Every day, I find myself talking to actors—young, and a few less young—about embracing the BIZ of show.

As an actor who’s been day-job-free for 20 years, my message is a blunt truth: unless you’re a movie or Broadway star, relying only on auditioning for shows and projects will rarely ever be enough. In fact, even known names from stage and screen sometimes die in poverty. The industry is simply not built to support the vast majority of artists who rely on traditional means.

The Power of the Entrepreneurial Mindset

The sooner you embrace an entrepreneurial spirit, the sooner you realize that your artistic skills translate into dozens of monetizable ways. Think about it: our training in vocal performance, movement, memorization, emotional intelligence, and, yes, presentation, is valuable!

Instead of consistently giving your talent away for free (or for a pittance), you must create work for yourself that pays.

Even in gig work, when you rely on the “kindness of strangers”—a.k.a., employers and casting directors—you will inevitably hit a ceiling. I tell my own best talent: at some point, even relying on me to get you work has its limits. Developing your own clients and creating your own opportunities is the only future-proof plan.

Overcoming the “Buts”

I hear the excuses all the time. They are the self-imposed barriers that delay success.

• “But you love marketing?”Do you love working in restaurants and retail? The choice isn’t between acting and marketing; the choice is between creating your own financial freedom and remaining dependent. Marketing is simply the engine for your financial freedom.
• “But you have been doing this for 23 years?”I started being my own boss at 32 years old, two years after starting my first business. Believe me, I wish I had started earlier. Time spent waiting is money lost forever.
• “But I spend 40 hours a week doing self-tapes and self-submitting on Actors Access to make $200 on set for two days of work.”Insert ROI 101 workshop here. Learn MATH, kids.

Let’s look at my math: It’s not easy, but it’s certainly not hard. I spend 40 hours a week marketing to bring in thousands of dollars in gig work. And honestly? I know I could be doing so much better. I still charge way too little.

Your talent is worth more than the scraps the industry tosses your way. Stop making excuses, learn how to value and sell your skills, and create the work that pays you.

ADDENDUM

FYI- I now have a 16yo student eager to book gigs. He came to me with an idea of getting unpaid gigs, volunteering shows at libraries, etc. Nobel, but I said, getting unpaid gigs is easy. Getting someone to pay you to be there is a challenge. He’s about to book his second gig in 2 months. I’m doing the show at a huge discount to help support his efforts.

If you are not ready to work, go do theater for fun. No judgement. Get a job, and be the best community theater performer, unpaid comic or improv actor you can be. I’m often jealous at the liberty of just being an artist, no worry for the business. But if you have ANY ambition to make the arts your professions, start treating it like a job, and you’ll never have to work another day in your life.