The plan was to live and work in Portland for a few months (I went to college here) and then when I'd saved enough, go to L.A. However, I'm a British national and on an O1, so the only way for me to earn money is through acting. I've had one day of extra work since I've been here. My mum has had to pay my rent. It's not much fun.
So I decided this morning to go back London for a few months, do some temping and earn some proper money. And then when I can afford to go to LA, go. Hopefully in the fall at some point. I thought this decision would be devastating, but I'm actually really relieved.
I guess I'm just concerned, after the past three months of making no money despite trying really, really hard, that I'm going to fall into the same trap in L.A. I'm hoping to earn a bit of money doing extra work - but in your experience, is there enough of this around to pay your rent?

Becoming a career extra is not a wise move if you have acting aspirations beyond that. It may sound a little strange, but if that becomes the way that industry folks know you, it can make it difficult to move beyond that.

How much is too much? I'm not sure, but I HAVE heard that warning repeatedly.

It's easy to say that, and I totally get what you're saying, but the thing is due to my visa it's the one way for me to make money to pay my rent. I can't work in a restaurant, or a clothes store, or doing sales etc etc because my visa doesn't allow it.

I wish you the best of luck! You will be back!

yeah it's ruff ! But you got to put your best foot forward and keeping marching. No matter what. If it's your dream to act don't let nothing stop that dream.

Actually it's not the only thing that you can do for good money, but those type of careers sometimes come with a price for some people.

Anyways, go home if you really can't manage it. You want to do it, what's holding you back?
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Otherwise your dream should be bigger then everything else holding you back... Make it a reality.

And if you can't, then guess what, at least you tried.

i just saw this post. caity, you have chosen to come to the state with the highest rate of unemployment during what is probably the worst economic times in our countries recent history.

i have 2 university degrees, experience in the fields of each degree (2 decades of exp in one field, and about 6 yrs of experience in the other)...

and let me tell you, the job market, both acting and non- is really really bad right now. and LA only slows down in the summer a lot more. i haven't been here for a summer yet, but that is what i hear.

so if you can ONLY get work as an actor via your visa, you may want to try one of two things:

1. try NYC (which does NOT die in the summer, but it is heavily stage influenced, tho rent is lower and you don't need a car or car insurance! lots of extra work still available and student films are still filming in the summer)

2. go home. it's so sad to say, but if your visa only allows for acting work... you're going to find yourself in serious monetary troubles. i think the statistic is something like 85% of Union (SAG, AFTRA, AEA) make less than $5000 a year acting.

i dont think there's a statistic for non-union members since it can't easily be tracked.

but can you imagine? almost everyone is making less than $5000 a year acting. thats why we ALL have survival jobs, some even have TWO survival jobs. i met one lady today who has 3!

you need to figure out a way to get your visa changed so you can work like all the other actors (waiting, retail, etc) or sadly, go home and work and work, and save.

then come back when it isn't summer and during a horrible economic downfall.

in your case, i really dont think doing extra work will be all that damaging. do what you're told, be quiet and professional, stay as far away from the cameras as possible, and honestly, you'll be fine doing extra work. but is there enough to pay the rent? not right now, but everything slows to a halt by the end of april through at least august.

some shows might be filming, but i wouldn't count on it.

did you register with central?

Hey

whats wrong with working UK ? I love doctor who and torchwood.

if you're a brit can't you work in vancouver? that
and toronto are hot markets and you may be able to work other jobs in canada without a work visa

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0006718/

Thanks...
My plan is to go home until the end of year and get some solid savings behind me. Then go back to L.A. Just to clarify - I haven't been living in L.A., I've been living in Portland, Ore. So I'm not technically packing up and leaving, as I never got there in the first place!
I'm pretty confident that with the right planning, good savings, preparation etc, I can do it in the new year. I'm going to register with all the extra's casting agencies in L.A. and also have a voiceover demo when I arrive to expand my horizons a bit.
I'll definitely remember to stay away form the camers when I'm working as an extra!

If you can live in London rent free with your parents I recommend you do that. London has a great market for theatre. Why don't you do some theatre in London? Probably not as good as NYC, but considering the money you'd save, it'd be well worth it.

oh goodness. no wonder you aren't getting work. if acting is ALL you are allowed to do, you need to be in a major market- NYC or LA. you may find the competition is too stiff in LA/NYC, but at least be in a secondary market- Washington, Chicago, Boston, Miami, several cities in Texas...

you aren't going to get ANY work in Oregon! at least not from what I know of Portland, which isn't much but enough.

but going home may be best to do right now then.

hope it all works out for you!

Yeah - I have an agent back home so at the very least I'll be auditioning and at least getting practice at that. I'm also going to try to do some short/student films to get material for my demo reel and also get updated photographs done, so I'm as prepared as I can be when I get to L.A.

The "Ian Clearspot" ID exists for ONE purpose - to promote ACT.

This thread is about leaving LA. But "Doug" has, once again, hijacked it to promote the school he claims to know only as an actor.

How many people believe that? And what do YOU think of a school that is promoted this way?

I AM home and I'm so struggling. Not only am I having a hard time making ends meet, but so are my parents.