I'm a freelance software consultant, which is my main source of income. Besides that, I act. I take auditions occasionally and lands to roles in local commer

I'm a freelance software consultant, which is my main source of income. Besides that, I act. I take auditions occasionally and lands to roles in local commercials, TV programs, independent films and reginoal theatres time to time. I'm payed by acting, though it constitutes less than a few percent of my income (CMs generaly pay well, up to $1000/day; indie films and theatres mostly pro-bono or like $100 per production). I'm by no means a professional actor; I'm non-union. Acting is, objectively, my hobby. In heart, I reluctant to call it a hobby, though. I keep taking acting classes and hope someday I can land on some union gig. It's not about money; consulting pays enough for living. It's about great experience working with skilled actors and directors. Oh, by the way, I'm almost 40. I was deeply involved in theatres when I was in college. Then I decided to concentrate on building engineering career, got PhD in EE and a programming job. About 7 years ago I became independent, and soon after that I resumed acting. Retrospectively, I think if I had pursued both acting and engineering simultaneously, I couldn't get the current flexible working condition. When I got a job at a company making video games and CG movies, I imagined I could contribute to projects in a unique way because of my multiple interests. Then I realized that, in order to contribute substantially, I had to excel in at least one field; there was no room for a person who had multiple skills but every one was half-assed. In any field I think you have to have certain period concentrating in pursuing something to acquire skills at meaningful level. It may or may not make money (money is largely determined by the balance of supply and demand), but money can be used as a litmus; if your skill is unique enough that people even pay to get you instad of someone, probably you are above par. So I perspired in the software field. I couldn't become world-reknowned developer or something but got enough reputation so that I could work independently. Then I resumed acting. It's slow, but I'm not in hurry; I'll be happy if I'm still acting in regional theatres and had a couple of small roles in films at 60. If I had chased both acting and engineering, I suspect I'd be much more in haste and desperate. Besides, the experience of working professionally in one field can be applied to another field; I know how I supposed to prepare, and I can see worth in my work itself separate from its monetary value. Any skill takes large amount of time to master. Probably the strategy is not to keep your passion, but to take several years to deeply dive into one thing at a time until the skill reaches certain level. Then keep doing them in parallel for the rest of life.