By Robyn Holdaway
98% of actors in Equity make money from something other than acting. It’s a sad reality that our industry faces, and success does not always equal wealth. There is an unfortunate stereotype of the starving artist, and an archaic idea that in order to be a good actor you have to suffer - that it is somehow cheating on your acting career if your other job fulfills you. This is complete rubbish. You will be a better actor if you aren’t spending every waking hour worrying about bills and working in a job that you hate.
So how do you find a non-acting job that doesn’t make you want to claw your own eyes out? We need to start with a little self reflection. In order to find the right job, we have to identify what we need from said job. It is easy to think that all an acting job needs to be is flexible; something that can be dropped at a moment’s notice, and doesn’t take up too much of your time. If, however, you thrive on structure and routine, looking for a zero hour Uber driving contract may not be the right option. Work on the assumption that you will do your best acting work if you are happy and content - now we just need to find what that looks like.
There are more jobs in this world that I can even begin to count, and many of them are more suited to graduate actors than you would expect. To start narrowing down those job options, we need to ask ourselves some questions.
How much money do you need to earn to live the life you want to live?
Sit down and make a very rough budget - how much do you spend each month on things like food, leisure, rent, travel etc. There are many tools online to help you do this, and it doesn’t need to be perfect. Everyone has different needs, and while you may think you can survive on the bare minimum, ask yourself if that is realistic. You may need to live on less than an ideal amount, but forcing yourself to scrimp and save every penny will likely lead to misery.
Try to find a rough estimate of how much money you need to earn a month to support the kind of lifestyle you wish to lead. Have a lower estimate and an ideal estimate.
Where do you need to be based in order to be happy and fulfilled?
You do not need to live in London to be a successful actor.
You may need to be able to travel to London, but most auditions are done on self tapes these days. London is expensive and you don’t get very much for your money. If you’re someone who needs their own space, then living with random housemates probably won’t bring you joy. Likewise, if you need to be near your family or your friends, then relocating to a city you’ve never lived in may not be the best idea.
Do you want to live alone? Do you want to live in a city? Do you want a garden?
Answer these questions honestly, and narrow down the area you want to live in. This is where we will be looking for jobs. It may also impact the previous question regarding budget; would living somewhere more rural mean that you needed less money and could therefore work fewer hours?
Do you enjoy working from home?
If you work remotely, then where you live doesn’t matter as much. Remote working can be an excellent choice for a new actor, it allows you to live wherever you need, and often you can set your own work hours. While this may sound very appealing, be honest: are you someone who needs regular in person social interaction? Working from home can feel lonely, and without a traditional workplace you may find yourself struggling to stick to routines. Your home may also not be conducive to a successful working environment: do you have a quiet, private area that you can work from? Do you have a stable internet connection?
Remote jobs are often very different, some have more structure, some have less. If you struggle to context switch, then a remote job can start to erode your work/life divide in unhealthy ways. So, if you do choose remote work, then ensuring you have a more active social life outside working hours can be key - if nothing else it gives you a reason to leave the house
Do you have any external obligations, such as caring responsibilities, that may impact on the hours you need to work?
This is a big one: what hours do you have available to work? If you’re a single father of two kids under the age of five you will likely need different work hours to someone childfree. If you are part of a support network for your friends or family, are there days or times that you can’t work? This could even extend to other life goals such as fitness - if you need your morning run or your evening weight session to keep your mental health on track, then make a note of those hours. Think about your non-negotiables; the time that you do not want work to have access to.
What hours of the day are you most productive?
Morning person? Night owl? Permanently exhausted pigeon? How do you like to divide your day? If the idea of waking up early to teach a yoga class, or pulling pints until two in the morning makes you nauseous, then work out why. Our circadian rhythms are all different, find what works for your body.
Do you work better individually or in a team? Are you self motivated or do you need a manager?
Some actors love being self employed, with no one to answer to but themselves. Others just want to show up to work and let someone else handle the bureaucracy. Neither is superior, it’s just personal preference. Running your own company as a tradesperson, a stylist, or a fitness instructor for example can be fantastic for setting your own hours - but if you need to drop everything for an acting job, then you only have yourself to rely on to get things covered.
What skills do you already have that you can utlise?
