One of the toughest aspects of a performing arts career is having to find work outside of the industry or doing something other than what you love. Survival jobs, or work for the express purpose of paying the bills while you continue to audition, can be difficult to search for and keep. They often feel like a concession, like surrendering and giving up on your dreams. In reality, there’s a lot to learn from survival jobs. They are one of the battlegrounds where you learn about yourself, your profession, and how to make your way. Not only is it a way to pay your dues, but it is a reminder of the value of work.
This week we’ve rounded up 13 different actors’ experiences with survival jobs. Acting is tough, actors work hard, and so do folks with non-performing jobs, so any job can help you learn invaluable employment skills.
Esther Povitsky (“Alone Together”) on her survival jobs early in her career“I always had at least three jobs at any given time. I worked at Equinox, I worked at a juice shop, I was an assistant to a woman who just broke up with her boyfriend, I was a part-time nanny. I trained to be a waitress for two weeks at the Hollywood Hard Rock Cafe and the day before
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