And I love to live so pleasantly...

Well I suppose the tax man hasn't exactly taken all my dough at this point, but it does continue to disappear.

Summer is well under way, and I need to start mailing agents and casting directors while they have time to see me. However, that requires I have more headshots printed, etc. I tried a test run with Precision Photos for StageSource, and could not have been more disappointed in terms of both quality and service. Reproductions it is, pricey though they may be.

One of the conditions of the Kinect Sales program being extended was that we only work three days a week, instead of the four we used to get. Ironically, I had four when I was living at home and could afford to work less. Now I work three days a week, pay my own bills, and need some startup funds for career related things.

What's clear is that I need something in addition to (or, should it work out, replacing) my current gig. Having zero weekend ability while only getting 18 hours per week simply does not cut it.

I've been hunting for a job bartending, cocktail waitressing, or serving. My mother calls me every time she reads an anecdotal article about how much tutors make. I had two interviews on friday for promotional work, and one today at a craft beer bar. Having just paid off my credit card that I used for the last round of headshots, I cannot afford to meet up with a playwright/director friend for drinks today. I've hit a level of 'fed up' where getting foot massages all night at a fetish party no longer seems like such a bad idea.

In the mean time, I need to do homework for these mailings that doesn't cost me anything. I'm going to start working on a fancy magazine-inspired mailer (idea courtesy of Dallas Travers) and hunting down what agents I wish to court.

The way I see it, I'm in the trenches. I'm doing what needs to be done at this point in my career. I suppose in this metaphor, I'm currently re-evaluating the infrastructure of the rations delivery system. Too far, perhaps?

A New Blog, you say?

As some of you may have heard, I've recently lost my day job to re-mapping and consolidation of territories. This leaves me with some free time on my hands, so I've started a blog. In said blog, I'll be detailing the drama, tribulations and excitement in my quests for a new job, as well as the ongoing search for performance work.

So. Out of a day job, what's a non-union blonde to do? Let's weigh some options.

1) Search for a new job in retail merchandising. Pros: Flexible schedule, and reasonable money. Cons: Lots of time in an aging car, usually fewer hours than promised. Also to consider: previous merchandising job was acquired by a series of flukes.

2) Get back into promotions work. Pros: I can take work as I see fit, and design my own schedule. Cons: Flaky bosses and co-workers, lots of drama, no guarantee of work past the summer.

3) Pursue Bartending again. Pros: Good money to be made. Cons: Nocturnal schedule that will be in the way of any theater work to be had, and having next to no experience.

(For those of you following along at home, I actually had a nightmare about working at the Blue Shamrock last night. No joke.)

4)Search for work writing and/or editing. Pros: Potential to freelance, work from home. Cons: No professional experience, and most writing samples were lost in the great hard drive death of Oh-Nine.

5) Step it up, and make acting and modeling pay the bills. Pros: MA tax incentive, construction of soundstage on the South shore (no, not that one, a much smaller, but real soundstage.) Cons: Next to impossible. Need that damn SAG card and a better portfolio.

Conclusion: Pursue all of the above until leads arise. Or until I pass out from exhaustion.