Good news! You have skills. Acting lends itself to a variety of soft skills; actors tend to be problem solvers, and often work well as part of a team. If you have attended a drama school or university, you will likely also have experience with some academic research/analysis/writing. You may have particular areas of interest within performing arts: dance, singing, clowning, mask, verse speaking etc. Outside of acting, you will likely have other skills related to your personal life experience. These may be from previous jobs, or from hobbies. There is no such thing as unskilled work, there are only undervalued skills - something like stacking shelves requires coordination, stamina, time management, etc.
Take a moment now to create a list of things that you do well. If it helps, you can consider a ‘generic’ list (communication, problem solving, commitment, etc) and specific skills (teaching, rollerblading, cooking, copywriting, etc).
Have a look at your list and consider which of these skills you really enjoy doing. When looking for a job, try to prioritse these. It is also worth noting any qualifications you may have, again these can be more general (first aid, A-levels etc) or specific (singing exams, food hygiene, etc).
What work experience do you already have?
You may have never worked a job in your life, but consider if you have ever volunteered. Have you babysat, or pet-sat for loved ones? Are you involved in local organisations such as youth groups? Did you do work experience/placement in school? All of these things count towards work experience.
You may have been working a paper round since you were thirteen, and never stopped. If you have worked previously, think about which jobs you liked the most and why. What was it about it that you particularly enjoyed? The work itself? The people? The location? Likewise, were there jobs you hated? Again, what was so terrible about it? Was it the management? It’s normally the management…
Do you have any disabilities or conditions that may impact your ability to work?
Disabilities are a fact of life. From endometriosis to dyslexia, chronic fatigue to ADHD, there are many elements that can play a role in how you interact with work. Consider how your condition affects you, and what accommodations you may need to ask for in order to achieve your best work. You may also wish to avoid some jobs altogether - for example if you struggle to stand for long periods of time then hospitality might not be right for you. No job should discriminate against you based on your disability, and it is good to know your rights! However, if you don’t ask for what you need, then it is unlikely to be provided.
See: Reasonable adjustments for workers with disabilities or health conditions - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) for more information.
Putting it together
By now you should have:
How much money you need to earn from your job.
Where you need both yourself and your job to be based.
If you’re interested in remote work.
What your preferred working hours are.
Whether you would prefer to be employed or self employed.
What skills and work experience you have.
What impact any disabilities may have on your work, and what accommodations you may need.
Somewhere in that maelstrom of knowledge is your dream non-acting job. It is unlikely that the first job you get post training will tick all of these boxes, but the aim is to have at least some of these fulfilled. Armed with this knowledge, let’s move on.
CV
Your Spotlight page is unfortunately not going to impress anyone outside of the acting industry. Writing a good CV is a whole article in itself, and there are many fabulous ones online. The key tips are to keep it clear, focused, and tailored to the jobs you are looking at. You may need multiple CVs - they will share certain data such as your qualifications/contact details etc, but everything else can be tweaked.
Do not lie on your CV. You will be found out and it will be a nightmare.
However. You can amend how certain facts are presented to show you in your best light. Consider how jobs on your CV highlight the skills you are trying to showcase; did your retail job include managing people or customer service? What software are you comfortable using?
Some websites can help you build your CV through premade templates - Zety - Professional Resume & Cover Letter Tools For Any Job for example. This can be very helpful, but it may require payment.
Finding and applying
I’m sure you don’t need me to tell you how to look at Indeed or google jobs, but the internet is a great place to start with job hunting. Have a look for jobs that fit your above criteria and apply.
Much like the acting industry, the non-acting world also runs on nepotism and word of mouth. Ask around your friends if anyone knows of places that are hiring that work well for actors - but be careful. What works for them may not be what works for you. It can be a good place to look for leads, but still do your due diligence. Also, ask your friend if they enjoy working for that particular company.
Please don’t join an MLM (multi-level marketing), it’s not a great business opportunity, it’s a pyramid scheme and it will eat whatever merge savings you have. If the purpose of the job is to recruit others to sell products, run away as fast as you can. This may be in the form of make up, protein/nutrition shakes, essential oils, etc - if you’re uncertain if something is an MLM, then research it online.
Social media can be another good place to look - there are actor groups which may post opportunities. Again, take these with a pinch of salt, and check to see if they suit your needs. When applying for jobs look at the key words in the recruitment ad and try to add them to your cover letter. Don’t just copy and paste, but be sure to highlight the areas where you can bring them what they are asking for. Just as if you are writing to casting directors, keep your cover letters succinct and professional.
