You Have the Acting Bug But Want to Keep Your Day Job
Many people love acting whether it’s for the theater or for the screen or even for parties and celebrations. Part-time acting oppotunities are plentiful if you look in the right place.
Often people who participate in part – time acting have full time jobs, or want acting as a side gig. Although acting is one of the hardest ventures to get into and make money from, if you have that entrepreneurial spirit, you can create part time gigs and jobs which can be lucrative and or lead into full-time acting opportunities if that’s your jam.
Part time Acting is a great side-income for those who are working full-time in other professions. Acting ranges from plays, musical theater, walkabout characters, voice actors, theater restaurant shows, theme parks, shows for schools, actors for hire in online gigs, murder mysteries, promenade theater, extras for television and theater, teaching, acting coaches, to name a few. Part-time acting can be fulfilling and creative. You can also stand to net a decent side-income when you take and creating opportunities.
Skills Needed for Part-Time Acting Jobs
If you are like a lot of people who have the acting bug, but want to make a side income, you will need to have certain skills and talents to make this happen.
You will need to be entrepreneurial
To have a full time job, but you still want part-time acting opportunities, you’ll need to be a self starter or take the initiative. This can be risky, but with good planning and forethought, you can make a decent side income. You will need to put yourself out there by getting an agent (extras or talent). If you typically come from an amateur background and you want to work up to being more of a full time actor, you’ll need to build your actor’s cv. Taking jobs which you might consider low key, might actually give you the start you’ll need.
Have an Can Do Attitude for Part-Time acting Jobs
Flexible and Can Do attitude: You will need to be able to take on a job at short notice. That means if you need a short rehearsal period and you’re asked to perform shortly after, be willing to do that. Be willing to change roles at the drop of a hat. Often you will be asked to play one role, then be asked to improvise another.
If you have an unrelated full time job, you’ll need to ensure that your boss allows you to leave for auditions and possible acting jobs if they come your way. This can be tricky, especially when your job is completely unrelated and you have an unsympathetic boss. If acting is your thing and you want to become more serious about it to land commercials or other jobs, you’ll need to think of getting jobs which allow you to take time off.
Social Media Have A Lot of Opportunities for Part-time Actors
Join a local actors or performers Facebook or social media group. Often gigs are offered through these platforms and often need actors at short notice. Join well known online actors platforms such as StarNow, who allow you to set up your profile with pictures. This is a great way to start part-time acting opportunities.
They often post jobs online for people all over the world. This can get you work from voice overs, as extras, to actual roles and even stories for magazines. You’ll need to get some decent headshots, which aren’t blurry, but are flattering with good lighting.
Get Good Headshots for an Acting CV
Good headshots will show your shoulders and head. This is a medium close up shot. These are often colored or some actor’s agencies or casting agencies may ask for colored or black and white. You may need to put together a brief actors cv. This cv (include your headshot) allows a casting director to know what you look like and any relevant information for a role. Develop an online presence.
Utilize Social Media Platforms for More Presence
You could set up a Facebook page, Instagram or even a brief website of your work. You would include your actors cv and a photo gallery of your work so far. Even if it’s being an MC at your cousin’s wedding or dancing onstage as a hip hop artist. Whatever shows your talent and skills or that you do love performing, include those photos on your pages. But, beware, do not post drunken photos of yourself with alcohol in your hand. You won’t endear people to want to work with a drunk party girl/guy.
There Are Many Ways To Act and Earn a Side Income
Fiverr is a platform where clients can hire actors and performers for particular gigs or jobs. It is a platform that allows anyone to create a gig for hire, whether it’s a singing telegram, a voice over for a children’s book, an online presenter, actor or musician. The gigs on Fiverr are varied and provide both clients and actors with work.
Of course this type of online performance work is based on commission, but once you are set up and ready to.take clients you should be able to earn a reasonable side-income.
A Character For Hire for Part-Time Acting
A character for hire is a great way for you to set up a side business. There are always people who are wanting to have a memorable party and or celebration. Hosts and organizers are always wanting to have that extra point of difference with their parties, so hiring people who dress up as particular characters from movies, comma plays and or famous figures and our world would be very enticing.
Imagine someone dressed as Donald Trump coming to your father’s 75th birthday party. This could be a great hit whether you support him or not.
As an actor you can set your price and collect the money after you have performed. The gig could last all night or for a set period of time. On your social media platform you can show your characters and include information about prices, minutes per gig and any extras, such as singing or presenting.
There are a number of places to either hire or buy Cosplay costumes. The following stores allows you to purchase them online from the most popular and reputable sources. Cossky.com also have a great range of costumes. This link takes you to their store which showcases Frozen costumes great for the beginner. People are making great incomes from Cosplay as a part-time acting opportunity.
https://cossky.com/collections/frozen-ii Also Amazon has a few decent looking costumes, but you’ll have to scour the pages a bit. (Affiliate)
Murder Mystery Part-time Acting Gigs
Develop your own murder mystery scenarios. There are a myriad murder mystery plays online from which to draw a specific acting get from. You may need to buy the rights for certain murder mystery plays, or you could even make and write your own. You could hire yourself out as a murder mystery actor or actress.
