Five Ways to Survive Your Survival Job

(A sequel to Five Reasons You Need a Survival Job)

Say you already have a day job. And you feel like it's killing you softly - sucking the artistic life out of your soul like a succubus that feeds on hopes and dreams.

When you're an artist, spending time on anything but your art can feel insanely frustrating. But remember, you need that day job. Here are five tips for surviving your working life so your artistic life can flower.

1. Stick to a schedule

Be a clock watcher. Punch out when you're expected to punch out and go home when you're scheduled to go home.

If your schedule is flexible, make it inflexible. Designate your work hours and don't stray from them. Keeping a strict schedule will help you focus your non-working hours on your art.

2. Find pockets of creative time

At my last day job, I ate lunch at my desk so I could do a smidgen of writing at least twice a week. It wasn't always brilliant, but it was better than nothing!

Try squeezing in ten minutes of brainstorming here, fifteen minutes of Internet research there - it all adds up in favor of your artistic work. Even tiny tasks like reading two industry-related articles or one page of a book on your craft during each shift can help you feel creative amidst all the button-pushing.

3. Stay out of office drama

You're not there to make friends. Or enemies. You're there to make money to support your artistic life. Getting too involved in the goings on around the office takes up valuable energy you could be devoting to your art.

Unless gossip somehow inspires your work, stay out of it.

4. Don't take it home

The to-do list, the co-worker stress, the annoying politics of the break room - leave it all at the office. You should fall asleep every night with artistic thoughts in your head, not thoughts of how to conquer that spreadsheet.

Working hours are for working - the rest of your hours are for you!

5. Remember why you're there

For most people, getting offered a promotion or new responsibilities is the ultimate goal. But you're working a day job to make money to support your creative endeavors.

If you can advance in your job, fantastic - more money for your art! But if taking on a larger role means more stress and longer hours, feel free to pass. Your creative time and attention are much more valuable than a better title.

Five Reasons You Need a Survival Job

Every aspiring actor needs solid goals, fierce determination, a positive spirit...

And a day job.

Sometimes called a survival job, this source of income is vital to achieving your artistic goals.

For those of you viscerally responding, "But no! I'm an artiiiiiist!", here are five valid reasons you should get a job, you artistic bum!

1. You need money to live.

No shame in that. It's impossible to focus on creativity when you can't pay the rent. (And as we all know, the rent is too damn high.)

Maybe you're one of those actors hoping to save X amount of money so you can chase your dreams full time. Please don't. You'll burn through that money quicker than you expect, and why give yourself such a limited window?

Developing a career as a working actor is a marathon, not a sprint. Giving yourself a shrinking bank account of a deadline is going to stress you out more than it will drive you.

Get a day job. Work hard, pay your bills, and make things happen!

2. There's more to you than a pretty face.

If you think you don't have any marketable job skills aside from vocal warmups and crying on cue, think again. You're personable, fearless, and professional - all desirable traits in a day job employee!

The most popular actor day jobs are in the food service industry. Walk into any restaurant, cafe, or coffee shop in LA, and you'll find smiling actors offering to take your drink order. These jobs are great because they're often flexible with hours and easy to walk away from.

If you have some other marketable skill, use it! I know actors who work as accountants, real estate agents, teachers, and computer programmers. These jobs take more work to find flexibility, but offer stability (and health insurance!) in the face of unpredictable artistic opportunities.

Consider the skills you already have and the perfect side job may follow.

3. It will take the stink of desperation off your art.

When money is scarce, you carry that feeling of scarcity everywhere. When the possibility of booking a job becomes linked with your life survival, the desperation can show in the audition room. Who can play and be creative in that kind of environment?

Take the need to make money out of the artistic equation and you'll be much more free to take risks and learn from your failures.

4. It may even make you more productive.

Discipline is how things get done. Less free time means you have less time to waste on reality TV marathons. Keeping a tighter schedule can help you focus your artistic efforts.

I discovered interval writing while I was at my last day job, and I found that I got more writing done than when my days were all free. It may sound like a paradox, but it's true.

Having a day job forces you to stay on top of your goals. And anything that gets you closer to your artistic goal is worth doing!

