Become An Entrepreneur

By Susan Dansby

“Don’t settle for collecting unemployment between gigs. Become an entrepreneur. It pays better.” ACTING FOR A LIVING

The above statement is a tip from my ebook, ACTING FOR A LIVING. And it's made a lot of people curious. What did I mean? How does someone become an entrepreneur?

First, some background.

The “Fall Back” Position

Has anyone ever told you that?

Subscribe to SceneBy Newsletter and get ACTING SUCCESS Mini-course FREE! First Name: E-mail Address: OUR PROMISE: We hate spam, and will not share your email address, ever.

My bet is that if you’re an actor, singer, dancer, writer, etc., you’ve also been given that "fall back" advice.

And that's how many artists earn money; in “fall back” jobs as paralegals, accountants, bank tellers, etc.

But there’s a problem with “fall back” jobs. Too often, you don’t just fall back, you fall in. And then you get so weighed down, you can never crawl out of that regular-job existence long enough to pursue the dream that was your passion.

It’s not that you’re not motivated. You'd love nothing better than to do your creative work all the time.

But you have responsibilities: student loans to repay, kids to support, health insurance to maintain, a mortgage... And if you’re a conscientious human being, you can’t see setting any of those responsibilities aside to go off and “play.”

The way some people handle this is by giving themselves a deadline like: "If I don't make it big in show business in three months, I'll give it all up."

The Trouble With Deadlines

There are people who think all you need is a big break - like starring in a hit film or winning AMERICAN IDOL - and then you're set.

Not so.

Whether you're an actor or a movie executive, 99.9% of the time your employment pattern is as follows:

You spend three-to-six months looking for a job, then spend anywhere from a day to several years working that job. Then that job is over, and you’re “laid off.” So, you collect unemployment for around 12 weeks or so while you’re looking for your next job. And the cycle continues – if you’re lucky.

If you hit a lull (as has happened to everyone from George Clooney to Sandra Bullock) you might even be out of work for a year – or longer. Meanwhile, your unemployment has run out, and there are still bills to be paid. And what about acting lessons, headshots, getting to and from auditions? All that stuff costs money.

The Cushion

The secret is not to fix it with a “fall back job,” but with a cushion. A cushion made up of ongoing income (multple streams of income), that will keep your cash flowing even when the work isn't.

Want to learn more?

The Book I Wish I'd Read

What a luxury it would have been to actually be financially solvent as I pursued my career!

When I discovered this book two years ago, I read the story - the right-brain side of the book - in less than 24 hours! That's how interesting it is.

And the informational side of the book? Following these instructions, I tripled my net worth in less than six months.

Oh? Do you think you don't have what it takes to become an entrepreneur?

Well, guess what? If you're an actor, you've already...

Become an Entrepreneur

Who owns your talent? You. Who launches your acting career? You. Who manages your career? Finds auditions, prepares monologues, improves the product (you), markets the product (you), works the jobs? That would be you, right?

Have you ever invested in headshots? Bought an outfit, traveled a long distance, paid a coach to prepare for an audition? Who took that economic risk?

You need time to pursue your career, and you need a financial cushion to buy back that time from your employer. Find out how you can become a successful entrepreneur today.