If you asking yourself, “Am I ready to move to Hollywood?” then read my previous post first and then come back to this one because this post is an extension of the previous one. Go to previous post here.

In my previous post, one of the necessities I list is that you should have AT LEAST 5,000.00 in savings before you make the move. 

You should be smart about your move to Hollywood and moving here with at least 5,000.00 will be the first smart move you make in your career. Many hopefuls come out here to Hollywood with maybe a few hundred dollars thinking that’ll cover headshots… then they’ll get a job to pay for rent… and then they think they’re set.

Those people that do that end up packing up their bags and heading back home because they couldn’t find a job to pay for rent or they don’t have money for acting classes or they have money for the basics to get them started… there is just so much people need to think about before they move.

Wait to move if you don’t have 5,000 dollars….

You’re going to waste your time and money if you don’t come out here with enough money, so just wait. Waiting 5 months, 1 year, two years will not hurt you as much as coming out here and moving back home will. 

Get two jobs or something in your hometown and just work work work for 5 months and if you are working 40hrs a week and getting paid minimum wage (8.00) you’ll have 5,600 at the end of 5 months after tax if you don’t spend any of it. Prove to yourself that you want this and that your willing to work and be smart about it. 

Also while you’re working and waiting to move begin to immerse your self with film industry stuff by reading articles about actors you admire or watch every single movie of a serious successful acting and investigate their progression from there first movie to most preset. (I”ll make another post on things you can do for your career when your not in LA yet.)

Breaking Down the 5,000 Dollars!

Here is a breakdown of where that 5,000 dollars is going to go. First, let’s say you rent a studio or a room in Hollywood for 800.00…

Rent and Deposit: 800.00 (rent) + 800.00 (deposit) = 1,600.00

Balance = 3,400

Now you have a place to live and you need to calculate in 1 months worth of groceries because that is the time you have allotted yourself to find a job.

Groceries = 350.00

Balance = 3,050.00

Now that you have food and a place to live you should get into an acting class. Acting classes range from 150.00-450.00 depending on who you go to and how often you go. Go here to see a list of acting classes in Los Angeles I recommend and their prices. So lets do the average between 150 and 450:

One month cost of acting class = 300.00

Balance = 2,750.00

Now you have food, shelter, and are now going to acting classes, making friends in the industry, learning new things, now you should get some headshots so you can go on auditions. Headshots, depending on the package you get, can cost from 150-750 dollars so once again we will do the average of those two numbers:

Headshots = 450.00

Balance = 2,300.00

Now you almost have all the basic tools to get yourself going. Now that you have headshots you’ll need to print them. Go here to get the links to the two most popular photo printing centers actors use here in Hollywood.

Printing cost = 100.00

Balance = 2,200.00

Now your headshots are printed and you almost have everything you need to go out on auditions. When you go to an audition you need your headshot with the resume on the back. Normal 8x11 computer paper does not fit on the back of 8x10 headshots so you will need to buy resume paper, found here, and double sided sticky tape. You want you headshot presentation to looks as professional as possible. 

Some people say you can just staple the resume on and cut the 8x11 paper to fit the headshot but I personally don’t think it looks as clean and crisp. And spending the money on resume paper and sticky tape shows that you go above and beyond to present yourself as professional as possible. 

Resume paper = 10.00 for 100 sheets

sticky tape = 6.00

Balance = 2,184.00

Now you have everything you need to take to an audition, you also now have some training which you should continue! Now you need to get some auditions to go to because you don’t have an agent yet… and really shouldn’t get one yet either if you have never acted before… I’ll make a post later about what you should do your first year in Hollywood. To find legitimate auditions you will need to sign up for a sight called lacasting.com. 

Lacasting.com is a sight where indie and student project casting calls are posted. Many auditions are for USC or UCLA grad student projects as well as many aspiring film makers cast through this website as well. The sight cost 14.95 a month and has a photo set up fee of 25.00 each photo after your first upload. It does not cost anything to submit to projects. You pay 14.95 a month and submit to as many castings as you please. (note: lacasting.com is a legit site. Some people may be weary when you have to pay money for stuff… shouldn’t it be free? but when you move down here and start going to classes you’ll hear about it all the time and all your friends who are smart will be using it. Trust me! I use it and my friends use it.) 

