It's OK to Have Survival Jobs

Fall Harvest Challenge Day 3

If you count yourself amongst the 5-10% of full-time voiceover actors who are making $100,000 or more per year then there’s a pretty good chance you don’t have a “survival” job. Why is the 6-figure mark always talked about amongst actors? Well, it was, and in some circles still is, a milestone for success. In this economy, well, it sure ain’t what it used to be.

But that 6-figure mark in the 100s (I mean, 6-figures could be $999,999, now couldn’t it?) is still seen as something to strive for since as I said, about 90% of actors make closer to $12,000 per year.

Unless you’re REALLY cutting corners or don’t have any expenses, I don’t know anyone who can live comfortably off of that number. So, a lot of actors have what we both affectionately and despisedly call “survival jobs”. Jobs which we do to…well, survive. These have been coined “side hustles” since the rise of the gig economy and digital platforms like Uber, Etsy, Fiverr, and others that allowed people to earn extra income outside of their primary job.

But there’s been a lot of….judgment surrounding how actors make their living outside of just being actors and I don’t fully understand it. I know we tend to have larger egos than those outside of the entertainment industry, but I can’t place why it’s looked down upon to make money in various ways beyond being an actor.

I myself am a coach, a UGC creator, and help small businesses with their social media content. I do NOT count this towards my total “voiceover income” so when I say I’m making 6-figures in VO, it’s in VO…. this extra stuff is calculated separately. And I know that there are some folks out there who DON’T operate that way and are fudging the details a little…but it’s none of my business anyway. I just think if you are saying you’re making a certain amount of money, and you are talking about that publicly, at least be honest about it. I digress.

My point is there are shit tons of ways to make that bag and if you’re stuck on how to do that outside of VO, let’s talk about it.

Like I said, I am a coach, but not *everyone* is meant to do that. It requires a specific set of skills, mindset, and temperament. I like coaching because I feel like I’m good at it, but also it gives me freedom and the ability to ‘give back’ to the community I love so much. (If you’re interested in setting up a session, lemme know)

With UGC (User-Generated Content), I am part of several discords that offer UGC opportunities and a few platforms that do as well. Here, brands can give a brief to a job and you create content to fulfill the requirements like videos, pictures, or sometimes voiceover.

You have other skills outside of being a fucking great actor, so I say, OPTIMIZE them and MAKE MONEY off of them.

Your Top Knowledge-Based Income Opportunities

1. Online Courses: Got knowledge to share? Maybe being a voiceover specific coach isn’t your calling…but maybe SEO or photography is! Create an online course! There’s a market out there waiting for your expertise. I know it. Platforms like:

   • Teachable - Create and sell online courses with customizable landing pages.

   • Udemy - Marketplace for online courses with built-in audience and marketing support.

   • Skillshare - Earn royalties based on the minutes watched in your courses. I know a lot of wonderful teachers here.

   • Amazon KDP - Self-publish eBooks and paperbacks, selling them on Amazon. You can also use Canva to create coloring books.

   • Thinkific - Create and sell online courses with a range of free and paid options.

   • Podia - Sell courses, digital products, and memberships with built-in marketing tools.

   • Payhip - Sell digital products and courses with flexible payment plans and affiliate programs.
     
     You can also purchase a domain and build a course through Kajabi like I did, but that’s pricey.

Your Top Creative Content & UGC (User-Generated Content) Opportunities

1. Patreon - Membership model to provide exclusive content and perks to subscribers.

2. TikTok - You can add courses AND subscriptions

3. Gumroad - Sell digital products like eBooks, courses, or music directly to your audience.

4. Fiverr - Offer freelance services such as design, writing, and video creation. Yes, even voiceover, but if you’re new to that, let’s chat first.

5. Upwork - Connect with clients for freelance work in fields like design, marketing, and content creation.

6. Ko-fi - Accept one-time or monthly donations, or sell digital products and memberships.

7. Discord - I am part of so many UGC discords that post jobs all the time. Get in on that shit. Alternatively, you can also set up your own Discord with paid options for members.

Your Top Art & Design (Print-on-Demand and Digital Assets) Opportunities

1. Shutterstock - Earn royalties from stock photos, illustrations, and videos.

2. Adobe Stock - Sell your creative assets like photos and videos to a wide professional audience.

3. Creative Market - Sell design assets like fonts, graphics, and themes to a professional community.

4. Redbubble - Upload designs to be printed on products like apparel, home décor, and more. (I’ve had an art print on Redbubble for a few years now and it sells a few times a year!)

5. Society6 - Similar to Redbubble but with a more curated and art-focused audience.

6. Zazzle - Create and sell custom designs on a wide variety of products.

7. Blurb - Self-publish print and digital photo books, magazines, and eBooks.
   
   *FYI* Platforms like Shutterstock or Adobe Stock are perfect for selling stock media, and I’ve done it a few times. I saw a girl on TikTok who claims she has made almost half a million dollars over a few years selling photos from HER PHONE.

Your Top *OTHER* Opportunities