Don’t Quit your day job just yet!!

So I’m in the thick of two months of unemployment! Aaaah! Yes, it was a conscious decision that I made to leave my law firm for this beautiful dream of acting and I must say that I have some much needed wisdom to pass on to my fellow thespians, film aspirants and the such.

While I encourage you to get out there and risk it all to become the next Angelina Jolie; I do say think wisely and be patient. This industry is a tough one. Before I continue, I want to say that I’m in no way trying to deterr anyone from there dreams, I’m not trying to discourage you nor make you doubt yourself. I’m only trying to tell you to heed the advice that I ignored.

These are some of the things that people told me to do (and the thoughts that ran through my head as they said it)

Ashlee stay at your secure job, work, and save your money; we’re in a recession right now (Well I’ll have an agent and booking jobs before I even feel the financial crunch of this recession)

Ashlee having to live wondering when the next gig will come so you can make rent is going to make you desperate (That’s not going to happen to me… I’m too talented; I’ll be fine)

You should wait until you book an agent before you leave your corporate job (Oh I’ll have an agent within a month, so I’ll be fine)

Take your time…its a journey up that hill and its a hard climb, don’t rush and cut corners; you’ll just tire yourself out (I don’t have time to be patient…I’m not getting any younger here

Everything started out just fine. I had about 3500 dollars to keep me up, looking for a part time and doing background work. I took 750 of that and invested in headshots with a “photogapher” who ensured I would have the best photos ever and he would take care of the printing, yeah well I had to ask for a 250 dollar refund. I was about to use this to get new shots, but my breaks went and I need an oil change and a filter and then some (volvo’s are expensive upkeep). Then came my car payment, then my student loan payment, then my insurance…and I hadn’t even gotten any headshots printed yet to send out to the agencies! I started to realize that I budgeted for marketing myself but not for life. Or better yet I was under the assumption that things would just fall into place, but this is life we’re talking about here.

Artists, it’s so cliche to be starving artist; even if the art is your passion. Can you really enjoy this artform when you are desperately waiting for someone to throw u a bone so you can feed yourself?

I’m at USC now working in the Dentistry department. Does this mean I’m not pursuing my dream? Of course not, I’m working on two short films, I’m in a horror feature film, I just finished a play that I’ll soon begin workshopping…and this is all great, except its all non-paying! So I say I will feed myself with a dayjob and work twice as hard to get my work into film festivals, continue building a reel, and have money for quality headshots in order to book an agent.

If you feel that this won’t be your story; if you decide to quit your dayjob, I suggest you pick up a trade (bartending, make-up artist, etc…these are just as competitive as the acting biz) so this way you can cut hair while your on your way to the top, you can give facials, so you don’t die of hunger

Either way it goes, begin to figure out when wisdom is knocking and when others are just doubting you. If you learn how to decipher between the two you’ll make wiser decisions and be well off. Good luck!!