Cigarettes Quote by Martin Landau
“I did 12 shows in 13 weeks at a summer theater in Maine where we were paid $35 a week. After taxes and $25 for room and board, I had enough money for a pack of cigarettes and a bowl of lobster bisque.”
About This Quote
Even low‑paid artistic work can cover basic needs, but the modest earnings leave little room for comfort beyond essentials.
In simple terms: Acting paid little, barely enough for necessities.
Key Takeaway
Artistic labor often undercompensated.
Themes
labor
economics
art
budgeting
Mood
reflective
humble
Type
personal anecdote
observation
When to use this quote
- gig‑economy jobs
- theater contracts
- student artist finances
Key Concepts
value of creative work
Practical Applications
- Negotiate fair wages
- Supplement income with side gigs
Questions to Reflect On
- What structures could improve pay for early‑career artists?
- How does low pay affect artistic creativity?
![“I thought I was making fifty dollars a week [at MGM], but it turned out to be $35 because twelve weeks of the year you were on layoff. It was white slavery, and it lasted for seventeen years.” quote by Ava Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/011/ava-gardner-8168_dollars_i-thought-i-was-making-fifty-dollars-a-w_1708208.jpg)
