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Post by kathryn on Sept 4, 2018 12:16:14 GMT
I just do not understand the sneeriness at all. I mean, why? What is the point?
Maybe we're lucky here, in that our owner/founder is very involved in the arts, and so the attitude filters down. (She was telling us not so long ago about spending the night in a bar with Mark Rylance and the cast of Twelfth Night, during the Globe broadway run. She donated a bundle to the Globe and helped fundraise for the transfer.)
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Post by Deleted on Sept 4, 2018 12:34:59 GMT
Why don't I ever see actors doing normal jobs?
I'd love for Tom Bateman to top me up in the garage or dear Jonny B fill up my sack in Waitrose.
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Post by adrianics on Sept 4, 2018 13:10:22 GMT
Who was the Broadway actress who tweeted about having a shift at the fish factory, and also a Tony Award?
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Post by Phantom of London on Sept 4, 2018 13:28:52 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Sept 4, 2018 13:41:16 GMT
I just do not understand the sneeriness at all. I mean, why? What is the point? Maybe we're lucky here, in that our owner/founder is very involved in the arts, and so the attitude filters down. (She was telling us not so long ago about spending the night in a bar with Mark Rylance and the cast of Twelfth Night, during the Globe broadway run. She donated a bundle to the Globe and helped fundraise for the transfer.) The classic was (in the now known 'murder temp job from hell') 'You think you're better than this job' Nah lads I just really really don't want to do murder admin (for those who don't know the context it's here) On the flip side, when my manager at my last 'proper' job retired, shortly before my contract was up she took me aside and said 'You're better than this and I hope you get something where they use you properly' which was you know nice, if a year too late haha. Generally though in my vast temping experience I find it's in the more 'static' companies/organisations where people come in and do one job forever. They are for some reason deeply suspicious of those doing it either just to gain experience in the short term, or as a stop gap. Which is a shame because vast temping/fixed term experience has taught me everyone learns something from both someone coming in short term, and doing a variety of jobs. Even murder admin. |
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Post by 49thand8th on Sept 4, 2018 14:01:24 GMT
Here's a followup. He had to quit TJ's because of the attention! The rest is a great read, though: people.com/tv/cosby-show-actor-geoffrey-owens-proud-working-trader-joes/I used to work at an ad agency and a coworker in a somewhat senior management position who was a jazz singer who occasionally acted off- and off-off-Broadway. She kept it quiet about it, but if you found out, she wouldn't deny it. She'd also use her vacation time to sing in gigs out of the country. I haven't worked there in a few years, and sometimes I consider showing up to one of her gigs! I wonder how she'd react (we're on good terms)... |
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Post by sf on Sept 4, 2018 14:31:14 GMT
Who was the Broadway actress who tweeted about having a shift at the fish factory, and also a Tony Award? Daisy Eagan? |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 4, 2018 16:15:57 GMT
Front of House jobs in theatres are a good one as well, most of them are out of work actors! I know a few jobbing actors in London, no one of any fame but money is a constant issue when you don't know here your next income is coming from. The vast majority of actors aren't rich movies stars and so they all need something between jobs to keep afloat. I wonder for example, what are the stars of Downton Abbey doing right now? Very recognisable faces but some of them could well be doing normal jobs at any given time. It must be annoying when people recognise you and ask stupid questions. I know Laura Carmichael was working as a Dr's receptionist when she got the Downton role. A lot of that cast were established or have gone onto better things so maybe not an obvious thing to consider.
The girl who played Phelan's daughter in Corrie was temping before she got that role as she was the one who opened her mouth about being expected to wear high heels whilst at work.
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Post by samuelwhiskers on Sept 4, 2018 17:56:47 GMT
I've always thought I'd be amazing at murder admin. I'm too squeamish for actual murder, but all the planning and paperwork? Sign me up!
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Post by david on Sept 4, 2018 18:05:44 GMT
Murder admin? It would have been the death of me doing that job if colleagues tried to stab me in the back.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 4, 2018 19:11:53 GMT
hahaha well actually that's exactly what happened!! Anyway I blogged about my year of temping today, as it's related to this discussion here's the link. |
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Post by frontrowcentre on Sept 4, 2018 19:30:34 GMT
I'm pretty sure Damian Humbley was wearing a Transport for London uniform when I saw him once on the street around Soho
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Post by Deleted on Sept 5, 2018 8:53:22 GMT
I'm pretty sure Damian Humbley was wearing a Transport for London uniform when I saw him once on the street around Soho I know it's tangental but am I the only one who finds him really attractive? ...I'll get my coat (or my Oyster card) Anyway back on track, a lot of actors also work as Personal Trainers etc because that is flexible and if your'e a dancer/keeping your body in shape anyway it's a better income generator that average temping. Even producers, especially those trying to start out/make their own way in the world outside the 'big boys' have second jobs. One I'm working with does some kind of copy editing for big companies another does the more 'classic' actor route and works in a theatre bar by night. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 5, 2018 9:25:01 GMT
know it's tangental but am I the only one who finds him really attractive? ...I'll get my coat (or my Oyster card) He is. He has very kind eyes. |
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Post by Dawnstar on Sept 5, 2018 17:04:19 GMT
I'm pretty sure Damian Humbley was wearing a Transport for London uniform when I saw him once on the street around Soho I know it's tangental but am I the only one who finds him really attractive? ...I'll get my coat (or my Oyster card) I do too. I had rather a crush on him when he was in Lend Me A Tenor especially. Having just caught up on this thread, I'm baffled that someone would think that an actir having a second job is unusual. I imagine there are far, far more actors have second jobs than don't. I can think of 3 actors I'm acquainted with that I've bumped into working FOH in West End theatres in the last couple of years in between being in other WE shows & I'm sure there must be hundreds more. I've been temping for the same company for over 10 years & I sometimes hope to come across other temps who are actors but I never have done. I suppose because it's in Cambridge rather than London. I think it would be really interesting to work with temping actors. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 5, 2018 18:44:26 GMT
Given that it's a Well Known Fact that there are several times more actors than roles for them to fill I'm genuinely astonished that it still comes as a surprise to people that actors take on other jobs when they're not acting. Back when my mother was performing it was pretty much the rule that two of the essential skills for an actress were shorthand and typing.
