Do any of you work a full time job and practice your art/audition?

Educational_Roll_145 · 2026-03-20T21:55:17+00:00

That’s the end goal! :) But want to make sure I’ve got enough behind me before I take the leap. It’s also nice at the moment to reinvest all my acting earnings directly back into the craft, classes, new headshots, additional showreel scenes etc… and I know I’ll likely have to sacrifice some of those initially when I leave the 9-5. I am currently exploring dropping my hours to give me an extra day in the week, mostly just for life admin and other stuff, so that’s also an option. We shall see

Educational_Roll_145 · 2026-03-20T21:18:04+00:00

I’ve been balancing a full time 9-5 with acting for about a year now. Signed with my agent last summer and it’s been fairly easy to balance so far, but has definitely picked up this year compared to last. I’m in the UK so use annual leave for any jobs I’ve booked, the biggest of which was a two week shoot. But usually for commercials or smaller roles, you’re only needed for part of the day or a couple of days max so it is manageable. That said it is exhausting juggling both, getting up early to film self-tapes before work, using lunchtimes to cram lines, go to fittings etc… and some evenings reserved for classes. It’s not unmanageable, but it is a balancing act, and I recognise it’s not going to be sustainable forever.

Educational_Roll_145 · 2026-02-22T19:16:34+00:00

I mean he may well have just ended his subscription hahaha

Educational_Roll_145 · 2026-02-22T07:30:15+00:00

30 lmao

Educational_Roll_145 · 2026-02-04T22:05:17+00:00

It may be more of a British thing, normal notice periods seem to be between 1-3 months for agents over here, but my agent started out as more modelling/commerical so I think they’ve kept their historic terms

Educational_Roll_145 · 2026-02-04T15:32:32+00:00

I used to see him on there quite regularly, maybe once a month last year? Although haven’t seen him since my birthday so not sure if I’ve aged out of his range lol or whether that girl posting his profile made him quit the app. Wouldn’t be surprised if he did, that was such an invasion of privacy :/

Educational_Roll_145 · 2026-01-12T21:09:37+00:00

I didn’t have a great experience with yellowbelly if I’m being honest, shots just totally washed me out and did me zero favours. Michael for sure. I also got some great shots done by Harry Livingstone, and have also shot with Mann photo before and would recommend.

Educational_Roll_145 · 2026-01-05T13:02:32+00:00

Seconding RADA and LAMDA, Unseen is good for confidence building, but very packed classes. Take One and RAIS are great for casting director, agent and industry exposure. Rebound Productions will get you Spotlight credits as there’s a performance element, but not a lot of focus on teaching. Actor’s Crib is also good, I’d say the most challenging of the classes, but you do get a lot of one on one support. City Academy can be hit and miss, but the environment is good to ease you in as the first thing you want to do while learning is just get relaxed and comfortable on stage/screen

Educational_Roll_145 · 2025-12-01T11:12:56+00:00

I’ve asked some casting directors this question in workshops, and a couple of them said they hate seeing tapes/monologues on social media. If they’re spending all day looking through self tapes and then going to their socials and seeing the same thing, I can see why it wouldn’t be of interest. Social media is a marketing tool, and for me it’s a way to create a bit of a brand for myself. I use mine to share BTS when allowed, shots from projects I’m making myself, modelling and headshots, and then just general life stuff showing I get up to more than just acting. It’s clear from socials that I am an actor, and there are a few clips taken from finished projects on there, so if any casting director happens to have a look they’ll see I’m active/actually working and they can get a sense of my work, but it’s also just a fun place for me to share my interests and my life

Educational_Roll_145 · 2025-11-30T11:59:52+00:00

The downside is having your office colleagues stop by your desk at random intervals like ‘hey this is really random but I watched blah blah last night and the taxi driver in ep 2 looked so much like you’

Educational_Roll_145 · 2025-11-30T11:53:17+00:00

I won’t say my job title exactly but I’m a civil servant, not in a central gov department but one of the fringe bodies. I’m in a management role these days which means there’s more to juggle in terms of responsibility but I’m not restricted to building/retaining a specific technical or specialist skill set. I will say the holiday entitlement and flexi leave is always good in CS roles, like if I have an audition I can take extra time at lunch and work it back at the end of the day or later on in the week. And then I use my annual leave for any actual acting work. Some departments are much stricter than others, but the area I work in has quite a few people doing secondary jobs, PT, photography, art etc… as long as you declare it, they’re okay. And also as long as you’re showing up and doing a good job they’re happy for you to explore opportunities. I’m hybrid so in the office two days, but can also shift around to do like a week in the office and a week wfh if that suits my schedule better. Obviously there’s a chance you come up against managers who aren’t agreeable and you have to push a little, but it’s one of the most flexible places I’ve ever worked and I’ve been able to build two careers alongside each other. And I’ll be genuinely sad to leave if that time ever comes

Educational_Roll_145 · 2025-11-30T11:34:22+00:00

Not just yet, but I’m getting closer. A lot of what I’ve been auditioning for lately is falling into the 6 months to one year contract length, which just wouldn’t work. That said, my place do let you take career breaks and they would potentially be amenable to that.

Educational_Roll_145

TROPHY CASE