- MEET MICHELLE -

Michelle Dyer – actor – singer – dancer – creative – finical advice for actors – act & make money – actor finical freedom – actor business spotlight
Michelle Dyer – actor – singer – dancer – creative – finical advice for actors – act & make money – actor finical freedom – actor business spotlight
Michelle Dyer – actor – singer – dancer – creative – finical advice for actors – act & make money – actor finical freedom – actor business spotlight

It was your typical “mid-western girl moves to the big city” story.

Once I arrived at my Washington Heights sublet, guess what my days consisted of? I sat on the floor, ate chips and read Backstage. (I did audition, too, I’ll give myself that). BUT what I didn’t do was work a Survival Job. I didn’t have any money coming in, and I completely blew through all of my savings. 

Then, I booked my first job - a National Tour!

Michelle Dyer – actor – singer – dancer – creative – finical advice for actors – act & make money – actor finical freedom – actor business spotlight
Michelle Dyer – actor – singer – dancer – creative – finical advice for actors – act & make money – actor finical freedom – actor business spotlight
Michelle Dyer – actor – singer – dancer – creative – finical advice for actors – act & make money – actor finical freedom – actor business spotlight

(Obligatory Actor Photos) :)

That National Tour was a bus and truck version of Kiss Me Kate, and it paid $245. a week BEFORE TAXES. 

Needless to say, I didn’t save much on the road. 

I pretty much lived a financial cycle of “build up a balance on my credit card, and then pay it off when I got a gig”.

Until one day I was sitting on the floor of the AEA building with 200 other girls. I had just gotten back into town from a gig and I didn’t want to leave the city again. We started talking Survival Jobs and one girl got our her temp agent’s business card and passed it around for other girls to write their temp agent’s info on it. 

“There has got to be a better way” - I thought. 

Michelle Dyer – actor – singer – dancer – creative – finical advice for actors – act & make money – actor finical freedom – actor business spotlight
Michelle Dyer – actor – singer – dancer – creative – finical advice for actors – act & make money – actor finical freedom – actor business spotlight
Michelle Dyer – actor – singer – dancer – creative – finical advice for actors – act & make money – actor finical freedom – actor business spotlight

So I went home that night, Googled “Survival Jobs for Actors” and couldn’t find anything, so - I started a website!

Michelle Dyer – actor – singer – dancer – creative – finical advice for actors – act & make money – actor finical freedom – actor business spotlight

The website started out as a resource for actors and has undergone a few iterations over the years. I couldn’t keep the monotony of 8 shows a week fresh, and actually really liked the office life at my Survival Job, so I made the transition out of the business. 

I got married, popped out a couple of kids, but I still had this desire to share about Survival Jobs, but it wasn’t just Survival Jobs, it was financial stability as a whole. There was so much I wish I would have known!

So that’s where we are now.

I have an Online Course - Act and Make Money - to help actors create a financial foundation, so they are able to pursue an artistically fulfilling career. 

Michelle Dyer – actor – singer – dancer – creative – finical advice for actors – act & make money – actor finical freedom – actor business spotlight

I love speaking with students, because of the beauty of compound interest, starting early is key and I love sharing everything I wish I would have known, so other actors don’t make the same mistakes. 

Actors - sign up for my email list - and you’ll be notified of new blog posts, which include employer job postings, upcoming events & good info about Survival Jobs and Side Hustles. 

I’m here to create a community of kindness, inclusion and integrity that supports and cares for one another. Let’s make being financially responsible cool!

I am so happy you are here. 

Michelle Dyer – actor – singer – dancer – creative – finical advice for actors – act & make money – actor finical freedom – actor business spotlight

-Michelle

PS- Check out my Backstage article

6 Do’s + Don’ts of Actor Survival Jobs

Michelle Dyer – actor – singer – dancer – creative – finical advice for actors – act & make money – actor finical freedom – actor business spotlight
Michelle Dyer – actor – singer – dancer – creative – finical advice for actors – act & make money – actor finical freedom – actor business spotlight
Michelle Dyer – actor – singer – dancer – creative – finical advice for actors – act & make money – actor finical freedom – actor business spotlight

**Disclaimer: I am not a financial advisor. Please consult one. 

Acting Successfully, LLC has no association with my Survival Job.