Some places or companies have tables where people sit for dinner and they figure out who the murderer is from the scenarios which are played out in front of them. Often actors come around the tables and the audience have to figure out who dunnit!.
Make sure you plan your murder mystery from beginning to end including things that could go wrong. This could be a good side income if it is done well. It is also best that you have a team of people behind or working along side of you.
You will need to work out catering, drinks, prizes for winners, props and costumes for actors. There are plenty of great Murder Mystery Games already written for you to showcase.
(Check out our other popular blog posts in Theaternook)
Theater Restaurants As Part-time Acting Opportunities
Theatre restaurants are a great way to get your foot in the door into the acting world. Large cities tend to have different types of dining experiences which include Theatre and dinner. These places are always hiring especially those who have a talent for acting and performance as well as waitressing or watering.
Simulated Training Acting
Workplace training acting; imagine being hired for the police to act as a battered woman or man in a relationship. Plenty of gigs with higher people who want to act as victims for the police. There are also hospitals which hire actors for simulated sicknesses. Ticket agencies online which are set up for the scenarios.Extras in a movie or commercial. The best way to get in the door is to contact the HR people at these organizations.
Acting as an Extra for a TV Show, Music Video, or Movie
If you are an extra in a movie television show or a commercial, you can have a reasonable part-time or full-time income depending on the production and where you live. For those who are living in Los Angeles for instance have more opportunity to become extras in a variety of shows. Those who are living in smaller cities and more remote places will not likely have these opportunities.
Usually becoming an extra will require you to become part of an extras agency. So again you’ll need a headshot and a brief CV and the willingness to work and a variety of places and for long hours in a day. If this is you make sure you bring something to do for the day. If you’re interested in learning more about screen acting check out this popular and highly reviewed book from Amazon. (Affiliate link)
Personal Actor for Hire
Private acting; you could hire yourself out as a private actor. I myself as well as acting friends have been hired by clients to perform certain scenarios in restaurants in public places. From flash mobs to having an argument inside a restaurant. As long as it’s an ethical and everybody is safe and you are getting paid it should be a good good gig. Challenging to say the least. People are earning good money as a personal actor for hire as a part-time acting opportunity
Acting Coach for Youth
Part-time acting coach; many students or actors take on the role as an acting coach for children after school. Some develop their own drama curriculum, and take a class of a certain age group say between ages 8-12. Some companies hire recent acting graduates to take on a role as a part-time teacher or coach for weekend or after school sessions. This can be reasonable sized income 4 to 6 hours per week or more depending on the opportunity.
Presenting for Corporate Shows
Companies are always looking for presenters who are attracted to look at and presents well on stage. If you’d love an audience and have a great voice and connect well to an audience you might just have a good future as a part-time presenter on stage. It is difficult to get these jobs as full-time so the more strings to your bow the better.
Corporate Gigs: many actors or people who love to act can get hired by corporations for celebrations, balls, shows and events. They may state the types of characters they need for the night as presenters, walkabout characters or actors. You may set yourself up as a corporate actor on a website or on social media and send out your information to businesses who’ll likely want to hire you.
Casting Assistants or Readers
Casting director assistants or readers: Sometimes people are hired for a day or two to be stand in readers for actors who are auditioning for shows, or they are utlized as assistants for castings which are usually short term gigs. Casting agents may ask someone on their books to come in and be these people for the day.
Actor For Small Productions
Amateur productions are always looking for actors in plays, musical theater and shows. Usually you will have to audition for parts, but once the company get to know you, you may get asked to play certain roles. Some amateur theater companies require you to pay money to join them and to get to act in their show. Unless you are hired as a semi or professional, you will not get paid for these gigs.
Backstage Hands, Producers or Production Managers
Many people work during the day and rehearse at night and on weekends to get their acting fill. Festivals and local shows. Some people rehearse at night to perform their show at night in festivals. My example is working as a production company manager, and stage manager for a small theater company during a local festival. Sometimes these gigs are paid or they operate as a collective agreement, where if they make a profit, then they all get some type of payment. This is also a good way to earn a side income from a part-time acting opportunity.
If you’re wanting to learn more about mounting your own show
The side acting jobs for full time workers are mixed and varied. It all depends on your talent, time availability and willingness to work in a flexible, creative and enjoyable field as a part-time gig which can and often does lead into full time work. The best way to get into the industry is give a range of opportunities a good go and you never know, you may meet someone who will need you for a gig in the future which could mean payment.
The side acting jobs for full time workers are mixed and varied. It all depends on your talent, time availability and willingness to work in a flexible, creative and enjoyable field as a part-time gig which can and often does lead into full time work. The best way to get into the industry is give a range of opportunities a good go and you never know, you may meet someone who will need you for a gig in the future which could mean payment.
You could alternatively, set up your own small business and hire yourself out as an entertainer in your own right. Of course you’ll need to set yourself up as a legal entity in terms of taxes etc. But the payoff could be a great side gig and compliment your full time job. Good luck.