Just because you are an aspiring actor doesn’t mean you have to starve. It does, however, mean you may have to pick what genre you would like to pursue.

Most television and film work tends to start during daytime hours, although many films have night shoots as well. Theater, on the other hand, has the majority of their performances during the evenings and weekends. Unfortunately that means you need to make a choice.

Pursuing theater may be easier to do and maintain a normal 9-5 job, but it won’t lead into big bucks or fame. I recommend theater for those who are truly passionate about the art of acting. Because really it shouldn’t be about all the extra stuff anyways. Theater can also be done anywhere, so there’s no reason to relocate to Los Angeles or New York City. You can still live in whatever part of the country you enjoy and perform at any local theater.

If you really love the television and film industry, then it can be trickier but still doable. There are many jobs out there that are looking for people to work a late shift. Look into restaurants, dispatchers, operators, call centers, assistant editors, warehouse workers, or any number of other jobs that need people to prep for the next day’s work.

I recommend looking into daytime dramas or sitcoms that are shot with live audiences for opportunities that wouldn‘t interfere with work. Daytime dramas tend to wrap up around the same time every day and late nights are rare. Sitcoms shoot once a week so you would only have to worry about rehearsals during the daytime and getting one night a week free.

And if you are lucky enough to get a day player role on a film or television series, then use those vacation days. It’ll be well worth it.

By Casting Director Renee Godbout

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