Originally found at Wolfesden.net In Response To: Who else here has a day job? Do you still act? (Cami)
Cami,
What follows is part of an email I sent to someone who contaced me for advice on the subject of freelancing and temping (back in July, 2000). Hope any of it is of use to you. Good luck!
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When I first got here, I was the office manager for a small temp agency in Hollywood that sends folks out exclusively within the industry. What I learned while there was that the temp agencies are getting a TON more for you than you get. You would be much better off, hourly, by getting your own gigs. Of course, that requires that you be entreprenurial.
The down side to working in “big” industry jobs is that you don’t want to get known as the receptionist – you want to get known as the wacky neighbor (or whatever part you’d play). I’ve found it’s better to work in “fringe” industry settings – like the trade papers, the magazines, the production houses – that support the industry, rather than the studios and networks. That way, you can still get time off for auditions, remain in an entertainment setting, but not get pigeon-holed as a temp (or, if you do, it doesn’t really matter as much).
Freelancing requires a good bit of organizational skill and a great memory for names, faces, etc. You don’t ever want to “drop” a contact. You have no idea how valuable it can be, down the line.
Of course, I don’t know you, so I can’t give you specific advice, but I can tell you what worked for me. I know a lot about computers, so I started doing freelance work, teaching old ladies how to send email to their grandkids, installing software for the technophobic, building the occasional webpage. People will pass your name around until you’re having to turn people away! That’s a great feeling! But, it takes a while. I had to get VERY poor between temping and freelancing. But I wouldn’t trade it!
One of my clients is a college textbook publishing company. A very mom-and-pop place, extremely casual, and the most flexible company I have ever encountered. They hire everyone at $8/hr. to start (which sucks), but raises come very, very fast, once they find out they can count on you. Jobs range from packing books into boxes to copy-editing from home. Some folks that work there come by once a month to get assignments and do everything by email and phone, billing whenever they need a check. There are clerical jobs, data entry, phone work, billing… on and on. They are always looking for people, as the company is really growing. Many actors work there. We run lines together in the break room!
A local actor’s trade paper started calling me in to do as-needed data entry work when people went on vacation back in November 1999 (I’d sent in my resumé for a one-day-per-week typesetting job in September), then they asked me to transcribe some interview tapes, and now I have my own column. The beauty of freelance is, no matter what, you pick and choose your work. I was happy to just be in that environment – and now, just by being reliable and flexible, I’m getting to interview people I would PAY to see, and instead I get paid to do it!
I also tutor kids, house sit, babysit, petsit, design webpages, create educational software, etc. I used to be a paid studio audience member, a substitute teacher, and also taught traffic school for the Improv Comedy Club, but quit b/c it became the lowest-paying / most time-consuming job I had, and I had enough to choose from to get really picky. Again, that’s really nice!
A book I can recommend (one that I bought just two weeks before leaving the temp agency) is “Survival Jobs”. They sell it at Samuel French and on Amazon.com, probably everywhere else too. It’s filled with ideas for ways to make money while leaving you with time, energy, and passion to follow your dreams. I think it lists 154 jobs (and I’ve worked about half of them). ; )
If you’re sticking with temping, register with multiple companies. Be available. On the days you don’t temp, ask the agency if you can come in and improve your skills on their computers. They will notice the effort and reward you with the best jobs. Also, you’ll get better paying jobs when your skills improve.
Job Factory is a service you pay for, but it pays for itself with the first job you get, which is guaranteed. If you take in The Working Actor’s Guide and a headshot, you get like 20% off (making it $45, I think). Tell them I sent you, if you go. They love me. I haven’t been a member since December 1999, but I worked SO much while with them, they still know my name.
I don’t know that the money is much better than with temping, but there’s certainly more listings there than with most temp agencies on any given day, mainly b/c the companies DON’T have to pay for the service, like they do when they hire you through Apple One. Most companies pay cash on the day you work. That’s a biggie! Most of it is “one day” work, meaning you won’t have to deal with taxes or anything. They have long-term stuff, too, but it’s all very non-traditional. The guy who started the company was an actor, frustrated with the temp scene in LA. So, they’re very understanding. Again, though, it working relies on your ability to be proactive.
One lady I worked with (for $12/hr., teaching her how to use her computer — I charge $50/hr. now) in September 1999 headed her own casting service and gave me tons of free “insider” info after we’d worked together a few times. Now, she’s a casting director on a film and asked me if I could come over again. I had to say no, but we’d made such a good connection last year, she asked if I’d read for a part in the film. You can’t really put a price on that kind of thing!
Okay, I’ve gone on and on and on and on! Tomorrow’s my birthday and I think I’m trying to be all wise and grown up or something! It’ll pass, I’m sure!
Take care, good luck, and let me know if you’d like me to walk your resumé in to any of the companies where I work!
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If you get to the point where you want an “in” for any of these joints, just let me know.
One benefit to working freelance with a dozen or so companies is that, at any given time, you can hook friends up with jobs of some sort.
Good luck to you, and just stay focused. You have a passion to follow. The day job thing is just a way to make sure you can live that dream.