Making The Move to L.A.
Most actors outside Southern California tend to believe that they can simply move here, get an acting job, and watch their career blossom until they become a star.
This however is never the case in reality. What usually happens is the person moves here with a few thousand in their bank account and a plan to get a job waiting tables at night while auditioning for acting roles during the day. They either accept having to live with a roommate or settling for a small place in a bad neighborhood if they want their own apartment.
Three years later, that reality hasn’t changed. They find they’re still in the same boat they were when they moved here three years ago. The hope has turned to bitterness and they have gone from being a warm person to just another cold, jaded actor.
What I recommend is not moving here to sunny California until you’ve had a good education in acting and have done some good work in your own hometown. You can still gain the needed education and experience at home while retaining your bank account and sanity.
Once you know your talents are where they should be and you’re ready to find an agent, then you can pack up your stuff and make the big move.
When you do decide to go, make sure there’s at least $10,000 in the bank account when you arrive here. You’ll be paying more for your car insurance, your rent, and a million other things.
Serving jobs are always a good thing to get because they’re flexible in allowing you to audition. You might also want to look into other jobs that have even more flexibility and might fit your personality better. Personal training can offer hourly pay starting at $15 an hour and if you go freelance, the skies the limit as to what you can charge.
Be aware that living in L.A. isn’t easy. People in general here aren’t very friendly and it will be hard to establish new circles of friends upon arriving.
If you have a significant other that will be accompanying you on your move, make sure they know the score before you drag them over here too. They will have to go through the same things as you, and will probably have to shoulder the burden of pulling in most of the money until you land a good acting gig…if that in fact happens. This is asking a lot of this person and most relationships will break up if the other person doesn’t know their part going in.
Most “experts” will tell you that it takes 10 years to become an overnight success. As crazy as it sounds, most people, even the talented ones will have to wait that long to see any kind of success as an actor. You have been warned.
