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There's something almost romantic about being a starving artist in your 20s, but in your 30s? Not so much. The novelty of getting disconnection notices, mooching for cheap beer and living in basement suite dumps starts to wear off after a certain age.
With that in mind, there may come a time when you have to make a choice: Continue living the dream at the expense of financial stability or get a day job.
Neil McBride chose the latter. The gregarious grip followed his heart for several years. He had an agent, glossy head shot and the whole bit. But after a while, he started getting more work as a grip. Then he bought a house and that pretty much sealed the deal.
"I couldn't afford to continue it," says McBride of pursuing his dream of being the next Matt Dillon.
He also started getting frustrated with the kind of parts he was being called out for, and had the distinct feeling that even though he was getting called back for second readings, he didn't have a snowball's chance in hell.
"Casting agents always hire the same people because they know that they can act, so they always use the same people," says McBride. "So as soon as I walked into a room and saw five guys who work continuously, I knew I was just there as a filler."
While every person's situation is different, McBride thinks that most aspiring actor would be wise to give themselves some sort of timeline before throwing in the towel.
"If you haven't reached success by that timeline then maybe it's time to find something new ... but give it a good five years first."
As for McBride, he sometimes regrets calling it a day so soon. But overall, he's happy with his choice. That's partly because he still gets to work in the industry he always wanted to be in (just not in front of the camera). And then there's the financial benefits of being a film technician.
"Having a house is pretty cool and having a car is cool," he says before adding, "And being able to afford eating's pretty cool, too."
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If you can't make it as an actor, here are five other high-paying film-industry gigs worth pursuing:
- Key Grip
$30.98 - 32.53/hour
- Set Costumer
$23.20 - 25.46/hour
- Scenic Carpenter
$25.46 - 27.94/hour
- Hair Stylist
$30.98 - 32.53/hour
- Wild Animal Trainer
$27.11 - 29.75/hour
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"Acting is the most minor of gifts and not a very high-class way to earn a living. After all, Shirley Temple could do it at the age of four."
- Katharine Hepburn, actor
"Acting is half shame, half glory. Shame at exhibiting yourself, glory when you can forget yourself."
- John Gielgud, actor
"Acting is standing up naked and turning around very slowly."
- Rosalind Russell, actor
"For an actress to be a success she must have the face of Venus, the brains of Minerva, the grace of Terpsichore, the memory of Macaulay, the figure of Juno and the hide of a rhinoceros."
- Ethel Barrymore, actor
"I'd probably have been wealthier if I had stayed with law, but pretty miserable doing it."
- Cillian Murphy, actor
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