Armando Villegas. Photo courtesy of the actor.
Many people dream and fantasize about having a career as an actor but very few are ever optimistic or “crazy” enough to actually try it. There are several factors that can deter a person from trying acting and these reasons are valid. As an actor, there are countless hurdles that must be overcome. Even though actors represent a very small minority of the workforce, the competition can still be fierce. There’s also the financial insecurity, workflow instability and probably the number one reason that deters many wannabe actors is the fear of rejection. This rejection can come from different sources. Audiences, casting agents and even family and friends can play a role here. For those that dare to take the leap of faith, the rewards can also be worthwhile, even overwhelming. However, reaching the summit of the acting world will never come without perseverance and sacrifices such that one must truly be “crazy” to even try it. I am one of these crazy people.
As one of many Chicago working actors I can only tell you about my personal experiences in the acting world. I’ve been in the business for over five years, yet I still haven’t been able to earn sufficient income to live on without the need of a “day job”. Going into this, I never thought that I would become one of those “struggling artists” but the need for the flexibility in the work schedule has forced me to take on really unpleasant day jobs. I went from a cushy desk job to hard labor only because it allowed me to make my auditions when one of my agents called. However, I later found out that my labor job completely drained me of all my physical energy and the creativity that is so crucial to an actor’s psyche. As a result, I ended up taking the whole summer of 2014 off from performing, only going on the auditions that my agents procured. The callbacks became fewer and far in between and I don’t even want to mention bookings. The agent’s auditions were the only thing that could have dug me out of the hole I was in yet auditioning in my exhausted state made it impossible to book those lucrative gigs. Luckily (or unluckily) my day job takes the winters off and from November 2014 to the moment I’m writing this, I’ve been able to submerge myself in that which is my true passion in life: creativity.
Like many, I’ve questioned the reasons why it’s so difficult for competent actors to make a living in the Chicago acting world. First of all, in my experience, struggling actors are vastly underappreciated in the Chicago stage scene. Working on my first stage plays, it became blatantly obvious how the actor (the lifeblood of any show) was the last to be considered in terms of payment. They paid the theater owners, the director, writer, producer and sometimes even the person that controls the lights. The actor was an afterthought. The actor was supposed to be content with being allowed to showcase their talent in front of an audience. The sad part, most actors accept this arrangement for just such a reason. By the way, everything I just said refers to my experiences on the English speaking side of the stage. Until then, that was as far as my experience extended. Until now! I’ve been lucky enough to find the artists behind “El Grupo” & “Colectivo el Pozo” on the Spanish side of the stage. I’m currently in rehearsal for one of their productions. And guess what? They are paying me. Showing consideration for the work I do. Having empathy for one’s peers goes a long way with me. Well, we’ve already started out on the right track and this relationship seems to have the potential to go on a lot further. If only more in the theater community would follow these people’s lead, I think the actor’s journey through Chicago wouldn’t be as bumpy.
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Armando Villegas has been acting for the stage and screen for over 5 years. Besides acting, Armando is also well versed in the art of stand up comedy with numerous performances throughout the Chicago land area. He is fluent in both English and Spanish and is just now discovering the joys of performing both acting and stand up in Spanish, his native tongue.
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