Types of Survival Day Jobs for Actors

An actor’s life is a tough one. Performers have to deal with regular rejection, forced self-consciousness, dropping confidence, lack of day jobs for actors and the amount of funds that need to be invested into a career that can be partially described using the already mentioned terms (see acting costs breakdown).

On top of all that, actors are never certain when or where from their next paycheck is coming, and a truly good survival job is the only way one can stay fed and continue funding this unfair career choice that will eventually, and hopefully, pay off.

Unfortunately, decent day jobs for actors are really hard to come by. It’s especially true after one has moved to the major theatre and film cities, where a pool of competition are fighting each other for the most flexible job position.

If you’re one those actors who just started in the acting business, here is a list of the most perfect day jobs for actors that will keep you alive until your big breakthrough role comes looking for you.

Types of Survival Day Jobs for Actors


It’s not going to be easy
to get a place in any of the employment options mentioned below, as most actors have already figured out what kind of work will allow them to also pursue acting on the side. However, try your best — just as you’re pushing through with your acting goals — to get into one of these positions and hold onto it. It will benefit you greatly in the long run.

Types of Survival Day Jobs for Actors

Bruce Willis at his best.

Bartending

Bartending is one of the best survival day jobs for actors there is in the bigger cities. Not only will you be working evenings and nights, which leaves your day free to go to classes, auditions and even do the actual projects, being bartender means a decent pay. Bruce Willis and Tom Cruise are known to have worked as bartenders for quite some time.

On their own, bartenders are payed the most out of the whole serving staff, and depending on place they work, it could be by a significant amount (relatively). Then come the tips and again, depending on the establishment, tippers might be extremely generous. Unfortunately, it’s hard to get this position, because most actors have already taken them; plus, you really need to be a good bartender and not just throw bottles in the air for no apparent reason.

Waiting staff

This is arguably the most famous occupation most actors have taken on before breaking into the entertainment industry. More than half of struggling actors all around the world have tried waiting on tables, some more successfully than others.

It’s a good job to have because of the flexibility it provides — there is always someone who can cover your shift if you are willing to cover them when their audition comes. While the job itself doesn’t pay as much as bartending, it is still possible to survive and fund your acting career on this alone if you include tips, too.

Temp agencies

Temporary employment is always a good choice as one of the day jobs for actors, as you get paid well (for a job you aren’t trained for) and you don’t have to stay there for too long.

There isn’t any flexibility in terms of “leave when you need” or “work at nights” (for most), but the fact that you work one week so that you can have another one free is not too bad either. The pay isn’t huge, but if doing this on a regular basis, actors can live off temporary jobs if they develop a system of being called in on a regular basis.

Types of Survival Day Jobs for Actors

Apparently, Tom was good at this, too.

Script readers

Script reader is an interesting job to have if you want to see how the industry works (we covered this in the Acting in London handbook). You read various spec scripts (see the dictionary) on a daily basis and pick the ones you like and think would make a great film.

Unfortunately, it’s not really possible to survive on script reader’s salary, let alone fund your acting career, too. This is mostly because these types of day jobs for actors aren’t full-time, and with the pay being close to minimum, actors need another job in addition to this one.

Online writer

For those who have their way with words and are friendly with grammar, writing articles online could prove to be one of the best types of day jobs for actors there is.

The reason is that as soon as you start getting clients who value your work and constantly ask you for more, you develop a client-base — a regular return with great pay. In addition to this, you also set your own working hours, which means actors can easily work during the night and audition during the day. Or if there are no auditions, do even more writing in advance to have some days free later.

This is a difficult career you have chosen, which requires a lot of dedication, time and money. So until you become a working actor and are getting paid for what you love to do most, you need to focus on types of survival day jobs for actors that provide flexibility and allow you to have some funds to invest in your primary career choice. Everything else is and should be irrelevant if you’re dedicated to acting and success in life.