Seems like former child actors are either getting messed over or messing someone else over.

Zachery Ty Bryan, who played eldest son Brad Taylor on the 1990s TV show “Home Improvement,” claims he invested in a Hollywood sport bar (Big Wangs) and the guys who took his money blew it on lavish trips to Hawaii and a Porsche.

The actor has sued the two partners of the restaurant and Bryan alleges Peter Brill and Joe Barker used the business as their personal piggy bank to live “high off the hog.”

Bryan claims Brill and Barker funneled Big Wangs’ profits to open competing restaurants … this, in addition to the car, the trips and the purchase of a home in the Hollywood Hills.

Bryan says Brill and Barker made all their purchases on an American Express card and, to add insult to injury, made personal use of 750,000 Membership Rewards points.

Bryan is suing for unspecified damages. [source]

It doesn’t really matter if you ever become a major star; if you can work consistently as a professional actor, you’re blessed, trust me.  No, it’s what you DO with your money that will determine your true success.

Would you rather be a famous actor and be constantly bombarded with fans everywhere you go AND BROKE or a not-so famous actor who works from time to time yet has the security in knowing that part of the money you earned from your acting gigs is put away safe for a rainy day?

Sure, have fun, enjoy yourself, it’s okay to splurge a little sometimes but don’t be a fool.  Save your money, invest it.  Have “something to show” for all your hard work because you will not always work.  Yes, you can work consistently as an actor all your life if that’s what you choose but let it really this sink in–acting as an occupation is not like a regular 9 to 5 job.

You will have downtime, times where you will be looking for work, looking for your next job.  If you’ve already spent what you’ve earned and didn’t save anything what will you do?

I’ll tell ya.  You will stress yourself out trying to book your next role and your agitation, frustration and fears will be all over your face when you go in to read for an audition.

Have you ever heard of the term, “Never let’em see you sweat?” Well, you’ll be “sweating” if you’re broke so save, save, save!

Remember, it doesn’t matter how small or big the job is, you can always put something away for a rainy day.  If you get into the habit of doin’ this now, you’ll always be financially secure, even if you become a big time star.

But don’t ever end up being famous AND broke…

Take a look around.  Because when you start booking jobs as an actor, things are gonna change.  You’re gonna change and so is your ego, so watch it.  If you have a good support system now and good friends, you’ll want to keep them.  You will need them when you become a big star because by then, most of your friend will not really be your friends.  Even if you never get “famous,” once you start working professionally as an actor, everything changes.  You can become a very successful actor without necessarily becoming famous, so do not be concerned about the “fame.”

When you start working, the most important thing I want you to watch is your ego.  Your ego will make you do crazy things.  Your ego will tell you, you need drugs.  Your ego will cause you to be rude to people.  Your ego will make you think that you are “above” everyone around you.  Your ego will make you forget where you came from.  And all because your acting career is starting to take off.

Never forget where you came from.  You are humble now but it is only because you want to be famous.  If you only want to become an actor because you want to be seen, then your ego has already taken over and it will be difficult for you to become a successful actor.  Why?  Because your energy is focused on self-gratification.  Those types of people do not last in the entertainment business.  They eventually self-destruct in some form other another.

No, you should want to become an actor because you enjoy being creative, you enjoy entertaining people.  Always keep your attention to be focused on making others happy.  You want to be able to walk down the street and have people come up to you and say, “We loved your movie!” or “We love you on that show!”  Then, you can smile and remind yourself of how wonderful it is to be in a business where you can make other people smile.

Never forget where you came from.

Unless you’re coming out to Hollywood with a ton of money already in the bank, it’s most likely that you will need to financially sustain yourself with a regular job to pay the bills.  A lot of actors don’t necessarily like the fact that they have to work while trying to establish an acting career, but this is reality.  It’ll probably be your reality as well, so be prepared.  It’s a humbling experience but what else are you gonna do?  Move back home?  Go back to where you came from when you run out of your savings?  A lot of actors do that.  But, I encourage you not to give up so easy.

Finding a job should be one of the first things you do when you arrive in Los Angeles.  The important thing is to find a job that’s flexible enough to allow you to go on auditions.  Working at night may work but be careful as you’ll want to be awake for your auditions!  And remember, being late to an audition is a big no-no.

So what do you do?  Be up front on your job application from the beginning.  Let the hiring person know that you are an aspiring actor and may have to go on auditions.  Inquire about the occupation’s schedule.  What are the hours?  Will you be able to make your auditions?  Is it a part time job?   Is the hiring manager willing to work around your schedule? Anyway, below are some jobs that may be somewhat flexible. There are a ton of other flexible jobs to choose from out there; these are just a few, so don’t get discouraged. Just make sure you can pay your bills and keep your lights on when you get out to L.A. Do what you gotta do.

1. waiter
2. working in a fast food restaurant
3. extra or background work
4. casting assistant
5. production assistant
6. personal trainer
7. sales person
8. make-up artist
9. home-based business
10. care provider or babysitter