Be $mart When It Comes To Finance$

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The other day I was talking about frugality and it is true, these are trying times. But as an actor it is important to be smart when it comes to finances. When I first became a professional actor and by professional I mean getting paid to act, I was so excited. I had done plays and student films. I had done industrials and even did make-up for indie films. I did extra work for $8/hr just to learn the ropes. As I got more familiar with acting and knew I wanted to do this for a living and not just a hobby, it became necessary to sit down with my family and have that financial talk.

Acting is not cheap. There are expenses for head shots, photographers, printing, postcards. You have to have reliable transportation to get to auditions and pay for parking. There are dancing classes and voice lessons and acting classes. You must have a decent wardrobe. You may also have a membership to a gym. Unless you are married to a sugar daddy or sugar mama, it takes juggling of time and finances to be successful.

When I first started getting paid for my work I put all my monies into the family account to help out. But then I quickly realized that acting jobs are hard to come by. And as soon as the money came in, out it went to help pay bills. Then I learned that it is important to put some of those monies aside for a rainy day.

Head shots should look like you. You cannot have a head shot from 4 years ago. They must be current. I actually have several that I use. A good head shot will get you an audition. It rarely gets you the job but it does get you in the door. So don't skimp on head shots.

On my last job which was a national commercial for Pepsi, I was talking with some of the other background actors. The moment I said that I used to be a banker I got every one's attention. Unfortunately, most people I meet on the set are good when it comes to being creative but they are not good when it comes to the business side of show business.

Many people spend all their money as soon as they get it. But what if the next acting job doesn't happen for 3 months? Then how do you eat? How do you pay the rent? How do you pay for the next set of head shots? It takes planning. Believe me I love to go out to eat and I love a fine dinner with wine. But if I ate that way every day I would be broke all the time. So now, I try to remember those lean times. And then I put away the rest for that rainy day. And rainy days will come, even in southern California. So remember, be smart when it comes to finances.

Time to be Frugal

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Actors - Hollywood...I love my actor friends. They are so special to me. Creative artists, dancers, actors, poets, writers, directors, camera men and women. I talk to so many others in the business. What I am finding is that we are all going through difficult times. Gone are the days when we could spend away and not worry about tomorrow. But how can a girl still look during a financial crisis? Read on...

I have been thinking of ways to be creative, save money and still do what we need to do. One of the things I love to do is get a manicure/pedicure. However, it will cost at least $25 and then add a tip. Or, you can watch how they do it, buy the essentials and save yourself some money by doing it yourself at home. I buy those little spongy toe separators. I buy a pumice stone to take away rough patches around the heels of your feet. You can then easily clip away toe nails, scrub the heels with a brush and then use your pumice stone. Wipe and pat dry. Use moisturizing lotion. Grab an emery board and shape your nails. Use the tools to take away any cuticles. Use the base coat, then your nail color. Let dry and then use your top coat to set your color. It normally takes 20 minutes to 30 minutes but then you save tons of $$$ and have fabulous looking nails.

Dollar stores are a great place to buy some of the above items. I also like to buy make-up sponges, round cotton type make-up remover, bath sponges, shower gel and cotton swabs. I also found eye shadow collections, black eyeliner pencils and lipsticks. Then I was surprised to find black demi false eyelashes. Oh my goodness, I couldn't believe my eyes. I grabbed 3 packs and really I should have put all of them in my little cart. When I went back to buy the rest of them, they were all gone. You can also buy tissues, paper towels and pot holders for $1 each. Why pay more?

One thing I won't skimp on is good shampoo and conditioner. I go to a professional hair stylist once per month to keep my color looking fabulous and to keep my hair neatly trimmed. As an actor, my product is me and I owe it to myself to stay in top form. My head shots are current and it is up to me to make sure I look like my head shot. If I have a fabulous head shot and I come in looking all scruffy and unkempt then what are casting directors going to think? I buy Paul Mitchell products and use only the best for my hair.

Visit your dentist at least twice per year. My dentist and the assistants love me. They always ask me when my next film is, commercial or print ad. They know I rely on them to keep my teeth looking fab. My insurance covers two visits per year. With teeth whitening, veneers and regular brushing and flossing, my teeth always look great.

Get your sleep! There is nothing like a good night's sleep to keep your skin looking good, your hair and eyes sparkly. Don't exercise right before bed time. Get a regular schedule so you can get some good sleep. If you are a worrier and have something huge coming up, you know you need your sleep. Once in awhile it is okay to take a sleep aide like Tylenol PM. It has helped me when I need an extra amount of sleep. But never take alcohol with sleep aids. A big no no!

Never fall asleep with your make-up on. Always moisturize before you go to bed and after washing your face first thing in the morning. Use a sunblock of 30 or higher.

I ran into an actor friend once at an audition. Her hair color had faded and her hair was all frizzy. She had no make-up on. Her overall appearance was tired and unkempt. I, on the other hand, was relaxed and refreshed. My hair looked good, my clothes were clean and pressed. I arrived 15 minutes early and was ready to go. I had directions, extra head shots with me and was eager to audition. I could tell that she knew I looked great and she was a mess. I felt badly for her but just for a moment.

This is a very competitive business. We owe it to ourselves to be our best and give our best at every audition. You can save money and still look good. You can be the professional that you know you are. You owe it to yourself to be your very best and to shine. It's never to late to begin. These principles are the same if you are an actor, a banker, a salesperson, or a nurse. Until the economy turns around we can still look great and be frugal too.

Super Bowl

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Nothing like starting the year in my career than with a Super Bowl commercial. Yay! I auditioned for a role in a Pepsi commercial. And lo and behold, I got it! Go to www.Pepsi.com and see the commercial called Kings Court with Sir Elton John. If you look at 30 seconds into the commercial, you will see me dancing. I am left to right the 4th or 5th person, standing next to a tall man who is dressed as a juggler. He is wearing a one piece yellow and red leotard. We are all dancing to Respect!

Starting the year off right!