This week, Backstage is focusing on post-college actor life. For some, this will mean continuing their education with an MFA program, but for many more, it will entail making the move out west to Los Angeles. You should be excited to make your way to the City of Angels, but also be prepared that it isn’t all palm trees and, well, more palm trees. Don’t let that awakening be a rude one: here are eight ways to ready your mind, career, and wallet for the feat.
Prepare your finances.“Unless you want your first few months here to be a living nightmare, you should move out with at least $5,000 in your pocket. That should be enough to cover you during those early days of unemployment and down payments…Naturally, that dollar amount goes up if you need to buy a car. And that’s one area you don’t want to skimp on. Actors live in their cars here, sometimes literally, and a reliable set of wheels is a must.” —Secret Agent Man
Arrive ready to learn.“One important point is to realize exactly how inexperienced and naïve you really are. Regardless of the amount of training or success you may have had in the Midwest or elsewhere, Hollywood is not the same. Each production I’ve been on,
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