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I'm in my mid 30s, and for a while I had designs on being a pro-musician.
I practiced a sh@$load, played in bands, and spent a good chunk of my time and energy being about that, but I always had a day job. I've now since given up and decided to pursue it in my spare time. Sad, but the practical truth.
I was just on Facebook and I noticed some of my more distant facebook friends are still pursuing their dreams of being actors/actress and they are around my age. Some of them have bit parts in movies and commercials and I've seen a couple of them on TV. But I wonder how you can make a living doing that. I think it's a slim chance that you'll be a movie star if you haven't hit it big by age 25, isn't it?
How do actors/actresses support themselves and what do you do in your 40s and 50s if your career never takes off?
How do actors/actresses support themselves and what do you do in your 40s and 50s if your career never takes off?
Wait tables.
Just about every waiter you meet at a restaurant in LA will tell you he has talent but hasn't been "discovered" yet.
My recommendation would be to continue pursuing it as a hobby but don't give up your day job. You have to be extremely lucky to be able to support yourself as an actor. The chances of not just making a living doing it, but becoming a Hollywood "star" are about like winning the lottery.
I'm in my mid 30s, and for a while I had designs on being a pro-musician.
I practiced a sh@$load, played in bands, and spent a good chunk of my time and energy being about that, but I always had a day job. I've now since given up and decided to pursue it in my spare time. Sad, but the practical truth.
I was just on Facebook and I noticed some of my more distant facebook friends are still pursuing their dreams of being actors/actress and they are around my age. Some of them have bit parts in movies and commercials and I've seen a couple of them on TV. But I wonder how you can make a living doing that. I think it's a slim chance that you'll be a movie star if you haven't hit it big by age 25, isn't it?
How do actors/actresses support themselves and what do you do in your 40s and 50s if your career never takes off?
You kids and your silly dreams. I still remember when I wanted to be an astronaut. LOL
Sometimes I think successful musicians and actors got that way because they sold their soul to the Devil for money, and now they are Illuminati puppets. Their are many Youtube videos of this, like this one:
The sad truth is - thousands of folks have their SAG cards but don't work - or rarely work. Do you belong to the AFM? It may or may not be something that would work for your particular circumstances, but you might consider it.
I have found it interesting to learn the history of actors and how folks broke into the business as a way of learning how to advise others who are looking at a career in this very difficult field.
For some, such as Harrison Ford, they pursued an actual career to make "real money" while still pursuing acting. He became a skilled carpenter and so was able to make good money on a flexible schedule. He could actually support his family. Because of a project he was doing for George Lucas . . . well, the rest is history!
There are many actual careers that one can pursue and make a decent living while still pursuing work in the arts. One of the best books on the subject:
You didn't mention if you have a good paying job that provided benefits and is actually something you could be happy with for your entire life, regardless of whether or not you continue pursuing your music. It is not too late to map out a new career that includes returning to school. Many programs are offered almost all online (from local universities at low in-state tuition rates).
I am a liturgical organist (not currently seeking work, tho) but my career has been as a writer (editor, newspaper and magazine, ad agencies, marketing company, etc). I never aspired to be a keyboard specialist . . . this was simply something I could do to make extra money, share my skills with a group, and be part of a community. But the money was a great supplement and the work was fulfilling.
I would highly recommend you take some time to review where your "day job" is taking you and what kind of future you have in the field where you currently are employed. Assess how you can still move forward with a stable career while also continuing with your music.
Read about other musicians and how they have managed to continue in the field and what other jobs or businesses they may have established along the way. If you truly love your music, there is no reason you can't continue to incorporate it into your life!
Look at the facts. Very very few of even the most talented actors and musicians ever make a living doing it....Have any "hobby" you want because thats all it is.
The sad truth is - thousands of folks have their SAG cards but don't work - or rarely work. Do you belong to the AFM? It may or may not be something that would work for your particular circumstances, but you might consider it.
I have found it interesting to learn the history of actors and how folks broke into the business as a way of learning how to advise others who are looking at a career in this very difficult field.
For some, such as Harrison Ford, they pursued an actual career to make "real money" while still pursuing acting. He became a skilled carpenter and so was able to make good money on a flexible schedule. He could actually support his family. Because of a project he was doing for George Lucas . . . well, the rest is history!
There are many actual careers that one can pursue and make a decent living while still pursuing work in the arts. One of the best books on the subject:
You didn't mention if you have a good paying job that provided benefits and is actually something you could be happy with for your entire life, regardless of whether or not you continue pursuing your music. It is not too late to map out a new career that includes returning to school. Many programs are offered almost all online (from local universities at low in-state tuition rates).
I am a liturgical organist (not currently seeking work, tho) but my career has been as a writer (editor, newspaper and magazine, ad agencies, marketing company, etc). I never aspired to be a keyboard specialist . . . this was simply something I could do to make extra money, share my skills with a group, and be part of a community. But the money was a great supplement and the work was fulfilling.
I would highly recommend you take some time to review where your "day job" is taking you and what kind of future you have in the field where you currently are employed. Assess how you can still move forward with a stable career while also continuing with your music.
Read about other musicians and how they have managed to continue in the field and what other jobs or businesses they may have established along the way. If you truly love your music, there is no reason you can't continue to incorporate it into your life!
My day job is as an engineer. So most would consider that a fairly stable career. It doesn't pay great, but benefits, etc are usually part of the gig.
In my 20s, I was forever waiting for the day when music would be become my day gig, but now, taking practicalities into consideration, I have decided to put 'some' more focus on my career.
At least musicians can make $ if they don't get big though. Lessons, gigs, and studio sessions and you can make a decent middle class income without 'making it'. I can't imagine how actors do that...
With the emphasis on looks, very few actors will make it because of their talent. Even the ones that were hot five years ago are washed-up has-beens now because they've been replaced with younger and prettier. There are some exceptions, but that's the way it goes now. I don't know who most of those people are on the supermarket magazines anymore. They all start to look alike and the names sound the same.
My favorite actress story is that of Natalie Schafer. She had some minor roles on Broadway and on TV, but was never well-known until she started to play Mrs. Howell on Gilligan's Island when she was 64 years old. She originally did the pilot because it meant a free trip to Hawaii. She died at 91, and she said that playing "Lovey" was the most fun she'd ever had in her life. It was really the only thing that she was ever famous for.
My day job is as an engineer. So most would consider that a fairly stable career. It doesn't pay great, but benefits, etc are usually part of the gig.
In my 20s, I was forever waiting for the day when music would be become my day gig, but now, taking practicalities into consideration, I have decided to put 'some' more focus on my career.
At least musicians can make $ if they don't get big though. Lessons, gigs, and studio sessions and you can make a decent middle class income without 'making it'. I can't imagine how actors do that...
I know actors who keep acting, but they don't make a living at it. A guy I know who is in real estate has played Scrooge for 20 years at a local theater. I know other people who do local theater, too, and will likely never be famous, but they have to have other jobs.
Whoopie Goldberg once said that if she ever stops being able to get big acting jobs, she would go to a college and volunteer to act for film students, just because she loves it so much. I don't think she has to worry about money ever again, though.
You kids and your silly dreams. I still remember when I wanted to be an astronaut. LOL
Actually, an astronaut lives down the street from me. He has been up on two Shuttle mission but has another job at NASA now. He's some kind of director or manager. We have several of them around where I live since I am about 20 minutes away from Johnson Space Center in Houston.
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