If you’re just moving out to Los Angeles or to New York to pursue acting there are some major things that may be taunting you or stressing you out. Depending on whether or not you already have an agent, acting will be your best bet. If it is what you love to do and you are dedicated to it and positive that it is what you want to do, then figuring out everything else that goes along with moving to a different city to become an actor will be way worth it in the end. Unfortunately for us in this industry, the places where acting is booming are very expensive to live in. This is where a “side gig” comes in handy; something that you can do on the side while still making your career happen. Here are a few tips of what to look for in a side gig.

1)            Make sure you know how much money you need to be making. Come up with all of your bills that you might possibly have to pay and figure out what can be paid through acting jobs and what you need to have a stable, constant income for. Be realistic on this step because it is what is going to be supporting you throughout all of your acting endeavors.
2)            Be upfront with your agents about your job. Make sure that they know you have a job and that you are dedicated to your auditions and making your acting career a priority. If they know that you are going to do everything you can to make it to any and all auditions then they will trust you to do so.
3)            Make sure this side gig works with your schedule. Ask your agents if they could give you an estimate of what months will be heavier on auditions if they know any specific time of day that you will be more likely to have an audition. Typically auditions are Monday- Friday starting around 10am and ending around 5pm. It is not likely that you will get an audition during a Sunday so that would be a perfect time for you to work at your side gig!
4)            When you have a job that people can cover for you easily, that is ideal. Being at a job that is flexible with the schedule is great because you don’t have to worry about making it to an audition or a class. You want to make sure you have friends wherever you work so that you can cover for them and they can cover for you whenever needed.

So there you have it. Making sure you have a job that can work around your agent’s schedule is important because then you will be able to make it to any and all auditions that you have throughout the day. Telling your agents that you will be able to go to an audition that they got for you is one of the most important parts of your relationship with them. Remember that they work hard to get you your auditions and it is a very important part of your career to be able to attend your auditions and kick butt!