the sidelines, you’re probably looking for options.
Online Acting Coach/Tutor
An acting coach works with up-and-coming talent to help improve and refine on- and off-screen skills. You can use your time in front of the camera to mentor high school students and novice actors. MN Acting Studio notes that you’ll need to be sympathetic and have the ability to communicate with people to help them improve their craft and build confidence.
Anything People Skills
If you have an opportunity to use your acting skills, then that’s great. However, there’s also a good chance that you have other skills that you can put to good use. If you are a people person, for example, you might dip your toes into customer service or tutoring. As a creative, you will likely also be ideally suited as a freelance writer or editor; the perfectionists among us might also find becoming an online transcriptionist a lucrative part-time position.
Personal Trainer
Fitness is considered an essential activity, and most gyms are now open. If you are an actor or model, you likely keep yourself fit and can use this to your advantage. As a personal trainer, you can make an average of $29 per hour.
Fashion Designer
If you’re into clothing, you may have drawn your ideas out on paper, and you may have even attempted to locate a local mentor. Now’s a great time to reach out to some of your industry contacts to see if anyone is looking to add a remote/freelancer to the wardrobe department. In this capacity, you can help visualize clothing pieces to be worn on screen or on stage.
Blogger/Vlogger
Bloggers and vloggers have enjoyed higher standing since the start of the pandemic, as they are some of today’s most entertaining personalities. Spend some time looking at fun online videos. This can provide inspiration for making your own online real estate, where you can gain followers and, eventually, might be able to monetize your channel. While working online offers many benefits, you still need to make sure you take precautions and protect yourself and your devices from malware and possible cyber attacks.
Indie Film Producer
You may not have that much experience behind the camera, but that doesn’t mean you can’t try your hand at producing your own film. Even if you don’t earn an income, this endeavor will offer you valuable experience, and once released, you can officially say that you’re an indie movie maker. You don’t have to have a huge budget, which is helpful if you’ve been furloughed, and able to find other entertainers willing to lend a hand. Keep in mind that horror, according to the American Film Market, is the most profitable genre. What’s more, your horror film doesn’t have to be super high quality to be successful.
While it’s definitely disheartening to have your source of income taken away, you do have options. And even if you don’t replace your entire paycheck, the time you’re out of work is valuable. Use it to your advantage by gaining experience, and you will be one step ahead when you finally get the call to come to set.
Veduta Consulting counselors are experts in career building, job-search, and interview strategies. To learn how they can help you find success and satisfaction in your work, call 312-481-7722 or email contact@vedutaconsulting.com!
For more ideas on how to bridge the gap between being a starving artist and being a successful artist, we recommend listening to the Ditch Your Backup Plan podcast with Jen Vellenga. There are many ways to adjust your career expectations in uncertain times (whether related to the pandemic or not), and this podcast features interviews with people from all areas of the industry to keep you inspired to pursue your dreams — even if you decide to shift them a bit!