AIP032 | How to Act in New York City with No Income - with Mandy May Cheetham

The Acting Income Podcast with Ben Hauck

Actor Mandy May Cheetham speaks with host Ben Hauck on how to act in New York City -- with little to no income.

In this interview, Mandy shares what motivated her temporary move to New York City from Toronto, Canada, and how she quadrupled the length of her initial stay. Mandy divulges the sources of her funding that financed her stay in NYC and how she was able to cut down on housing costs. Faced with the threat of being homeless in a foreign country, Mandy details how she was able to find new places to stay on short notice.

Mandy also details how she found acting opportunities in NYC -- using casting websites, acting and improv school performance opportunities, and networking. In particular, networking for Mandy was like "finding her tribe." Canada may seem similar to the United States, says Mandy, but Canadians can experience culture shock when in the country. Mandy explains some of the culture shock she experienced, not to mention how her uniquely Canadian experiences led her to seek out other Canadian actors in New York City.

Despite financial constraints as a Canadian in the United States, Mandy lays out how she remained creative during her stay. Bartering was one method she used to get what she needed, and she also used doing favors as a means for building equity with friends, to cash in on later for her career needs.

Eventually, Mandy left New York City, and she opens up on what led her to leave and what her relationship with New York City became over the course of her stay. She definitely left NYC with skills to be more competitive as an actor. She explains how the Toronto market is different from NYC's, and how she upped her acting game when she returned to Toronto. Mandy also left NYC with thoughts on what she would have done differently in terms of performance and financing -- were she to visit the city again.

Mandy rounds out the interview with advice for the actor considering the move to New York City, especially with limited financial resources or an inability to earn an income. She also mentions her book (available on her website) with practical tips for actors starting out in New York City, Los Angeles, and Toronto.

As an outtake from the interview, Mandy talks about how health care differs between Canada and the United States, and how that need affected her acting pursuits.