Jobs for Struggling Indie Artists and Actors

Do you have dreams that involve fame? Maybe you want to be an actor, singer or a director. You basically have a passion and would love to make a living out of it. Unfortunately, jobs in these fields are not guaranteed.

Fact is, no matter how talented or passionate you are, you are taking a big risk if you decide to pass on a regular 9-5 job (which may not be exciting, but is guaranteed a weekly pay check and job security). But isn't life about taking risks? If you think hard, there are other options to consider while you are trying to make it big. You'll need a job to pay the bills and feed yourself before you get that big break. Here are some jobs that you might consider.

1. Telemarketing- Let us start with what I consider to be the worst, yet doable, option. Everybody hates telemarketers! Good news is, because they are so infamous, there are plenty of telemarketing jobs available out there. It could be a good start while you are exploring your options.

Guns and Roses were rumored to have done this gig too before they made it big, so rest assured you will be in good company.

2. Freelance- Now this is something really worth thinking about. As an aspiring screenwriter and actor myself, I also hate the thought of my dream not coming true and that I would be stuck at 9-5 job that I did not like for the rest of my life (or at least until I retire, which is pretty much the rest of my life). To me, acting is a lot fun, but I am very passionate about writing. The perfect non-acting, non-screenwriting job that you can quit and return to at any time is freelance writing. There are plenty of opportunities to help you get started online.

Just like anything else, there is a downside to this. If you love meeting new people, freelancing might be a bit tough to like at first. The perfect scenario would be you freelancing in something related to what you are passionate about. For example, you can be a extra on a movie set and pick up a thing or two from the professionals and maybe even do some networking.

If you are a struggling singer, head down to your nearest local pub or bar and try getting a gig there. Nothing prepares you for the big time like performing live in front of people every night.

3. Substitute Teacher- If you are an aspiring actor, chances are high that you have the kind of personality that would translate well to a large group of children. Growing up, my favorite teachers were not necessarily the smart ones, but the really interesting ones. Who knows? You might like it so much that you would consider doing it full time after you have had a taste of show business. Would you rather deal with young children or bossy directors?

Or maybe you can be a music teacher if you are qualified to teach music and intend to pursue a career in music. That's another way of killing two birds with one stone.

4. Temping- As said in the name, there is no long-term commitment. With the help of a temp agency, you can go from temporary job to temporary job until you find one that you like. You can fit a couple movie deals in between each job if your dream is starting to make fruition. Like freelancing, you can leave and return at the time of your choosing.

You can temp in almost any field of expertise. Again, try to find a job related to your dream job if possible. One good suggestion i can give is for music biz, you can try working as a janitor or office admin at a music record company. Why? Because you might just meet that record exec that will give you the time of his or her day to listen to your tune.

5. Just Look Within Yourself- Analyze what your interests and talents are. What exactly is it that makes you tick? If it helps, you can stand in front of the mirror (I love looking at myself in the mirror). As I said, I have dreams of making it as both an actor and a writer. I like to think that because I have more than one dream (two), I have double the chance of making it in one of them. If you don't agree with my math, please forgive me. Optimism helps deal with the pressure of waiting for things to happen your way.

But back to the point. You might realize that you were so busy pursuing you acting ambition that you may have forgotten about other skills that you enjoy displaying. There were many times I was so caught up with the thought of being a popular movie star that I would only think of writing for movies where I'd be the star of the film (think Sylvester Stallone and his Rocky and Rambo movies).

Once my delusion of grandeur passed, I knew what I wanted out of life and am now sticking with it. If you are really, really lucky, you might find that other passion and suddenly have a strong desire for it, which leads to pursuing that 9-5 job you were originally running away from.