5. You're not the only actor with a day job.

Helen Mirren worked at an amusement park, Kristen Bell served frozen yogurt at a TCBY, and we all know Channing Tatum was a stripper. But rather than be embarrassed by that, he turned it into Magic Mike, which grossed over $167 Million worldwide. Not too shabby.

I know it's your dream to live your art 24/7, but these experiences you have along the way will only make your acting work more layered and authentic. If nothing else, they'll make good stories to tell on Jimmy Fallon someday.

Your day job adds to the texture of your life, which can help make your art more textured.

What days jobs have you had as an artist?
Please add in the comments below!

Money Monday: Theater for Cheap

I don't pay full price for anything if I can help it. And yet, I can't stop seeing live theater. Stellar acting performances and killer writing inspire me as an artist. And there's nothing like taking in a live performance with an audience...and occasionally crying my eyes out next to them.

Thank goodness for Goldstar! They offer discount tickets to live entertainment in cities all over, including theater, comedy, sports, music and even things like wine tastings, sushi making classes and harbor cruises. Most offers are half-price off!

Best of all, it's free to join. How much of a no-brainer is that? They often have tickets for big-time venues like The Greek Theatre and Cirque du Soleil, so you can save money and get inspired by the best.

Did I mention it's free to sign up? What are you waiting for?

Money Monday: Clean Green

Admit it - you have a household cleaner graveyard under your kitchen sink. Sprays and solutions you bought to tackle all your dirty jobs around the house that are just sitting there.

Well, not only are those cleaners expensive, they're gunking up our planet with chemicals. Do your wallet and the planet a favor and consider making your own household cleaners the next time you have a problem.

Like I did --

Last week, I noticed my bathtub was draining slower and slower. The commercial machine has brainwashed most of us to think that a clogged drain is solved with Liquid Plumr or Drano. Ick - I don't even want to think of the chemicals in those things. Plus, each bottle costs about $6-$10.

So instead, I found a DIY solution online. I started by dumping a half cup of baking soda down the drain. Then I poured down a half bottle of white vinegar in small spurts, letting the two react and fizz. After about 10 minutes, I boiled a large pot of water and flushed that down the drain.

Voila! Unclogged drain!

Cost? Pennies - both the baking soda and vinegar came from the 99 Cent Only store and the water was free.

Impact on the earth? Minimal. My eco-conscience is clear.

I've also made my own daily shower spray from water, white vinegar, and tea tree oil and regularly use baking soda to scrub my stainless steel kitchen sink to a brilliant finish.

A simple Web search will find you a million homemade cleaner recipes or DIY green solutions . Alicia Silverstone has great homemade household cleaner recipes on her blog The Kind Life. I love this one about making your own laundry detergent!

Bottom line - there's always a more affordable and environmentally-friendly solution to your household cleaning problems. Try it - you'll save money and the earth. Happy green cleaning!

Money Monday: Keeping a Spending Diary

"But I hardly ever buy anything for myself!" you wail. "I just don't have enough money!"

But do you really know how much you spend on any given day? Week? Month?

David Bachcalls it your Latte Factor - all the "unnecessary 'little' expenditures that we waste our money on, without realizing how much they add up to."

Admit it - you have a Latte Factor. We all spend more than we probably should.

And in a business where every penny matters (those classes, headshots, & gas tanks cost money!), getting a grip on where your money goes is the first step to reaching your financial goals while accomplishing your career goals.

So start a spending diary. For one week, write down every cent you spend - at Starbucks, at Banana Republic, etc. You may be surprised where your money goes. Making changes for the better will be easy peasy.

(The last time I did this, I was shocked how much I spent on fast food. Bad for my savings account and bad for my health - so long Del Taco!)

What do you spend too much money on?

Money Monday: Know Your Score

Do you know your FICO score? Do you know what a FICO score is?



Yeah, it's a grade that tells the world your ability to be financially responsible. Higher is better --

Getting your FICO score should cost around $16 from one of the three credit bureaus - Experian, TransUnion, Equifax - but if you followed my advice from last week's Money Monday about free credit reports, you only paid $8-$9 to get your score along with your credit reports.

