I don't have a car, or a license, in fact I never learned out to drive and now I just don't have the time or the means to learn (though obviously I will have to learn someday). Also don't have a college degree (currently, slowly and surely, pursuing one) Sadly, this leaves me with pretty much only minimum wage jobs, which one CAN NOT LIVE ON! Grrr. Any ideas of jobs that will get me more than $10/hr that don't require a means of transportation?

Respectfully,
Forget about acting for the time being. Go get a degree and make survival money while you're plugging away at the marathon length quest of being an actor.
1. If you work 20hrs/week at Starbucks, you'll be eligible for full benefits. Plus free coffee every week isn't a bad thing. It still leaves you time for school, and another job. Sounds like a lot? Yep, we've all done it, suffered through it and come out the other side.
2. If you aren't fortunate enough to have benefits, become friends with the LA free clinic. it's important to take care of yourself, obviously, and when I was broke, this place was amazing. You have to wait around, but you get taken care of.
3. How do you live in LA without a car or license? I mean, sure, it can be done, but you're not doing yourself any favors.

Life is a marathon, not a sprint, and I'm sure Hollywood will be waiting for you after you have a degree. A degree that you can put to good use to get a job in sales, or anything else that may ultimately afford you some financial freedom, not to mention flexibility to pursue the acting.

Is all of it possible without a college degree? Yes, but you're fighting an uphill battle as it is. Best of luck to you.

Just as an FYI, in 2005 I was $30K in debt in Los Angeles pursuing acting and it was suffocating me. 4 years later, after cutting up every credit card, busting my ass off and focusing on exactly what I wanted, I had no debt, a ton of money in savings and the financial freedom to not stress about every audition, to not worry about rent, to afford new headshots and take classes.

You can do it.

Thanks! And I am pursuing acting on a small scale basis, taking classes through school, and getting involved in school plays, student films and a webseries. I'm not looking for an agent or going out on more auditions until I get more grounded. But looking to the future, I need a job that does allow me more flexibility. I currently have a job that gives me at least 30 hours/week with health benefits and a reasonably flexible schedule, but I still don't get paid enough to save any towards a future in pursuing acting, nor towards getting a car.

I guess I can wait until I'm done with college but at this rate that'll be 4-6 years from now and that feels like FOREVER. I want to at least get started before then.

Everyone has that rush, that urge, that need to get started immediately with the pursuit of the career, but LA is the Major Leagues and you have to be prepared with all the tools and one of those tools is the ability to survive. It's a marathon, not a sprint. It's a long haul. It's not going to be easy. The mental game is the toughest part.

So, with that said, pay yourself first. Debt and financial burdens are some of the main reasons actors give up, let the flame of passion die, and move home, or go and do something else. There's NOTHING WRONG with taking a step away from the industry to gather yourself, to get your financial and emotional house in order, and then come back, energized and recharged.
Everything you said about pursuing it on a small scale basis, classes, etc. are great ideas. Heck, get together with like-minded but financially strapped fellow actors and create your own content. You can get your SAG/AFTRA eligibility that way and then when you're ready, you'll be able to join the union.

Don't worry, Hollywood will wait.

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quote:

Originally posted by lastmidnight:
I don't have a car, or a license, in fact I never learned out to drive and now I just don't have the time or the means to learn (though obviously I will have to learn someday). Also don't have a college degree (currently, slowly and surely, pursuing one) Sadly, this leaves me with pretty much only minimum wage jobs, which one CAN NOT LIVE ON! Grrr. Any ideas of jobs that will get me more than $10/hr that don't require a means of transportation?