I'd like to echo everyone's sentiments and say this is a thought provoking and important thread. My two cents on the topic and some of them are review:
***Acting is a marathon, not a sprint.
***Timetables simply edge you one day closer to the failure date.
***That said, there is a need for artistic integrity, a reality check, and an ability to survive. How does one do that?
***To go all in as an actor means being committed to a Bohemian, minimalist lifestyle for as long as one can foreseeably do so, or to find purely flexible, yet financially liberating ways to do so.
***I was (an am) fortunate enough to work for a company that pays me as well as any of my non-actor friends and gives me a great degree of flexibility. There are sometimes conflicts-I was just offered a role in a horror film, with 36 hours notice, because I knew the director and another actor had to drop out. I was already booked on a work trip and couldn't get out of it. That's a lost opportunity to create art. I call it the "golden handcuffs." The money is nice and reduces the stress that a bartender or server may have worrying about rent, but the flip side is that I may be chained to my desk or job and not be able to make that commitment to create art.
****All in all, if you can do something else, do it. The odds of "success" (mainstream, financial success) in this industry are small, almost insurmountable. BUT, if you CRAVE this career, if it's your undying passion, and you can accept NOT having some of the trappings of life that your peers have (home, nice car, savings), then do it and do it with heart and conviction.

After nine years in LA, even though 2012 was a great year for me (3 films, 1 national), my career trajectory wasn't moving UP in the direction or pace I wanted it to, so I relocated back to Atlanta to take advantage of the market here. Perhaps it'll help, perhaps not, but sometimes shaking up the status quo is what is needed to get the engine in gear.

This is just me personally but I dont think I will ever let go of "the dream"

Great post. I actually gave up the 'dream' of being successful 'famous' actor during my mid 20s. But I always was performing on the side just because I miss it.
I went back to school to get my accounting degree. Wow, was accounting ever boring!

Then at 29, I broke off from life. I broke with a girl of 11 years and moved out to NYC. I was scared I was going to be a normal 9 to 5. I didn't want the burden of family and kids.

Then reality set in. I needed to carry myself with a good paying job. I worked in finance. But I saw I'm horrible at minuscule desk jobs. I realize that I need to enjoy my job, actin or not. I have a certain temperament.

Mind you, I was doing acting through classes or stand up or improv. I never stopped the acting, just the chase of a professional career.
I really enjoy acting. To me, it's a freelance per contract career. I see an acting career now as a , 'hey I'm getting paid doing something! I'll take it.' I do want the bigger pay checks and I'm working toward that by having started my own webseries, writing my own script and theater co. Now I plan to make them visible. I do want a family and house whether it's through acting or a day second career that's more engaging to me. But my end overall goal is to make the money from the acting jobs project by project while making a decent living from a day job.

I really doubt I'm going to stop pushing for a professional career whether its doing pro projects or amateur, DIY or not. I already have a director for a script who offered to be on without pay; and I have my theater co elyon theatre co that puts up three shows a year. I use it to showcase to industry.

Hi everyone, Kim here. I don't think anyone should ever give up on a dream or goal. If you are passionate about your success and you can feel it, see it, vision it. Your dreams do really come through. You must go after your dreams with pig headed discipline

quote:

Originally posted by jason75:
Great post. I actually gave up the 'dream' of being successful 'famous' actor during my mid 20s. But I always was performing on the side just because I miss it.
I went back to school to get my accounting degree. Wow, was accounting ever boring!

Then at 29, I broke off from life. I broke with a girl of 11 years and moved out to NYC. I was scared I was going to be a normal 9 to 5. I didn't want the burden of family and kids.

Then reality set in. I needed to carry myself with a good paying job. I worked in finance. But I saw I'm horrible at minuscule desk jobs. I realize that I need to enjoy my job, actin or not. I have a certain temperament.

Mind you, I was doing acting through classes or stand up or improv. I never stopped the acting, just the chase of a professional career.
I really enjoy acting. To me, it's a freelance per contract career. I see an acting career now as a , 'hey I'm getting paid doing something! I'll take it.' I do want the bigger pay checks and I'm working toward that by having started my own webseries, writing my own script and theater co. Now I plan to make them visible. I do want a family and house whether it's through acting or a day second career that's more engaging to me. But my end overall goal is to make the money from the acting jobs project by project while making a decent living from a day job.

I really doubt I'm going to stop pushing for a professional career whether its doing pro projects or amateur, DIY or not. I already have a director for a script who offered to be on without pay; and I have my theater co elyon theatre co that puts up three shows a year. I use it to showcase to industry.

What's your day job now?

I don't have a day job currently. I do make money from day trading currency. I want to finish up a script and get it ready for perfection.

quote:

Originally posted by jason75:
I don't have a day job currently. I do make money from day trading currency. I want to finish up a script and get it ready for perfection.

Congratulations. I hope it get's picked up.