Now you know your FICO score! How do you improve it?

The same way you improved your grades in high school - with hard work! Start by paying all your bills on time, paying off any delinquent bills, and working toward lowering your total credit card debt.

I remember an old co-worker telling me the way to improve my FICO score was to incur some debt - buy stuff I can't afford and start carrying at least a $5,000 balance on my credit card - and then start making regular payments on time. He said it was working for him. When I told him my credit score was already an 805, he shut up about it. Incur debt to show I'm financially responsible? Cracker, please!

Check out Suze Orman's article about getting and improving your FICO score for more information.

Money Monday: The Real Free Credit Report

We've all seen the ads --



But guess what? FreeCreditReport.com ISN'T FREE! It's a ploy to get you to enroll in their credit monitoring service, which costs $16.99 a month after a 7-day trial. Boo.

To get an actual, real, absolutely free credit report, use AnnualCreditReport.com. Thanks to federal law, the big three credit bureaus - Equifax, Experian and TransUnion - are required to give you a free credit report every 12 months. And AnnualCreditReport.com is the only place to get them.

You'll give the site personal information to get your reports, but never any money. They'll walk you through getting your report from each of the three credit bureaus and ask you questions to confirm your identity along the way - it's like taking a quiz on your life.

Once you get your credit reports, check them carefully for errors and inaccuracies. Are there accounts that shouldn't be there? Addresses you never lived at? If you find anything funky, follow the FTC's tips on how to dispute credit errors.

But you don't have to take my word for it - visit the Federal Trade Commission's page on free credit reports or check out Suze Orman's article "How to Get a Free Credit Report that is Truly, 100 Percent Free."

(Bonus round: As you're getting your free credit reports, each credit bureau will offer you a chance to see your FICO credit score for a small fee - usually around $8-$9. I recommend getting at least one, especially if you've never seen your FICO score. It's good to know where you stand, and you won't find a cheaper opportunity to see your score. More on FICO scores in next week's Money Monday!)

Money Monday: Taxes for Artists, Part 2

Two more days to do taxes! Hopefully you're already done and waiting for that tax return.

Now is actually the perfect time to start preparing for next year's taxes. You've already started saving your receipts for tax deductions, right?

Here are more random tips to help you prepare for next tax season --

• Evaluate your spending - Did you spend more on office supplies than you expected? Were you shocked by how much you spent on acting classes? Take a moment to refocus how your money supports your artistic career and try spending less this year in the categories you overspent on last year. Reducing expenses is a great way to save more money.
  
  
• Consider setting up a home office - Investigate and follow the IRS guidelines on home offices now and you could take more tax deductions next year.
  
  
• 
  Add a revenue stream - Did doing your taxes show you that you need more money? Then do something to make more money! Learn how to sell on eBay or Amazon Marketplace and clear out everything gathering dust on your CD and DVD shelves. Start selling AVON, pick up some freelance work, fold sweaters at The Gap - whatever. You can do it.
  
  
• Learn how to cook - Face it, we all spend too much money eating out. You don't have to become the next Michael Voltaggio, but learning a few go-to dishes for times when the budget's tight will help. Search for budget-friendly recipes online or browse around BudgetFriendlyCooking.com.
  
  
• Start giving - Tax-deductible donations help the receiving charities and help your tax return. You can find deserving charities at JustGive.org or just shoot me a message - I have a ton of charities I love to support that would appreciate your support too.

Money Monday: Stupid Money Mistakes that Artists Make

You’re creative – it’s undeniable. You’re a dreamer and a visionary. You’re bringing your unique voice to the world and nothing is stopping you.

Except not having money!

You can be artistic and money-savvy at the same time. Start by making sure you don’t make these mistakes --

Not having health insurance – Unacceptable! Your body, voice, and well-being are your work tools. Without them, you’re screwed. Protect yourself and your future by getting covered now.

