Business or Pleasure?

Business or Pleasure?

Air Date: March 23, 2023

Whenever you cross the border, a security person behind the counter often asks,

“Business or pleasure?”. Isn’t that strange. Like it is one or the other, not both at the same time. Think of it. If you answered, “Both”, then you just might be in for further scrutiny. Are you an actor for business or pleasure? Can it be both? Being a creative person, it is often a challenge to your business abilities while the fun part is less important if you can’t pay the rent. On today’s episode, we’ll explore the answers we give when asked, business or pleasure? Welcome to Casting Actors Cast, the podcast for actors.

Acting strictly for pleasure (Local Theatre, community group or occasional professional gig):

Not dependent on your personal survival (rent, food, clothing)

Multiple avenues for your creativity/life (Family, work, relationships)

Performance pressure is manageable.

Acting strictly for business:

Taking acting jobs without regard to career development.

Saying yes to everything often leads to feeling compromised.

Does not often feed your creativity.

Feels temporary as the business is always evolving.

Pressured environment

Acting for business AND pleasure:

Balance of creativity and career

Often allows other areas of personal development.

Business is about money/career while acting is the “service” actors provide.

Issues with both business and pleasure acting:

Always fluid; more money is often less fulfilling.

Actors must be in constant decision-making mode.

The role is usually better than the money (sometimes!)

So, what category do you find yourself in? Are you an actor for the potential financial rewards? Is your love of acting more important than other choices you might be interested in? As long as you maintain a healthy perspective and embrace the challenges that a professional career might entail, it can be BOTH business and pleasure!