WolfDick
02-03-2009, 09:44 PM
This is not an overnight money making guide this is a guide to make cash in about 2-3 years. Last year I made about 140,000. takes hard work, this guide is intended for people who live in (or plan to move to) california somewhere near hollywood, won't work for women or unfit people. only posting this because people keep asking me how I do it and here's my response.
first off, if you already have a full time job paying over $13/hr and cant afford to take a part time at $8/hr (or even volunteer work) this will probably not work out for you.
go to your yellow pages/google maps find your local theater (not a movie theater, a theater with a stage) or a local venue that hosts live performances, anything with an actual stage, lights and stereo equipment. Apply at that venue, take ANY position available (box office attendant, bouncer, janitor, ANYTHING). after working there for a while get to know the booking managers and stage coordinators, let them know that you know how to set up lights or speakers (your choice, pick one. it will determine your career, you cannot have both) even if you don't know say you do, while working there learn all procedures that lead to a stage performance. when the time is right advance yourself from your current position to a Stagehand working back stage, if all works out you will now be climbing up rigs and switching light angles/switching filters/ect, or setting up and wiring stereo speakers. once you are working with lights or speakers directly keep that job for at LEAST 2 Years. the job will suck, heavy lifting, coiling cable, constant loading and unloading. but at the same time you are gaining experience in real hollywood production. after working your ass off for a few years you are now more than qualified to join a cast and crew union, this is the most difficult part, you will have to find your local union and take a few classes in rigging and safety (not free). after that you will be lighting or setting up sound for tv shows, movies, concerts all that good stuff that goes on in hollywood, and the pay is excellent, start out at about 400-500 per DAY. its a good way to earn a living for people who can endure hard physical labor. trust me it is very worth it. well, right now with the actor strike shits moving pretty slow, but once they come off strike and business picks up you will make checks like this weekly:
http://img184.imageshack.us/img184/3852/45715036pd5.jpg
first off, if you already have a full time job paying over $13/hr and cant afford to take a part time at $8/hr (or even volunteer work) this will probably not work out for you.
go to your yellow pages/google maps find your local theater (not a movie theater, a theater with a stage) or a local venue that hosts live performances, anything with an actual stage, lights and stereo equipment. Apply at that venue, take ANY position available (box office attendant, bouncer, janitor, ANYTHING). after working there for a while get to know the booking managers and stage coordinators, let them know that you know how to set up lights or speakers (your choice, pick one. it will determine your career, you cannot have both) even if you don't know say you do, while working there learn all procedures that lead to a stage performance. when the time is right advance yourself from your current position to a Stagehand working back stage, if all works out you will now be climbing up rigs and switching light angles/switching filters/ect, or setting up and wiring stereo speakers. once you are working with lights or speakers directly keep that job for at LEAST 2 Years. the job will suck, heavy lifting, coiling cable, constant loading and unloading. but at the same time you are gaining experience in real hollywood production. after working your ass off for a few years you are now more than qualified to join a cast and crew union, this is the most difficult part, you will have to find your local union and take a few classes in rigging and safety (not free). after that you will be lighting or setting up sound for tv shows, movies, concerts all that good stuff that goes on in hollywood, and the pay is excellent, start out at about 400-500 per DAY. its a good way to earn a living for people who can endure hard physical labor. trust me it is very worth it. well, right now with the actor strike shits moving pretty slow, but once they come off strike and business picks up you will make checks like this weekly:
http://img184.imageshack.us/img184/3852/45715036pd5.jpg