If you don’t qualify for SAG-AFTRA or WGA’s health plan, you can buy an individual plan from a health insurance provider. Do research and compare rates at ehealthinsurance.com and then buying directly from the company’s Web site. If you’re young, single, and healthy, I highly recommend Tonik from Anthem Blue Cross – low rates and great coverage.

Living beyond your means – You need materials, classes, and a working car to pursue your dream. You do NOT need that new pair of UGGs. Don’t stress yourself out by budgeting every cent you make, but make sure you’re spending more on career and life “needs” like additional training or new headshots instead of “wants” like eyelash extensions or those hubcaps that spin even when your car’s not moving. (Sorry, but those hubcaps are dumb.)

Not having an emergency fund – The work of being an actor is looking for work. When you are working, put some money in a money market fund or other short-term savings vehicle for the times when you’re not working. An artistic career will naturally have ups and downs – saving money in an emergency fund will help ease the roller coaster effect.

Wasting money without noticing – Parking tickets, ATM fees, overdraft charges, buying lottery tickets, and drinking excessive amounts of Starbucks or Coffee Bean are all ways you waste money that could be invested in your career. Paying attention to your money ensures you’ll have more when you need it.

Not having a retirement plan – Because you’ll want to hang up those character shoes someday and have enough to enjoy the rest of your life. If you don’t qualify for SAG-AFTRA or WGA’s pension plan and you don’t work for a company that offers a 401K plan, you can still invest for your future by getting a Roth IRA at a do-it-yourself financial services company like Vanguard, Fidelity, or TD Ameritrade. Saving early pays off later – trust me.

For more money advice for artists, check out this free ebook I found – 5 Big Mistakes Creative People Make With Money

What do you think is your biggest money mistake?

Money Monday: Vehicle Value

As an actor, your most valuable tool is not your voice. Or your looks. It’s not your ability to break down a script or the list of foreign accents you can pull off.

Your most valuable tool is your car.

Because if you can’t get to the audition or the fitting or the job, you’re not an actor.

Especially in a town like Los Angeles, which is made for cars and not for pedestrians. Public transportation exists, but it’s not a feasible alternative for actors who need to be anywhere at a moment's notice.

So it pays to be smart about your car. Increasing your attention to your car will help decrease your maintenance costs and hassles.

Here are a few tips for taking care of your car life so that your actor life can work:

Don’t Ignore Those Weird Sounds – Investigate immediately! That awful squeaking sound you’re hearing when you turn the corners could mean it’s time for new brake pads. Stop by your local tire place ASAP or you could be shelling out much more on new brakes and rotors.

Get Your Oil Changes on Time – You do not need a new pair of UGGs. Your car does need an oil change on a regular basis or you’re screwing your engine. Check your owner’s manual to find the recommended number of miles for your car between oil changes. Don’t go by EZ Lube’s 3,000 miles assumption – for many cars, you can wait 5,000 miles between changes.

Become an Eco Driver – Slow down on the highway, idle less, and empty that trunk. Follow those and other best practices laid out by sites like Eco Driver and you’ll definitely increase your car’s mpg, which means fewer trips to the gas station. And with today’s prices, you’ll be glad you did.

What is your favorite car maintenance tip?

Money Monday: Free Stuff from Freecycle

I have witnessed it firsthand - one man's junk is another man's treasure. And putting this adage to use is a great way to save money.

I'm talking about Freecycle, the bulletin board/email list where people give and receive stuff for free. I joined the Los Angeles group last year and have marveled at the neverending flow of things people don't want that you can just have. Just because! I've seen big stuff like televisions, computer desks, and patio furniture to small stuff like magazines, printer cartridges, and shampoo. And moving boxes - lots and lots of moving boxes.

All unwanted things would normally end up in a landfill. But thanks to Freecycle, all that junk is connected with eager treasure hunters like me. I get my Freecycle posts in individual emails, which get automatically filtered into a special folder so they don't clog my inbox. I'll browse every day to see if there's anything I want.

Most recently, I scored this Logitech Cordless TrackMan Wheel - the exact ergonomic mouse I've wanted to buy for almost a year. The price tag on the box says $49.95. And I got it for free!

