Survival & *Thrival* Jobs in LA
If you're part of the film and tv industry then you've probably had a survival job at one point or another in your life. These are some common ones and the ones I think allow you to "thrive" more.
Tinseltown is the place to chase your big dreams and ambitions but until your “time comes”, you’ve got bills to pay :’). Rent, gas and groceries all add up real quick while you’re here. So, you may be in need of finding yourself a survival job… or 2 or 3 but it doesn’t always have to be a struggle. On this list, I’ve added six of my favorite “thrival” jobs and five of them you can start working on from wherever you are today. I’ve also included a list of the best places to start looking for them until you find your Hollywood dream gig and don’t forget - the more friends you make, the more help you give, the bigger your network will grow and that is ALWAYS one of the best ways to find work!
Front Desk - this can be great, but it’s really dependent on the place! If you can get a front desk job at a place that matches with your passions or a hobby of yours that you usually pay for you, can potentially get that discounted or even free. Like a gym, an acting studio or nail salon.
Pros: Decent hourly and you’re saving money - if you’re getting a service or facility that you’d be normally paying for anyways.
Cons: You’d probably still need another “survival” job with the pay rates. Long hours, sitting, no phones out.
Food Delivery/Rideshare (DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Postmates)
Pros: Flexible hours, good tips, and the ability to explore the city.
Cons: Wear and tear on your vehicle, inconsistent earnings, the LA traffic. Safety, especially if you’re a woman.
Waitress/Bartender
Pros: Flexible hours, good tips and the chance to meet the regulars. I’d goal for a more a franchise/big corp place then try to move into other more niche restaurants if you’ve got no connections.
Cons: Not the easiest jobs to get despite there being a lot of restaurants/bars in town. Must be there IRL of course.
Retail Sales/Fast Food
Pros: Steady paycheck, employee discounts and also relatively stable if they are at bigger stores. Trader Joe’s and In n’ Out are actually two places that many people say they don’t hate working.
Cons: Low pay, no tip opportunity, beyond a store manager, there’s not a lot of upward mobility to make more.
Brand Ambassador/Catering
Pros: can be pretty good hourly money, you can get free food. Meet lots of new people. Experience cool parts of Hollywood.
Cons: Inconsistent. Long hours. Hollywood types can be rude (but isn’t that just everywhere!)
Tour Guide
Pros: If you’re a history person and social this is perfect for you - meet new people, sharing local knowledge, tips. The best kind of these would be within the studios, they are steady pay and you get to be on the lots.
Cons: Seasonal work, physically demanding.
Background Extra (to me this is only a survival job that piggybacks off of other survival jobs)
Pros: opportunity to be on set and watch the “magic’ happen, get upgraded but that’s not highly likely.
Cons: long hours, inconsistent work, low pay.
The following jobs are my thriving jobs. They are higher pay, more flexible and relatively low barriers to entry!