As a SAG actor planning to move to LA in January of 2008 from Chicago, do you think it would be wise to wait until most or all of the strike situation has reached a resolution? In particular, what I worry about is not so much the WGA strike, but the strikes that may indeed follow which would include directors, SAG members, and then later on, renegotiation on SAG commercial contracts. I know it’s tough to live by maybes, but would it be a better idea to postpone moving until the fall? I am curious about your thoughts on the matter.

Ah, my thoughts center around the ever-popular “it depends,” on this issue.

Moving to Los Angeles is never easy. With the exception of a couple of major markets, there is such a huge difference between pursuing acting work in Hollywood and anywhere else that the transition will — even for the most prepared, professional actor — be challenging at times.

Why would I suggest that LA-bound actors add to that stress by timing their move to coincide with strike season?

Simple. Because your first year in Los Angeles is going to be filled with lessons. You’re going to be spending so much of that first year finding casting offices, memorizing names, learning the freeway system, for cryin’ out loud! Even if you’ve been doing prep work (and reading everything, making reconnaissance visits, doing networking from afar), you’re likely to spend 18 months in Hollywood before you begin to feel like you’re making headway.

So, why not come on out? Sure, there may be fewer auditions happening due to the strike(s) we are now experiencing and likely to face in 2008, but most new-to-LA actors aren’t getting out on a ton of auditions right away anyway, so it’s doubtful it’ll feel any different to you than it would feel for you without a strike going on (of course, you can’t know that). Bonus: You’ll be able to tell yourself you’re not auditioning because of the strike(s), rather than finding ways to beat yourself up for not being out there every single day, like you think you should be.

Many actors I know are building some wonderful relationships with writers and showrunners on the picket lines each day. They’re not out there because they hope to develop these relationships (well, some of them may be, but not anyone I know), they’re there because they support the strike and want to show that support. And they’re also building relationships with people who could absolutely make a difference in their acting careers someday.

Keep in mind that there are plenty of good, solid, build-your-career-up types of things you can do during a strike. There are staged readings, plays, CD workshops, showcases, mixers, open mic nights, all sorts of ways to keep your creative muscles toned while getting in front of buyers in the industry. When their ability to hire you comes back (because no strike lasts forever, no matter how it might sometimes feel), they’ll remember you.

Remember, I said that my answer to your email was going to have the element of “it depends,” right? Okay, so here’s where that comes into play.

How’s your career going in Chicago? Are you at the top? Are you on a first-name basis in every casting office? Are you on everyone’s list, when they’re deciding who to call in for every project? That momentum is both wonderful to bring with you to LA and to keep rolling where you are. So, depending on how the strike impacts your current location (and, obviously, a SAG strike would shut down all work for you, no matter where you live), there might be good reasons to stay put.

But even with that little caveat, I have to say that I feel pretty strongly about seeing actors come on out to LA as soon as they feel they are ready (and that means emotionally, mentally, financially), as it is not one of those things that you can ever really time perfectly. Having come up with a plan, having done research, having made trips out to “case the joint” and begin building relationships, you’re gonna do just fine, even if there is a strike going on when you arrive. No, you won’t get to test at network during your first pilot season here, but really, actors rarely do test at network during their first pilot season here. Those opportunities take time, relationship-building, and luck. Luckily, you can work on all of that even while walking the picket line.

Good luck with your move — whenever you choose to make it! You might enjoy reading a thread over at the Showfax.com message board about actors preparing for the big move to LA. Looking forward to seeing you at a casting session soon!

Bonnie Gillespie is living her dreams by helping others figure out how to live theirs. Wanna work with Bon? Start here. Thanks!

Originally published by Actors Access at http://more.showfax.com/columns/avoice/archives/000803.html. Please support the many wonderful resources provided by the Breakdown Services family. This posting is the author’s personal archive.