You Are Not Alone: A Freelance Actor's Guide to Wellness

For the Actor: Read On

This post is for a very specific audience: the actor. The freelance artist who is choosing between spending $250 on headshots or buying food for the rest of the month. The person whose diet consists of fast food salads to feel guilt-free while driving from gig to gig. The one frustrated that no matter how carefully they budget, most of their finances go directly to gasoline. The one who pours endless effort into their craft, only to hear, “If you worked harder, maybe you’d be successful.”

If any of this resonates a little too much, read on. If you’ve never been through this, consider yourself lucky.

You Are Not Alone

There are countless reasons why freelance artists feel like they’re driving the “struggle bus,” especially now. Sure, there’s the classic rhetoric: the slim odds of making it big, the reliance on luck in the industry, etc. While that’s all true, if you’re like me, you’re probably thinking, “There’s more to it than that.” And you’d be right.

Trickle-Down Oppression

Theater companies don’t often thrive by “pulling themselves up by their bootstraps.” In fact, I don’t think anyone really does anymore. Most theater organizations are 501(c)(3) nonprofits, meaning much of their funding comes from grants. These grants often come from entities like the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), which gets its funding from the national budget. This money helps theaters keep the lights on, pay artists, and fund productions.

But then there’s politics.

When Donald Trump took office in 2016, he repeatedly proposed cutting the NEA and other social programs. Congress ultimately preserved the NEA, partly because of its work creating opportunities for military veterans. Still, the NEA’s budget has not kept up with inflation. Americans for the Arts reports that if the NEA’s 1992 budget had only adjusted for inflation, its 2019 budget would have been $165.7 million higher than it was .

With an underfunded NEA, grant money for theaters has shrunk. This leaves less funding to pay artists. And that’s what I call trickle-down oppression.

The Cycle of Oppression

If you haven’t felt the effects of trickle-down oppression, you’ve likely experienced the cycle of oppression. This concept, often used to describe marginalized groups, also applies to freelance artists. It refers to how patterns of behavior learned for survival can perpetuate oppression.

Here’s an example: An actor enters the industry and faces an abusive director. The abuse includes body-shaming, toxic comments, or manipulative behavior that forces the actor to “fawn” over the director to endure the environment. Years later, that actor finds themselves in a position of power and treats others the same way. And the cycle continues.

Sadly, this dynamic is common in both theater and film, even at the highest levels.

Why Share This?

First, for validation. If you’ve felt the pinch of these oppressions, you’re not alone. For years, I believed the struggles I faced were my fault and that I’d succeed if I just pushed harder. While perseverance can lead to success, it’s much easier to start by acknowledging that this is a systemic issue—not just a personal failing. By talking about it, we can work toward solutions.

Second, healing begins with you. While I’d love to hand out millions to theater companies or confront abusive directors on your behalf, those actions wouldn’t solve the root problem. However, if you focus on your mental and emotional well-being, you can help break the cycle for yourself—and for the industry.

What Can You Do Right Now?

• Book a Session: (Shameless plug!) Whether it’s shamanic healing, social therapeutics, or artistic coaching, finding someone to guide you on your healing journey is a great start. Visit www.scarosperformancehealing.com.

• Create Healthier Hangouts: Why must every post-rehearsal meetup be at a bar? Suggest alternatives like a walk, ice cream outing, or something nourishing for body and soul.

• Explore a Non-Work Hobby: Watching performances at home might be fun, but it’s still work. Pick up an unrelated hobby that sparks joy without the pressure.

• Re-examine Your “Why”: Ask yourself tough questions. Are you hitting the gym for personal well-being, or because someone said you need to lose weight to book gigs? One fosters growth; the other tears you down.

• Change What’s Not Working: If you’re unhappy, consider a new path. Whether it’s moving to a different network or exploring a new market, you’re never truly stuck.

• Identify Your Supporters: Make a list of everyone who has cheered you on—family, friends, teachers. Remember, you’re not alone in this journey.

In Conclusion

If you need help, ask for it. While directors and casting agents control your work opportunities, you control your wellness.

If you want someone impartial and judgment-free to talk to, book a free session with me. Visit www.scarosperformancehealing.com/programs.

You’ve got this.

Citations

Americans for the Arts. "NEA Budget Losses." Americans for the Arts, n.d., https://www.americansforthearts.org/by-program/reports-and-data/legislation-policy/naappd/nea-budget-losses. Accessed 3 Dec. 2024.

Roberts, S.J. "Oppressed Group Behavior: Implications for Nursing." Advances in Nursing Science, vol. 19, no. 1, 1996, pp. 55–67. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8788734/.