I've given away many, many things on Freecycle - my old George Foreman grill, back issues of magazines piling up around the house, fabric scraps leftover from sewing projects, etc. - and I'm always amazed that someone wants them. I usually leave the items hidden in my carport for people to pick up, so it's super easy for all involved.

Freecycle is an artist's best friend. Actors can furnish their whole apartment with free stuff and save their money for acting classes and headshots. If you're a production designer for a film or designing a theater set, you can find prop pieces and furniture galore.

So sign up for Freecycle today! I don't get any commission - this is just a really good idea.

Money Monday: Making Money from Thin Air

Artists know – every penny counts. So why not make sure your money is making you money?

Here’s how my money makes money every time I spend online or offline:

• Credit Card Rewards - I prefer the cash back kind of credit card over those that offer mileage or reward points. With my Costco Credit Card, I earn 3% cash back on gas, 2% cash back on travel or restaurants, and 1% cash back on everything else. (The cash only pays out once a year, but there’s no annual fee.) Research the best incentive credit card for you at Bankrate.com.
  
  
• Dining Rewards - I’m also signed up for MileagePlus Dining, which earns me United Airlines miles every time I use my Costco Credit Card at one of their participating restaurants. Yup, that’s double dipping rewards! The program is also available for other airlines, so check your favorite airline’s Web site for dining rewards.
  
  
• Airline Shopping Malls - Any time I need to shop online, I click through one of the airline shopping malls first to earn miles. I usually check them all to see which airline mall will give me the most miles for my purchase at any given store. There are several to check –
  
  • US Airways Dividend Miles Storefront
    
  • United MileagePlus Shopping
    
  • Delta Skymiles Shopping
    
  • The Red Store at Virgin Airlines
    
  
  
• Upromise by SallieMae – Earn dollars for a child’s college plan by registering your credit cards and grocery reward cards and then spending on particular brands. They also have a shopping mall that can earn you money when you clickthrough to shop online. (I’m saving for my goddaughter to go to MIT.)
  
  
• GoodShop – If I can’t make money for me, I’ll make it for someone else. GoodShop gives money to the charity of your choice every time you clickthrough their site before shopping. They also offer exclusive coupons and offers! Plus they’re the only incentive program I can find that earns money from shopping at Amazon.com, so I clickthrough their site every time I need a book. Right now, I’m contributing to the East West Players every time I shop!
  

Any other incentive programs out there worth mentioning?

Money Monday: Why I Love Suze Orman

There are a million self-proclaimed experts out there offering advice on personal finance. Suze Orman is one of the juggernauts for good reason. She’s whip smart, tells it like it is, and most importantly, she has street cred because she’s been at the bottom before – living paycheck to paycheck with big dreams and no financial security.

My favorite Suze story – early in life, she trusted a big name brokerage firm to handle her money and lost everything. Then she went to work for that big name brokerage firm – if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em, she figured. While there, she realized that the agent who had lost all her money was a sketchy crook, so she sued the company she was working for! The company settled out of court, which is a win in my book.

If you’re a struggling artist who thinks Suze’s mainstream personal finance advice doesn’t apply to you, think again. She’s the perfect person to help you get your financial life into shape. She gets that people are emotional about money and that to achieve financial security and wealth, you need to look at your emotions first. And if there's anyone that understands the importance of being in touch with your emotions, it's actors.

Her biggest catchphrase – People first, then money, then things.

Notice how “things” is the lowest on the priority list? I discovered this first hand with my No Buy Resolution last year – I didn’t buy any things and life went on just fine. In my opinion, if you have financial security and feel you and your loved ones are well cared for, that’s wealth. Owning a big house, driving a fancy car, and dropping $590 on one sweater – that’s just stupid.

Bottom line, Suze Ormanis a smarty pants who can teach all of you a thing or two about handling your money. If you’re new to Suze, I suggest starting with the free weekly podcast of The Suze Orman Show. Start watching and you’ll not only learn something, you’ll be wildly entertained. (I love hearing her say, "DENIED!")

If you’re just starting out and looking for some nuts and bolts advice, I suggest reading her book The Money Book for the Young, Fabulous & Broke.Pick up a used paperback from Amazon for less than $5! Now that's smart...

