Should actors have a full time job while auditioning?

I want to say no. I want to tell you that it will exhaust you, it will distract you and it will prevent you from going for it with all your heart BUT…

You have to pay the rent.

And then I thought about Jeremy Renner. Ghost Protocol, The Hurt Locker, The Avengers, the Bourne Legacy – some people have all the luck eh? As Jeremy Renner is propelled into Hollywood stardom by major roles in some of the biggest movies, it may be easy to overlook one simple thing.

He was a struggling actor just like you.

Yeah, Jeremy didn’t have an easy route to success. He had to work a day job while he was auditioning. So what did he do?

He got a job an Lancome. The cosmetics company. Rep? Executive? Warehouseman? Nope. Make up demonstrator. He managed to convince Lancome to train him up as a highly skilled make up artist, offering women a male perspective on the make up they bought from Lancome. It was flexible, it paid well, and it allowed him plenty of time out to audition for roles.

It took him 18 years to get the big movie roles he now enjoys. And he worked a make up counter as a make up artist for 8 years. Not 8 weeks, or 8 months, 8. YEARS. I admire that a lot. That’s a way to earn a living and still give time over to acting classes, coaching and auditioning for roles.

So if you have a job while you audition what should you look for?

An understanding boss – if they don’t understand that your priority away from work is becoming a successful working actor, then you’re going to meet conflict frequently.

Flexible hours – you will need time out to audition, to do a short film, to rehearse a play, or to do a small role in a feature. You can only do this if your job is flexible.

Skilled – you may need to put money and time into getting some skills. Highly skilled people can work less hours because they charge more per hour. You can work 40 hours at minimum wage or 20 hours at 3 times that amount. 20 hours gives you plenty of energy to focus on achieving your career goals.

Stimulating – the job must stimulate you, if it’s soul destroying you won’t be able to keep it up. 

But Not Too Stimulating – it mustn’t distract from your single career goal – to be a successful working actor.

Yes, you need to work, you cannot survive on thin air, but be like Jeremy Renner and think smart and you’ll have a stimulating job, earning good money that is flexible enough to allow you the flexibility for auditioning whenever you can.