Artist’s Dilemma: Staying Happy and Solvent Until the Big Break Happens

“Don’t quit your day job,” the old show-biz insult goes.

But what if you hate your day job? Isn’t there a way to pay the bills without being miserable?

Trying to find happiness in one job while pursuing an entirely different career is a dilemma faced by many aspiring artists. And whether you’re an actor, a writer or a musician, it’s a common reality that you don’t make much money--if any--when starting out.

To pay the bills, most artists are forced to get another job. It must pay enough to survive on, yet be flexible enough to allow you to pursue your dream. Finding one you also enjoy can be tough, but it’s not impossible.

Being honest with yourself about your strengths and weaknesses is a good place to start, said Susan Abbott, owner of Abbott & Co. in San Francisco, who specializes in career counseling for creative and unconventional people.

Find out in what type of environment you are able to function best, Abbott said. For instance, if you tend to be a loner, as some writers and painters are, a job where you have to deal with people all day may be a bad choice.

Many entertainers turn to the old standby--restaurant work--for their flexibility. And if waiters find the pay low and the customers rude, they may tell themselves that they won’t be there long.

But unhappy labor can be emotionally as well as physically draining. Not everyone is cut out to wait tables. And who wants to see the producer she just tried to sell a script to seated in her section?

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Workplace experts suggest that aspiring artists instead find jobs that appeal to their other interests.

“A lot of creative types are multi-talented or multi-gifted,” Abbott said. “It may be better to try something else you are good at or enjoy.”

Actor Brady Michaels became a bouncer at a Sunset Strip nightclub when he first arrived in town. It seemed like the perfect job. Working nights left his days free for auditions and meetings with agents. But after a year, he found it increasingly hard to deal with drunken revelers and spoiled celebrities night after night.

An avid skydiver and horseback rider in his free time, Michaels was able to find a weekend job as a skydiving instructor. He also found work giving horseback trail rides during the day. He says he’s a much happier person now.

Turning a hobby into a paid occupation is a path taken by many successful actors. Even Harrison Ford worked as a carpenter, one of his favorite pastimes, before making it big.

Another question to ask yourself: Are you learning any new skills at your day job? You may be getting more out of it than you realize. Even dealing with difficult people every day can build character and help with your craft.

“The best way to feed your creative abilities is with real life,” said psychotherapist Dennis Palumbo. As a former screenwriter, Palumbo advises artists to get jobs driving trucks, selling office supplies--anything that’s dissimilar to their chosen fields.

“If you’re writing ad copy all day, sometimes you’re too burned out at night to write your novel or screenplay,” said Palumbo. “You could also be missing out on the raw material of daily life which helps your creative self emerge.”

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Many struggling artists use their day jobs to escape from the frustrations they regularly encounter in their art careers. Performing tasks totally removed from their crafts takes their minds off frequent disappointments and rejections.

Others seek out menial or odd jobs because they view them simply as a means to an end. Years ago, aspiring director Robert Rodriguez needed some quick cash to finance his first film, “El Mariachi.” He decided to become a human guinea pig and signed up for various medical experiments at a local research hospital.

He’s not alone. Backstage West, a Los Angeles-based trade publication for actors, runs ads seeking young people willing to donate their eggs and sperm to infertile couples. Other advertisers want your blood, literally.

If that sounds too extreme, an alternative job in your chosen field is another way to go. Dancers may work as choreographers or teachers. Writers, actors and wannabe directors and producers sometimes work as receptionists or assistants on studio lots. They find that being able to contribute somehow to the movie-making process can be enjoyable and rewarding.

Artist Parnell Corder’s true love is figurative painting, but he finds happiness working as a makeup artist during the day.

“I’m painting on a face rather than a canvas, but I’m still creating a look, a work of art in some way.”

Both Abbott and Palumbo agree that you need to decide what satisfies and motivates you. Do you need contact with others or do you flourish going solo? “It’s important to find a job that complements your energy,” Abbott said.

Use your creativity and imagination whenever possible to make even small tasks seem fun. It will help maintain your self-respect and confidence. This can be a lifesaver in creative fields, where one is always looking to others for praise and approval in order to make a living.

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Liesl Guinto is an actress who between auditions works as a Times researcher and newsroom assistant.