How Actors Make Money When They’re Not Acting
When you think of movie stars, what comes to mind? While many people picture actors like Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie during the filming of their newest blockbuster, others may think about superstars like Tom Cruise or Adam Sandler between projects. In reality, though, there are plenty of actors and actresses out there who are actively trying to find work. And that’s why it can be hard to figure out how these stars make money. But here’s the thing—there are plenty of ways that they can make money even when they’re not filming or promoting a new project!
Always Work on Your Craft
Of course, it doesn’t always make sense to be on set when you’re not actually shooting. The best actors take advantage of those down times by focusing on their craft. They read, learn new skills (e.g., accents, dialects), attend acting classes and rehearsals, etc. So next time you’re waiting to work on a movie or TV show—or even an ad campaign—be sure to spend your time wisely: keep sharpening your skills and focus on getting better. It’ll benefit you in future projects and help ensure that they turn out well too!
Create a Brand
It can take a long time to break into acting, and many aspiring actors find themselves waiting tables to make ends meet in between auditions. While everyone knows that pursuing your passion is well worth it, you have to keep yourself out of poverty at all costs—especially when it means borrowing money from friends and family. If you need a steady income right away, you might want to create a side hustle or start a brand. Branding yourself lets you earn an income while developing skills that are transferable across multiple industries; as long as you choose something with staying power (like personal training or consulting), acting gigs will likely eventually follow suit. It’s also more enjoyable than waiting tables!
Appear in Short Films
Short films are a cheap and easy way for actors to be filmed on camera. Short films are often shot with a bare-bones crew and not much money, so you can expect cast and crew to be working for free or significantly reduced rates. However, there is still opportunity to make some extra cash from appearing in short films. The first place that comes to mind is by charging for your own wardrobe and/or make-up work (for female actors). And, if you have a great agent or manager, they may be able to negotiate higher payments for projects as well—especially if your career is just starting out or picking up steam. There is also quite a bit of opportunity here in terms of sponsorships…if you’ve got what it takes!
Take Commercial Work
If you have an agent, make sure to ask him or her about side gigs. Commercial work is often a good way to make money fast—but it can be hard to get booked. If you have contacts at different agencies, you may be able to find out which ones are doing casting for what commercial roles. Once you know that information, send in your headshot and resume, even if they aren’t looking for extras on that particular project. Who knows? You might just snag yourself a job and earn some extra dough while waiting for your next big gig. Another option? Ask friends who live in areas with film industry hubs if they can help put you in touch with casting directors who might be looking for extras or stand-ins!
Write and Sell Screenplays
Writing a screenplay is one of the best ways to become a successful actor. You not only learn how to write compelling characters, but you gain an insight into what it takes to sell a movie pitch and get your name in lights. Actors like Aaron Eckhart and Samuel L. Jackson started their careers by writing screenplays, while Hollywood hopefuls like Jaden Smith are already penning their next project before they can even drive! If writing doesn’t appeal, getting involved with small local productions will at least give you experience working with filmmakers and help you learn more about what’s required on set—which is perfect if you’re hoping to break into acting as a director or producer.
Get a product placement fee
It’s pretty common knowledge that if you’re lucky enough to get a role in a major motion picture, there’s going to be some hefty residuals involved. But did you know that actors also get paid every time their movie is watched? That’s right—actors get paid every time someone rents a DVD of their film or records it on Netflix. It might not sound like much, but if your video gets watched by 100 people, and let’s say you charge $0.20 per view (which is about average for these services), that could amount to an extra $20. You don’t even have to do anything to make money!
Be an Expert on Something
While you may think being a Jack of all trades is an impressive feat, you want to focus on your strengths in order to make money. If you aren’t working as an actor, think about what other skills or talents you have and then consider what types of jobs they might lead to. You don’t need to be pursuing a new career path – it’s often possible (and beneficial) to work within your existing industry and not change careers entirely. For example, if you’re a hairstylist who specializes in special effects makeup for film, television and theater, what kinds of events might your services be useful for? What other companies do those people work with? What special skill sets do they need on set or while filming?
Host Events/Seminars
Events like public speaking and Q&A panels can be a great way to keep your name in front of people who might consider hiring you for future work. Many celebrities and actors also hold Q&A sessions after movie screenings, offering opportunities to fans that might not otherwise get in-person access. If acting is your passion, why not turn it into a revenue stream? Simply offering services like acting tips and lessons or ask me anything sessions where fans can get answers to questions related to acting can help you earn some extra cash while doing what you love. As long as demand is there, someone will always need an acting coach.
Sponsorship
A great way to make money while staying busy is working with a sponsor. Sponsorships are just like they sound: You get paid for promoting a company or product. You can sign up with an agency, like The Jeff Herman Agency, and receive multiple offers for sponsorship deals. Once you pick one, it will send you sponsored content to post about on your social media accounts. The best part is you only have to do it once, and there will be no further obligation. Just make sure that before you sign on with any sponsors that you read all of their social media policies in order to comply with FTC regulations.
Brand deals
Similar to a traditional endorsement deal, brands pay talent to feature their products in social media posts and product placements. For example, an actor might be paid to drink a brand of coffee or wear a designer dress when they attend industry events. A clothing line might pay an actor to wear their fashions when walking down a red carpet or modeling on a talk show. Through these types of deals, talent can make anywhere from $500 for posing with your product in a photo shoot to hundreds of thousands for representing your company publicly at speaking engagements and other events over time.