Overnight Commercial Shoots - Who needs sleep?
Actors are expected to struggle and starve for their art, right?
WRONG!
I'm here to tell you that you can be a working actor and eat well. But you, like many artists, will have to sacrifice some "normal people things" until your art provides for you. I write this as I enter the 5th hour of a 12.5hr overnight commercial shoot. I have to kill time somehow!
I currently work a full time job and work as a stage and commercial actor. What does that mean? That means during the day I am working my office 9 to 5 job, and in the evenings I am doing rehearsals, shows, and shoots. Yes, that means I am pulling 12-14hr days six to seven days a week. Doesn't leave a lot of time for socializing, right? But doing my art is something that revives me emotionally and creatively.
It is important to know that I make sure that I am taking breaks. The entertainment industry is something that can quickly burn you out. Between the long nights, virtually no days off, and constantly having to be "on", it's important that you have times of rest where you do not do anything. Contrary to popular belief, there is value in doing nothing! For me, that means I am sitting binging the Vampire Diaries (don't judge, you have a trashy show that you like too!) or I am playing video games. Currently, I am finishing up the first Watchdogs game on my PS4.
What do you do to avoid burn out?
