"If you want to compare hours worked between an actor and, say, someone doing data entry, don’t forget to account for lessons, classes, press, gym, rehearsals... or we could just not compare apples to oranges."
Yes, that's not an unusual response, but it doesn't take into account that many performers don't do any of those things. "Lessons" and "classes" may be popular (or even necessary) for some, but then so would "professional development" be for those in many other industries. "Press" can sometimes take a lot of time, but the brunt of that happens during rehearsals and previews (and generally, only for a few principal performers). I would remove "gym" from the list, as that's an aspect life relevant to anyone, not just performers - we all have the same need to stay fit and healthy.
Entertainment fans do often like to believe the sentimental myth that performing is a dog's life, but I've found very few performers who would agree (there is one actor I know who occasionally bemoans all the parties and events he has to miss because he works nights, but he seems to me to be an anomaly.) Most actors (in my experience), even struggling ones, seem to shudder in horror at the thought of leaving the industry and moving into the World of Drudgery. Performing provides an ongoing high that accounting (or marketing or recruiting or event-planning or personal assisting or financial advising) simply doesn't.
Updated On: 7/6/18 at 10:01 AM
