Pursuing an acting career after Pharm D?

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podo89

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I thought I'd start this topic to possibly get some advice from you all.
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Why dont u post some pictures of yourself and link to video of your acting and we shall estimate ur potential.
 
oddly enough, wags had a short blip about a rph in their monthly newsletter a few months back who was doing exactly this. He did make it into some big movie, but he was an extra :p
 
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podo89 said:
Hello all, first off I'm new, and I thought I'd start this topic to possibly get some advice from you all.

I'm a current P3 student and I've always been in love with drama/acting. (as well as science, of course) So basically, I'm getting my Pharm D first since I also love pharmacy, and it's a good stable job and all, and hoping to move to LA to pursue a career in acting.

Now, is this crazy? I thought it would be simple, just do 4 years of pharmacy school and then move... until now there are talks of residency to do clinical pharmacy... and the BIG problem is, I don't know if I want to practise at retail for the rest of my life! Dealing with angry patients, on your feet all day, no breaks... I don't know if that is something that is ideal. Which means, clinical pharmacist... which means... 2 more years of residency for me..

But I'm also dying to get out of school so I can finally fulfill my acting ambitions, but if residency is in the way, I'm not going to be very happy. But will clinical pharmacist be worth it?

Also in terms of salary, LA is very expensive - I know retail earns a lot of money, but how does that compare with clinical pharmacists (after residency)?? It seems clinical pharmacy job is more clean and less exhausting (in a way)...

Also in terms of flexibility, is retail somewhat flexible? I feel like I might even need to take a year off If i want to seriously be involved with acting.. now is that possible with clinical pharmacy role? Is that LESS or MORE flexible in terms of hours per week, etc?

Anyway, this is my dilemma.. I know I stil have more time, but I'm still quite worried with this at the moment.

Thanks to those who help in advance.
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A few things:

Why two years of residency? You don't need a second year unless you're looking to specialize, and since you don't exactly seem committed to pharmacy as a career I don't understand why you would want to specialize. And actually, as a P3 I would assume you do, but do you fully understand what clinical pharmacy is? You don't necessarily need a residency at all for a staff pharmacist position in a hospital, and again, I would question why you would devote extra time to pharmacy when it's not something you're committed to long term.

I wouldn't expect any employer to hold your position for a year. Not saying it's impossible, but don't count on it. As far as working part-time, I've worked with plenty of retail and inpatient staff pharmacists that worked part time, but all of the clinical pharmacists were full-time. YMMV.

Salary is highly variable. Retail is generally the best/safest bet if you want to maximize your income.

Oh, and welcome!
 
I want to be a specialized clinical pharmacist if i do residency. I don't want to work as a staff pharmacist - the environment doesn't sound very ideal to me... along with the diminished pay, i don't think it's worth it.. but then you're right, i mean I am in NO way saying I do not wish to dedicate the rest of my life to pharmacy, but I also want to make room for acting as well. In that case, it's probably a better idea to do something more flexible... and that was my question, whether clinical or retail would be a better idea.. I'd choose retail without hesitation only if i wasn't so hesitant with their annoying working environments and exhausting shifts... i dont know..
 
Being a new person in retail or hospital it is more difficult to get set shifts...unless you are willing to do overnight/evenings. It is possible though. Maybe a little easier if you work part time?

I can't think of any clinical specialists I know that work part time...there are probably some that split jobs with other part timers...but again this is pretty rare. A clinical specialist position would give you more predicatble hours (8-4, etc), however it is much harder to put your specialist position "on hold" for any given reason other than a maternity leave or FMLA. Part of being a specialist is providing consistency to your patients, physicians, and co-workers. If you don't want to commit to a career in pharmacy, I would not pursue the specialist route.

Retail for a large corporation might provide you the most flexibility in terms of shifts. I don't think these places will hold a job for a year.

You may not like these answers, but I think it is realistic. I don't want to say anything is impossible, but you need to face the reality that you may not be able to seriously do both.
 
Thank you, yes I want realistic answers..
 
Perhaps you could do per diem work? Seems like that would have the flexibility you are looking for. It's not going to be "clinical" but it may be what you are looking for.
 
sorry to sound stupid, but what is per diem?
 
podo89 said:
sorry to sound stupid, but what is per diem?
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It is like "as needed". You work when your employer needs you to work. Vacations, gaps in the schedule, that sort of thing. I actually don't know if it is different than PRN work. It is the most flexible sort of employment that I am aware of. Relief work might be good for you as well, though I don't know if it is as flexible.
 
I think retail or per diem hospital work is best, no residency. Usually those shifts that are in need of staffing are 2nd shift & overnight shifts, which leave your days free for auditions or casting calls.

Demand for these shifts tends to be higher in LA proper, specifically places where someone wouldn't want to be after the sun goes down.
 
nycrxdream said:
lol my pharmacist told me to go into acting instead of pharmacy =].
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Maybe I'm taking that statement out of context, but I would probably be offended if my supervisor told me to choose another profession. Usually I try to go for "you'll be a great pharmacist someday."
 
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Kind of funny, we have a few people at USC (LA, go fig) who's pharm degrees seem to be more peripheral. I know someone who did cosmetology training on the side while in school, just picked up a Wendy's commercial and has per pics posted on a modeling website. The experiential coordinator occasionally gets tickets to the magic castle from a previous student who does magic shows. It just depends on where your dreams lie. Having a license doesn't lock you into pharmacy. :luck:
 
Personally, I would knock out some of you student loans before following your dream, especially moving to LA. I would find a job that pays decent with a low cost of living and work there until you are debt free. Finding a steady job as an actor is very difficult, and I would rather deal with all the doom and gloom on the pharmacy job market. Side jobs as an actor or pharmacist will not pay the bills or student loans.
 
Thanks for your replies, I really appreciate it. I think my plan so far is:

Do community pharmacy - full time for 1 year, get $$
Then maybe take few months off and pursue acting..
 
ValeUC said:
Thanks for screwing some bright-eyed young kid whose only goal in life was to become a pharmacist.
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Everyone chooses a career for his/her own personal reasons. I don't think it's fair to judge the OP if pharmacy isn't his or her end all be all.
 
haha I don't care, sarcasm or not, really. I think as long as I know what I want then that's good. There are enough kids in my class who are extremely goal oriented towards Pharmacy in ways I'll never be, but doesn't mean we have any differences when it comes to capabilities in our future career.
 
I mean, sure, I could tell you that you have a 1/1,000,000 chance of making it. Or that you are an idiot for getting a professional degree and shelving it for no damn good reason.

...but the real reason you shouldn't pursue acting is because it likely involves moving to California. WTF are you going to do when the big one hits and that **** floats out into the Pacific Ocean?

This is why pharmacy is the superior profession. You can live in places like Philadelphia where you only get hurricanes, earthquakes, and flooding on the same week.
 
lets be serious guys, he has a better chance finding work as an actor than he does finding work as a pharmacist in L.A.
 
WVUPharm2007 said:
...but the real reason you shouldn't pursue acting is because it likely involves moving to California. WTF are you going to do when the big one hits and that **** floats out into the Pacific Ocean?
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I've got it! OP, move to Bollywood! Low cost of living, you can work as a pharmacist in industry (read, manufacture), AND pursue your dream of acting. How are your dance moves?
 
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