Money Monday: Watching the Flow

Today, I let the flow charts do the talking.

Here are two videos with sound money advice. This one I happened to find on DailyCandy from Alexa von Tobel, founder of LearnVest.

Click to watch What Should You Do with an Extra $100?

I don't know anything about LearnVest, but her flow chart is pretty much in line with my favorite personal finance guru Suze Orman, so I like it.

The next flow chart comes from my second favorite finance guy, David Bach, author of The Automatic Millionaireand Smart Women Finish Rich. That's right, David, we do...



I agree with both videos - saving for the future comes BEFORE saving for that six-week acting intensive or new headshots or that trip to Bali. It's easy if you do it little by little, pay yourself first, and make it automatic.

Keep those money questions coming!

Money Monday: DIY Receipt File

Last week, I mentioned that I’m meticulous in saving and organizing my acting & writing-related receipts for tax purposes. Forgot to mention that I’m also eco-conscious about it!

Here’s my step-by-step guide to how to make an upcycled receipt file:

1. Start with eight (8) reply envelopes saved from junk mail.

2.Lick and tuck the flap inside each envelope, making eight open pockets.

3.Take four (4) envelopes and line up the openings on the right side, staggering them evenly. Secure the stack with two staples as shown below. Repeat with the other four envelopes.

4.Write the categories on each envelope as shown below.

5. And you're done! I keep my receipt files along with any full page receipts in a large, clear plastic envelope.

Ta-da! Tidy and ready for tax time next year!

Next week on Money Monday, I'll go over allowable and non-allowable tax deductions for actors...

Money Monday: Taxes for the Artist, Part 1

Question from a reader!

When filing taxes, do you use an entertainment accountant? Also, any tips on taxes or saving money would be great. Love the blog, discovered it recently. – From an actor/ professional drink slinger

Thanks for your question, actor/drink slinger! I don’t use an entertainment accountant, though I know many actors in Los Angeles who swear by Chuck Sloan & Associates. I prepare my tax information meticulously in advance, so I feel comfortable going to H&R Block or any walk-in tax prep shop to do the actual filing.

As for tax tips, my biggest one is save those receipts! I deduct everything I can that’s related to my acting and writing career and I organize my receipts like an extreme couponer. Keeping track of my deductions throughout the year helps me maximize my refund.

I itemize my deductions using Form 1040 - Schedule C - Profit or Loss From Business (Sole Proprietorship). Because yes, my expenses add up to more than the standard deduction, which for 2012 is $5,950 for single taxpayers and married taxpayers filing separately, $11,900 for married taxpayers filing jointly, and $8,700 for taxpayers filing as head of household.

If you’ve never done a Schedule C, don’t assume you don’t have enough expenses that add up to more than the standard deduction. Keep track of your receipts for a year and see for yourself!

Tune in next Money Monday, when I'll explain my absolutely no-cost receipt tracking system. And keep those Money Monday questions coming!

Money Monday: Buying Again

I didn't buy anything in 2011.

Yesterday, I did this -



Sort of.

To recap my year of not buying, I have to say it was surprisingly easy. I cracked a few times to buy wedding or baby shower gifts and professional tokens of thanks, but otherwise I didn't buy any new stuff in 2011. There were a few moments of really hating everything in my closet, but a few clothing swaps healed the desire to shop.

So even though I had that momentary epiphany about retail therapy, all in all, it felt good to save money and time by taking this one year break from shopping.

And that feeling continues into 2012. A few friends and I headed to Santa Monica Place yesterday, with the intent of celebrating the new year in the spirit of Parks and Recreation:



It was a fun day, and while I treated myself to a decadent Fingerling Potato Pizza from The Curious Palate, I didn't buy these:

Or this:

Or anything, for that matter. Buying brand new things (that are all disturbingly made in China) has officially lost it's appeal for me. Instead, I headed for my favorite mega-thrift store:

For only $20, I got a black skirt from Banana Republic, a Liz Clairborne bag, two blank books for writing (made from recycled paper!), and a cute pair of brown wedges:

Now that's what I call treating myself.