For most people, the thought of making money from comedy is one that they don’t think is real. They keep a “day” job and until you can make at least what you need to pay your bills you should. But how do you balance a comedy career and a full time forty hour a week job? Well, it’s not easy.
Aspiring comedians need to balance passion, employment, and time off, while creating a schedule that works for them including time for creativity and self-care.
Most comedians work jobs that give them flexibility like Uber, baristas, or part-time jobs that won’t make them work late or night shifts. There are even comedians I know who work commission-based sales jobs so they can make as much money as they need for a month then spend the next month doing shows on the road.
As a full time employee and aspiring comedian, there is a way to balance your day job and your comedy aspirations.
Passion Vs Job
The bigger part when it comes down to having two jobs is the fact that people don’t know which one is their passion and which one is the source of income which they are kind of forced to do. A person who sees himself as a standup comedian will see his passion coming out of those lifting curtains on the stage in front of thousands of people. The rush of adrenaline in his body is what tells him that he loves doing this. Even though knowing that being a comedian is what he loves, there are many comedians who do multiple jobs as a side hustle and there is nothing wrong with it. The only thing which matters is the fact that you know the difference you feel when you are working 9 to 5 and when you are living your dream (and also earning from it).
The balance between being a comedian and having a full-time job is when you realize it. The first part starts where you know which one will take a fair amount of time to go uphill and which one will give you a fixed monthly income. Being a comedian is not always fixed money. Somedays you are rich and somedays you are not. So, accept that they both hold different contexts and meanings in your life and start off with it.
No Days Off
If you want to grow something, we all know that it requires time and effort. No business just flourishes without some sort of loss. The part where people give up on either being a comedian or their full-time job is when they think it requires a lot of work. The truth is yes, it does demand a lot of work, but it’s not like you won’t get as much back. Working on your days off could be a smart move. You could work on your sets, jokes and everything you think would consume time in your weekdays.
The tougher thing about being a comedian is writing your material and practicing it. Use your off days to get these things done, so you don’t have weight while you are at your full-time job. This will also give you some time to try out your materials. A pro tip to get the best out of this approach is to set a schedule of a month.
Create A Schedule
Nothing sucks more than trying your best to work two things together and realizing that your boss calling you randomly for extra work. When you have two things going at the same time, it is important to have a full-time job where you know that your schedule won’t be taken further at any cost.
“I choose [full-time] jobs where I have control over the schedule. My full-time job is a pretty strictly 9-5 with no expectation that I’m available after hours” – Jenny Woods.
This won’t only give you a free space of timetable but also peace of mind knowing that there is a fixed pinned time for the other things you want to get done. Having a 9-5 job where you are home round 6 will give a flexible schedule. This will also give you time to practice or perform on nights and polish those skills of making people laugh.
Take Time To Create
Is it only me or does it happen with everyone? That when you are doing something and your mind gets a little tired, it diverts and starts giving you ideas that are way more creative than when you actually want to think about them. Keeping journals at your full-time job is a great way to keep up with all the little inspiration you get throughout the day. We all lie mentally that we will write or think about that joke when we are free, but we all know that our mind doesn’t work that way. Write whatever pops in your mind or anything which happens in your office or workplace which you find hilarious. Review your journal daily when you get home and see what you can make out of it because you never know which thing might make the crowd roll onto the floor laughing.
Work Smarter
Maggie, you can get that balance being a comedian and having a full-time job, says everyone. but let me be your bearer of bad news and tell you that asking or demanding balance is a myth. People try and sometimes it works, but that isn’t the balance that is working. It is all those shortcuts – you are unconsciously ignoring some details about one thing or another. The key is to work smart and make the most out of your time. Be creative, don’t just put it on tomorrow and accept that somedays you will be able to get that balance and somedays you will just be prioritizing one thing over the other, and that is okay.
Take Breaks
Life can be very hard and unfair sometimes but we all need to learn to give ourselves the care and time we all need. Managing two jobs can be a hard thing but everyone deserves time to themselves. If you couldn’t get that work done last week, just know that’s okay and there’s only so much you can take. Feeling relieved and accepting yourself to be a human who can feel tired, worn out and just in need of the free time is literally all we want sometimes.
Take time out of your hectic routine and spend it well with your friends and family. This will not only give you a much-needed break but you will feel fresher, better and more energetic to work with a clear mind and extra potential.
