Let's reset expectations right away.

"Making it" in LA does not mean becoming famous. For most actors, it means:

Paying your bills
Booking consistently (even if small)
Staying mentally and financially stable
Remaining in the industry long enough for momentum to compound

If you come to Los Angeles expecting fast success, LA will eat you alive. If you come with a strategy, you have a chance.

This article is for actors who want to survive first — because survival is the prerequisite to success.

Step 1: Accept the Core LA Reality

LA is not about talent density. It's about volume and endurance.

Thousands of talented actors
Constant auditions
Long dry spells
Very few guarantees

Most actors who "make it" didn't win — they outlasted others.

Step 2: You Cannot Make It in LA Without Side Income

If you try to live on acting income alone early on, you will fail. Period.

In LA:

Acting income is inconsistent
Rent is non-negotiable
Transportation is essential

Side income is not a backup plan — it is part of the plan.

Side Jobs That Actually Work in LA for Actors

Your job must:

Be flexible
Pay enough
Not drain your creative energy

Best Survival Jobs in LA

On-Set & Industry-Adjacent Work

Production assistant (PA)
Stand-in or background work
Casting office assistant

Pros: flexible, industry exposure
Cons: competitive, inconsistent

Hospitality (Still King)

Serving
Bartending
Catering

Pros: fast cash, flexible shifts
Cons: physically exhausting

This job has kept actors afloat in LA for decades — for a reason.

Voice & Remote Work

Voice-over
Editing
Freelance admin
Content or social media work

Even $300–$500/month from remote work dramatically reduces stress.

Gig Work (Use Carefully)

Uber, Lyft, DoorDash

Use this as gap-filler, not a long-term solution. Burnout is real.

Step 3: Live Cheap or Leave Early

LA is not forgiving to actors with high fixed expenses.

Housing Reality

Roommates are normal — even in your 30s and 40s
Living farther out is often smarter than "cool" neighborhoods
Shorter leases = flexibility

If your rent is too high, no amount of booking will save you.

Transportation Is Mandatory

Unlike NYC:

You need a car
Gas, insurance, and maintenance matter
Buy boring. Paid off. Reliable.

A flashy car is a financial death sentence.

Step 4: Audition Volume > "Perfect" Opportunities

Actors fail in LA because they:

Wait for ideal roles
Get precious about submissions
Overthink every audition

Actors who last:

Submit constantly
Audition broadly
Detach emotionally from outcomes

Momentum beats perfection.

Step 5: Build the Right Kind of Network

Networking in LA is not about parties.

It's about:

Being reliable
Being easy to work with
Showing up consistently

Most opportunities come from:

Other actors
Writers and directors at your level
People you've already worked with

Fame connections are rare. Peer relationships are gold.

Step 6: Treat Acting Like a Business (Even When It Hurts)

If you don't manage money, LA will force you out.

You must:

Track income and expenses
Set aside taxes immediately
Avoid lifestyle inflation after bookings
Build a small emergency fund

One commercial should not upgrade your rent. That's how actors get trapped.

Step 7: Redefine What "Making It" Looks Like

Most working actors in LA:

Are not famous
Are not rich
Are consistently employed

That is success.

If your definition of "making it" is unrealistic, LA will feel like failure even when you're progressing.

The Brutal Truth About LA

Actors who fail in LA usually don't fail because:

They lack talent
They didn't work hard enough

They fail because:

They ran out of money
They burned out
They had no financial buffer

LA rewards endurance more than brilliance.

Final Reality Check

If you can:

Cover your bills with side income
Keep auditioning consistently
Avoid debt
Stay mentally stable

You are already doing better than most.

That's how people eventually make it.