(In fact, given how astounded people seem to be when they see an actor doing something mundane like buying groceries it appears that many of the public struggle with the idea that actors continue to exist when they're not on stage or in front of a camera.)
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Post by Mr Snow on Sept 6, 2018 5:54:52 GMT
I think what’s different with Actors is occasionally one gets publicly 'outed' for having to do this. The tone of the media is sneering. No one should have to justify their choices or put up with this kind of intrusion. But this thread is still a little worshippy and fawning over 'creatives'. Lots of people have to work hard to get by, why should actors be any different? www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/sep/05/american-teachers-second-jobs-how-i-survive I probably shouldn't have posted on here, it’s just real life. The same rules apply for everyone. |
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Post by kathryn on Sept 6, 2018 7:25:49 GMT
The fact that people in the creative industries need second jobs to get by is accepted because we recognise that there’s an oversupply of people whose dream it is to work in them.
The fact that the likes of teachers in America have to do it is shocking - an absolute travesty. America’s leaders should be thoroughly ashamed of the situation.
As far as I am aware, no-one sneakily takes pictures of them to flog to the Daily Mail as a story for people to sneer about, though. It’s the sneering news coverage - and the reaction to it- that prompted the discussion.
A discussion of the dreadful state of the economy in general/failure of late capitalism to produce a fair society probably needs a dedicated thread.
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Post by Mr Snow on Sept 6, 2018 8:23:32 GMT
(This is why I probably should have kept out of this thread.)
Kathryn I have no desire to provoke you, but when do you think Teachers (and off the top of my head e.g. Creatives, Car repair men, Hairdressers, Bar tenders and Gardeners (my trade)) started doing more than one job? It’s been going on forever. When I was at school 50 years ago, Teachers coached for cash, ran social clubs, had their own shops on the side and FWIW the person who I know who made the biggest pile of dosh started as a teacher. He would garden for cash at the weekend and every holiday. After a couple of years he went into business for himself, worked harder than ever and eventually sold out to venture capitalists. Equally some Teachers worked their whole life in the same career. Some did extra jobs and some didn’t. Their choice.
As I said I think it’s wrong to expose that (or any) Actor/person in the way that happened. It’s just the way this thread has morphed with the assumption that creatives need extra sympathy because many have to have more than one job, that I take exception to.
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Post by kathryn on Sept 6, 2018 8:39:02 GMT
This is a theatreboard, so we tend to talk about actors and creatives who work in theatre. I don't think anyone is saying that those creatives deserve extra sympathy than anyone else - just not to be sneered at.
Seriously, if you want to talk about the wider issues, why not start a separate thread? It could be a very interesting discussion - but it's a huge topic, and likely to completely take over this thread!
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Post by Mr Snow on Sept 6, 2018 8:48:34 GMT
This is a theatreboard, so we tend to talk about actors and creatives who work in theatre. I don't think anyone is saying that those creatives deserve extra sympathy than anyone else - just not to be sneered at. Seriously, if you want to talk about the wider issues, why not start a separate thread? It could be a very interesting discussion - but it's a huge topic, and likely to completely take over this thread! I am clearly not making my point well and will withdraw, stage left. |
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Post by Snciole on Sept 6, 2018 9:07:42 GMT
I worked with a temp who was lovely and had happened to be a lead character in Holby City at one time (her husband was also working abroad in a successful series). I think she had got disillusioned with acting and temping was more reliable than freelancing in terms of pay. She ended up leaving when she got her first acting job in a year.
I also work with someone who temps because of the flexibility, he will go off for auditions or to be in Eastenders. Unless you are in a long running soap or an incredibly successful actor you will have down periods where money isn't coming in.
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Post by hal9000 on Sept 6, 2018 9:13:29 GMT
(This is why I probably should have kept out of this thread.) As I said I think it’s wrong to expose that (or any) Actor/person in the way that happened. It’s just the way this thread has morphed with the assumption that creatives need extra sympathy because many have to have more than one job, that I take exception to. No need to apologise for your perspective Mr Snow. I think the interest and sympathetic eye towards actors is because of the spectre of celebrity and the way perceived economic value effects social hierarchies. It’s a problem with the culture overall. |
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