Question: I’m both a freelance writer who works out of home and a part-time actor. So on the one hand it would be fine to live without a car for my writing job, but for auditions and acting gigs I often have to make my way from Echo Park to Santa Monica or the Valley, and I have to arrive “camera-ready” meaning with my hair looking good, face clean, all that stuff.

My only concern about switching to a lifestyle where I’d rely on bike/bus to get everywhere is how I can get to an audition looking like I didn’t just cycle through 90-degree heat for an hour and a half? Do you know any actors who live without cars in this town? Do you have any tips or tricks? If only there was a ZipCar type car-sharing place near my house, all of my problems would be solved! Thanks!! Graham

Answer: Yes, I indeed know a successful actor who gets around town car-free! Enci (above), author of illuminateLA, talks about her car-free lifestyle in her Car Free Mondays interview. In fact, Enci decided to ditch a car after a painful drive back from an audition:

Two years ago I did a commercial audition in Santa Monica and the drive back home took over 2 hours. That’s the day that I told myself to never ever drive to SM anymore, only go there via bike and that’s what I’ve done ever since.

Going car-free hasn’t held her back any. Here’s how she gets to faraway auditions:

I get to work, be it acting jobs or photography gigs (I’m also a photographer) via bike and sometimes I get a car if the job is very, very far and if there are no public transportation options….

One afternoon I was riding out towards Santa Monica and my agent called me and said, “Enci, the good news is that I have and audition for you at Universal. The bad news is that you have to be there within the next hour.”

I could have never made it in time to Universal from the west side, so I rode up to a car rental place (LA has one every few blocks) rented a car for a day, left my bike there and made it in time for my audition.

And I used that day that I had the car to do my shopping for can foods, cat litter, milk, and all that is usually too heavy to carry. I also use the days that I have a car to take my batteries, light bulbs, electronics, and any hazardous materials to the recycling center.

I put your question about arriving “camera-ready” to Enci; here’s her reply:

I would plan out my route just perfectly on bike and metro. I would allow myself plenty of time to get to the audition. I would ride slow and the shortest distance and then hop on a bus or the Metro. I would plan my arrival 30 minutes before my call-time. This would give me enough time to freshen up if needed.

When I audition, I have in my bag, brush, makeup, and wet wipes (for freshening up but also in case I have to fix a flat, I want my hands clean afterward).

I would put plenty of sunblock on and I would take water with me to hydrate.

Assuming you arrive half an hour early as Enci recommends, you could use the time not just to cool off and freshen up but also to prep for the audition calmly! Other benefits of being a car-free actor: Enci’s also developed impressive leg muscles from all her biking, gotten featured in a recent Metro Motion video, and started producing her first environmentally responsible film via Rebel Without a Car Productions.

Enci and I both wish you the best with your car-free auditions!

Top photo by Rob Young; bottom photo by Will Campbell via Flickr

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