LOW PAYING JOBS: HOW TO FIND GOLD IN THEM.

Yes! I CAN turn lead into gold!

Every actor gets offered low paying jobs. The smart actor knows that opportunities abound in them. Did you know the successful, working actor accepts almost every job offered them? For many reasons:

Some low paying jobs end up with nice upgrades - in the role, in the paycheck. These are variables that may not be known when accepting a booking, but only occur on set.

Get an opportunity to meet people who can advance your career. Even if you're an extra, make it a point to find out who the director is, the producer is, the AD, DP. And find a convenient moment to make a brief "hi." A polite door-opener.


Provides you the opportunity to show your professionalism: showing up on time, being easy to work with, good wardrobe, and to act! A professional actor does just as good a performance for little or no money as a job that pays a lot more. Now we're talking respect for an individual!


Gives an opportunity to strengthen your relationships with those who got you this job: the agent and casting director. Want to work with them again, right? Remember, it just might be that they feel a little bad about offering you a low paying job, too. Use these jobs to your advantage with these people: you do a good job on this one and there'll be other jobs, not as low paying. Sometimes an agent or casting director will try you out on a small job to see how you do and if all goes well, bigger projects can await you. And, keep in mind, for agents, they sometime may get a casting call from a casting director with instructions, "Send me your 10 best" in a particular category. That could be the agent's "A List." Maybe you're not on their "A List." That means you don't get the audition, even though you might feel you're right for the job. Maybe you're on their "B List" and you only get calls when they'll see anybody. Establishing an on-going relationship can help you get moved up from the "B List" to the "A List" and to a lot more jobs.


While you're on such a set and the inevitable waiting before shooting, use this time wisely: watch how the cameras are placed, the lighting, sound, how the set is dressed, the chain of commands and protocols. What an education being placed right in your lap! And at no cost to you, either. And remember to politely sit up front and observe. "They" will see you out of the corner of their eyes. And if they should be looking for a stand-in or photo double, how convenient that you'll be right in the line of vision. "They" work on shoots all the time and wouldn't it be great if "they" remember you the next time you're both on the same shoot!


And, remember the great mystery of our business (and life): work gets more work. It's far better to be out there working on something rather than sitting at home waiting for the phone to ring. Deafening silence is not pretty.


Who else might you meet on a set? Everybody knows this is a business of contacts and a set is full of them. Opportunities wherever you look.


And after a shoot, you get the opportunity to write thank-you's to all of those who were instrumental in your getting that gig. Further expanding and strengthening your relationships that only translate into more work.


Low paying jobs are not forever. Nor are they the only jobs an actor gets; it's a mix. Yes, be careful not to fall into the "professional extra" trap. "The Industry" is smart enough to see an actor bootstrapping their way up in the business. That talent stands out like a beacon. Similarly, they're also observant enough to see a wannabe who'll fade from the business.

Did you notice an oft repeated word here?
Opportunity? That's what you should look at these low paying jobs as: opportunity - handed to you on a silver platter to develop. The smart actor recognizes this. And that includes you, too, of course.