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Starving Artists: Ride Sharing Is the New Food Service

Topics: Career Profiles

If you’ve ever aspired to pursue a career that could even remotely be described as “artistic,” then you know what it means to be desperate for cash. Traditionally, that’s led actors, writers, and performers from the big cities of the world to pursue food service as a means of funding their passion while they wait for their big breaks. These days, with all the debate over tipping and menu prices, it would seem that there’s a new easy-to-pick-up job that’s got its fair share of appeal for artists: driving.

uber driver 

(Photo Credit: Jason Tester/Flickr)

No, you’re not going to be the next Jeff Gordon, Ricky Bobby, or whoever is relevant in NASCAR now. Instead, we’re talking about those ride-sharing apps we all love to hate: Uber and Lyft. It’s a certifiable fact that Larry David, the titan of comedy behind Seinfeld, got his start as a cabbie back in the day — this is just the 2016 spin on it.

Do You Know What You're Worth?

If you’re still having your doubts, here are three great reasons why you might want to consider signing up and driving yourself right into next month’s rent.

Make Your Own Hours

The beauty of Uber, as told by Uber, you are making your own schedule — which means that the more you work the more you earn. That also means that if you don’t have time one week and need to go to an audition, you don’t have a boss that you need to excuse yourself from. With an average of $19.04 hourly, according to their site, you’ll be able to make up for that time off pretty darn quick.

Nobody Owns You

When you work for Uber or Lyft, you’re a contractor, not simply an employee. That means that, after much legal deliberation, if you’d like, you can work for multiple companies at the same time. Just turn on one app, and when things get slow, switch over to the other.

Added Bonus: Free Advertising

Finding a ride-sharing job probably means that you’re not the typical worker. As we covered before, it may be that you’re an artist who needs the flexibility. But it could simply mean that you’re an entrepreneurial type, and Uber loves that: one Uber driver, Gavin Escolar, an aspiring jeweler, turned his car into a showroom, giving each customer a glimpse of his work.

Not only is it a genius way to capitalize on some free advertising, but for Escolar, it’s a big money-maker, as well: it’s helping him to make $250,000 a year.

Tell Us What You Think

Does driving a ride-sharing app sound absolutely insane? Are you afraid someone’s going to mug you and steal your car? Let any and all of your questions, comments, and stories fly in the space below — or join the conversation on Twitter!

Peter Swanson
Read more from Peter

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