2003-05-23 - 11:40 a.m. Warning. Bitter. Warning. This is a entry that is bitter and not happy. Its your life. Do what you want. Don't listen to me. There is a danger in the American lifestyle. We are in for an adjustment as a culture. You see we have a problem. People think that they are rich. This is no longer speculation, but rather a fact. In a Rueters Poll recently taken it was reported that 19% of American think that they are in the top 1% of income. In a separate poll taken about a year ago it was reported that 54% of American thinks that they are in the top 25% of incomes. The only people who seem to know how much money they have are the poor. Americans think that they ARE rich and think that they will only get richer. Living in a growing, booming money focused economy for nearly 20 years, this isn�t surprising. In other news, my personal statistically horrendous poll left people with these results: 52% of people think they will be Really Rich 25% of people think that they will just be Rich. (just rich, ha) That means that 23% of you will be either average or below average. Do you really think that?!?! In actuality, you are not going to be really rich, or even rich. People in this world are not rich, but think that they will be. I hate to sound all fight club, but the media is convincing you otherwise. Even the richer people believe it. 19% think that they are the top 1% You watch the Real World and the movies and dream of being important. You dream of being the center of the world Think about that. If you believe that you are going to be rich, and then you don�t become rich, and never will, when do you accept this? For most people its in their Mid-twenties. Its called a Quarter-Life crisis. But lately people hang onto that dream long into their middle age. The sooner you accept that you are not going to be rich, the sooner you will be able to make a life for yourself. A real life, with real expectations. The number one fight between couple is money. Also the number one reason for divorce. I know this is kinda of depressing but you will most likely be living paycheck to paycheck. Why? Well a lot of people expect something to happen to them, and will make it by until their break comes. Now it could be anything, a promotion, a lotto ticket, but for younger people, it�s the acting. Breaking down the �break� First. You are not Mel Gibson or Brad Pitt. You are not Bill Gates, or Sam Walmart. You are average. You will be making the average. Know your chances of getting a primary actor role in a show. (movie, TV, theater) It�s reported to be 1/1000 per year. This is a primary role chances. Now, that means that 1 out of 1000 people looking for the work will actually get that position every year. You will get paid 655 dollars a day for that role. You can find that number hereThat�s for however long shoot goes. Well let�s say three months. So that�s 39,000 before taxes for three months work. Not bad. But wait. Don�t forget to multiply that times the expect chance of getting that role. Which is 1/1000. So you can expect to make for the year $3.90 cents. That�s better than I expected. Also. Unless you were the star in the plays at school; really good looking, and I mean flawless; extremely funny; or really smart, you aren�t getting a primary role. Cause its not based on randomness. Its based on talent. Basketball is a great example of an industry where people don�t get inflated heads. I�m 5�11�. I am not playing in the NBA. Game over. I lost that dream at age 16. You should too. Back to acting. So maybe just a non-primary actor. You will be paid 115 a day for your services. Again at a 3 month timetable. That�s 6900 dollars a year. That�s without calculating your ability to get the role in the first place. Its 1/5 NOT BAD HUH? You actually can expect to make 1380 dollars at that job per year. Want to know why. Acting is coveted cause on the high ends its fame, money, free time, being important, and instant success. It�s like winning the lottery, but better. This is why people are willing to be waiters and do sex scenes to break into the business. Their dream keeps them at it. They keep thinking, someday when I am rich�. Not to mention it�s not boring. Now lets try an accountant. Boring right. You have a very good chance of getting a job if you graduate. Its like 85/100 that get accounting degree become accountants. Now accountants make about 60,000 dollars a year, for a whole year of work. That�s expected 51,000 dollars a year if you choose to try and be an accountant. If you are after money, get out of acting and the arts. If you love acting and love the arts, then I say go for it. But people are usually after money. There is a quote that says �We can still see the stars, even when our back is in the gutter.� Stop chasing dreams. Everyone dreams. Successful people dream. Bill Gates want to hit home runs. Sam wants to be a lawyer sometimes. I want to be a movie star. We aren�t going to. We know who we are. Don�t waste your time bringing dreams to life. | |||||||||||
