Routine, repetitive, cookie-cutter work? No thanks. If you hate boring jobs and crave variety and excitement in your side hustle, these out-of-the-box gigs could be just right for you. They’re great for hands-on doers, performers, and anyone who hates the 9-to-5 vibe.
Furniture Assembly
If you’re handy with a wrench and good at following instructions, furniture assembly can be a solid side hustle. And sites like Taskrabbit and Airtasker make it easy to find clients.
Taskrabbit lets freelancers list services like assembly, mounting, and repairs with customizable hourly rates. You keep 100% of your listed rate, while the site adds its own service fee to the customer’s bill. Aside from a $25 registration fee, there are no costs to freelancers. You can accept or decline jobs, message clients, and post photos of past work to boost your profile.
At Airtasker clients list tasks that they want done and say how much they want to pay. Freelancers make offers to do the work, explaining their qualifications — and questions about the job — in their response. When the client picks a freelancer to complete a task, payment is taken out of the client’s account and held in escrow. It’s released to the freelancer, minus a 10-20% site fee, once the job is done.
Event DJ or Emcee
If you’ve got stage presence, a solid setlist, or a knack for hyping up a crowd, consider booking gigs as an emcee or DJ. Because you’re in charge, this side hustle is never boring. Better yet, there are no specific qualifications to get started. You simply need a great playlist and the ability to get a crowd going.
How do you find DJ and Emcee gigs? Two sites can help.
StageRush is a newer platform designed to help performers get discovered. It lets you create a professional profile with photos, videos, merch, upcoming events, and social links. Basic listings are free, but StageRush charges a 12% commission per gig. Paid plans ($20–$49/month) reduce commission rates and unlock more features. Payments are processed through Stripe after gigs are completed. The main downside? It’s a young site, still gaining traction outside of Pennsylvania, where it’s founded.
TheBash (formerly GigMasters) is more established and caters to a wider range of entertainers—from DJs to photographers and caterers. To list, you’ll need a paid membership ($99–$199/year), and you’ll also pay a 5% commission on bookings. Basic members get fewer category listings and visibility than Pro users. While the platform is owned by TheKnot/WeddingWire—suggesting decent traffic—reviews are mixed. Many vendors complain about weak leads, high fees, and frustrating auto-renewal policies.
If you’re testing the waters, StageRush may be a lower-risk option. But if you’re ready to pay for reach, TheBash could help you connect with party planners and wedding clients in your area.
Be a Movie Extra
Another great side hustle for people who hate boring jobs is to be a movie extra. The job requires no experience; generally pays between $100 and $300 a day; and is different every time. You could be ice skating, eating hotdogs in a stadium, or simply walking down a street. Generally speaking, your role is to simply be part of a crowd, acting normaly, in a film that’s likely featuring name-brand actors.
Sites like Backstage and ExtrasManagement can help you land these gigs.
Backstage is a well-known industry platform that lists acting opportunities—including extra work, student films, and non-union roles. You can browse listings for free, but to apply, you’ll need a subscription ($12.50/month or ~$75/year with discounts).
The platform is best for beginners looking to build experience. Just know that most jobs don’t pay much, and subscription plans auto-renew with no refunds.
ExtrasManagement, meanwhile, acts more like a talent agency for background actors. It partners with casting agents in the Los Angeles area and applies for jobs on your behalf. You’ll fill out a detailed profile, including your physical traits, skills, and availability. Gigs are often last-minute and unpredictable—you might be on set for a few hours or 16. Monthly fees range from $10 to $75 depending on your level of involvement, and if you don’t find work, some fees are waived.
Extra gigs are flexible but not high-paying. So be prepared to treat this more as side cash than a stepping stone to stardom.
Manage or test games
If you love video games, StartPlaying and PlaytestCloud offer unique ways to get paid while diving into your passion.
StartPlaying connects freelance Game Masters with players for role-playing adventures. Game Masters set their own rates, decide game themes, and determine session details. Popular games like Dungeons & Dragons, Vampire, and Warhammer are featured. Though not a path to wealth, many Game Masters earn a nice side income, with hourly rates averaging $42–$50.
The platform allows full creative control, but success depends on detailed game descriptions to attract repeat players.
PlaytestCloud, on the other hand, invites gamers to test video games for a fee. After a simple sign-up, testers complete a qualification test before being invited to paid assignments. For every 15-minute test, you earn around $9, offering a fun way to get paid while sharing game feedback. Tests vary based on your profile, with some asking you to record your thoughts while playing. Although not consistent enough to be a full-time gig, it’s a great opportunity for gaming enthusiasts looking to make some extra cash.
Mystery shop
Though mystery shopping gigs are rarely highly paid, they’re great side hustles for people who hate boring jobs. After all, your assignments typically involve checking out a store, spa, movie theater or restaurant. That’s a far cry from sitting at a computer all day to earn a living.
The best sites to find engaging mystery shopping gigs are Service Evaluation Concepts, EyeSpy and BestMark.
Service Evaluation Concepts pays between $15 and $100 per assignment. And assignments can range from checking out health plans to buying a product from a convenience store.
EyeSpy generally doesn’t pay anything to its mystery shoppers. Instead, the site offers you and a guest free meals, usually at a nice place, or via delivery.
BestMark, meanwhile, is one of the nation’s largest mystery shopping firms. This site’s gigs typically pay $10 – $25 and may involve getting a spa treatment; buying shoes; checking theater attendance; or getting a car wash.
