So You Just Finished Your First Big Stand-In Job: Preparing for the Next!

Chances are that if you booked a big stand-in job, it took over your life.

You worked nearly every day. You had early calltimes and late wraps. You worked very long hours with almost no time to do anything but sleep, go to work, work, commute home, hit the sack, repeat.

Come weekend, you were in survival mode, trying to do whatever built up during the week that you couldn’t do. Laundry. Grocery shopping maybe. Catching up with people you couldn’t because, you know, phone calls are hard to make when you’re on set.

But that’s all done now. Your big stand-in job is over.

What did you say during that time you really should do?

There may be purchases you said you needed to make for your NEXT big stand-in job.

What were they?

Were they buying a portable chair to bring to work so you always had a place to sit?

Were they shopping for a fanny pack that would meet all your criteria — big enough, weatherproof enough, stylish enough, durably enough?

Did you need to get a power bank so you weren’t always dependent on outlets or striking a relationship with the guy at the sound cart who could charge your phone?

Did you need to find bars you could eat at work because crafty never seemed to have foods right for your diet?

Did you need cuticle cream or manicure items so you can also do hand-double work?

Did you need insoles so your socks don’t smell when you’re asked to lie in a bed without shoes?

Do you need healthcare items for the new health condition you developed?

What about a pill container for supplements you take? or powder container for the powder you drink?

Do you need a box of pens?

Do you need hand sanitizer? moisturizer? UV protection?

Do you need to get a new phone battery because yours kept dying quickly?

Do you need a new phone totally?

Do you need cold-weather gear? warm-weather gear? new shoes? taller shoes? flatter shoes? more comfortable shoes?

There are actually a lot of things that you might tell yourself “I should get that” but don’t actually when you’re busy working — maybe because you’re then called to set, or can’t order it on set, or you need more time to shop around.

Now that your big stand-in job is over, now’s the time to go over that list of things.

So, knowing that a big stand-in job can take over your life, try to keep a running list.

Keep a List

If something pops into your head, quickly add it to that list.

Do that over the course of the production.

It can be on your smartphone, emails to yourself labeled “Things I Need to Get for Stand-In Work,” or slips of paper.

Whatever the case …

… try to do this.

It will help you out when you finally get time to think, breathe, and prep for your next big stand-in job.

Which might also take over your life like the first … or even more so!

Do you keep track of things you need to get for stand-in work? If so, share your experiences in the comments box below!