I have been mulling an idea around that I have been thinking about for a while to help fledgling actors to stay on the road to their career aspirations.
I have been looking into the possibility of setting up a charity that will give financial advice to performers. Cash flow is generally a big reason talented performers might need to persue other ventures. especially mortgages for the self employed can be a massive issue for us ( many financial won't get involved as its a lot of work for little pay for most adviser, especially self certification)
So I was just putting it out there what peoples thoughts were on the subject.
If you had a charity that would either pay all of the costs or heavily subsidise things like mortgage, investment advice or debt consultancy would you find this useful if it were around in the past, now or in the future?
Income Protection is different to Payment Protection insurance.
I am an Equity member and they gave me no help and support when I needed a mortgage 3 years ago and had to do it all myself. And as others have said it feels like a losing battle. I only won as at the time I had a family friend who was an adviser and had the exsprience to win over the bank to allow them to lend me the money.
From reading the comments I can see theres a bit of uncertainity, whether financial or how a charity would operate.
At this point I am merely asking if people think it a good idea. It looks like there are mixed views, people who would see the potential.
One of the main issues for actors is Mortgages and this was one example I have been let down by Equity by no support. A Charity is by defination an organisation to bring about social change and the reason for the charity to bring social change of helping industry professional have the support and a place to go for advice they would not normally have access to I feel aimable one.
Not really going to debate what issues in the world are more important, rather whether people see potential and value in it.
All i want to do is make our world a little better. I am in the process of talking to Equity and the Actors Benevolent Fund to see if this is something they would like to be involved in (and make sure they dont object to the Charity name)
Would anyone be interesting in sharing the load and helping get this off the ground? if so please can you message me you contact details.
Actors and mortgages? How things have changed. I was over forty with years of regular income but we still had to buy our first house for cash. It was derelict and, unless you got a great commercial which would get you the cash, or you became a star, actors were considered as sub-prime and the risk was not worth taking as far as mortgage lenders were concerned. Given what happened to bnks I think they were pretty justified!
We only needed a pemanent base when we had children though. As actors we were both on the road all the time although it seeems people expect more security now.
Sorry Dan
I'm not giving up my house in the country (main reidence and family home)my apartment in London (for those big pay day jobs) and my mid terraced house on the welsh borders ( Incase there is a job in Bristol, Wales or Manchester)
Not suggesting anybody should give up their home just pointing out that things have changed. Nor will I give up my current country home, but we had to work very hard as jobbing actors to get it which included doing up our first house - but I bet you didn't get all those properties from being an actor? I bet you earnt your money somewhere else Tony.
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