If You Weren’t an Actor, What Would You Be?
Spoiler alert: It’s a trick question
(by Jim Webb)
(Photo: Tima Miroschnich | Pexels)
What are three professions you could see yourself getting into besides acting? Don’t answer yet. Just pause and think about it.
Could you see yourself becoming a dental hygienist? Could you see yourself becoming a tech whiz? Could you see yourself working for the federal or state government? Again, what are the three professions you could see yourself doing besides being an actor?
Of course, this is a bit of a trick question. Because, if you’re a truly passionate actor, the answer is always nothing. NOTHING! You can’t see yourself doing anything else in life. Or, at the very least, you couldn’t imagine life without acting being at least A PART of your life, in some way.
“Don’t become an actor, unless you HAVE to.”
(Mandy Patinkin)
This kind of absolutist mindset is necessary for an actor to overcome the daunting odds that actors face.
Consider the fact that:
*Only about 5% of SAG-AFTRA actors earn more than $100,000 annually
*Most SAG-AFTRA actors earn less than $7,000 annually
*Over 90% of all union actors are unemployed on a given day
Throw in the fallout of a global pandemic and, well, you see where I’m going with this. The odds are so massively against success that the only way to overcome them is to have no choice but to overcome them. The best way to become a successful actor is to have no choice but to become a successful actor.
“If you have to become an actor, you will. If you don’t have to do it, you won’t.”
(Ed Harris)
The good news is that, for actors who do have a burning passion to succeed and who cannot stomach a life that doesn’t include acting, the odds of success begin to move in their favor, over time. That’s because, the longer you pursue an acting career the more time you have for unexpected breaks to come your way.
Just look at the breakout stars of today. Count how many overnight successes you see. I doubt you’ll find very many. You’re likely to find that most of them busted their humps and pounded the pavement for years and years before becoming “overnight successes”. In fact, there’s an old entertainment industry quote that I’ve always found provocative: “It takes 10 years to become an overnight success.”
“If you can’t talk someone out of showbusiness, then they have a shot.”
(Mark Hamill)
They say necessity is the mother of invention. It’s true! If something must be done, you’ll innovate until you find a way to get it done.
I would argue that necessity is also the mother of a successful acting career. If you must become an actor, you’ll innovate, adapt, adjust and endure until you find a way to get there.
Backup plans
(Photo: Cottonbro | Pexels)
That said, there’s nothing wrong with having a backup plan. Backup plans offer a sense of hope and security for unfulfilled dreams.
But, if you have a backup plan, keep it in the back of your mind and try as hard as you can not to think about it for as long as you can.
“If you’re smart, you’ll have a back-up plan. If you don’t, you’ll succeed.”
(Denzel Washington)
This industry is rough! And backup plans can offer you peace of mind. But they can also rob you of the patience you need to ultimately succeed.
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