Between Gigs ?

You are in a holding pattern.#betweengigs #opencastingcalls

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You’re Not Failing. You Are Just In A Holding Pattern.

That is how I view long periods of unemployment in the Entertainment Industry. If you have been in the business for any length of time, you know unemployment is part of this business, and dealing with it requires a plan. If you need an income, then it’s pretty clear what you have to do: You have to get a job, preferably one that is flexible enough to allow you to audition or interview when the opportunities become available.

When there’s no script to read, no call sheet, no rehearsal, no concern about your wardrobe or the props you need, that’s when you start to ask yourself questions about your sanity, for even being in this business. These feelings are normal, but without a simple strategy, you can lose your self-confidence and become less motivated to pursue your dreams.

You Need An In-Between Gig Structure

This is one of the reasons I started the Substack, DoctorMe Newsletter. It gives me a structure that keeps me busy. I have to get up early in the morning. I can’t lie in bed and feel sorry for myself. I need to come up with new ideas to write about, and who the heck wants to hear about them or the experiences I’ve had? I also committed to posting at least one article per week. That’s just the beginning. I have a list of tasks I need to schedule to stay busy and keep posts on time.

Here is the point. If I didn’t have the DoctorMe Newsletter to occupy my time between acting gigs and researching for jobs I would like to audition for, I would be in trouble. I would have too much time to think about why I am failing and why I’m not making enough money to support myself.

You might not be interested in writing or performing stand-up comedy, but you have things that you can do.

• You could get a job at Starbucks or work at Trader Joe’s, or, depending on your other skills, there may be other choices for you. Whatever you decide, focus on the work involved. It will help you pursue your true interests and your life’s goals.

• If you are lucky enough not to need a job to pay your bills, you might take acting lessons or singing lessons, or take piano lessons. You get the idea.

• The important thing is to have a daily structure that keeps you moving, keeps your mind occupied, and prevents you from slipping into neutral and just thinking about the empty side of the entertainment business.

  I could make up a daily schedule for you, but it wouldn’t work. Everyone is different, and the list of things to do in the empty time between gigs has to be made by you. It's going to depend on things, the least of which is your skills. If they aren’t sellable, then choose something else. It might even be something you have to learn to do, like operating a cash register, operating a forklift, or stocking shelves in a store.

In Conclusion

This DoctorMe post was written for people who love the entertainment business but often feel depressed about not always having a Gig. They are constantly between jobs, between chances, between paychecks.

If something written here steadies you or helps you stay on track, there’s a small tip jar below. It helps keep this space alive for the next person who needs it.CLICK ON IT. You will feel Good you did. All it requires is One Dollar.

#BetweenGigs #ActorLife #CreativeLife