#positiveposse - making paper

We are actors, dancers, singers, aerialist, directors, creatives with passion. We are not born to be behind a desk, to join the 9 to 5 commuter crew. We are however also law abiding citizens and need to pay bills and taxes. That's one thing we can't create our way out of... legally.

So we find a job to pay the bills. Or loads of jobs in my case.

My family think I'm crazy for not having a consistent, stable income. But I always have an income. No matter what, I pay my bills, buy my food, swipe for my travel, go to the theatre and take class from the money I have accumulated over time. Since moving to London I haven't been unemployed for anything more than two weeks and am never just doing one job. And I love it that way!

It seems chaotic - lord knows it could be but I have three diaries. That's right three! One on my phone, that links with a separate one on my laptop and in my hand written diary. Yes we want to create masterpieces with wanton abandon but we also want to hone our skills in pricey but worthwhile classes. Being organised is essential to take on the world.

Fail to prepare?
Prepare to fail.

In the past two months alone I have worked for FOUR different companies in four very, VERY different places, all who pay different rates and at different times. I never expect anything. I just arrive early, do my job well, behave myself (mostly) and move onto the next. That being said I have been lucky enough to have been called back to different companies some offering promotions and even some making fantastic friends.

Aside from being paid the other benefit of having a plethora of jobs is the people you meet. My friend says he doesn't network, he makes friends which I think is a great way to approach not only this industry but just life in general. Be pleasant to everyone you come across because you never know who they might be. Don't think how could this benefit me just do your best in that moment and life will do the rest. I've been asked to recommend friends for work and have had others recommend me all because our hardworking, happy reputations proceed us.

But yes, the main benefit is that dollar dollar so just be sensible. Find the tricks, use loyalty cards at coffee shops, find the more cost effective times and routes to travel, go to Itsu in its last half hour and stock up on 1/2 price sushi because that money that you work hard for needs to work hard for you. Invest in yourself. Its all well and good to do all these jobs to a high standard but then spending all your money on pornstar martinis and holidays to Tenerife kind of defeats the point. Whatever pay I get be it a £50 cash in hand job or a healthy monthly wage 20% is automatically saved. Obviously then rent, bills and travel consumes the majority of the remainder but then I can use the rest for workshops, plays, scripts and a bit of tomfoolery with friends.

You can decide to either detest the instability or embrace the flexibility or it all. If you're happy in flexi jobs then when auditions come around you don't see it as a welcome escape, or your underprepared because you got in from serving canapés at the Emirates at 3am, or are because your grumpy that this is your first audition in two months. Enjoy that you are one of the lucky few creating your life. Because that's who we are, actorss, singers, directors, writers, dancers - creators.

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