Jobs designed for actors
I often recommend looking beyond ‘jobs designed for actors’, because they tend to be places filled with actors who aren’t acting. Sometimes this can be a beautiful thing - you can meet like minded people who understand the frustrations of the industry. They can however be incredibly toxic. Negativity, jealousy, and hopelessness can breed easily, and that can quickly trash your mental health. Jobs like working at the box office of your favourite theatre, or ‘Actor’ call centers might feel like great options, just keep an eye on your mindset.
You might want to have a job within the acting industry, but again this can be challenging as it may always feel like you are ‘settling’, and remind you of the work you would really like to be doing. This may include working as a runner on set, an MUA, theatre technician, audio editor etc. If you are passionate about this profession, then go for it! But if you feel like you are only doing it ‘because you can’t be acting’ then be wary. Also, try to keep this separate from your acting career. It may help you to meet new people and learn more about the industry, but be careful not to see it as a sneaky way to land a big break. Focus on doing the job you’ve been hired for, and not using it as a networking opportunity.
Some jobs are a sidestep away from the industry, and can be a safer bet for your mental wellbeing. Things like teaching drama/dance/singing, running workshops, or filming showreels. It can hold the same risks as above, and should only really be undertaken if you enjoy the work. Teaching in particular can be a great way to earn good money for lower hours, but may require further qualifications/ training. Some companies train new teachers, or require less experience - look to these if you want to get started.
Another option is corporate or medical role play. If you are comfortable improvising, then these can be great opportunities. It can be hard to make a consistent living from this, as they tend to be infrequent.
Working in jobs with no other actors can be a great way to stay grounded, and not embroiled in industry drama - it can also leave you feeling very cut off, so be careful. If you are employed, your employer may not be as understanding of your need to suddenly take time off or change your schedule. If you choose a job like this, be sure to discuss the flexibility beforehand.
More money for less hours
Being time-rich is a big bonus as an actor; having hours free for auditions, or to practice your craft is generally a pretty good thing. One way to achieve this is by working less but for a higher hourly rate - seems obvious, but it’s worth saying. How do you get to a position where you can charge more? One way is upskilling - getting more skills so you can charge more for your time.
Upskilling does not have to be expensive. Courses can fall into different categories:
Free - there are free, government funded courses available online. These may have a financial penalty for not completing the course, but otherwise all you need is an internet connection. These courses might be business skills, mental health support, IT, etc. Check out Free Online Courses UK - Free Courses in England for more information.
Low cost/ one off courses - these might be things like workplace first aid, or food hygiene certificates. They are generally under £100 and can help to open new job opportunities, or help you earn more at your current workplace. Some jobs may pay for you to get these additional qualifications, so be sure to ask first!
Longer term courses - If you are looking for new vocational qualifications such as personal training, learning a trade, hairdressing, massage, etc then there may be a larger investment of time and money. Many courses will let you take out a loan to cover the cost, similar to student loans. If you’ve only just finished training, then you may not want to take on any more debt! Some jobs may also train you while you work in apprenticeship schemes.
Random job ideas to get you started
Have a look at the list below, all of these are actor suggestions for jobs that suited them. This is by no means exhaustive, but might help offer you some direction.
Teaching
TA (teaching assistant)
Tutoring
Call centre
Corporate role play
Social media management
Graphic Design
Chaperone
Personal Training
Care work
Massage therapist
Wedding/Gig Photographer
Celebrant
Copywriter
Youth work
Pet sitting/ Dog walking
Catering
Events
Trades - plumbing, electrician, etc
Hospitality
Catering
Childcare
Tour Guide
Taxi/ driving
Delivery Driver
Office Temping
Box Office Staff
Audio Editing
PA
Cleaning
Gardening
Exam invigilator
Real Estate
Robyn is a non-binary actor best known for their work as Layla in Netflix's 'Sex Education'. Their credits also include: AMC's 'Moonhaven', Netflix's 'INFAMY', and various other stage and screen roles. They can be also heard in various VoiceOver roles including audiobooks, Big Finish Doctor Who audio dramas, and more recently in animation and games. They are an active member of the LGBTQ community, and are passionate about bringing this diversity into the mainstream both as an artist and as an activist. Follow Robyn on twitter and instagram @RobynHoldaway and tiktok @obyn_holdaway