Other jobs

http://uk.castingcallpro.com/viewtopic.php?chain=103&topicnum=35981&page=2&format=1#15


See the thread above :)

• 16 years ago
• 1

hey mark!

I'm currently working in a national lottery kiosk! I guess the trick is to do something that won't bore you to tears (for example, I like to talk to lots of different people, and do something with lots of separate tasks) but at the same time, something that you would be quite comfortable leaving at a moments notice if a great acting job came up, with people who - although you don't want to of course - you could let down without it getting on your conscience too much.
For this reason, I find it best to be completely open at your interview, so you know you're not leading anyone into false pretenses of a career for life! Without making it sound like you're going to be up and away in a matter of weeks... Hmmm, does get tricky!

Hope you find something decent though!

xxx

• 16 years ago
• 2

I'm working as an assistant to a property manager. It's quite perfect as i'm guaranteed three days a week and they are uber flexible for castings. Feel so lucky that I have found this job. I also do a couple of shifts a week in a bar.

• 16 years ago
• 3

i have two incomes, one from a business that i own but have little to do with (its going in march though) and i supply artwork for a private company

slowly the acting work is paying though, hopefully one day i can rely on a good constant wage from it

• 16 years ago
• 4

Yip, I agree. I opened a wee fashion store in Glasgow last year just so I could have a more controllable source of income. Wish I had done it years ago ! I also formed a wee theatre company so we could put on shows during the 'fallow' times, but it costs a fortune, so consider all costs well in advance !CCP seems to keep people busy but everyone these days needs regular income and flexible employers.Good luck !

• 16 years ago
• 5

Don't laugh, but I work as an life model for an agency, that positions me (ouch!) at art colleges and schools. It's good money and a great way to learn lines. Bit chilly at the moment so I make sure I'm near a radiator!

• 16 years ago
• 6

no its not a laughable thing! life modelling is a great job, i took two life art classes at college during free days and the models got paid a good wage! when two of them were off to have a baby, a notice was up on a board advertising for replacements while they were away. and it was very well paid!

good if you have the guts to pose nude in front of people. is it strange seeing all the art based on your image?

• 16 years ago
• 7

I'm lucky as I have my own practice as a hypnotherapist in London. Thank goodness I have left the days of cold calling behind me. I don't know if it's still the case but The Stage newspaper used to have more jobs for telesales than actors!

• 16 years ago
• 8

When I first graduated from drama school i opened a sandwich bar and small cafe and themed it in a theatrical manner. I had good staff and was able to go to auditions whenever I wanted etc. etc. I have now sold the business and gone back into what I trained to do - commercial accountant. I work for a super company that let me go to auditions etc. So far it has all fitted well, but as i am getting more and more acting work it is more difficult to have extended leave - just a great muddle to clear up when I get back so am re-thinking my options at present. It would be soooooo nice to live solely off acting. Ah well! It will happen one day - soon I hope.

• 16 years ago
• 9

Ah yes the 'other job' more than ever the key to a successfully acting career.

I've always tried to keep it entertainment based and tried to find work that uses at least some of the skills being an actors gives you

so far...I've been
a party DJ
a statue artist
a face painter
an `adult chatline` monitor
an `Adult chatline` prompt recorder!!!
a call centre operative
a toy demonstrator
a promo boy
a promo presenter
and for half a day last November i worked at PCworld!!

But now im settling in for a long stint as a headshot photographer.

Keep looking there are some very good flexible and unussual jobs out there but the good ones often don't need advertising its all word of mouth we all know how employing one actor can lead to a whole department of us.

Xjon

• 16 years ago
• 10

Seems like alot of dif types of jobs - didnt think about working with estate agents - might look into that. AND! How do you get into the life modeling, tried to find some of this before but no success (i did stumble apon male escorting though lol)

• 16 years ago
• 11

I have doen loads of promotional work as its always better than being stuck in an office but its not that regular.

Also, market reserach is a nightmare as you have the rejection to cope with on the phone as well.

Life modelling? HMMMM...

• 16 years ago
• 12

I much prefer temping to promo.

This is because with temping you're warm, you're sat down, you often have access to phones, photocopiers, franking machines, sometimes even the internet(!), they expect you to be going to interviews, so going for auditions is not a problem, you get paid at the end of the following week straight into your bank account, and you get holiday pay on top and bank holidays paid...

Whereas with promo, the daily rate may be higher (but not always), its very hard to get Sch D promo now, you're usually on your feet all day, frequently cold, frequently wearing several layers plus thermals, often outside, you get checked up on constantly by the agency (usually), you have to speak to the general public, who usually aren't interested in the slightest in what you're trying to flog/give them, you have do do some kind of reporting when you get home, which often takes ages, then you have to wait between 2 weeks and 2 months (sometimes longer) for the money, which usually takes the form of a cheque which then has to clear. Oh and god forbid you have an audition when you're on a promo job!

No, in the promo v temping, its temping every time for me!LOL!!

S x

• 16 years ago
• 13

Just having a little tea break at my temp job!

There are 2 life model ads on the Arts Council job email thingy they send out.

I've been subscribed for so long I can't remember how you subscribe now, but have a look at the Arts Council website and I'm sure there'll be a link.

I seem to remember both were in London and paying around £10 an hour. Do people consider that good pay?

S x

• 16 years ago
• 14

Hi chum, Im working at stansted Airport at the mo in security (x-ray and bag search) plenty of different shift patterns, I do 2 nights a week 22:00-04:00 20 hour contract some do just week ends. All take home @ £1000 after tax. Most of the other Airports offer the same and are always recruiting. Its great for meeting all types of people as you can imagine, a whole host of characters for you to choose from at your next casting !
best of look,
Kevin

• 16 years ago
• 15

im working in a pub iv had the job 2 years and my boss is very happy to swap my shifts so i can go to castings,he also says if i go away and want to come back im welcome,it works both ways i do alot for him aswell when hes shourt i stay ect,i also do managment ther aswell so i can earn more money a bit stressfull when people have a go at you for no reason but you learn to deal with it just treat it as an acting excersise

Lu

• 16 years ago
• 16

ten quid an hour is very good, but life modelling is not an easy thing- full of pitfalls- especially for men. ha ha!!!

• 16 years ago
• 17

im on £7 an hour an i live in the north working in a pub some of my other friends are on twice that and get to keep ther clothes on lol it depends if you can find a job that you can work round an how much you need the cash

• 16 years ago
• 18

Hey.
Working in an airport? would never have thought of that to be so flexable could be worth looking into, thanks Kevin :)

Will have look at the life modeling - in london £10 an hour for something that flexable is great. sub teaching brings in £60 a day and call centers pay about £7 per hour.

Have avoided pub work to save the voice (as pathetic as that sounds lol)

• 16 years ago
• 19

I work from home as a internet researcher for a text question & answer service (you may have seen ads on the tube for them). It's not easy and it's hard to get through the initial application process (and from then on keep the job, as you are assessed constantly) but it is completely flexible. You do need to be able to commit to working weekend evenings if you want to make any decent sort of hourly rate though...
I also do mystery shopping, auditing, merchandising, promotions, teaching and leafleting/delivering magazines.
I can't temp as the agencies here won't give me time off for auditions - small town mentality sadly,

• 16 years ago
• 20