Expert: Phil Nemy - 7/19/2009

Question
hi phil, this is jared im 19 years old i have recently moved back to west virginia because of the tough economy i was taking acting classes in Chicago and really fell in love with it, and got great feedback from my teachers. So i plan on moving to LA in the following year but i wanna go when I have a real shot at pursuing it and not just staying a month until my money runs out. My question is if somebody says to you phil, I wanna come to hollywood and be an actor, how much money in savings minimum would you advise someone to come out with to get started on the right path. thank you very much,

Jared Wyrick

Answer
Jared,

Thanks for writing. I always tell people to bring with them to Los Angeles 8 months to a year's worth of living expenses. It will take at least that long for someone to find his/her first job in the entertainment industry. It can take longer for actors. But with that amount of money, you can get into good acting classes and begin appearing in some showcases so that agents and casting directors can see you talent and consider you for work. If you're having to concentrate on paying the bills, you're taking away from the valuable time you need to spend focusing on the right classes, developing your talent, and getting seen.

Hope this helps. Good luck!

Phil