my exact plan if i started pursuing acting + songwriting from 0 in 2024

Forget the fancy vision boards for a sec (even though they’re super cute), and let’s chat about what it actually takes to achieve those creative dreams of yours.

And if you want this in video form, take a gander at my YouTube video all about this (and make sure to subscribe for new videos every Sunday!).

Step #1: Get a Full-Time Remote Job for 1-3 Years.

I know working a full-time job sounds like the total opposite of chasing your acting and songwriting dreams, but trust me, it will work wonders to make sure you’re never a starving artist again.

Having a steady job means you’ve got a reliable flow of cash to pay your bills and pump some funds into your future creative projects. You’ll get $$$, learn some business skills, and when the clock strikes 5 pm, you can focus all your goals and visions on your creative dream.

Plus, working from home means you can take time to go to the gym, take frequent snack breaks, cook from home, and cuddle your kitties so you can keep your A-game up.

Within this step, you’ll also want to open a high-yield savings account, which offers higher interest rates, which means more moolah for you in the long run. (I have 3 savings accounts and 1 checking account through Ally Bank and I love it).

Every paycheck, you’ll automatically siphon off some cash into two savings pots – one for personal professional— 1x per week.

Through doing this, you’ll also want to start setting monthly goals.

Instead of getting overwhelmed by where you want to be in a year (which I used to try and failed miserably every time) focus on what you can achieve in just one month so you can stay grounded, focused, and see a light at the end of the tunnel.

Step 2: Start a Scalable Business.

After you’ve paid your dues in your full-time career, start planning your exit through your own creative business.

Start teaching private lessons, become a social media manager— all of these things are super common and totally doable for artists in pretty much any creative career.

The beauty of this approach is that you start small and scale up as you get better and more confident. This way, you’re not just leaping into the unknown; you’re building a safety net that lets you transition smoothly from your day job to your dream job.

I give some examples in the video above for some ways you can start a business (while you’re still working full-time) so you can start having more control over the amount of money you make.

Step 3: Get Training.

Formal training gives you a solid foundation to build upon so you can hone your skills to avoid pitfalls like vocal strain (from a lack of voice lessons) or emotional burnout (from a lack of a proper acting technique).

You might have already done this before you started working, but don’t let it slack off.

It’s a fast and simple step, but it’s really, really important.

Step 4: Use Your Community as Leverage.

You might not feel like it right now, but your community is a total goldmine of opportunities and support.

You’ll never know when you’ll need insights into something inside your career or wildly outside of it (you might not see your business and marketing friends as relevantly helpful until you realize that being a performer means you own a business.)

Hopefully, this gives you a little taste of how I’d start my performing arts career if I started from 0.

The underlying message: be strategic, invest your money, and take ownership of yourself as a business.

📝 Bonus: Some Tools to Get You Started + Keep You Going

→ Adjustable Standing Desk for working from home comfortably

→ Pipersong Working Chair for flexible sitting (criss-cross + backwards-chair friendly)

→ Almond Cow for < 10 minute morning pulpmeals

→ Always Pans for simple meal prep when working from home