I ask this because I know someone who recently moved to Hollywood to become an actor. He was in some indy movie and was an extra on the OC. I was asking someone else and they were like "that's nothing". It seems pretty good to me. No clue how he got on the OC, but I'm thinking it's just because he knew someone and made the contact.
But seriously, what if it takes 15 years and you're still waitressing and working some crappy night job? I wouldn't want to wake up 35 with no career. It's a huge risk. I guess if you're fine working dead end jobs on the side to pursue your dreams, so be it. I don't even know what he is doing to "bring home the bread" other than being an extra - i doubt that would pay too much money...
One of my best friends from college has been doing extra work for several years in L.A. In terms of working out there, one extra gig isn't really much,in the grand scheme of things, though you'd think it would be, for a successful show. Not so much. He has enough work that he works daily on some show or another (lots of crap TV), but he still waits tables nights and reads scripts for cash to pay the bills.
I feel like the majority of it is luck...oh, and ridiculously good looks.
