survival jobs

8 Great Alternative Jobs for Actors

Trying to support yourself solely on acting jobs can be tough, especially when you’re first starting out, so finding the right alternative job to help pay the bills will allow you to concentrate on your acting career.

Side Hustle Spotlight: The Musical Theater Major Who’s Also an Inventor

This week’s actor sang and danced his way around the nation in tours, films, and your favorite TV shows! Along the way, he disrupted the marketplace by quieting everyone.

How to Find Theme Park Jobs

To help you get started on your theme park job search, Backstage breaks down the application and audition processes for industry heavy-hitters Disneyland, Six Flags Theme Parks, and Universal Orlando.

How to Become an Uber or Lyft Driver

Looking to pay your bills or fund your artistic projects with a part-time job that offers flexibility and mobility? As ridesharing apps continue to reshape the way people travel, drivers are taking advantage of the smartphone technology—and the income!

Betsy Brandt on Terrifying Auditions and L.A.-Style Headshots

From a kleptomaniac on “Breaking Bad” to a troubled, searching wife in her latest project, Betsy Brandt has inhabited so many complex characters, it’s hard to believe how normal she is in regular life.

Moving To NYC: Your First Survival Job

Looking for a job while waiting for a gig? Here’s what to keep in mind when hunting for your survival job.

Wilson Cruz on Kissing Anthony Rapp and Being a True LGBT ‘Actorvist’

The “Star Trek: Discovery” and “13 Reasons Why” star also thinks that your survival job is a great opportunity for character study.

How to Become an Actor

Want to become an actor? You’re in the right place! Here’s everything you need to know about how to start your acting career and to find success in Hollywood and beyond.

How to Make a Living as an Actor

Making a living as an actor means balancing work, life and passion—a tricky subject for anyone who has encountered it. While most working actors need to sacrifice and struggle, the journey can also be incredibly fulfilling. Read on for the official Backstage guide to making a living as an ...

Don’t Be a Waiter, Work Within Your Industry

While you’re busy paying your dues, you usually need to work. But you don’t need to wait, which I mean in both senses of the word: delaying an action and serving customers at a restaurant.