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That’s $176 I Can Live Without

Turning down acting work

William Mersey
In The Background

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Photo by Andre Furtado: https://www.pexels.com/photo/grayscale-photo-of-a-man-walking-with-a-bicycle-3859986/

You would think that having worked as a background actor just once in the past three months, I’d have jumped at the chance to get back on set and earn a few bucks when a casting agency texted me asking if I’d like to work today. But you’d be wrong. I’m getting picky in my old age.

The listing I’d answered prompting the text called for a bicycle delivery person with their own bike and experience riding in the city. Given that I do own a bicycle and am a veteran of over 7000 DoorDash deliveries, I pretty much fit the bill.

But not so fast, buckeroo. If you want to know how rough these gigs can be, this one is the job that could turn anybody off being an extra.

Just for starters, the scene they’re shooting is a winter exterior. Today’s temperature will be in the high 20’s with wind speeds up to 40 mph. Film and tv sets are famous for proceeding at a snail’s pace. Which means whoever takes the job will surely be outside in the elements standing around and freezing for extended periods of time.

Yes, they give out hand warmers and warn us to wear thermals and dress in layers. But all that helps just so much. Everybody involved is sure to suffer. And that’s just the beginning of this gig’s misery.

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