3 photo upload cost = 50.00

initial one time sign up fee = 20.00

1st month subscription fee = 14.95

Balance = 2099.05

Now say a month has gone by, you’ve been to class for a month now and maybe a few auditions. You didn’t find a job until the end of the month so you had to use your savings for some gas money and maybe a few extra things like plates, towels, extra things you don’t think when you move away from home. Lets say that that all equals about 500.05.

Gas, furniture, extras = 500.05

Balance = 1,599.00

So at the end of the 1st month living in Hollywood you spent 3,401.00 all on things that will get your career moving along so that’s great! You now have about 1,600.00 in savings which should be used for emergencies, classes, anything acting related that can’t be covered from your jobs monthly income.

You shouldn’t be going out to the movies or dinner with your friends 40.00 is just too much to spend right now for you. You are really going to have to control yourself from buying or doing anything that you don’t need because when you are just scraping by 40.00 could have been a weeks worth of gas that would have gotten you to your auditions. 

Find fun things you can do for free and hang out with friends who are in the same financial boat as you because it will make things easier. I hope this helps anyone getting ready to move out to Hollywood. Like and reblog so more people can see this and realize why it is a necessity to have at least 5,000.00 before they move out here.

It would be ideal to have 10,000.00 in savings when you come out because there are going to be so many little things that will drain your bank account and to have the security blanket of 6,600… it will keep you less stressed and in great mental and physical health which allows you to spend all your energy on pursuing your career :)

Have a question? Don’t hesitate to ask me!

New post tomorrow on where that 5,000 dollars your supposed to bring to Hollywood with you will go…

If your thinking of moving to Hollywood. You won’t want to miss it!

Follow Now so the post ends up in your Dashboard Tomorrow or be sure to visit the site tomorrow :)

Love,

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If you are asking yourself the question: “Should I make the move to Hollywood to be an actor or model etc.?” then here are a few things to consider:

1. Can you see yourself doing anything else?

Sit down for a moment, remove all distractions, close your eyes, and ask yourself this question: “Can I see myself doing anything else besides acting or something in the film industry?” If you can imagine yourself being a doctor, working in marketing at some company, or anything else that is not in the film industry then don’t even think about moving out here. 

You have probably heard it before but this town is full of actors, writers, directors, all working and non working, trying to make it in Hollywood. If you can see yourself doing something else then you’d be wasting your time and money coming out here because the people that truly love acting… the art form… and not the idea of fame or attention, will out shine you every time.

Acting isn’t easy, it isn’t about, “Oh I can say those lines in a natural way like I see the actors on TV do it.” No it’s about emotions and taking your audience on an emotional experience. If you aren’t willing to be in class 1 to 2 times a week to be build that skill and then keep it in tip top shape then you shouldn’t waste your time and money to move out. 

With thousands of people coming out here for the idea of red carpets, fame and fortune, parties, and making it big in movies really just make breaking in the business harder for the people who really truly love film making. (I’ll expand more on this in another post.)

2. Do you have at least 5,000.00 in savings?

Having no less then 5,000 dollars before you make the move to Hollywood is crucial! The first thing you are going to need is first months rent and rent deposit to have a place to live.

Studios to 1 Bedrooms in a decent safe area in Hollywood range from 800-1400 dollars a month. A room for rent with a roommate would be also around 700-1000.00 depending on where they are located.

That could easily amount to 1600.00 dollars… no your left with 3,400.00! (i’ll be making a post later on where exactly your 5,000 dollars will go) and I will also make a post later about the good places to live in Los Angeles for safety as well as for work (acting auditions etc.)

3. Do you have a reliable car?

If you are driving to Los Angeles from which ever state your coming from make sure you have a reliable car. First it needs to make it to Los Angeles and second it needs to get you to your auditions on time, your meetings, your call time etc. You never want to be late for anything so a reliable car is a must. 

One thing to note too is if you are going to buy a car when you are down here go to a dealership! Buying a used car by owner down here is too risky for your tiny budget. Also don’t spend a lot of money on a nice looking car, with the LA driving and parking here you’re bound to get a few dings and scratches. 

4. Do you have family support?

Is you family willing to help support you for the first year in anyway they can? If you total your car will they be able to help you get another one? Will they help pay for classes? Will they give you a couple hundred dollars a month to help you out? Ask for some family support to help make things a little easier for yourself.

If you have at least the four things above you will be okay… If you have 3 of the above you will probably struggle a little or a lot depending on which one you are missing. And the above IS in order of importance. Best of Luck everyone! If you have any questions about your move just ask :)