Clockwise from bottom left are Kris Schindel, Adam Cope, Darren Paul, Elliott James and Patrick Howarth, a crew of window washers who all happen to be actors or musicians.

Photograph by: Rick Macwilliam, the Journal, Special to The Journal

Working as an artist isn't easy -- whether that art is making music, acting or painting. You're in a high-risk industry, working from contract to contract, and in between contracts you're hustling for more work. No job security, no benefits -- all for a meagre financial reward.

Statistics Canada says Canadian artists earn just $23,000 a year on average, not much above the poverty line.

Hence, the day job. Many artists find clever ways to make a living, discovering that the skills they learned doing their BFAs end up surprisingly useful in doing other work, or even being a business owner.

The stereotype of the actor who moonlights as a waiter exists for a reason: It's great work that fits into the lifestyle. But some actors find unexpected alternatives to food service.

Heights Residential Services is a window-washing company that predominately hires actors and musicians. No surprise, as the owners of the business have strong ties to the Edmonton arts community.

Kris Schindel is a singer/songwriter who has performed in various bands throughout the years, and Clinton Carew is an actor/director/filmmaker, who is finishing up an MFA in directing at the University of Alberta. It seems a bit odd, but window-washing has similarities to performing. For Schindel and Carew, it's about hiring crews who work well together.

Elliott James, an acting student at the U of A, was recruited by Carew and has been working for two seasons, along with several of his schoolmates. The invitation to wash windows, clean eaves- troughs and put up Christmas lights was a welcome change from his former day job.

"It's better than serving (tables). You don't have to be a slave to people over food. Serving is a little more heartbreaking; this is a little more freeing."

Actor/fight choreographer Patrick Howarth agrees. "It's more social. More task-oriented, but you are there in one place, you're not rushing about trying to multi-task. You have a chance to socialize with the people you're working with, and also there's a lot of talking that happens between the people who hired you. They want to get to know you."

In fact, his two worlds sometimes intersect.

"I've even had the experience of someone describing something they had just seen two days before, Strawberries in January, which they really liked," says Howarth. "After I ascertained that they liked the play, I told them it was me."

Schindel prefers to work with actors and musicians because the skills they've learned as artists are useful on top of a ladder.

"They know how to improvise, they're personable, they know how to put on a good face and they work hard," he says, comparing the work ethic to the dedication it takes to put on a show.

And skills learned wielding a squeegee can help a fledgling actor, says James.

"Yeah, balance on the ladder, and learning to do things you're scared of. You learn to be calm under pressure, and if you're on a high ladder or onstage, it's a skill you can use." He also notes that it's a great chance to have the ear of a more experienced actor, like Howarth, Jesse Gervais and George Szilagyi, who have also worked for Heights.

And though window cleaning is a world away from the glamour of the stage, Howarth doesn't mind: it's all about control and lack of stress. It's humbling to take a day job, but there are worse things to do.

"There's a stigma. It's really hard for an artist to take another job, any job. It feels like a betrayal, even for practical reasons to fund your art. When Clinton first said, 'Do you want to wash windows?' I said, 'Wash windows? That sounds just terrible.' But then you go do it, and it's the best job in the world. It's just you and the window. You're out in the sunshine, enjoying the weather and whether you succeed or fails depends on how you clean the window."