oh, sorry, forgot more inside, can someone fix?

I know a couple of people in NYC who do commericals, acting on the side. All you need is a rather flexible primary job to allow you the opportunity to take the time off to go and do the shoot.

I know a couple of people who have a part time gig doing commercials but the shoots tend to be between 7 and 3 PM.

Was this a stranger that approached you in public?

Yes (blush). I realized how it would look posting this right after my last post. These are complex times we live in.

How do you know he was legit?

Well I hope pi=3 doesn't see this thread. His head will explode.

I don't want to explain how I knew he was legit, I just wrote it to illustrate what made me start thinking about becoming an actress again. If I do, it won't have to do with that guy. Can I ask friendly like if we can leave my other post out of this one? The dude didn't call me baby, I was satisfied with the business like nature of the interaction.

Uh, I don't know that I'd allow myself to be picked up by an agent on the street. If this guy is casting something legit, NYC is full of actors, he's not going to have trouble finding some. I would think he's probably casting something of more of an "adult" nature. Just a heads up.

But as for the broader question of this post, when you say you want to act, what does that mean? There are certainly people who work full time and do small projects on the side. Commercials? Probably not; the casting and taping of those is kind of a full time job (I have a friend who does them- he has a special agent just for commercials). But could you do a stage production here and there? Sure. I hope grumblebee or Evangeline speak up in this thread, they could provide some great insight, as they manage to juggle this whole thing excellently.

Do people do commercials or something on the side ever?

My boyfriend's a commercial actor on the side (after doing some feature films and comedy through the '80s/'90s). He tends bar on the weekends and does contracting work during the week so that he can go on auditions, which usually only come with a day's notice. Sometimes, weeks can go by when he doesn't have a single audition; other times, he can get half a dozen or more in a week.

As a note of caution, I would be leery of working with "casting agents" who approach you on the street. Not saying they're never legit, but... as a young woman in this city, you need to be careful. (I have heard horror stories. Really.) Get headshots and representation, and if someone approaches you again, refer them to your agent. (Oh, and get your SAG card, too.)

Well I hope pi=3 doesn't see this thread. His head will explode.

My first thought was the same, but with jonmc in place of pi=3.

Wendell not this will, etc.

If you don't have enough understanding of the business of show to need to post a question like this, how in the world did you decide he was legit? Plus, yes, head explosions to follow.

I don't think the previous post (and askme) can be ignored just like that, it's a matter of context.

You don't want to explain? Can you say why you don't? I think that's a fair question. Or is your explanation that he didn't call you baby and you were satisfied with the business like nature?

If you want to email me about the specifics of the encounter, I'd be happy to check it for red flags/green flags. I know you're off to a different subject, but it's all tied together.

It probably matters a great deal about whether you want to get paid for the acting. You could likely work in student films or community theater - type productions -- that is, projects that assume they're using non-professionals and so need to work around people's schedules -- without giving up a job with standard hours.

Just because I don't think anybody has said it yet, thousands of people have day jobs while being involved in community theater and other not-for-pay forms of artistic expression.

If that's something that would satisfy you, I'd imagine it's much easier to accomplish, and much more satisfying as an actor, than doing a lot of cereal commercials or whatever.

Jinx, box!

Yeah, I just want to do acting. Not commercials necessarily. It's just something I loved and have been thinking about doing again. but I always talk myself out of doing more than classes because it would be too hard with work, etc. I'm interested in answers like box's and occhiblu's. No need for pay. I was just curious if people do this.

Most paid actors are actors on the side. Or, they are actors with side jobs.

Also, to clarify, talking to this guy just made me think about acting. I don't have any interest in doing anything with casting agents off the street. It just made me think about it.

If you just want to act then, as others have said, community theater is a great place to be.

Okay, first thing you need to do is never leave the house again. not really... but, daaaang - you're kind of making me feel silly for answering the other question seriously.

I know quite a few actors and actresses, and as far as I know, none of them ever got started by being approached out of the blue (though there are stories to that effect "out there", I think almost none are true)... Acting actually takes skill as well as talent, a pretty face (often), a good voice, etc. - and production is expensive; professional productions won't be wasting time trying to teach a newb what they need to do when there's a highly paid crew standing around waiting for you to get it right. So, yeah, no.

Take classes, involve yourself in community/school theatre, hang around with people who are in the business, learn everything you can, network. From community theatre you might get the chance to do other things, but most film/tv stuff is going to take more time commitment than just after-hours and weekends, though lower-budget ads might be able to be shot in a day or two.

Yes, taz. I was so addled after reading this that I missed a turn on my drive home.

First off, TPS is (of course) most likely right, he was probably a porn guy. The only other explanation would be a film student, but I think you would have mentioned that if that were the case.

Secondly, I'm not mad at you, sweetkid, I'm just a little concerned. You're young, attractive, in NYC, and are trying to figure out your boundaries. Practice. With friends. Pretend it's acting class. Have people on speed dial. Don't leave a drink unattended. Seriously.

I really appreciated the discussion of the unwanted advance, attitude defenses, etc., that happened in the other thread. It IS a serious issue that many people had great insights about.

The other post was completely serious. I don't like getting into these internet arguments, but I just wanted to make clear, again, that I had/have no interest in this casting agent guy or pursuing it. Also, the context was completely, completely different than the one in my other post. In retrospect, I should have just left off meeting the guy and posted, " I have been thinking about acting, but work full time."

I see no argument.

I can't believe you're in your early thirties (pie's thread). Sorry - I've been speaking at you like you are in your early twenties.

I can't believe you're in your early thirties

Yeah, that kind of shocked me, too. Especially since per another thread of hers, she's 29.

Huh. What rainbaby and amro said.